NYT: Incoming Democrats Put Populism Before Ideology

[Pirate Smile]

Incoming Democrats Put Populism Before Ideology

By ROBIN TONER and KATE ZERNIKE
Published: November 12, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 — The newly elected Democratic class of 2006, which is set to descend on the Capitol next week, will hardly be the first freshmen to arrive in Washington promising to make a difference.

-snip-


CLAIRE McCASKILL, MISSOURI “I’m from a state that’s really like America — it’s divided.”

Many in the class of 2006, especially those who delivered the new Democratic majorities by winning Republican seats, show little appetite for that kind of ideological crusade. But in interviews with nearly half of them this week, the freshmen — 41 in the House and 9 in the Senate, including one independent — conveyed a keen sense of their own moment in history, and a distinct world view: they say they were given a rare opportunity by voters, many of them independents and Republicans, who were tired of the partisanship and gridlock in Washington.

Now, they say, they have to produce — to deal with long-festering problems like access to affordable health care and the loss of manufacturing jobs, and to find a bipartisan consensus for an exit strategy in Iraq, a source of continuing division not only between but also within the parties.

Many of them say they must also, somehow, find a way to address the growing anxiety among voters about a global economy that no longer seems to work for them. There is a strong populist tinge to this class.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/us/politics/12class.html?hp&ex=1163307600&en=c28b82096a3935d5&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Ken Burch]

1. I hate the code words in this...

"put populism before ideology" is meant to be code for "keep most things unchanged".

We can't let the MSM try to force us into that kind of limited approach.
That's what killed us between '92 and '94.

[roseBudd]

6. Populism is what the dem party used to stand for before class warfare was deemed crass

It definitely means change because the GOP has been catering to the rich and the multinationals.

[w4rma]

15. I like populism. I like the word populism. I like putting "populism before ideology". Good plan.(nt)

[radfringe]

17. populism has been a "dirty word"

we've all heard the sneer in the voice when it's said "so-n-so's a populist"

the opposite of populist is an elitist...

during the '04 races - Dean was smeared as being a "populist"
and when Kerry received the nomination - he was an "elitist"

[Ken Burch]

18. I'm not against a progressive populism...

It was just that "instead of ideology" thing.

I'll be hoping for the best and fighting for the progressive case like most DU'ers in the next two years, though.

[radfringe]

19. didn't mean to imply you were

sorry if it seemed that way

I was just pointing out how the word POPULISM / POPULIST has been "branded" as something negative and implies people are stupid because they rally around a particular idea/candidate like it was the latest "pet rock" fad.

[sandnsea]

20. I think attacking 'people over ideology'

is a sad attempt to destroy any success Democrats have because success by Democrats makes the far left feel irrelevant.

[gully]

2. Awesome!

As a member of the "population," I am thrilled!

[Pirate Smile]

3. more

"“I see myself, hopefully, as a bridge builder, a consensus person,” said Harry Mitchell, 66, a longtime state senator and former mayor of Tempe, Ariz., who defeated Representative J. D. Hayworth, an emblematic member of the class of 1994. “I can’t be a rabid partisan Democrat and represent this district.”

Nancy Boyda, who defeated Representative Jim Ryun, the legendary track star, in a district in Kansas that President Bush carried by 20 percentage points in 2004, summarized her mandate this way: “Stop the gridlock, stop the nastiness, get something done. People are tired of excuses.”

-snip-
But Democratic strategists say both leaders recognize that the new Democratic majority was elected, in large part, from Republican-leaning districts and states. If those new members vote in a purely partisan way, they — and the majority — will quickly be put at risk.

-snip-
But many of these freshmen Democrats are hard to pigeonhole ideologically. Even among the most socially conservative, there is a strong streak of economic populism that is a unifying force.
Heath Shuler, for example, the former professional football player and newly elected House Democrat from North Carolina, is anti-abortion and pro-gun, but sounds like an old-style Democrat on economic issues.

“I was taught at a very, very young age about faith and personal responsibility, and through that, that responsibility was about helping those who cannot help themselves,” Mr. Shuler said. “If you look at what the Democratic Party stands for, it is about helping others who can’t help themselves.”"

[iamjoy]

4. I Am Heartened By This

It seems like people often talk of a "choice" or divide between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Democrats. Some of the hot button issues are abortion, guns and gays. Well, you can be a Democrat and against legalized abortion, gun control and same sex marriage.

But, can't we all agree it's time to raise the minimum wage?

And, let's make that our priority.

Health care is a freaking third rail, but while we're hashing that out, we're not talking about criminilizing abortion or guns or passing discriminatory legislation. We're not talking about limits to freedom of expression and calling it "protecting the flag" either. I hope the Conservative Democrats will be fine with this, because while they have their opinions, they don't tend to make these issues a cornerstone of their campaign. Thus, they have no implied or explicit promise to take action. Of course, if a vote comes up, we know how they'll vote - but with Democratic leadership focuses on middle America's pocketbook, these other issues may get pushed to the back burner.

