Grow a Pair and Fight
31/10/05 07:27
I
almost gave up on the Democractic Party during the
Kerry Campaign. I have worked in marketing at
Fortune 500 levels and it was obvious that there
was no hand on the rudder during that fiasco.
Someone needed to program some talking points into
that zombie and force him to stick to them. But it
seems that his arrogance--his belief that his good
intentions and "statesmanship" would carry the
day--overwhelmed political realities. That's the
problem with the Democrats. They believe their good
intentions are enough. They pride themselves on
thinking about "the good of the country."
A great many Republicans don't seem terribly concerned about "the good of the country." After all, they still make excuses for sending tens of thousands to their deaths on a war based on bogus evidence at best, and overt lies at the worst; a war that has had an incalculable cost internationally. They care about the preservation and expansion of their power and the power of those like them. One can imagine that the prospect of 7 white men (one dark skinned client of white men who owes his career to their protection and largesse) deciding that racial discrimination is just fine, that women's lives, health and wellbeing are secondary to those of zygotes, would essentially mean that the earth had settled back into its rightful orbit.
The Democrats must fight the Alito nomination to the last. Losing is just fine. Fighting is what's important now. The Republicans have learned that Democrats don't have the stomach for a fight, and this only encourages them to ever more egregious behavior. Americans do not respect weakness and impotence. Polls show that a most Americans agree with Democratic positions on the issues, so why don't they vote Democratic? Because you don't vote for the powerless. The public seems to know what the Democrats in Congress don't: If you're not willing to fight for your principles, you must have none.
In short:
1. Don't threaten -- Don't threaten to filibuster. When the question arises, play vague. "We're keeping all of our options open."
2. Filibuster -- The Republcans will accuse you of unstatesmanlike behavior. Get your talking points in order. "Protecting the civil rights of Americans; Won't roll back the progress we've made toward women's rights and minority rights; Hammer the civil rights cases. Attack conservative judicial philosophy as giving the state --not the individual--the right to make your personal decisions. Democrats stand for the rights of individuals to achieve their potential without impediment of race hate or gender discrimination--and believe that individuals are the best arbiters of what to do with thier own lives and persons. Republicans believe the State knows best.
3. Post-Nuclear - If the Republicans go nuclear, clog business for the rest of the Bush term. When attacked for doing so, say that you are simply "attempting to get a full and fair hearing on this piece of business." Play coy, just like they do. Put the statesman spin on any action you take. It works.
Please people, your good intentions are not enough. You are POLITICIANS. You are sleazy by nature. The very process by which you are elected is grotesquely corrupt. You dissemble and lie for a living. You are bought and paid for by those who provide the big money on which you thrive. It is hypocritical for Democrats to play virtuous when it comes to putting out. Those of us who have been voting for your are looking for a reason to continue doing so. The American people are looking for a reason to support those they agree with. They want a Party that will FIGHT for their interests. Thus far, you have proven that you are not that party. Thus, they turn to any Republican with an easy smile and a comforting lie. 'At least the lie might be true,' they think. At least the Republicans believe desperately enough in something to fight for it.
What do you believe in? A better America? Equal rights for all? The right to privacy? The right for individuals to lead their own personal lives without government intrusion?
If so, prove it. Now. Fight.
Digby suggests putting Alito on the back burner and focusing on Plamegate. But I fear this just more Progressive moral superiority trumping political reality. Plamegate is in the prosecutor's hands. The Dems can do absolutely nothing to push, expand, expedite or further his investigation. They cannot demand Congressional hearings--the Republicans are in control. All Democrats can do on Plamegate is continue to trumpet the underlying lies in the push to war. That's great. They should continue to make that case.
However, the Alito nomination allows Dems to show the American people what we stand for, and what we're willing to fight for, and how hard we're willing to fight for it. Plamegate is a negative that should continue to be exploited. Alito is a potential positive that must be seized. We can show what we're for on the Alito nomination--civil rights, individual rights, equal rights--not what we're against. Just saying we're against Bush and his cabal of liars is not enough.
A great many Republicans don't seem terribly concerned about "the good of the country." After all, they still make excuses for sending tens of thousands to their deaths on a war based on bogus evidence at best, and overt lies at the worst; a war that has had an incalculable cost internationally. They care about the preservation and expansion of their power and the power of those like them. One can imagine that the prospect of 7 white men (one dark skinned client of white men who owes his career to their protection and largesse) deciding that racial discrimination is just fine, that women's lives, health and wellbeing are secondary to those of zygotes, would essentially mean that the earth had settled back into its rightful orbit.
The Democrats must fight the Alito nomination to the last. Losing is just fine. Fighting is what's important now. The Republicans have learned that Democrats don't have the stomach for a fight, and this only encourages them to ever more egregious behavior. Americans do not respect weakness and impotence. Polls show that a most Americans agree with Democratic positions on the issues, so why don't they vote Democratic? Because you don't vote for the powerless. The public seems to know what the Democrats in Congress don't: If you're not willing to fight for your principles, you must have none.
In short:
1. Don't threaten -- Don't threaten to filibuster. When the question arises, play vague. "We're keeping all of our options open."
2. Filibuster -- The Republcans will accuse you of unstatesmanlike behavior. Get your talking points in order. "Protecting the civil rights of Americans; Won't roll back the progress we've made toward women's rights and minority rights; Hammer the civil rights cases. Attack conservative judicial philosophy as giving the state --not the individual--the right to make your personal decisions. Democrats stand for the rights of individuals to achieve their potential without impediment of race hate or gender discrimination--and believe that individuals are the best arbiters of what to do with thier own lives and persons. Republicans believe the State knows best.
3. Post-Nuclear - If the Republicans go nuclear, clog business for the rest of the Bush term. When attacked for doing so, say that you are simply "attempting to get a full and fair hearing on this piece of business." Play coy, just like they do. Put the statesman spin on any action you take. It works.
Please people, your good intentions are not enough. You are POLITICIANS. You are sleazy by nature. The very process by which you are elected is grotesquely corrupt. You dissemble and lie for a living. You are bought and paid for by those who provide the big money on which you thrive. It is hypocritical for Democrats to play virtuous when it comes to putting out. Those of us who have been voting for your are looking for a reason to continue doing so. The American people are looking for a reason to support those they agree with. They want a Party that will FIGHT for their interests. Thus far, you have proven that you are not that party. Thus, they turn to any Republican with an easy smile and a comforting lie. 'At least the lie might be true,' they think. At least the Republicans believe desperately enough in something to fight for it.
What do you believe in? A better America? Equal rights for all? The right to privacy? The right for individuals to lead their own personal lives without government intrusion?
If so, prove it. Now. Fight.
Digby suggests putting Alito on the back burner and focusing on Plamegate. But I fear this just more Progressive moral superiority trumping political reality. Plamegate is in the prosecutor's hands. The Dems can do absolutely nothing to push, expand, expedite or further his investigation. They cannot demand Congressional hearings--the Republicans are in control. All Democrats can do on Plamegate is continue to trumpet the underlying lies in the push to war. That's great. They should continue to make that case.
However, the Alito nomination allows Dems to show the American people what we stand for, and what we're willing to fight for, and how hard we're willing to fight for it. Plamegate is a negative that should continue to be exploited. Alito is a potential positive that must be seized. We can show what we're for on the Alito nomination--civil rights, individual rights, equal rights--not what we're against. Just saying we're against Bush and his cabal of liars is not enough.