Letters to the Editor
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Larry Craig!
Whenever anybody brings up anything that makes the Dems look bad, just say "Larry Craig." The GOP still says "Clinton got a blow job" all the time so why not us! And remember, as the aggressor, Craig was probably trying to give one!
"The MoveOn ad was...."
"Larry Craig was trying to give a blow job!"
See how it works.
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Baseless accusations
Democrats ... remain beholden to the far-left fringe of their party's base,
I call bullshit on this, as much as any notion of the Democrats as a liberal party, except inasmuch as they stand to the left of the Republicans, which isn't hard these days -- kind of like how the "liberals" are cast in the Supreme Court. Liberal, my ass. The Democrats stand at center-right in their ideology when compared to other First World countries.
So, while the GOP stands firm with their brimstone base, confident that this sulfurous foundation will give them sure footing, they take wild swings again and again, without shame or need for stance-tacking or moderation, because they're covered -- their actual base supports them whatever they do. Sure, they've shed moderates and independents in their hewing hard-right, but those people will support them so long as they keep goose-stepping. God (or Mammon) help the GOP the moment they stop. But for now, they're covered.
Paradoxically, the Democrats stand on a foundation of Jell-O, having long since given up on standing anywhere left of "moderate" on the spectrum. They're "left" only because they stand left of the reactionary GOP, not because they're actually left of fucking center in their politics. There is no solid base to betray for the Democrats, which is why they're always surrendering initiative, always capitulating, always triangulating, always appeasing the Republicans.
The Democrats throw out ideas and hope that they stick, hope they weave together a shaky coalition for the moment. It's been this way ever since they abandoned the New Deal, turned their backs on working-class Americans. And that's the one area where, if the Dems would only build upon it, the GOP couldn't touch -- class -- and yet, the Democrats won't go there, are afraid to, even though it's the one area where the GOP simply can't pretend to be populist and working-class. Trouble is, the Democrats aren't, either (even though the majority of Americans reject the GOP ideology, the Democrats hide from populism and discussions of class).
And so, without a solid base to protect and energize them, they wobble again and again, like the punching bags they've become. They can suck their teeth at MoveOn all they want; they can lick as many Republican jackboots as they'd like; they're still going to be kicked in the teeth for their troubles.
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Third Party
As righteous as voting for a third party might make some of you feel, short of not voting at all, it's exactly what the Republicans want you to do.
How about instead of throwing your vote away on a third party, try making the Democratic Party one you're proud to vote for?
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@downwarddog
I personally think voting for a third party will depend upon who the Republican and Democratic candidates ultimately are. If it's another Bush vs. Gore, where there's a massive and important difference between the candidates, I think it's unwise to vote for a third party candidate.
But if there's little substantive difference between the candidates and both are worthy of the office, now might be the time to send the Democratic leadership a clear message--listen to what the base has to say and govern with a little dignity, initiative and courage.
It's tough love, but if you want change in your party, you have to vote for it.
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thank you Slackie Onassis!
Nice post early on here. I agree completely. The Democrats have to stand up for working people. If the Democrats don't have the sense to know that they have to support working people consistently then it's time to (ahem) move on. An excellent opportunity to pound this message of being supportive of the working classes has arisin this very day! Now is the time to scream and yell about Bush's veto today. It's a golden opportunity but some Democrats might be influenced by fear of losing their usual bribes from the insurance companies.
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No Confidence in Reid
The Democrats lack leadership. Reid's got to go. He's sucked up the place for too long now. That MoveOn resolution shouldn't have even been allowed to come to the floor. As a majority leader, he's been a dismal failure.
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RE: Third Party
"How about instead of throwing your vote away on a third party, try making the Democratic Party one you're proud to vote for?"
Well first you have to ween them from all the happy pills.
Then you have to ween them from the defense contractor's monies.
Let's don't even mention AIPAC since the first two are unpossible anyway.
The Democrats do not want to change. They figure that if the Republicans screw things up enough they will be given the reigns of power and what they do doesn't matter anyway.
Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are more likeky to become world leaders and nobel prize winners than the Democratic Party become the Democaratic Party again.
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"Now is the time to scream "
I could not help thinking about Howard Dean when I read these words by the poster above. A populist with passion, who should have been president (although he's been doing a fine job as DNC chair, despite anything you might here from Rahm nd his ilk). How different things might have been.
Why did his bid fail? Not from lack of popular support, but rather from a combination of a screwed up primary system and a lack of party support, a party that failed to recognize the changing tide in America.
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RE: Third Party
"How about instead of throwing your vote away on a third party, try making the Democratic Party one you're proud to vote for?"
Well first you have to ween them from all the happy pills.
Then you have to ween them from the defense contractor's monies.
Let's don't even mention AIPAC since the first two are unpossible anyway.
The Democrats do not want to change. They figure that if the Republicans screw things up enough they will be given the reigns of power and what they do doesn't matter anyway.
Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are more likely to become world leaders and nobel prize winners than the Democratic Party become the Democratic Party again.