Today, DarkSyde posted a front page diary, "Open Letter to Libertarians and Conservatives," taking aim at the Bush administration and the growing disdain they appear to be exhibiting for the U.S. Constitution.
Generally, I agree with DarkSyde's broader analysis. However, I take issue with the targets of his diary. To lump libertarians and conservatives (social or fiscal?) all into the same category without differentiation or analysis, encourages a nasty form of political elitism that will do much damage here.
What has drawn me to DailyKos for the well over a year now has been the broad inclusiveness of ideas represented here. Kos' purge a few months back was a necessary step of moderation to keep the discussions here within the realm of the plausible and logical. Certainly, sober discussions about Alito's nomination, "strict constructionism," and l'affaire de Plame are preferable to waxing conspiratorial about who imploded WTC 1 & 2 and a 9/11 cover up.
I am not what one would consider a mainline Democrat. I am not even a registered Democrat (I register as "independent"). I share little affinity for partisan identification. Such identifications do little to advance sober, reasoned debate, and do much to advance an "I'm always right, you're always wrong" mentality. I believe that we can do better here, and I would hope that we would do whatever possible to find common ground among ideologies and build concensus.
DarkSyde's rhetorical rejoinder lumps libertarians and conservatives into a singular target, and then attacks without even providing so much as a straw man of the collective taget's position. Constructing an argument with broad appeal and then aiming it at whoever you choose is extremely dangerous. It is the same tactic that has been employed by the GOP for several years now (a signature Rovian move).
Of the few statements that I have heard attempting, albeit feebly, to defend the administration's actions, none are what I would consider to be libertarian minded. The only defenses offered thus far are those predicated on the idea that the executive branch has absolute, dictatorial authority, or that the Constitution isn't applicable in this instance. Both ideas are repugnant to a justifiable view of American democracy, the Constitution, and the concept of checks and balances.
If we level attacks, they should be leveled at ideas and those who espouse themthe specific individuals, not the faceless labels of ideological organization. I certainly hope that the future of DailyKos is not an ideological purge of those who aren't Democrat in thought, deed, and name.