and other observations
Some animals eat their young. It's a fairly common practice in the animal kingdom, usually restricted to mothers killing the runt of a litter to save the rest of the litter, or when one dominant animal child threatens an older member of the family (through mating, etc.) and literally gets his ass handed to him. It also happens in politics, and Democrats are as bad as anyone.
You see, when you "eat" a member of the family, you effectively kill the potential of that member. We have all heard stories of individuals overcoming adversity to affect some kind of wide spread positive change on a family or even a society. Eating your young may be necessary in the animal kingdom, but in the political arena it has a place and time, and that place and time has since past.
On to my point...
Too late to get hungry now...
In diary after diary I see authors and commenters complaining about the DLC, or that someone is too conservative to be a Democrat, or whatever. I live in Tennessee, so take Harold Ford Jr. Clearly, he is one of the most conservative candidates on the Democratic side running for anything, but he is still the Democratic candidate for TN-SEN, and as such I will vote for him, with my nose pinched tightly. Listen to me clearly that doesn't mean that I don't want to pimp slap the shit out of him for using his bully pulpit in TN-09 (read influence, family name, and idiot brother) against the duly selected Democratic candidate Steve Cohen it just means that I know that "eating" HFJ now is more of a meal than the Democratic Party can handle. The time to "eat" HFJ was in the primary, and that time is over.
Think of it in this way. In the CT-SEN race, Democratic voters were offered two choices; Lieberman or Lamont. They chose Lamont. It was the right time, and the right place and the people of CT chose Lamont. Lamont has enjoyed my support as a result. However, had the people of CT decided on Lieberman, he too would have enjoyed my support (though much less of it, since he has plenty of $$ and influence to win). SUPER IMPORTANT POINT: I'm not saying that I support Leiberman, just illustrating a point. We need to stand behind our Democratic nominees once the primary is won, even if we don't always agree with them.
Singlemindedness
Singlemindedness is a cool idea. One group of people, believing the same thing, and acting accordingly. That's kind of what political parties are supposed to provide, but people are still people, and despite all that "groups" can do, it takes individuals with their individual thoughts and ideas to get things done. Singlemindedness is a trait that the Republican Party touts as a strength...this year it's a weakness.
Debate and deep consideration has always been a Democratic trait. It's part of our "Big tent" ways. We have a lot of people from all over the country with different needs and different views on things, working "together" to come up with the best thing for ALL OF US. In the past 12 years, this trait has been presented as a weakness, now it's out biggest strength. 6 years of singlemindedness in all three houses of government has shown the populace that while it may make a pretty package, the fruitcake spoils quickly.
It is our diversity that gives us strength. Let's try to remember that moving forward.
It's the Majority, STUPID
This ain't the county fair, and while I'm sure your Apple pie is just dandy, I can't be expected to go and change mine just for shits and giggles. Bitch about the House candidates in 2 years during the primary, or the current Senate candidates in 6 years...whatever! We're trying to get a MAJORITY HERE. So, if you don't like someone, JUST DON'T SEND THEM MONEY AND STFU until it's time to not to STFU in 1.5 or 5.5 years. That's what I've done, as much as it hurts, the majority is the brass ring we need to grab it while the grabbin's good. Let's not fuck ourselves for the sake of fucking.
There's a boogeyman in my closet and it looks like Al From
I can't stand the DLC. Between the DLC and the blowjob lie, I'm still pissed at Clinton. Don't get me wrong, I grew up in Arkansas. Clinton was my Governor in 1990, the first year I got to vote, and eventually my President. Clinton still holds a soft spot in my heart, but the DLC is not the way to go, as we saw in vibrant colors in 1994 right? maybe. We didn't lose in '94 because of the DLC. We lost in '94 because the Republican Party waged a brilliant campaign and we overreached in the first two years of the Clinton Presidency bringing forth a series of events that led to the Republican majority in Congress. (Remember all the healthcare scares and gays in the military crap, yeah, that gave the Republicans their FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) game plan on a silver platter.)
When you go to the DLC website you see people like HFJ, Hillary, and Tom Vilsack (his name still makes me giggle). Re-read the two sections above and then realize that while the DLC may not represent YOUR values, it represents the values of SOME people that consider themselves Democrats. We need these people, just like we need people to the left of the DLC to win. One day, perhaps the DLC will recognize this.
An invitation from a flyover state...
The reality of being a Democrat is that the litmus test thing just doesn't work. Remember that "Big Tent" thing? Oh yeah, didn't think you did...but I think I have a solution: MOVE TO TENNESSEE, or any other red or purple flyover state. Get out of your high rises and beach front property and come on out to the boonies. We need ya here if we're ever gonna get the kind of majority that meets your approval. Oh yeah, and have a BUNCH of kids. A whole mess of them. See the right has figured out that having a bunch of kids ensures their future....
Or just get over yourself. As much as I want a Congress full of "liberuls" I know it's not going to happen overnight. Until then, I'll be voting for my DLC asshole Senate candidate HFJ and the rightful Democratic nominee of TN-09 Steve Cohen.
So, in conclusion, if you actually made it this far, and could wade through the randomness of my thought process, here's the point. Don't fuck it up. We have a chance to win the majority of both houses here. Once we get it, then we can critique people on the finer points...in a year and a half when the time is right.
Oh yeah, and drink one for me on the 7th.