I haven’t posted here in a long time. My posts were never recommended, as I apparently don’t get the details and nuances of political tactics and strategy that is most often singled out for praise and recognition on DKos. I’m a Liberal because I am empathetic and embrace reason, but I’m a Redneck Liberal because I have a redneck’s affection for the straight-on, the blunt, the unvarnished and uncomplicated, for digging down the raw and simple core of the matter.
The raw and simple truth that we’ve avoided saying out loud ever since the peace, love and rainbows crowd gained so much influence in the Democratic Party is that Republicans are our enemy. They are no longer our friendly rivals or good people with different opinions or the loyal opposition. They are the enemy, whether propagandizing plutocrat, self-interested lobbyist, greedy hedge fund manager, talking-head Fox media tool, or ignorant racist mechanic, utopian Ayn Rand-ophile or genuflecting Joel Osteen supplicant digging change out of their couch cushions to support his prosperity, they are the enemy and should be thought of as such.
This is not a call to violence, but a plea for our leaders, such as they are, to understand exactly who it is we are dealing with, then speak and act accordingly. For too long we have not clearly seen Republicans for who they are, thinking that, like us, they are reasonable and compromise is possible. It is, if we were not dealing with an intransigent enemy. But we are, and compromise with Republicans is capitulation.
I recognize that this is an extremist view. Things have been extreme and getting worse on the other side for decades. We are getting rolled by the opposition because we won’t stand up and say what is true: they are against everything we stand for and are willing to use any means to advance their agenda, even violence. I doubt there is a better definition of Enemy. Refusing to speak the truth bluntly, publically, and act on that knowledge is cowardice