Letters to the Editor
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Lamer, if that's even a word
This piece and the responses to it broadcast the fact that the Democratic Party continues its seemingly eternal navel-gazing without getting any closer to possessing the slightest notion of its identity (or that of the swing votes needed in the upcoming election). The more Democrats rail against the Republicans, the clearer it becomes that the Democrats have performed lamely in the face of a supposedly lame opponent.
The Democrats continue, at this late date prior to the next election, to indulge in fantasies that its opponents are plainly the spawn of Hades rather than seeking any real understanding of why voters have in the last few decades more often chosen to pull the lever for the Republicans than the Democrats. (A previous candidate with the last name of Clinton did not neglect his studies in this regard.)
One knows not where to begin rebutting the torrent of talking points embedded in this piece, but I'll focus for the moment on the war in Iraq. The Democrats are already beginning to sense that merely being against the war is not likely to be enough to bring them into alignment with public opinion, the nuance of which has been grossly underestimated. Even if the Democrats were right about the war, it is not a card easily played with the public. Republicans cannot bear all of the blame for the fact that Democratic politicians might appear to much of the public to be anti-military, unpatriotic or even opportunistic in their approach to the war. The war was popular once. Set backs ensued and support slipped. It may be tempting to believe that public support waned due to the "Bush Lied" mantra taking hold, but it would be dangerous to ignore that fact that operations in Iraq, and public expectations, were managed poorly over the first part of the war. If results improve, and the "Bush Lied" routine proves to be somewhat less mesmerizing than once assumed, a vast investment of the Democrat's political capital will evaporate.
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Comment on "Are Democrats really so lame ? "
Joan Walsh, you are right on target. This is a clean and insightful article that should be read by every Democrat and Independent.
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Impeach Cheney...
Ottie...
Just about the time my respect for Democrats was beginning to come up a little (due to some intelligent comments on this blog) I came across your comments on page 15. As a Republican, I would encourage you to keep going because we need the help right now. As an American, I am disappointed. As a guy with a sense of humor, I would say, "Oooh, Rove is WATCHING you... Don't go into the Dark! Sleep with one eye open!" he he he.
In all seriousness, you liberals would do better to focus on real problems, and not some ridiculous demonizing of a person or historical events.
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Progress, Joan!
Atrios linked to your article....
while electing Matt Bai "Wanker of the Day."
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What is lame is lefty idealism
The most important and good thing that could possibly happen for this country is for Hillary Clinton to get elected president. She is canny, cagey, experienced, she gets it, and the machine she will put together will be equal to the opposition on the right and all the madness it will launch at a democratic presidency. She is the only chance we have to heal this madness.
The only thing that can wreck the inevitability of her presidency at this point is a divided democratic party. It is time for the party leaders to stand up to the left wing and remind it that their idealism is as disfunctional and out of step with reality on the ground, not to mention mainstream America, as the radical neoconservative rightwingers are. Any policy the far left manages to put into process will have as damaging and divisive effect as the worst of the right wing policies. Kucinovich - give it up dude. Anyone who thinks we can simply pull out of Iraq (lets all listen to Joe Biden here!) is not looking at reality. So many people I talk to say with a vast amount of smugness "I don't believe in violence." This amazes me. They eat don't they? Well, something dies so that we eat. Every time we eat something dies. And that is the most obvious example. The next most obvious fact of violence can be found on the news every night. You can digest the news about violence along with your sanitized kill evening meal. Perhaps you need to see a video of a Shiite lovingly drilling holes in the skull of a Sunni. I love listening to the liberal starbucks political philosophy of people in the metropolitan areas: America's metropoli where every form of defensive satellite, missile silo, defense planning, air force, national gaurd, multi-trillion dollar comupter guided weapons system safety net is aimed at any would be enemy under the sun when they tell me they don't believe in violence. No? Then go live in Iraq where you ARE NOT PROTECTED and come back and talk to me after you've been disavowed of your leftwing notions.
Of course Bush blew it by doing Iraq. So all you leftwingers need to take a course in Bushy and meditate on what comes of idealism in the real world.
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How the Democrats Win in 08'
There is a reason Karl Rove went after Hillary on all the news shows this past Sunday- they WANT her to be the candidate. They know that will be EXACTLY the lighting rod necessary to bring out their base.
As a lifelong Democrat born and raised in the "Redneck Riviera" of Florida, I am constantly amazed at how the Democrats do not understand what it takes to win in Dixie. Every time I saw John Kerry giving a speech with Ted Kennedy standing by his side, I could actually see thousands of Southern votes flying out the window!
John Edwards is being marginalized by both the Republican AND Democratic machines. There is NOTHING the Republicans have on deck that could even remotely compete with an Edwards/Obama ticket. NOTHING. Period.
I remember reading some time back about how Bill Clinton tried to calm various factions in the party that wanted their agendas addressed by saying something to the effect that, "You cannot put topics on the table unless you are AT the table." If Democrats are not careful, they again will not be AT the table.
In all honesty, if you want this country to begin to step away from the partisan politics of the last 16 years, as much as you may like her and support her, Hillary is NOT the answer. She will serve only as the target for the Republicans to point to and say, "Look there, see what I mean, they think Hillary is the answer." If she is our candidate, even if elected, I believe you will see us lose the majority in at least one of the Houses. And more importantly, the divisiveness will continue and you will have in the White House yet another President with very close ties to the big business and lobbying cartels that have bought our democracy.
Edwards is smart, articulate and less beholden to the machine. Given the opportunity, I believe his message will strike a resounding chord of hope and compassion in this country. I encourage everyone that has taken a moment to read this posting to take a closer look at this guy and share your thoughts. I am not a shill for Edwards, just a strong Democrat that wants what is best for our country. Oh, and I want to WIN!
God Bless the Democrats (and republicans) and God Bless America!