The Tea'ers have become influential not because they hold President Obama or our economy hostage, but because they hold the GOP hostage.
If we (we, as in those of us whose ideas and interests are being ignored) are to become a political force, we need to learn the lessons of the Tea'er movement.
The Tea'er movement is not a grassroots effort. Political insiders have effectively exploited an angry segment of the GOP base into an electoral voting block.
If the DCCC, Obama team, all the Internet groups like Move On, and 100 others want to affect the future of the nation, they must use the Tea'ers' hostage taking as a model. There is a path to political power, but it is not the one we are on.
As events unfolded that disappointed people after the Obama inauguration, public option, tax cuts, immigration, DADT, etc. the response has been to splinter. Calls for Obama to be primaried, Africian-Americans and Hispanics to not support Democrats, and a plethora of third party, middle way alternatives to the two parties have sprung up. Now this is a sure way to lose, to insure the powerful will continue to choke our political system, and the death knell of policies favored by any of these groups.
The failure of policies that many Obama 2008 voters thought would be enacted was disillusioning. Even though a great deal of the disillusionment can be attributed to unrealistic expectations, the failure of policy is attributable to money. Money has the power to talk to Congress. Politicians have only one game, being elected. Parties are vehicles to achieve elected office, they are not liberal or conservative.
The Republican and Democratic parties have been in charge for 150 years, they have had all this time to make third party efforts difficult. Raising public awareness for third parties is curtailed by laws and practice. It is difficult to get on the ballot, be included in debates, or to be a part of bi-partisan commissions, being bi after all.
There is only one path that can lead to better policies a new democratic movement must become an integral part of the Democratic Party. This will require a significant redirection of the Democratic party's Internet and social networking approaches. It will require demands to the DCCC and Obama 2012 to do this, so that we can fight back against special interest money. (I am aware that many in the Democratic party are happy being beholden to special interest money.) Democratic party officials still want to win elections.
When someone signs up with the DCCC, Obama 2012, or DSCC they should become a member of their Congressional District's Virtual Caucus. A little money for web development and hiring a few moderators could build an effective tool. A powerful tool to develop a strong electoral block. Each Democratic effort will waste more money on T-shirts than the creation of the virtual caucus will cost.
States define party affiliation differently (Illinois voting in a primary as a Democrat). Invitations to those identified as Democrats in every district should be the start of re-energizing the Democratic Party. Allowing others but requiring a donation from independents to be a member of this virtual organization would be fair. A Congressional District Caucus would develop policy positions. The party platforms should be built on the policies generated by these district networks. Virtual caucuses would be tools to recruit and inform voters effecting district races. These structures will provide continuity from election cycle to election cycle since it is not tied to a specific campaign. Should the Obama network go away in 2016?
This would allow people to bring forth ideas, increase enthusiasm, and be a part of a political movement. It would allow real people to participate, and more importantly to make elected officials in Congress hear them. A dialog between people and politicians will emerge. Even GOP members when an organized voice from their own district addresses an issue will listen (pretend). This will build such an effective electoral block that more Democrats will be elected and beholden directly to their constituents. Held hostage by the majority in their districts. President Obama will be compromising with the left not the wing-nut right.
Become the hostage takers put together an effective electoral block inside the party. This will lead to retaking the House, retaining the Senate, and reelecting Obama. It will also allow people to pressure Senators when McConnell filibusters every bill, nominee, and all resolutions calling day, day and night, night.
I believe the DCCC, DSCC, and Obama 2012 share these goals (winning elections), and if enough of you demand it, it will happen. Demand a new structure, providing continuity, allowing average people to influence power.