Despite some good news, Democrats are in a crisis. Fewer than
1 in 5 of us think Rep Nancy Pelosi is an effective leader. It's arguably our party's biggest problem. Where I live in the Bay Area, she is an even bigger disappointment to her constituents, who roundly booed her weak Iraq and impeachment stances at her recent Town Meeting.
Many recent articles and diaries document Pelosi's ineptness and passivity - now capped by her secret role in illegal spying, and her attacks on Senator Feingold's efforts to hold the president accountable for breaking the law. What can the Netroots do?
Plenty!, cheaply, and easily - if we discard our usual preconceptions about ballots, money, and "spoiler" candidates - and only if we finally acknowledge our potential. San Francisco is the perfect gate to crash. Please give your input on this experiment, especially if you're from the Bay Area.
The answer starts with blog/netroots support for a strong independent 2006 candidate for the San Francisco House seat Pelosi currently holds.
Before you reflexively dismiss this or call me a traitor, remember there's almost no down side. There is no real "spoiler" threat in San Francisco. It's only 13% Republican. Pelosi could have three liberal opponents and they could all simultaneously trounce the Republican. So let's not take our usual easy excuse for doing nothing. This is much less risky than a national or statewide election. Don't get psyched out. That's how we wind up with weak "leaders".
Meanwhile, veterans and activists nationwide are pledging to vote only for candidates who:
* refuse to approve more funds for the Iraq occupation - and,
* vow to keep impeachment on the table
In San Francisco, Pelosi's failure to stand up for this month's Board of Supervisors' impeachment resolution amounts to taking Bush's side in opposition to her own city government and population. It's got to stop.
Easier Than You Think
Let's dare to stand up and demand that Rep Nancy Pelosi either represent her constituents on these key issues, or step aside for someone who will. It's called democracy.
It's early to say just who the candidate might be: a Fighting vet, a Paul Hackett, a Cindy Sheehan, a Green candidate, even a Kossack. Believe it or not, the fact that Democratic primary filings are past is great - it means our candidate can't be Hacketted! In San Francisco, the 2006 Independent and write-in filing deadlines aren't until August and September. So we have plenty of time to find someone great.
Before you're undone by skepticism: Did you know that, long before there was an internet or even computer mailing lists, a U.S. Senate seat was won entirely on write-in votes? Yup - Strom Thurmond was too tough to be intimidated by any ballot or party process. This effort is bold but not foolhardy.
Success could take many forms. It could just mean Rep Pelosi starts taking 80+% of her constituents, and the netroots, more seriously. Or it could mean San Francisco gets the genuinely, fearlessly liberal representative it deserves - like Ron Dellums not so long ago. We could even wind up with a new party leader more like John Conyers, and a party whose liberal base is finally represented.
If you have a content-free comment about `circular firing squads', save it for later - this thread is for constructive comments, and real activists with as much spine as Strom Thurmond, not less.
Speak up if you're from the SF Bay Area. Let's be ready and organized at Pelosi's next town meeting. Who will join me there? This is no time to be apathetic - in fact, our community is quite unified, and paradoxically, only "representatives" like Pelosi can stand in the way of making our voices heard.
Anyone who has ever dissed a Democrat for being spineless or unaccountable - it's time to quit blaming them, up the ante, and insist on candidates who represent us - starting in proudly progressive San Francisco.
Wherever you're from: if you want liberal Democrats - blogs, netroots, Feingold supporters, Constitution defenders and patriots - to finally have a say again, please Recommend this diary and let's make a serious effort at leadership changes. San Francisco is the perfect gate to crash.