The chasm between the DLC and the grassroots is permanent

[IndianaGreen]

The DLC is as incapable to taking responsibility for their own failures as Bush is for his. Just read the following story:

Centrist Dems weigh Dean dilemma
At Philly meeting, praise and scorn for presidential contender
By Tom Curry
MSNBC

PHILADELPHIA, July 28 — Meeting in Philadelphia to plan strategy for the 2004 elections, members of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council grappled Monday with what one Democratic political consultant here called “their worst nightmare,” the possibility that Howard Dean might win their party’s presidential nomination. DLC activists said that despite Dean’s recent fund-raising successes, his winning the nomination is far from a sure thing.

<snip>

The DLC is the business-friendly group that helped write Bill Clinton’s platform in 1992. It serves as a counterweight in Democratic politics to labor unions and interest groups such as the NAACP and the National Organization for Women (NOW).

In May, DLC leaders let loose with a full-bore attack on Dean, comparing him to losing Democratic candidates Walter Mondale in 1984 and George McGovern in 1972 and warning that he’d lead to the party to catastrophic defeat.

Interviews with the DLC high command and with DLC rank-and-file members found signs that some centrists want to make peace with Dean, but also considerable antagonism toward the former Vermont governor.

Without identifying any candidate by name, DLC Chairman Sen. Evan Bayh warned, “The Democratic Party is at risk of being taken over by the far left.” Seeming to allude to Dean’s angry anti-Bush campaign trial rhetoric, Bayh said, “We have an important choice to make: Do we want to vent, or do we want to govern?”

http://www.msnbc.com/news/945273.asp?0cv=CB10

[jobendorfer]

1. Bayh needs to call 1-800-get-a-clue

Since 1994, the party has:

- lost the House of Representatives 5 consecutive times
- lost control of the senate
- lost the presidency (running a candidate who couldn't even
carry his home state)
- come in danger of losing the governorship of California

Yep. No need for a mid-course correction here. "Do we want to
vent or do we want to govern?" The democrats ***aren't***
governing (in the sense of holding the political initiative),
haven't been governing for a long, long time, we're barely able
to spike the worst aspects of the republican offensive, and from
where I sit, "venting" would at least remind the electorate that
the political spectrum consists of more than the two flavors of
republican (psycho) and republican (lite).

If Bayh's level of thinking is representative of what one
finds in the Democratic Senate leadership, no wonder we're
so screwed. Feh!

J,
venting
and i promise to be more constructive next time,
just couldn't hold this back

[w13rd0]

2. If Dean is "far left"...

...does that mean the DLC is admitting that they are "far right"? Because by golly, I've known far leftists, and Howard Dean is no far leftist. I've also known far rightists, and the DLC sure as hell is sounding like they could share a table with the likes of Gary Bauer and Tom Delay...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Did Gary Bauer And Tom DeLay Go Over To The Dark Side

The DLC might be alot of things but they

are pro-choice

are pro gay-rights

and

pro affirmative action.

I watched a little of their meeting on tv and Ed Rendell and Jennifer Granholm didn't remind me of Michael Savage and Phyliss Schlafley

[Classical_Liberal]

6. Maybe they're just twits?

?

[IndianaGreen]

7. They are apparently also PROWAR!

and it is the war, and Al From and Evan Bayh's support for it. The war, which is still going on, is one of those moral issues in which compromise is not possible.

How can one compromise with mass violations of international law and war crimes?

[lcordero]

10. The DLC does not support affirmative action

[jonnyblitz]

5. I WISH Howard Dean was far left...n/t

[J B]

4. Uh... 'far from a sure thing'!?!? OMG, that's some confidence!

When did expectations turn upside-down like this? They sound scared, damn scared, way more than has been publicly acknowledged...

I'm impressed. Going from "he doesn't stand a chance" to "oh my god what if he WINS!?" and "He hasn't won yet!" well, that's just astounding.

I want no more whining about how Kerry's the frontrunner.

[IndianaGreen]

8. "The favorite for a good many DLC members would be Lieberman."

The Democratic contenders who are using DLC ideas and rhetoric are Lieberman, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri. The favorite for a good many DLC members would be Lieberman.

Well, there you have it! These people want the rest of us to shut the heck up and accept their choice for President, Joe Lieberman.

What say you, vox populi?

[Iverson]

9. et dicto

I say what I've always said. Conservatives do not have a proprietary claim upon my vote, nor does anyone.

The split, by the way, is permanent because it is built into the political structure. It isn't just a matter of the DLC dismissing every traditional Democratic constituency. Apparently, you have to believe in the current version of economic globalization, even though anyone who can spell "structural adjustment" ought to know better.

Also, prayers and burnt offerings to Mars just aren't for me.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. i agree the DLC needs to come back home

[Terwilliger]

12. I thought this was a new article!

I've been hearing this same shit for nearly 2 years around here :crazy:

[Az]

13. The DLC does not speak for me

If they wish to be what the democratic party represents then I am no longer a democrat. That being said I am not yet done fighting for the party. I am liberal.

I believe that a society must work together to build a strong structure in which all can thrive.

I believe that Corporations are a great threat and must be brought to heel.

I believe that the quality of life should be the measure of a nations success and not the GDP.

I believe that none reach so high as when they reach down to help another up.

I believe the government should be responsive to the will of the people and not corporations.

I believe that change leading us away from the mistakes of our history is progress.

I believe that education, medical health care, and scientific research are a boon to all humanity and should not be shackled by corporate tyrants.

I believe that the arts are a vital expression of society and that they must be supported.

I believe that justice should deal in rehabilitation rather than vengence.

I believe that women should have control of their body.

I believe that love should be the determining factor in what makes a family or a marriage.

I believe that freedom of religion means freedom from religion or it is meaningless.

I believe that government should be transparent. A people cannot govern themself without knowledge of the issues.

I believe that the roll of politicians should be governing, not campaigning.

I believe that the US hordes much of the worlds wealth and that it is going to hurt to even the balance.

I believe we need a planet to live on and selling it out to the corporate machines of destruction is selling our own future.

I believe we need to disentangle ourselves from oil.

I believe we need to dismantle the bulk of our military.

I believe I will vote for a candidate who speaks for me.