Put up or shut up time for our Democratic politicians!!
So with the Al Franken finally being declared the winner in last year's Minnesota Senatorial election the Democrats are going to have their 60 seat super majority in the Senate. They have a huge numerical advantage in the House and of course have the Executive Branch.
In short they can't make excuses anymore. The American people voted for change. On climate change, new energy policies, health care reform (universal health care in fact), a 180 degree change in foreign policy, ending the war in Iraq, stopping the torture of detainees in our custody, etc, etc, etc. In fact between the 2006 midterm elections and 2008 the Democrats were given a mandate for change. Are they going to listen to the people and have a nice long stay in power or remain beholden to the same corporate interests that they and the Republicans have been serving and be voted out post haste?
The time for talk is over it is time to walk the walk.
In short they can't make excuses anymore. The American people voted for change. On climate change, new energy policies, health care reform (universal health care in fact), a 180 degree change in foreign policy, ending the war in Iraq, stopping the torture of detainees in our custody, etc, etc, etc. In fact between the 2006 midterm elections and 2008 the Democrats were given a mandate for change. Are they going to listen to the people and have a nice long stay in power or remain beholden to the same corporate interests that they and the Republicans have been serving and be voted out post haste?
The time for talk is over it is time to walk the walk.
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And whenever a Democratic politician gets all weak kneed over radically reforming our health care system they should have the poll numbers, which show over 70% of Americans are for universal health care, shoved in their face...just in case they are not 'aware' of the mandate they have been given.
June 30, 2009 11:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just sent the following to my senator, Chris Dodd;
June 30, 2009 11:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Also. But I swore. Mildly.
June 30, 2009 11:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Swore? You Bwak? :-O
A few 'damns' I am guessing. Actually I was thinking of going that route because I have come up with new and creative ways to use the 'F' word. Figured I'd try the semi respectful 'don't count on my vote the next time' route first. ;-)
July 1, 2009 12:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, Stilli is getting pretty mad too.
I like my party, my REp, my Senators, my president.
We shall see.
Does not mean the grass roots do not have to work, real hard to get things done though.
But now we have a chance!!!
July 1, 2009 12:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well I do like Senator Dodd, and my Rep John Larson who is in the Democratic leadership of the House. But what good are they if they can't deliver when they have unfettered power? Gotta turn up the heat on them dd...if we don't we won't get change we want, deserve and are calling for.
July 1, 2009 12:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I took the liberty of copying the text from your letter and faxing it to my senators. I trust you're cool with that. :)
July 1, 2009 12:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not one single problem with that at all. If anyone else wants to do it they should feel free.
July 1, 2009 12:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
The biggest problem is the innate weakness of our Democratic leaders who compromise most everything away before the negotiations even start and the fact that they don't really believe in the things we elected them to get done. If they did they wouldn't be constantly handing us lame excuses which are really cover for carrying the water for the parasite classes. Obama took single payer off the table dooming us to an inferior approach on healthcare. Obama is taking a fairly passive role in the cap and trade legislation allowing it to be so watered down it is nearly meaningless. Obama is refusing to fight for labor on EFCA which is an outrage considering labor's decisive role in winning him the nomination. The list is nearly endless, but our leader is a huge part of this problem. Remember, Obama proudly proclaimed just a few short years ago that Joe Lieberman was his mentor in the Senate. If this is even remotely accurate then lots of Obama's wishy washy, flip flopping makes a whole lot more sense.
July 1, 2009 2:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have never held any illusions that Obama was that far away from the political center oleeb. But he just recently said that if the American people want something done that in a sense we need to make him do it. Lets take him up on the challenge and the way to do that is by pressuring our congresscritters to get what we want passed. The interests are firmly entrenched and powerful so it isn't going to be easy to do in any way, shape or form. Might be impossible. But the only chance there is to accomplish it is by the people applying pressure for it. Over 70% of Americans are for a single payer public option...that needs to be driven home to our representatives in Washington. Either do our will or we'll show you the door.
July 1, 2009 2:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, you're right. We should try and I think many have been trying. It's going to take a whole lot more. One wonders why the Obama team hasn't put his vaunted e-mail list into action for more than ongoing fundraising appeals. Were he to exhort them to action on health care people would respond. That has not happened in a really focused way as far as I'm aware. Some mild appeals have been made, but the real emphasis has been on raising money.
July 1, 2009 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
And why he hasn't made that list available is a bit annoying oleeb. It would make the job much easier if the goal is to actually reform.
