(0 comments)I know that I would be a heck of a lot more excited about the Democrats right now if more of them would sack up and actually fight for what they believe in:
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The only thing Democrats have to fear is themselves.
Update: Scott at the League gets it just about right*:
Weiner picked an issue he feels strongly about and in which it is hard to find fault: providing medical care for those rescue workers affected by 9-11. It doesn’t get much more altruistic than that in America these days. And Weiner’s point is not so much to argue about procedure, which puts voters to sleep, but rather to reassert the case that Democrats are on the right side of history here. That Democrats are the good guys.* Disclaimer: Yes, I think Scott’s point is a little too Manichean in the broader perspective, but he’s right on in terms of the value of highlighting the “You’re wrong and we’re RIGHT” contrast in the context of a particular legislative battle.There has been so much conceding and strong rhetoric followed by tepid incrementalism that I think a lot of the Democratic base has started to question just to what extent they are the good guys. And progressives’ full court press, as much as I’ve participated in and agree with it, doesn’t help with that doubt.
What Weiner is as much as saying here is, “We’re the good guys! You’re the bad guys!” And that, frankly, is what rank and file Democrats need to hear leading up to the midterms.
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Fast Food
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Leave it to TBogg:
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DOWN THE VINE
Syndication
The only way I see the Democrats holding on to a majority in Congress over the next couple of elections is by showing the base that they are serious about fighting for us. There has been far too little of this, and it is good to see some.
amen. too much quiet backroom incrementalism. i've always found that people only seem to get fired up when the people trying to lead them in a general direction are fired up. wiener is certainly fired up. i can't stop watching this video -- "THE GENTLEMAN WILL SIT!"
Agreed. More Al Franken and Anthony Weiner, less Max Baucus and Harry Reid.
And we REALLY need to get a rid of the more extreme "Blue Dogs". Lincoln, Nelson, several representatives (including my own). The only time these particular people aren't whoring for attention by pretending they'll vote against the rest of the party is when they are actually voting against the rest of the party.
And Joe Lieberman… We're probably going to lose the supermajority in the Senate this year. I say it's a good thing. Less worrying about getting 60 votes and less attention whoring by the Blue Dogs. And even better, we can kick Traitor Joe's sorry ass right out of the caucus for destroying the Public Option AND the Medicare buy-in.