We've been asking our dem reps to come out against their opponents using logic and truth. But what we have seen is the American electorate cares not one jot about logic or facts. Instead they care about the emotionality of any debate. And that emotionality is usually the one that appeals to their fears and hates.
We have been lucky. In the primaries the majority of folks winning were incumbents. Why is this lucky? Because it appears the new breed of cat coming on the scene is even more heinous than their race baiting predecessors.
How are they more heinous?
I depend upon Social Security and Medicare. This new bunch is busy trying to dismantle those programs. Socialism is their epithet, forgetting that they are really insurance.
They are ready to shred what parts of the constitution Geo. W. Bush left. They want free speech but only for themselves. They want freedom of religion but only for THEIR religion.
We have come through the eras of "Me First" to arrive at an era of insular navel gazers who are trying to divine the future via their own intestines.
Let us acknowledge that they do have guts. They will come out and parade around with the wackiest signs and hats and t-shirts. I am not sure MY fashion sense approves but that is a nit.
But their courage is not about principles but of baseness. The monied interests (Koch industries) that is subsidizing this has also pushed hard right ideas throughout this whole last 1/2 century. And they want nothing good for the citizenry. No minimum wage, vacations, sick leave etc. All of these folks who get on that bus, that band wagon, are shooting themselves in their own future. (Both KO and Maddow have followed the money and found Koch at the forefront of bankrolling these supposedly grass root frenzies. Along with some highly predatory pr folks.)
To counter the dems must use emotionality, but we should not fall into the error of using base emotions of fearing the other, for instance. I think they should use some bombasity like Grayson, some humor like the Minnesota senators possess, some depth of feeling like Ted Kennedy was capable of showing and they need a tactical strategist. Rahm doesn't have any of these qualities, nor does most of the people on Obama's team. I am not suggesting that Obama throw these folks all out, but bringing back Plouffe in a bigger role would help.
For the Senators and Reps, they need someone they can trust to give them tactical strategy and they need an overall tactician so that there is some coordination and they are not killing each other with opposing messages. I think they might look to getting a military retiree, maybe a couple and calling on Bill Clinton to add that true politician mix. As long as they can clearly define who they themselves are and don't get sucked into thinking that THEY ARE the strategy it might be beneficial.
I've been rereading the Hopi Elders words:
as we cross the threshold into a cycle of
our journey of awakening.
"You have been telling the people that
this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people
that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the
leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are
those who will be afraid. They will try to hold
on to the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart,
and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the
shore, push off into the middle of
the river, keep our eyes open, and our
heads above the water.
See who is in there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take
nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual
growth and journey comes to a halt. The time
of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your
attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a
sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we've been waiting for."
--The Elders, Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation
I am beginning to think that we can no longer care about the past. We are in that river going to a new destination and we need to create a whole new future for ourselves.
We need to rethink capitalism. It can only work if we have more than that invisible hand. It needs a true watchdog to protect us from its ravenous greed.
We need to rethink socialism. It was bad mostly because of the authoritarian governments that espoused it. Socialism doesn't have to come twinned with authoritarianism, even though that is our experience of it.
We need a new way, both of the above are flawed and tainted to an immense degree. Surely there are other avenues, other venues, other ideas we can open up and try.
Update: This blog diary Right Wing Ware Against the Future argues that
What we are witnessing is the historic battle between those who cling to a false sense of history against what they see as an uncertain and frightening future. A future that is frightening because it is looking darker and more foreign.