I know the tax cut compromise is extremely important. I know DADT is important. I know the DREAM act is important. I knew FISA and Bank Regs and the health care bill were important.
But instead of pushing against Repubs, it seems most of the time we've had to push Dems to do what is right - to hold votes, to vote for Democratic ideals, to be bold. I've spent most of my calls and emails to Washington to push Dems, not Repubs, on issues important to me and most progressives.
Whether it was Stabenow on habeas corpus, Reid and the Big Dog on not supporting Lieberman, or Obama and Baucus on health care, Reid and Pelosi on ending rich tax breaks, Frank and others on Bank reg reform, Obama again on the size of the stimulus etc. I am just tired of trying to help herding the mass of Democratic cats we call our elected compatriots. Even with the (hopefully) DADT repeal, the key holdout was... a Dem.
Every day we push against these folks, and every day they push back like Obama did yesterday against progressives, the Republicans hear a cash register ring. It is starting to feel like I am keep trying to get the pretty girl I have a crush on to dance with me, and we're both getting annoyed with each other in the standoff, while the mean kids twitter about it and mess up my facebook page.
Folks, they are just not that into us and our progressive ideas.
Sure, a few are. But not enough. Dem leadership will not put pressure on their side like Republicans do to keep a solid block voting on key issues. Does that make ems nicer? sure. It also makes them ineffective on major issues in the face of such solid opposition.
I am not asking for everything to go our way. I don't expect that. But too many no brainers, like... don't put Soc Security in play - do smack down Dems who actively work for the other side in presidential elections and against you in other areas - Do hold votes that are both politically useful and ideologically important before an election, even if they fail - confront blatant lies and liars in the chambers - don't turn on the very people who are rooting for you ... have been flubbed or ignored or willingly pursued.
I cannot be their conscience anymore. They either will or won't do the right things. All I have is my vote and my money, and that will be spent getting better people in, not trying to convince compromised people on quixotic quests for bipartisanship and workable reaganomics to go against those false ideals they so hold dear.
Yeah, I called my senators and rep on this whole tax compromise thing, singling out social security as a bad thing to put into play. And what do a read today? The House Dems are upset about the estate tax in the compromise. Not much about the longer term slippery slope the Soc Security payroll cuts lead to. How about being mad about both?
There's reasons the Dems are headed toward another minority, and I think we are about to see them perfect the technique. But I am done calling on these clowns. It's time to work on changing the politicians, instead of begging them to change their minds. Maybe if the Republicans get back into power and completely wreck us the Dems might find some vision, strategy, and backbone.