Although it is far from united or viable, there is a growing bunch of folks who realize how far to the right establishment politics has moved in the last two decades. Not only that, but we propose that it is the Democratic Party, not the Republican one, which has, in effect, led the march.
The simple reality is that the notion of “get elected/relected at all costs” is the driving force for all post-capitalist politicians in the USA. Power is the principle. Just exactly that.
It is one thing for Republican conservatives, steamrolled by the eastern establisment liberals for so long, to be as lock-step and blood-thirsty and corrupt as they are. I feel only sorry for folks like Delay and his clones. They really do think it’s OK to reap the spoils of victory. Indeed, they won their offices by preaching disdain of liberal America. Once in power, they, in their own minds, have gone about pillaging and looting. Is it unreasonable to expect, given the 11th century ethics they find so attractive?
The Democratic Party, on the other hand, increasingly seems to me to be the more cynical and dangerous of the two. Where the Republican Party seems to have some integrity (they do what they say the believe in), the Democratic Party has none. None. None. You know where Santorum stands. Do you know where Schumer or Pelosi or Jesse Jackson, Jr. or even Henry Waxman stand? Have you studied the furtive behavior and rhetoric of Howard Dean since he betrayed us all (finally) and went to work for the DLC? Yes, I said “DLC”, not “DNC”.
I gotta ask yuh, kind readers . . . what is it that keeps you believing that the Democratic Party wants anything different than the Republican Party does – P O W E R;? What??? Already, the Party has smashed the potential candidacies of two people (Sheehan and the cat from PA) who would have run as leftist Dems. The party is beyond “reform”.
At the risk of allowing more reprobates to sit in Washington’s excrement-stained seats, I advocate a boycott of the polls in ’06. Vote not for any candidate who does not conform to the criteria I outlined here.
No more “lesser of two evils.” It has not served us well. It is time to see voting for Democrats as the “lesser of ONE evil.” Time to organize a truly leftist movement. Because we cannot, in Washington, have two enemies – we must see the sitting Senators and Congressmen as one ruling class. And we must defeat the weakest of them – the Democrats – in ’06.
There are those who advocate giving the Left some sort of foothold by regaining a Democratic majority in DC. I must reject that. For the Democrats do not support the agenda set forth by Roosevelt. There are no good old days. The leftists who advocate a program of justice and fairness and equal opportunity for all within our borders, and who reject the exploitation and eradication of societies different from ours, are disenfranchized by the Democratic Party. How can we continue to support them?
This is not politics. This is not realism. This is not leftism. This is nihilism.
You don’t have to look for for a decent Democrat. Try Al Gore. And if all the people who think like you had not voted for Nader, Gore would still be president.
Major responsibility for the Bush disaster lies with your line of thinking. “I must reject that.”
No, Gore wouldn’t be President. He won the popular and electoral vote. The Supreme Court would still have appointed Bush. Gore would still have rolled over and surrendered.
“Thank you for your support.”
Peace,
Andrew C. White
Stephentown Democratic Committee Chair
“Where the Republican Party seems to have some integrity (they do what they say the believe in)”
I don’t know what you’ve been following, but they Telegraph what they are going to do by Blaming the Opposition of doing/wanting, than do Exactly That!!
And let me know when you find a Republican, their Extremely Rare, and have been for years now!!
Fearful “reasoning.”
Look up integrity. Don’t confuse it with adhering unwaveringly to an ideology in service to blind egoism. That’s what Republicans do.
Oh, and just who are these people? Name the names if you want ot play the game.
Although I disagree with the diarist, his diary reminds me of a joke (slightly modified by me).
The republicans are lining the dems up against the wall in front of a firing squad. When asked if they preferred a blindfold, a dem from the DNC stated “No.” To which the dem to his right (from the DLC) stated “Put it on, you’ll just make things more difficult for us if you don’t compromise.”
Good for you I’m in an especially good mood tonight, otherwise I’d get all pissed off and probably go on a troll hunt.
Your statement that “The Democratic Party, on the other hand, increasingly seems to me to be the more cynical and dangerous of the two” is absurd, while your advocacy of a boycott at the polls does nothing but elect right wingers over Dems.
Are you nuts? On dope?
I’m proud to be a Democrat, today just as much as years ago. Realities sometimes change. It’s more difficult for Democrats in some areas of the country to sound as liberal as they used to be able to.
But I still believe my party is the party of FDR, and the only political party with a chance to win that truly cares about the poor and disadvantaged.
And President Gore would have never, ever, started a war in Iraq over a stack of lies.
May you not live long and prosper,
John
This is the craziest diary I have seen in a long time. Not vote? That my dear has been part of the problem in this f’d up country. 35% of registered voters stayed home last time. Thus we have Bush! Nuts!
One of the problems we’re going to continue to face is that we have a substantial proportion of the population that has good reason to perceive itself as disenfranchised. I live in a state which has made it extremely difficult to get third party candidates on the ballot. What does one do then when stuck with a “choice” between a Republican and a Democrat who doesn’t differ much from the Republican?
I don’t mean to seem so bleak. However, this the reality.
One thing to do is to figure out what makes the nonvoters tick. The other thing I’d suggest is to remind those nonvoters that they are potentially a very powerful bloc in this country – I know I mention it whenever and wherever it’s appropriate.
I’ve argued that nonvoters need to register – ideally as independents, and then collectively demand that politicians address their needs.
Great points Benjamin.
At the moment, with Diebold&Co. in charge, the proportion that IS effectively disenfranchised is approximately 99.5%. The perception thereof is somewhat lower, certainly; US voters can be slow to catch on.
I do not and cannot support a boycott of the polls, but I admit that I find it hard to argue against one at a time when the only ballots that are counted or noticed begin with “Pay to the order of…” and are denominated in five or more figures.
It all starts with making sure ALL legitimate votes are counted and further that the totals as reported are in fact the actual totals of that counting. Absent that, frankly, it really does NOT matter who votes or doesn’t, or how.
I suspect that if we can somehow fix the voter suppression and vote counting issues, the “voter apathy” problem will disappear as though it never was…. (fancy that)
Which is also why I suspect both parties will go to the mat – or the mattresses — to PREVENT accurate, verifiable polling from becoming the norm.
I knew I’d generate some negative comments with this post, but was unprepared for the venemous attacks. I am, however, undaunted.
My main point is that there are not two parties – there is only one. There are indeed some small differences in both strategies and tactics, but if Gore was preznut on 9/11, we’d be in Iraq anyway. The Clintonites abandoned universal healthcare when the going got tough. The DLC is as rightist as the American Enterprise Institute. Hillary fully supports preemptive war. Edwards is playing the “up-the-union” card, but he’s a trial lawyer turned professional politician. Howard Dean has been revealed as a creepy whore.
The ’08 race between Hillary and McCain will be nothing but pure theatre. Millions of dollars will be wasted on bread and circus. It won’t matter who wins. The simple fact is that we will continue along our corrupt, greedy, racist, and imperialist path until the Left abandons the Democratic Party and starts a true third party movement.
To those of you who were most vicious in your comments, I can only express my sadness at your ignorance. You have only strengthened my resolve in the face of your crassness.