BOTH PARTIES MUST BRING CLEAR IDEAS TO CAMPAIGN

Much has been made during 1991 about the lack of activity among national Democrats in fielding a slate of candidates for next year's presidential run. Republicans publicly touted this as the only response available a weak one for an opposition party facing a popular incumbent. Democrats said, in so many words, "Just wait, we'll show up." The Democrats have now shown up, with several announcing their candidacies. We hope that the time spent since the last presidential election has been spent formulating ideas about this nation's problems. As a nation, we hope the wait was worthwhile.

Though the national news media have been in something of a dither over the lack of political activity, the American people, we believe, haven't lost much sleep over the dormancy this year. Like most slumbers, this one has departed slowly, then quickly. For months, former Massachusetts senator Paul Tsongas was the only Democrat in the field. Within recent weeks, Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder and Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin joined the hunt. Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton and Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey are on the brink of entering the fray. Even a party old-timer, California's Jerry Brown, wants to have his voice heard.

Thus, this is an exciting period for Democrats, who are full of moxie about fielding candidates willing to take on President George Bush. They can be forgiven some stirring and empty rhetoric as the campaigns are kicked off. However, the election process can not be sustained by an ongoing series of attacks on recent White House occupants.

Some recent examples:

Harkin: "It's time to go after them and make them defend what they've done in the last four years. It's time to go after George Bush."

Tsongas: "George Bush, this is the first day of the end of your presidency."

This is nice talk to rally your forces and arouse the party's soul, but eventually the fervent oratory must pass easily into the discussion of plain answers for real problems. There are plenty of problems out there to address: the federal budget deficit grows, the national crime rate frightens, the U.S. education system calls for help. The strength of a two-party system depends on two strong parties. If the Democrats don't include specific responses to these challenges on their national agenda, President Bush has little incentive to do so. One watches the other, and the American people benefit. We have been served the appetizer, now bring on the meat.

The Democratic Party now has the bodies available for a presidential race. Does it also have the heart to join the debate on national issues with clearly defined views?