Principles or Politics: The "Left" Has Decided

[donco6]

During the Bush years, this truth was easily obscured, as bashing the Republican president for trampling progressive initiatives was equivalent to aiding Democrats. But in the Obama era, the "The Left's" destructive, party-over-principles motivation has become impossible to hide, especially recently.

Behold, for instance, major environmental groups' attitude toward the Gulf oil spill.

We know that before the disaster, President Obama recklessly pushed to expand offshore drilling. We also know that his Interior Department gave British Petroleum's rig a "categorical exclusion" from environmental scrutiny and, according to The New York Times, "gave permission to BP and dozens of other oil companies to drill in the Gulf without first getting required (environmental) permits." Worse, we know that after the spill, the same Interior Department kept issuing "categorical exclusions" for new Gulf oil operations, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar still refuses "to rule out continued use of categorical exclusions," as the Denver Post reported (heckuva job, Kenny!).

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/05/laying_bare_the_myth_of_the_le.html#comments

I agree with Sirota's comments regarding the established "Left" organizations (and I think of HRC as one of these, but there's dozens more). From the Dem side, they reward and applaud "Left" groups who abandon principle over politics. It's disgustingly hypocritical.

[laughingliberal]

1. K & R nt

[leftstreet]

2. K&R

[stray cat]

3. Does politics include the ability to get elected in order to accomplish anything

or is getting elected not important

[donco6]

5. You'd fall right into the "I Have No Principles" Camp.

So the answer is "yes."

[leftstreet]

6. What have these elected people accomplished exactly?

:shrug:

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Is it possible to stand on principle and be elected

BECAUSE you stand on principle?

The notion that liberals can't be elected is a self-fulfilling prophecy when the party mucketymucks keep pulling the carpet out from under anyone without a corporate pedigree.

[donco6]

12. +1

YOu know, the right wing seems to have NO PROBLEM getting people elected from out of nowhere, who gain popularity simply by taking a stand (wrongheaded as they may be). Yet, somehow, we're not even allowed to TRY.

[Lorien]

15. They don't believe that Liberals can't get elected-they just do whatever they can

to prevent Liberals from becoming candidates by outspending them with corporate cash.

[T Wolf]

10. If "accomplishing anything" is a worthwhile goal, as opposed to achieving significant PROGRESS

on the shitcake this country was turned into by decades of repuke (and rethug-lite) rule.

Whatever is "accomplished" by this administration (and Congress) will be pitiful compared to what could/should/would have been gained if my party actually adhered to its long-held (stated) principles. The few rare opportunities Dems have had to do good over the last 20-30 years would seem to teach us that we need to try for more than a slow-down (on some issues) from the destruction wreaked buy the pukes.

[nashville_brook]

20. because, obviously no one can get elected by standing for the people.

fail.

[joeybee12]

4. Agreed, they want to keep getting those invite to dinner parties in DC...n/t

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. It is disgusting.

I stand with the groups and people who recongnize a wrong is a wrong, no matter what the political affiliation after a politician's name.

[Nite Owl]

8. K&R

excellent article, about time someone says it

[donco6]

11. Sirota takes no quarter these days.

He's on it with Salazar - petitioning for his resignation. After reading more about it, I agree.

[Individualist]

13. K&R

[Lorien]

14. The "Left" or the "DLC"?

They are two very different groups with two very different agendas.

[donco6]

16. That's why "Left" is in quotes.

Sirota distinguishes between those who claim to represent the "Left", yet hold corporate pedigrees; versus those who really make up the Left on principle and substance.

I don't even call DLC left at all. I don't think they would either. They claim to be "centrist."

[bvar22]

17. K&R

Rahm Emanuel's Think Tankers Enforce 'Message Discipline' Among 'Liberals'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeremy-scahill/rahm-emanuels-think-tanke_b_185203.html

Going against the "Centrist"/ ProCorporate (DLC) Party Line can buy you grief these days.
Just observe it in action at DU.



There is another post at DU this morning that is worth the read:

Party Time on Make Believe Street
By David Glenn Cox
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x537260

[readmoreoften]

18. Well, they aren't remotely left. It's a contest between Right and Center-Right.

Left ain't got nothing to do with it.

[donco6]

19. They often claim the role.

They serve on panels where they know they're supposedly representing the "Left" position. They crowd out real Left representatives. Hence the "Left" in quotations. Sirota goes over this a lot on his show.