But I think he in his own way is saying 'we in Washington can only do so much' which is basically being realistic about how the power of corporate money prevents the politicians from doing too much. It is the biggest cop outs, granted, but he is leaving the door open and also saying 'if you tell us to do it we'll have no choice'.
Some of us unwashed peasants have taken up the call but, sadly you're right, not nearly enough. It is going to take leadership out of our ranks to get something done. But far too many Americans have become slothful and lazy when it comes to the civic duties.
p.s. This morning I also sent a copy of my letter to Dodd to Sen. LIEberman also.
July 1, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, and btw, I also like tilting at windmills in my spare time...if you hadn't guessed that already. Maybe if we all tried it we could take one of them down though.
July 1, 2009 3:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
As long as primary turnout percentages remain in the teens, the idea that incumbents of either party are going anywhere soon is a pipe dream. We The People keep crying about having no say over a Congress infatuated with lobbyist cash and yet leave our only lever lying in the dirt every two years during the primary election season.
I have used this Paine quote before from Common Sense, but it seems appropriate to the conversation once again:
How is it that we are having this same conversation 230 years later?July 1, 2009 9:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am not surprised we are recalling these words from long ago Jason. Even back then the Founders knew we would have trouble keeping what they gave us. And we have shown their fears were not unjustified.
July 1, 2009 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Probably why Jefferson suggested we do a page one rewrite of the Constitution for each new generation.
July 1, 2009 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Out of all of the Founding Fathers Jefferson and Franklin were not only men of great courage and wisdom but they were true visionaries. They were 2 of the few who are blessed (our cursed) with the ability to see into the future Jason...
July 1, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Franklin is another of my favorites. My dog is named in his honor. :O)
July 1, 2009 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hahaha...you did? F'ing cool!!!
Here is a musical shout out to those two. Yes they did know...
July 1, 2009 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
PS: Our other dog is named in honor of Alice Paul. We need modern Americans to step up like she and many others did throughout our history. I am afraid most voters of every political persuasion are failing the Republic in its time of need.
July 1, 2009 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
So very true, Lib...so very true.
July 1, 2009 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah unfortunately so... :-(
July 1, 2009 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Then run third party candidates. You have to find ones with name recognition but "throw the bums out" starts with a significant number of votes. If you can find candidates that can get free TV time, like a Jesse Ventura, they can pull plenty of votes and they can drive up the cost for the incumbents. These folks want to retire rich.
July 1, 2009 7:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think third party candidates misses the actual opportunity inherent in the primary elections for both parties. It is much easier to get people to turnout for one of the two major parties in the primary than for third party no one has heard of. The key is to set anti-incumbent expectations before they get there.
July 1, 2009 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Either works for me depending on the local situation. I think the important thing is for a more disciplined effort by progressives to beg, borrow and steal a way to elect true progressives. But I have to say, the left hasn't been disciplined forever so I don't know how that changes without some commitment to a few core issues. One issue is too few and a laundry list is too many.
July 1, 2009 7:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
The core issue that works for me is putting the American people first before corporations. I don't think progressives, whether they be from the left or the right (I say this because I view Jason, for example, as a progressive from the right), will agree on all the details but if we can just agree on that it would be a great place to start and we'll work out the differences as we go.
July 1, 2009 8:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a populist argument and I think it could work. The right has long been successful running a populist message to the right voters and Democrats are correctly blamed I think for being afraid to step away from the liberal ivory tower and go to the folks. Tom Harkin wins on populism. Paul Wellstone won on populism. Big Eddy does a good job most days with that kind of message on his radio show. You get a lot of folks with down home accents calling in wanting Democrats to stick up for the little guy. Plus, a lot more Americans are feeling like the little guy these days!
July 1, 2009 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
It definitely is populist and in the spirit of all you cited bluebell. The last remaining populist in the Congress that I can see is Bernie Sanders. I don't know how Al Franken will pan out though in that regard but he almost worshiped Wellstone.
And the thing is it doesn't have to be angry populism. It can't be 'we are gonna take it all out on corporations/rich'. But then again they can't be allowed to have it all either. A healthy balance needs to be struck between the bottom line and the common good.
Maybe we could call the new party the 'Sane' or 'Rational' Party. Because so many involved with politics right now are so intent on defending their failed ideologies that they appear insane as their logic gets more and more twisted.
July 1, 2009 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
It will be interesting to see if Franken has the strength of character to be his own person in the Senate. I do believe he has a very authentic concern about healthcare. I was disappointed by how easily he got lead along on Iraq. Maybe he learned something there. I don't think he's as natural a populist as Wellstone who was a happy populist indeed. What's wrong with smiling while you tax the rich?
