Our party is fighting for us. We have asked them to take a stand and they have answered. This is what we've all longed for, isn't it? To have our elected officials answer our calls to action, to work tirelessly to protect the values that we as a community hold most dear?! But they have done more than that. In addition to acting on our behalf, they have reached out to us; Senators Kerry and Kennedy have written posts here at dailyKos as though they were just regular Kos users like you and me. That's remarkable and they deserve our thanks.
More over the flip.
But how to thank them? A comment or two on their diary to let them know we're with them? A little money the next time either of them comes calling? OK, yeah, that's a good start. I don't know about you but the primary emotion I feel when thinking about the filibuster and Sen. John Kerry's posts here over the last week has been gratitude...profound gratitude. And to express this gratitude, I personally intend to do more, and I urge us all to. Now, sure, it's true, politicians work for us, ultimately we're their boss, but like in any productive, professional, mature relationship, there is a give and take...it's a two-way street, people.
So what I intend to do and what I call on all of us to do over the course of the next couple years is very simple...every now and then, I'm going to let them off the hook. That's right, the next time they do something I'm not thrilled with, I'm going to give them a pass. As far as I'm concerned, fighting against Alito potentially at their political peril has earned them a mulligan.
A lot of people here might not like the sound of that. You might say, "The fact that they've done what we've asked and have reached out to us shows that we have power and we should wield it, not shirk from it." Well, that's one way to look at it but that seems to me the worst impulse of those with power. Look at our corrupt brethren on the other side of the aisle. That's what power run amok looks like and that is not and must never be us.
You also might say "only the squeaky wheel gets the grease -- look at the dividends conservative squeaking has gotten them from the Republican powers that be." OK, another fair point, but let's not forget, they've been at their loudest and have been given the most concessions only after Bush got in the White House. Do you recall the 2000 campaign and how it differed from the 92 and 96 campaigns? My recollection is that the only noise from the far right during 2000 was crickets chirping. The conservatives were good soldiers and let Bush go about his business running as a moderate with the understanding that it would be made worth their while. And it has.
Now I understand that to adopt this strategy, one has to overcome what may be a pretty big hurdle: acknowledging our complicity in the state of the Democratic Party today. I personally have come to terms with that. Our candidates the last two elections have suffered from the appearance of spinelessness, seemingly (and then being portrayed in the media as) speaking out both sides of their mouths on certain issues. It gave the appearance of a lack of conviction. And part of the reason for this is that they had to placate their whining base (yes, we can be a bit whiny) even while attracting the middle (and yes, we need the middle.)
So let 2000 and 2004 be what 1992 and 1996 were to Republicans, the warm up for the biggie. If we can learn the lessons from the past 2 elections, 2008 can truly be huge for us, but I fear that the shrieks from the left can keep yet another Democrat from winning.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm one of those shriekers, believe me. When I saw Dianne Feinstein cozying up to John Roberts before his hearings, I wrote her that I was questioning her devotion to protecting a woman's right to choose and would consider (theoretically) supporting a primary challenger. And when Kerry announced he was going to filibuster, I immediately wrote to Senator Feinstein again urging her to join the filibuster. And guess what. Both times she made moves that addressed my concerns. For that, I'm sure as hell gonna give her more than my vote and a few bucks, I'm gonna give her more leeway when it comes to navigating the tricky electoral waters as she sees fit because I know she has my back.
As you may have guessed, I am also one of those pragmatic liberals who wants us to choose our battles; but I also understand that such a walk the line strategy has not gotten us very far since Clinton. But I truly believe that idealism and pragmatism are not mutually exclusive. In fact, to be perfectly honest, this site has made me more idealistic. Screw conventional wisdom that says we can't win a filibuster and that it might be a political loser in the long run. Similarly, I hope this site can draw some of those who lean toward idealism's side to our side of the fence, if only just a little bit. I'm not saying compromise our values. I'm saying give a little love to these people who are fighting for us and for a minute, let's shut the f**k up.
Let's take a second to appreciate our place in the struggle that's now underway. Let's take a second to thanks Markos for giving us this forum, this community. And let's pledge to thank our elected leaders for fighting for us by, now and then, letting them off the hook just a little bit. They've earned it.
now blogging at The Courage Campaign, a new era in California progressive politics