Purge our Party

The time has finally come. We are on the brink of purging our hallowed Democratic party.

The journey has been long and hard fought.

Follow me through the recent history of our party and why we are now near the point of purification.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 began the purification--the purging of our fair party. We eradicated our party of racist, segregation, red-necks, white supremacists, and their sympathizers.

We were free.

We thought that we would be on a journey of continuing the legacy of FDR. Although LBJ's Great Society did create many opportunities for the war on poverty, we as a party feel short of creating or maintaining a real working majority.

Our dear party went through several periods of growing pains. Our different factions could not agree on a single way forward. But we still pushed on.

Our opportunity to again retake power in 1976 in the wake of presidential scandal and shame. Watergate! That was our chance wasn't it. If only in 1976--we coulda, woulda, shoulda.

But we all know what happened.

Regan happened. He swept our disaffected democrats into his fold. He brainwashed them and made them vote against their own economic self interest.  He promised them something that our party had given up on. He made them proud again. That was our job.

So the 1980's past us by.

Studio 54, the end of disco, leg warmers, head bands, and straight leg pants.

We enter a new decade with HW.

Another war a few more scandals.

We still have not gotten our Party in order.

Fast forward to Bill Clinton and Al Gore. They were an unlikely pair weren't they? Young, energetic, populist. I miss those two. We as a party was well on our way to perhaps, reconciling and taking back our command. (Throughout this time period we as democrats had a Majority more or less in Congress. But we still didn't know who we were as a party)

I don't want to go through the trials and tribulations of the 90's. But you all remember the Contract on America

Throughout this time period we have lost a few so-called democrats and we are left with the strong and the mighty that weathered the storm until now--this moment.

We have purged our Party, fellow democrats, and we should be proud.

We have gotten rid of the Racists, the Republicans in democrats clothing (Lieberman), we have gotten rid of them all.

The only part that is left for us to purge and purify or hallowed party is the DLC. Once we rid ourselves of them we can truly be the progressive, forward thinking party that we are capable of being.

•  Tips recs flames

  for a brand new Democratic Party

  by BlackBox on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:19:14 PM PDT

  •  Once the party has become pure

    I hope both of you have a very lovely time.

    by quaoar on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:28:12 PM PDT

    •  well

      if you are left out of the purity process...

      good riddens!

      by BlackBox on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:32:06 PM PDT

    •  And could we ditch the Stalinist metaphor?

      I actually agree with several of the diarists values, but this is no way to discuss them.

      by scardanelli on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:32:39 PM PDT

      •  Exactly

        I'm all for greater ideological definition to the extent that it's possible in a two-party system in an enormous federalized country, but I can't think of a less appropriate word...even if it didn't have the noxious historical baggage that it does.

        by Rich in PA on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:44:22 PM PDT

    •  It appears that the next purge

      will be of all Democrats who do not like Barack Obama.  I'm seriously considering reregistering as an Independent myself, so the party may be rid of me soon.

      by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:35:12 PM PDT

      •  That won't drive me out

        Obama is just one guy, and his movement is entirely personalist--he can't change the party, and he has no desire to beyond what's narrowly required to get elected.  Even if I got to the point where I wouldn't vote for him (and I don't think I could ever get to that point, so long as the other candidate is a Republican), I can't imagine having a problem with the Democratic party such that I would quit.  If I share a party with the Caseys, I can share it with Barack Obama.  Whether his acolytes want to share it with me is a more pertinent question.

        by Rich in PA on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:47:49 PM PDT

        •  I may vote for the Democrat,

          but I don't want to be associated with a party that has permitted the kinds of sexist attacks on Hillary Clinton that I've seen in the media.  Not one leading Democrat, including Barack Obama, has stood up and said this kind of sexism is wrong.  I'm ashamed for this party and that is why I'm probably going to switch to Independent.  And I've been a registered Democrat since 1972.

          by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:22:02 PM PDT

          •  You do make a good point there.

            That's one specific compelling reason to quit, honestly.

            by Rich in PA on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 09:35:55 PM PDT

      •  Equally likely...

        ...of all Democrats who like the Clintons.

        by Free Spirit on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:37:14 PM PDT

    •  And...

      ...once the party has become pure, you will be free to unfurl the swastikas over your teensy, tiny tent.

      by Free Spirit on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:36:34 PM PDT

  •  "What is the purpose of this site?"

    This is a Democratic blog, a partisan blog. One that recognizes that Democrats run from left to right on the ideological spectrum, and yet we're all still in this fight together. We happily embrace centrists like NDN's Simon Rosenberg and Howard Dean, conservatives like Martin Frost and Brad Carson, and liberals like John Kerry and Barack Obama.

    After everyone who doesn't meet your purity test is gone, I hope you have a lovely time.  Yeesh.

    by BarbinMD on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:32:12 PM PDT

    •  The FAQ says Democratic. The FACT says

      we Liberals have pretty much taken over. And I'm quite sure Markos is a not-so-closet lib, his own self. Vive la Revolution. The Purge is imminent.

      by ronlib on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:05:14 PM PDT

  •  Was your former position a GOP strategist?

    Now that that party is composed of the pure need new fields?

    What you argue for is the route taken by the GOP over the last decades. It is fundamentalist and a route to disaster.

    by pelagicray on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:47:52 PM PDT

•  Amen!

  by Hope Monger on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:20:37 PM PDT

•  Purge? n/t

  by BarbinMD on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:24:53 PM PDT

  •  Dammit, scooped by eight friggin' seconds.

    by Marcus Tullius on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:25:39 PM PDT

    •  Slacker :-D n/t

      by BarbinMD on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:29:53 PM PDT

      •  Whatever.

