DC Democrat's Conspiracy of the Soulless (Sirota)

[depakid]

"A lot of folks wonder why the Democratic Party in Washington, D.C. seems to stand for nothing. Is it because the party is beholden to corporate interests? In many instances, yes. Is it because leaders in Washington of both parties are, by and large, wholly disconnected from the real world? That's a big part, too. But still, the lack of principles that wafts from the party in Washington is just too widespread for it to be some random, organic phenomenon. Put another way, there must be some organized, well-crafted strategy being implemented that keeps the Democrats' few voices of true opposition muted, and keeps the party as a whole stuck in the convictionless muck.

Now, I am no conspiracy theorist, and I tend to be suspicious of those who imply that a close-knit cabal of Democratic Party insiders in Washington have all sorts of secret plans. But if you look carefully at the public statements of many of the key players in this cabal, you don't need to be a conspiracy theorist to see that, in fact, gutting the party's conviction-based soul is a deliberate, calculated strategy emanating from the nation's capital."

<snip>

"....To be a Democrat, Emanuel says, means not having to actually support any platform of basic, kitchen-table issues at all. Just call yourself a Democrat no matter what your positions are on any core issue - even health care, jobs, trade, the environment - and presto - you are welcomed into the fold by the Washington cabal."

<snip>

"Oh yes, you can be sure they say they are doing this as a way to win the next election. They will also claim this is the way to win in red states and red districts, despite concrete proof that the way to win in these areas is to run on populist convictions - not away from them. But, then, the fact that these D.C. "strategists" and operatives can even utter such sentiments with a straight face is proof that those running the show are either brain dead, or pathological liars who need serious medical attention. That's the only possible explanation for people claiming that the way to win elections is to pursue the same convictionless strategy that has failed to win a congressional majority in election (1994) after election (1996) after election (1998) after election (2000) after election (2002) after election (2004)."

More:

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0404-31.htm

With the GOP meltdown, 2006 would be a grand opportunity for a realignment. Unfortunately, All I've seen thus far is more of the same- maybe even worse of the same.

[leftstreet]

1. WOOHOO! Gotta love when he says this:

<snip>
But now I realize that's not going to happen on its own - it's only going to happen when these people are forced out by grassoots power. But rest assured - that time is coming. Everywhere you look, the grassroots of the Democratic Party - that is, the actual human beings who make up the Democratic Party - are getting more powerful. And sometime in the not-so-distant future, that's going to mean real change - not just lip service.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Great article. Thanks for posting.

[paulk]

3. Sirota pushes the RNC meme that Democrats don't stand

for anything.


Thanks a lot, asshole.

[depakid]

4. Unfortunately, it's not a meme it's a widespread perception

Look at the voting patterns over the past 6 years- or even the past 10 weeks. What you'll see is far right enabling among a significant number of Dems in the party. Look at the sorry speech given in response to the State of the Union. WTF was that?

The Dems as a party have either actively colluded with the far right or simply given up without a fight on EVERY single peice of legislation- no matter how egregious- or confirmed EVERY single nominee- no matter how extreme. Punting away dozens of winning issues in the process. Over and over.

That kind of behavior (and rhetoric) has not (and will not) reclaim a majority. It won't even reclaim relevance.

[Demeter]

5. The Leadership By and Large DOESN'T Stand For Anything

but the membership is full of expressive, fully-committed, opinionated Liberals and Progressives who have had enough and will bring Change and Progress to a suffering nation.

[K-W]

7. Its not his fault the Democrats conform to RNC memes. EOM

[yurbud]

8. no kidding--ever notice the corporate Dems call for unity until

they are being beaten by an insurgent progressive like Obama backing the steaming pile of excrement Joe Lieberman over Lamont?

Here in CA our progressive senator, Boxer, won re-election by a much wider margin than the corprocrat in progressive clothing, Feinstein.

[yurbud]

9. When the DLC drops off the check at your PR firm, tell them to

stand up for us and start their own party honestly labelled "the business party without the religious nuts," and see how many votes they get.

Right now,they are parasites cashing in on the goodwill progressives like FDR built up for the Democrats. If they take over completely, they will spend that account empty pretty goddamned fast.

[bemildred]

6. They stand for getting re-elected, everything else is "negotiable". nt

[yurbud]

10. a little worse--they stand for corporate donors

they will take care us so long as our interests don't conflict with current or future corporate donors. If they do, the DLC types drop us in a heartbeat for their true love.