Kossacks and other progressive Democrats should brace themselves against whiplash as the new Democratic establishment appoints people and adopts policies and tactics likely to knock us on our butts in disbelief.
Rahm Emanuel for Chief of Staff? OK, we can swallow it. He may be a sonuvabitch but he's our sonuvabitch! Larry Summers for Treasury? Ack! OK, we can accept it. He's smart. So long as basic policy is still set by Obama we'll be alright. Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State? WTF? Gag. Kiss goodbye to an Israel-Palestine peace accord.
And now, Joe Lieberman to retain the chair of Homeland Security and Government Operations. Omifuggingawd, this is too much!
Well folks, there's only more to come. Machiavelli advised you go in and do everything to piss people off right up front and get it over with. That's the approach they are taking to the left wing of the party.
Grab ahold and hang on tight. It's going to be a bumpy ride! We are heading into a rough patch. We will be whipping around corners for the next few weeks. Not for the fainthearted.
Remain in your seats! Do NOT head for the exits. Do not "jump ship" for a third party in the hope of finding an oasis of tranquility and non-contradiction.
At a Democratic National Convention a few years back, when the Rainbow Coalition supporters had suffered a major indignity at the hands of the DLC corporatist crowd which controlled the convention, and the Party, Jesse Jackson urged a redoubling of our determination:
"Don't walk out! They WANT us to walk out! What they don't want is for us to stay and continue to fight!"
The Democratic Party, and Washington, D.C. politics, is "contested terrain," but the high ground is held by corporate toadies and supporters of American domination of the world.
What was true on Election Night remains true today. Obama's election offers a great chance to return to civil (and RATIONAL) debate over the best course forward for our society. Third parties are doomed to serving as spoilers or self-righteous grouplets of ineffective, likeminded people. The BEST place for progressives to work electorally is within the liberal/progressive wing of the Democratic Party, working to elect more and BETTER Democrats to office, enact progressive legislation and fight for the interests of the American people in the face of corporate domination of the economy and politics.
We were just betrayed by the Democratic Senate. Not just Harry Reid, but a super-majority of the caucus members. Call your Senator's office and express your "disappointment, bordering on anger" (I was trying to be diplomatic). Vent on the dK, rant to your co-workers and let off steam. Have a cold beer! Get away for some quiet time.
Then re-commit to elect BETTER DEMOCRATS.
Build your DFA chapter. Start a PDA chapter. Get elected to local party positions, local elective office. Brainstorm tactics and policy with our fellow progressives. Build the movement outside of the Party, but remain connected.
The best way to avoid disillusionment is to avoid illusions in the first place. Abandon our illusions, but re-double our determination.
"Don't mourn, organize!"