Why isn't every Democrat, in every corner of the country, absolutely fucking LIVID right now?!
Embarrassingly, frustratingly, inconceivably, our Democratic Party is once again burying the needle on the wimp-o-meter.
Voting in favor of military force in Iraq was one thing -- hell, damn near the entire international community fell for that one to some degree. The only thing wimpy here is that I don't even need a whole hand to count the number of Democrats who have expressed any regret for that vote.
No, what's really disturbing is the pattern.
Wimping out on the Patriot Act, after teasing us with a brief glimmer of hope.
Wimping out on Samuel Alito, when basic civil liberties and human rights are at stake.
Wimping out on any substantive action surrounding the NSA wiretapping. Sure, lots of chest-thumping here, but nothing beyond noise.
Wimping out on Senator Feingold's important censure resolution, because they're so fucking timid and afraid and spineless that they can't even muster the energy to send the bad dog to the corner.
Not too long ago, when my party cowered on major issues of security, executive privilege, judicial nominees and the like, I'd simply remind myself: There's nothing we can do. We have no power. We can yell and scream and stand our ground all we want, and it won't get us anywhere.
Now I realize that argument is nothing but self-comforting horseshit.
Because even if we can't WIN, we still have much to gain by showing a united front. Even if we can't win, we can still communicate to the rest of the world that we have a common disdain for the status quo -- a disdain that, according to every poll in the nation -- the majority of voters share. Even if we can't win, we can give the disenfranchised, frustrated, Middle American voter a little something to rally behind. Even if we can't win, we can still line up on the side of what's right.
With apologies to one of my favorite Kossack authors -- WHAT'S YOUR FUCKING PROBLEM, Democratic Party?!