A survey for the brain dead

I received in the mail today from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee a "2006 New Directions Survey." It seems to me this document is emblematic of the problem with the Democratic Party. The survey is filled with such piercing questions as:

I am most concerned about: a) retirement savings, b) daily expenses, c) college savings. [If they want to know your age, why not just ask it?]

How do you feel about the Bush administration's relaxation of pollution controls? a) agree, b) disagree, c) don't know. [How many people do you think are going to vote (a) or (c) on this one? My bet is zippo.]

Which of the two political parties do you trust most when it comes to protecting the environment? a) Democrats, b) Republicans. [Duh...]

Congressman Tom DeLay has been indicted for money laundering and forced to step down as Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives. Do you think Tom DeLay is fit or unfit to retain his House seat? a) fit, b) unfit, c) undecided. [Seems to me it's more important to ask this question to people from Sugarland, TX]

But the clincher was this question, under the heading of "leadership."

What is the most important priority for Democrats in Congress right now? a) terrorism, b) new jobs, c) affordable health care, d) better schools.

Seems to me there are a whole lot of things that might be at least as, if not more important than any of these, such as protecting the country from being taken over by Bush the dictator, preserving civil liberties and civil rights, ending the war against Muslims, winning back our standing in the world, protecting the country from bird flu, bringing back the rule of law, ending torture, etc., etc.

The problem is that these questions tell you what they think we think is important. They don't even care what we actually answer. These people are still stuck in the Tom Daschel mode, and, if they stay there, they're going to lose again, no matter how unpopular Bush becomes.