        My decoder ring needs re-synched.  The orders from the hive aren't coming through quickly enough.

        by Marcus Tullius on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:41:35 PM PDT

  •  At first I thought it was snark

    Then I wasn't sure.  I don't know unless the diarist clarifies.  It seems like it should be snark, but the critiques of the party don't quite fit with that either.

    by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:37:16 PM PDT

•  Purge, eh?

  Hell of a choice of words.

  by Marcus Tullius on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:25:01 PM PDT

  •  Yes purge

    I do believe the DLC is a poison to our party

    by BlackBox on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:27:40 PM PDT

    •  Here. To help with the purge.

      

      

      by Marcus Tullius on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:34:03 PM PDT

      •  LOL

        I hope it is not that drastic. But who knows?

        by BlackBox on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:35:05 PM PDT

        •  I am fond of saying, "we can do better".

          I am rethinking that.

          by Marcus Tullius on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:38:57 PM PDT

        •  It's what you're suggesting...

          by kredwyn on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:53:37 PM PDT

          •  And what is much needed. nt

            by ronlib on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:11:07 PM PDT

            •  Oh?

              So who should leave? And why?

              by kredwyn on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:31:43 PM PDT

            •  and also...

              by kredwyn on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:38:29 PM PDT

      •  Is that a Blue Dog pithfork? Love it? nt

        by ronlib on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:08:11 PM PDT

  •  Isn't that what the GOP has been doing?

    Ah, that is how they may become almost irrelevant!

    First they purged the Republicans that were social liberals and reasoned economic conservatives--meaning they weren't radicals as is the new definition of that word.

    Then they purged . . .

    Finally even the likes of ole Bob Barr were purged.

    by pelagicray on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:32:56 PM PDT

•  Woooooo!

  The Democratic Party: Building smaller coalitions since 2008!

  by AnnArborBlue on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:29:04 PM PDT

  •  Respect, empower, include.

    It's okay to make common cause with Indy's and R's, but fellow Dems that you disagree with, well, fuck them.

    by Marcus Tullius on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:31:15 PM PDT

    •  Sure!

      We are in the midst of a political and social paradigm shift. The DLC does not fit into the equation. The DLC is not a democratic organization, at least to me.

      by BlackBox on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:34:34 PM PDT

      •  Really? I disagree with the economic ideas

        that the DLC champions, but they are more my ally than the R's and Indy's.  How will you build our grand coalition if you start in this manner?

        by Marcus Tullius on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:36:12 PM PDT

        •  The economic

          ideas are the most important. The DLC is slowly but surely crumbling. Economic segregation is the foundation of the difference between parties. The Rs and Indie's that are jumping on board are disaffected--and no longer have the desire to vote against their economic interest.

          by BlackBox on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:39:24 PM PDT

        •  Not to mention that the economic

          policies of the DLC are completely compatible with the economic policies of Barack Obama.

          by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:39:35 PM PDT

      •  Who is "we"?

        Has someone empowered you to speak for the Democratic Party?

        by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:38:46 PM PDT

        •  If you enjoy the politics

          of the DLC. Then I don't speak for you. And your presence will not be missed.

          by BlackBox on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:40:14 PM PDT

          •  

            

            by Marcus Tullius on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:42:06 PM PDT

          •  Where did you get the idea

            that I enjoy the politics of the DLC?  If I did I'd be supporting Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.  But I don't and I'm not.

            by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:19:04 PM PDT

        •  Actually, I did

          Sorry about that.

          by someotherguy86 on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:43:28 PM PDT

•  Whatever happened to 'putsch'?

  It had such a nice...Teutonic ring to it.

  by Rob Cole on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:32:47 PM PDT

•  Purge

  I purge every time the Harry Reid speaks about why he just must let the President have his way -- isn't that enough?

  by numediaman on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:33:01 PM PDT

•  The problem with purges is

  the purgers always end up getting purged.

  by bugscuffle on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:33:53 PM PDT

  •  billy clubs?

    or chains?

    by Salo on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:36:25 PM PDT

    •  IIRC one of the last of those gullotined

      was one of the original leaders of the French Revolution. A guy by the name of Robespierre.

      by kredwyn on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 07:06:59 PM PDT

  •  Since 2004 and

    HD we began the process of cleaning up our party.

    Just a little more to go.

    by BlackBox on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:36:42 PM PDT

    •  Keep up the good work.

      The Left won control of the Democratic Party in Texas and we have won a statewide election since. We's gone from being the State's government (for over a century) to a fringe whiners w/out a prayer.  By we're Pure!

      by bugscuffle on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:40:02 PM PDT

      •  The "left"

        "whiners" nice Republican talking points.

        You do realize that the Wonderful Democratic party in Texas was responsible for lynchings, and generally stopping down Black and Brown people for those 100 yrs they were in power?

        Hey but anything for power right?

        by Shhs on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:55:57 PM PDT

    •  Are you joking?

      I think you're joking.  Add a snark tag to your diary.

      by Boston Boomer on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 05:40:59 PM PDT

  •  True.

    But first they become those whom they purged. Then they get purged themselves.

    by Free Spirit on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:40:00 PM PDT

•  I agree that we are currently

  undergoing a social and political paradigm shift.  There are also some politicians and people I wouldn't be sorry to see disappear.  It appears that some of them are even planning on disappearing on their own, which suits me just fine.  I think these people have a wrong headed approach to politics and wonder whether they share my values (especially given the tactics of some of these folk and the willingness of supporters to throw their critical thinking skills and honesty out the window whenever these skills would lead to unpleasant conclusions about their candidate).  This is especially the case with all those pushing identity politics, which I think historically has done more harm than good to civil rights struggles.  Talk of purges, however, is rather tasteless and certainly does no good given its historical resonances with the dark days of Stalin.

  by Philoguy on Sat Feb 23, 2008 at 06:11:30 PM PDT