Conflict resolved.

I at least, am hopeful.

[Roxy66]

5. I love it.....I am tired of the MSM trying to drag us down...

This is where most of America is....not "extreme left", what ever that is, Dems have a love of the earth and it's people and tend not to juge, but look out for other people. Thats why I am a Dem. I am so glad to see all these new faces come in and throw the MSM off it's bullshit labeling and "Taxes this and tree lover that bullshit....I hope we get some real things done...and to hell with the Talking heads!

[wickerwoman]

7. Isn't populism a kind of ideology?

Am I missing something?

[Pirate Smile]

8. I googled Populism and these are the definitions I found:

"Populism is a political philosophy or rhetorical style that holds that the common person is oppressed by the "elite" in society, and that the instruments of the State need to be grasped from this self-serving elite and used for the benefit and advancement of the people as a whole. The ideal projected by populism is that of reaching out to ordinary people, talking about their economic and social concerns, and appealing to their common sense. ..."

and

a belief in the rights, wisdom, or virtues of the common people.

and

the political doctrine that supports the rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite"

[wickerwoman]

12. So, um, yes....

The level of illiteracy among members of the U.S. media is really staggering sometimes.

[w4rma]

16. Populism also means not forcing through unpopular laws despite one's ideological beliefs.

In general the progressive ideology, itself, is popular. However certain beliefs that have recently been tied to the progressive ideology are not popular, such as:

That hopefully means that any additional federal gun control is dead on arrival. That also hopefully means that amnesty for illegals is dead on arrival, also (75+% against).

[MGD]

9. Excellent. Fuck the elitists. They are loyal only to money.

"Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains."
Thomas Jefferson

[Gloria]

10. In 2000, Gore surged as he moved to a populist message.....

maybe his time will come?

[fujiyama]

14. That's true

Lieberman absolutely hated it, but Gore's move did work. Before the convention and his message came through, his poll numbers were terrible. Bush was beating him by huge margins.

Gore was definitely trying to move away from the DLC style corporate controlled Dem. party. It's true, he too was a member, but it was obvious he was leaving it behind.

I'm optimistic about this new breed of Dems that has been elected. I might even say I'm excited. I was reading about Tester being an organic farmer. It's great to have people come from different backgrounds and give a different input on how difficult it is for so many people. I'm sure I will disagree with some of them on certain social issues, but those social issues ultimately are wedge issues brought about by republicans just to divide us. Most of us know that whether or not a woman can have an abortion isn't a decision the state can make. It's a complicated choice that most women would likely think long and hard over. Likewise, whether or not it's called "marriage", conservative people know that even gay people should have the same RIGHTS as straight people. It's a matter of basic human morality and decency.

I'm hopeful they will focus on the real important economic issues which can impact many people.

But I want them to fight bad legislation. No legislation is ultimately better than BAD legislation.

[BenDavid]

11. When it comes to ideology and

philosophy, I revert back to what President Clinton said about both:
"It's the difference between the words "philosophy" and "ideology,If you have a philosophy, it generally pushes you in a certain direction or another. When a person is open to discussion, argument, evidence and new learning, an individual may end up making a principled agreement with someone of a different philosophy.The problem with ideology, is that you already have your mind made up. You know all the answers. And that makes evidence irrelevant and argument a waste of time. So you tend to govern by assertion and attack.".....

[OneBlueSky]

13. the corporate/government/media cabal HATES populism . . .

because it infringes on their power and returns it to where it belongs -- with the people . . . the notion that government derives its power from the consent of the governed -- the people -- is anathema to them . . . THEY want to continue to control government, to use it as their own personal ATM and world-beater . . .

which is precisely why populism should be the Democrats' guiding political philosophy . . . and precisely why there's such a chasm between the DLCers and the party's rank and file on this most every issue . . .

[wholetruth00]

21. What is now called "populism" used to be called "extreme liberalism"

But that was when it only concerened the minorities the poor and women among us. Now that the "middle class" has been swept up in the "cultural wars" and they have been played like a fiddle by the ultra right, the movement is now a "populist" movement.

[SOS]

22. Necons and Neolibs both ceased to matter on 11/7/06

Both ideologies are now dead to the electorate.

Since 1976, everyone has run as a "Washington outsider".

In 2008, the winner will be the one who runs as a "Wall Street outsider".

[krispos42]

23. We need a blizzard of single-issue bills this January

Popular things, like the minimum wage. No amendments, no pork, no earmarks.

By favorite is making the salaries of the legislators tied to the minimum wage. Perhaps ten times the annualized full-time minimum wage. That would drop the current level from about $170,000 per year to a mere $107,000. Just might get them to bump it up to $8 and hour, huh? And I'd be there'd be an inflationary increase every year.

[Zhade]

24. "Affordable health care" = privatized?

Not good enough, though maybe a start.

Raising the minimum wage? Useless in the long-term if not indexed to inflation.

Will we see true populism, or band-aid populism? Time will tell.

(Hoping for true.)