The frickin RBC Committee meeting has been really disappointing, and demonstrates the key problem that has transfixed our party for the entire 21st century: a focus on procedure, symbolism, personalities, rhetoric, and yes, even the dreaded "gotcha". This is NOT to say that the Republicans don't use these tools, in fact, they use them on a much grander and larger scale than we do. So why am I pissed? Because, sans 2006, every single time the conditions FAVOR Democrats, we fuck it up, and we're about to fuck it up again at the ebb of the Republican Party.
Let me give it to you all straight up: the economy is in recession (lest we forgotten), energy and food prices have skyrocketed that are leading to riots all over the world, we live with a >trillion dollar deficit bankrolled by a country possibly moving towards instability (China), rising inflation and a weakening currency. Global warming is not a problem, but a global pandemic that has changed ecosystems in an unsustainable fashion that threatens my 24 year old life within my lifetime. Our name is damaged and there is rising hostility towards the ability to get things done that need to get done, here and abroad, because of our inaction (we are still the most powerful country that the world looks up to). And yet the Republican party continues to support a war without end in faint hopes that "things will turn around," while neglecting our own countrymen and women's stagnant conditions (stagnating wages in the face of rising productivity, crumbling schools that is yielding weaknesses on the global competitive state, and rising healthcare costs.) We are losing our edge, and no, we cannot allow this to happen!
And yet, we focus on petty debates on procedure, rhetoric, symbolism, personalities, and "gotcha," which, like in 2000 and 2004, threatens to spell our defeat again. I look at procedure and personalities.
- Procedure: Examples include the RBC Committee Meeting, having excessive debates and not instilling some stronger party discipline to root out the Dennis Kuciniches (yep, I said it) for the sake of "fairness" rather than putting out the candidates who most Democrats find favor in.
- Personalities: Focusing on John Hagee rather than protecting Roe V. Wade, preferring Obama and willing to abstain if Clinton is the nominee (and, likewise, preferring Clinton and willing to abstain or vote McCain if Obama's the nominee), and a general unwillingness to make this a party versus party election that focuses exclusively on the issues.
If we are going to prevail, we need to focus JUST on the issues, and recognize that although differences exist between Obama and Clinton (I don't need you all to rehash them, as an Obama supporter since 06 I am well aware of what he, and not she, is about), the only way we can prevail electorally and in government is by working together as a party.
Democratic Party, Obamaniacs and Clintonistas, together we stand for a better world.