I've had a couple of cold-water-in-the-face encounters with the reality of politics and although they won't be news to anybody here (and really weren't to me--I just had persuaded myself beforehand that I would hear something different than what I did) I thought I'd post them as a reality check, in print, principally to myself.
First, there was a local "town hall" meeting with Pete Stark. Then, a World Affairs Council event in San Francisco with Mark Halperin and John Harris. Both events drove home to me how much work there is to do in winning hearts and minds if we ever hope to restore the Constitution, stop this war and the next, and deal with poverty. Basically, create justice.
Just a face in the small crowd and not even a constituent at Pete Stark's town hall meeting in Alameda, I arrived early to be sure to be able to say my piece. He asked who had camped out overnight to be there and speak first--it was me. I got up and told him that everything in his statement about the defeat of SCHIP and the Iraq War was APPROPRIATE. And, that my son was currently in the Iraq war theater.
He told us that his real regret was saying that heads were being blown off for Bush's "amusement." And that Nancy Pelosi never contacted him personally to request his apology--just other Democrats in Congress who had received Republican assurances that the censure request would be withdrawn if he did. A censure, the second worst thing that can be done to a House member, would have removed him from committees and stripped him of other power to get legislation considered. He offered to apologize, the offer was accepted, he apologized, the censure resolution was withdrawn. He said again that he was returning himself to his "insignificant" role as representative of his district and care of his constituents.
His next answer was to another indignant member of the audience who castigated the Democratic party for not standing up to fascism and war. He replied to this one with the really sad observation that there are Democrats in Congress for whom he would never vote--real rightwingers, actually--and they would be joined by the "bedwetters" of the Democratic Party fearful of losing reelections if they looked soft on terrorism. The Joe Liebermans we don't know, I guess.
He went on so long, explaining why even Democrats can't be counted upon to impeach Bush or Cheney, or even slow down the process of eroding the Constitution as we watch, that I gave in to despair right there and had to leave with tears running down my face. Maybe I was waiting there to hear that there would be a way to stop the Iraq War and get my son home in time for his first baby's birth later this month; I don't know. It felt like a bigger punch in the stomach even that that. It was a good thing I got there early and had already spoken, because I wouldn't have been able to make my statement after.
The pair at the World Affairs Council, Halperin and Harris, just put the icing on my pile of political crap. The end of their on-stage interview (which was all I could sneak in for, not having the $200 for a ticket) was a set of short media views toward our leading contenders for presidential nominations. Without repeating each one, I can say that few media opinions reflect those here at Daily Kos, or reflected any hope for an election on real issues, given that media opinions usually end up in polls and then in votes. Their one- to ten-word judgments were superficial--based on haircuts and war chests. That's probably how the election will be decided as well, isn't it?
Not news to the dedicated vote-counters here. Sometimes I tire of reading DKos political accounting, but it's the only true picture of what to expect, and of any progress we can truly make.
I'm totally aware that I don't do political reality well. Just someone please tell me that this time we'll see an election for justice and dignity in American government. I'm waiting.