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I've ranted about this many times, so I might as well rant about it some more: We're far too concerned about screaming "Treason!" at the Joe Liebermans of the party, especially when Joe could be doing OUR business, not that of the Insurance Industry, the Military-Industrial Complex, and the state of Israel. So it sucks -- I agree. I had many disagreements with Mr. Daschle, but he did a lot of good in his time, as well. They could have very effective roles to play in advancing OUR cause, even out of power as Daschle is, but we have to be the ones holding the proverbial leash. And we're not doing it, nor can we do it simply by complaining.
For instance, unions are falling on hard times and have about as much clout as a comatose, armless man. Daschle is now free to do what he does best, which is to rep for the union movement. (The last time I checked, anyway.)
Hell, there have been Republicans who have done some progressive things, too. Politicians are for the using.
But screaming bloody murder about the torchbearers of the Democratic Party is just plain counterproductive. They don't change because of it, and we end up wasting our time. When undecided voters hear Hillary being called a "war monger" -- while the Republican war mongers attract nary a peep of criticism -- it breeds the kind of cynicicm that gets Democrats defeated at the polls and keeps Republicans on the throne of a nation that isn't supposed to countenance kings, princes, or so much as an hereditary barony. There has to be a better way to "keep them in line" than savaging our own movement.
And it's a lot less power-damping when the fight is conducted during primary season, when Republicans are usually also laying into each other. But that's politics, and it should be their hobby, not our life.
Mainly, we need to assume that WE are The Party, and to hell with the elected officials, most of whom are involved in no-win politics anyway. That's basically what the Right did, and it worked. They got themselves elected to local and minor positions, cranked out propaganda by the long ton, and by 1980, the word "liberal" was being used like the word "Jew" in 1930s Germany.
It won't help to "take back the streets" or "speak truth to power" if the street commission is against us and the noise ordinances are written by the powerful. What is required is a certain kind of cultivated, feigned disinterest in the politicians -- while keeping track of their every move. "That's nice, Joe. Now go away and leave us to inflict some well-earned pain on your friends in the Insurance biz. And remember us the next time you're tempted to give them a freebie, because our party loyalty goes only so far."
It works in dating, and it should work in politics.
The points you make are good, and the fires must be kept stoked. But the single flaw in the argument is the killer -- that with the proper representation, we will win back the political process. I disagree. We'll win it back by establishing ourselves as The Power among the people. The politicians will then hasten to listen to US. Then we'll have representation, as well as quick response time to mail, e-mail, and phone calls, and strong, honest, Progressive voting in Washington.
Imagine Liberals and Progressives dominating nearly all of the school boards, zoning boards, and other contact-level legal offices in the country? It would cut the Radical Right off at the ankles. The Republicans would be holding on for dear life, and the "Joementum" would consist of the Democratic politicians coming to us for help, not the other way around.
This isn't to say we should ignore what's happening "at the top". But right now, we're ignoring what's happening at the bottom, and heaping as much abuse on Democrats as Republicans do. That's not a winning strategy.
In order to win, we will have to work twice as hard, be twice as clever, and swallow twice as much of our pride just to get half as far. But consider who we're up against -- a bunch of lazy, ignorant, egotistical greedheads. Their future is pain and loss. Our future is success and justice. Sending Joe Lieberman and the other DLC fuddies out to pasture can wait.
Here's to the future -- OUR future! Remember to toss a crumb to Joe and Tom, and tell them not to get the floor dirty again.
--p!
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