July 1, 2009 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well Big Ed thinks Franken is the real deal. But only time will tell.
I think the care of progressive populism today is a 'happy' and not 'angry' one bluebell, just like Sen. Wellstone was. People want to reform the system to make positive changes. It isn't because we hate our country it is because we love it and realize we are wasting so much of our greatness. I am a big admirer of Dr. King and Gandhi. Non-violence is the only way. And extremism by a few fringe groups on the left, dating back to the 60's and continuing until today (animal rights, eco anti-globalization i.e.), hurts the cause and is totally unacceptable in my book.
July 1, 2009 11:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that a lack of discipline is killing the chances that progressives had this year to change the nature of both parties by redefining the center. The problem comes in positioning.
Progressives are naturally inclined to cut through the bullshit and call something what it is. That works when talking to other progressives, but to someone who has yet to really define themselves politically, the unvarnished truth can often leave splinters.
I have tried to figure out the best way to speak to people in both camps about the same solutions, but typically with slightly different (or in the case of some issues vastly different) messaging. It all comes down to a progressive populist tone, no matter what particular solution you offer to reach those goals.
I would love to see Obama redefine the republican party (he really is more classically conservative than any republican since Eisenhower, perhaps Nixon on his lucid days) while the Wellstone's to come transform the democratic party. That sort of dynamic would work very well in this country for years to come.
July 2, 2009 7:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
L,
Agree! Although I think the "shut up" in your thesis should be "go the F#!K home"!
Consensus will eventually be the death of "U.S." all...
July 1, 2009 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks O¿O...
Yeah it was inferred but shouldn't have been. Right is right and wrong is wrong and more times than not, or almost always in these matters, consensus is the latter. And if people who 'lead us' can't figure it out they need to be told 'your time is up, next'.
July 1, 2009 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
For an interesting take on why Dems can't get any momentum going, check out this Yglesias post.
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2009/07/obama-and-congress-2.php
July 1, 2009 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am an occasional visitor to his blog but yeah I miss MY's commentary around here. I think as usual he is dead on. The blame lies with both the Democratic Senators and Obama's inexplicable deference to them. They are doing him no favors when it comes to implementing his agenda and getting himself reelected. And America is the big loser in this Beltway Kabuki Theater...
July 1, 2009 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a solid point, but I still think the biggest obstacle here is Republicans. They lost horrifically in '08, and they decided to vote as a bloc in a dastardly plot to obstruct every single one of Obama's plans. Even noncontroversial nominations to critically important jobs. And it's working.
I'm guessing they read the Audacity of Hope and are dead-set on making his dream of bipartisanship and dignified debate impossible. The bastards aren't motivated at all by alleviating societal problems and making the country better, but they are remarkably cohesive. I find it amazing that not one House Republican voted for the stimulus bill. I just wish some pressure could be brought to bear on them for paralyzing the legislative process.
July 2, 2009 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hear you Carl. Obama strives for compromise/consensus at all times. He has a dream of bi-partisanship just like we all do. But like you pointed out this group of Republicans have no interest in compromising on anything. So at this point in time it is high time to ditch that plan and move forward.
The American people want change and have slowly remade the landscape in Washington since 2006. With the size of the majorities they gave the D's I read that as them saying 'implement your plan and don't worry about the opposition'.
But here is where the rubber meets the road. As always in politics the D's never had any intention keeping all the campaign promises they made. During campaigns people are promised the Moon, Sun, and the stars then when they all convene back in Washington nothing gets accomplished with each side giving the other the cover necessary to keep the status quo in place.
So the D's have a problem. They have the numbers to pass whatever they want to no matter if all the R's vote 'no' on everything and the R's have such small numbers they can't even use procedural means to block it.
So any claims that 'it must be bi-partisan' just aren't true. The D's might have a desire to be bi-partisan but the numbers don't bear out the fact as being true. And posing a problem for the D's who have been went to Washington to make radical changes...changes that are not in their nature to make nor that they thought they'd have to/be in a position to make. What to do, what to do?
July 2, 2009 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yea, I'm starting to come around to the idea that compromise isn't going to work right now. I was reading some article (I can't remember who wrote it) that made the argument that every President needs an enemy. It's a good point. I think if he's careful not to be cast pompous or callous, Obama could build up a lot of excitement if he started speaking out against anti-reformers more directly and more forcefully. He's taken a few playful jabs at FoxNoise, but right now he's kind of languishing as Congress works out health care. I think he needs to go on the offensive, build up some excitement, and the Democrats will follow. He needs to find more excuses to give campaign-style speeches, too.
July 2, 2009 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink