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I don't get it. There seems to be no will to do anything at all about this administration. Even the best progressive lawmakers we have will go up to a certain threshold and then turn back. I hope it's not because their hands are dirty, too.
On the progressive side, there are petitions signed, phone calls, emails, letters written, money donated, money bombs on the internet. But then... nothing. Maybe some new face wins a special election to the House, but by the time a vote comes around... nothing.
It almost feels like this entire netroots is meant to keep us busy, make us feel like we're doing something, but nothing ever seems to happen. A lot of noise, a lot of comments on a lot of blogs, but Democratic governors will still face political prosecutions, Democratic congressmen will have their lives threatened with anthrax, majorities change in Congress but...nothing. No one in any important position will ever face consequences for what they've done. Even worse, our heroes in congress, the Leahys and Conyers and the Feinsteins will skirt all around the issue but...nothing.
I'm afraid that until the standard course of business is disrupted through public acts of civil disobedience, nothing at all will happen. Unfortunately, even after acts of civil disobedience, there will be a bunch of progressives in jail and...nothing.
So, I'll sign the petition, give a few more dollars, and watch while our most hopeful candidates are ground into dust and our best leaders in congress take any real consequences for the lawbreakers "off the table".
Glenn, maybe you want to write a column describing how any of these "action items", these petitions and money bombs and so forth actually achieved something. I can't imagine I'm the only one who's getting a little impatient with these "netroots".
