Marshall Wittmann, a self-described "former Republican conservative activist", has posted an
excellent study of the 1994 Gingrich-led resurgence of the Republican party. More on that in a moment.
In politics, as in war, the best insights into the enemy's strengths and weaknesses come from the mouths of those who have the strength of conviction to switch sides. I read Mr. Wittmann's Bull Moose Blog daily, and he never fails to inspire me with his commentary.
Read on after the break for a synopsis of the article, and your correspondent's humble attempt at analysis of its important points.
I confess that I cannot conceive of a better opening for the main body of this diary than that composed by the esteemed Bull Moose Blogger:
Democrats, be of good cheer! Defeat is neither final nor fatal. As a former Republican conservative activist who once wandered in the wilderness, I can attest that a bracing loss can serve as a liberating experience that can help pave the way back to power.
The next few paragraphs in the article are familiar territory to those Democrats who have taken an unflinching look at the political trends of the last few years:
- The Democratic Party has no defining message. (true)
- The GOP is extending their dominance over an increasingly large swath of the US. (true)
- Traditional-values voters are estranged from the Democrats. (true)
In politics, unlike in war, true defeat is rare; barring the rise of a
theocracy the pendulum will swing back towards the American values of liberalism and tolerance. Individual battles may be lost; indeed, the Democratic Party has seen dark days of late. While some victories were won on November 2nd, the fact is that the Republican Party has increased their power at the highest levels of government, at a time when the country desperately needs the balance of a bipartisan legislature.
However bad things may seem, there is a certain liberation to being exiled to the wilderness. This time can, and should, be used to plant the seeds of future success. As Mr. Wittmann notes, most important of all is the nourishment of ideas which will propel the revitalization of the Democratic Party.
Onward, good reader, to the most interesting, and on DailyKos, potentially the most polarizing assertion presented for your consideration: that the Democratic Party should closely study the success of Newt Gingrich in his crusade to retake Congress in 1994.
...As I heard his grandiose schemes to win a majority, I initially thought they were fanciful. After all, the Democrats enjoyed significant majorities in Congress and they also occupied the White House. But Gingrich thought boldly and moved relentlessly on several fronts to construct an effective opposition, and his plan worked.
I strongly encourage the reader to spend a few minutes reading the article, but for those of you too lazy to click through and enlighten yourselves, here are the high points:
Newt built coalitions. Gingrich understood that the Republican Party's tent could hold broadly diverse groups ranging from born-again evangelical home schoolers to Midwestern fiscal conservatives to corporate titans. [...]
Newt promoted reform. In the 1992 election, the Republicans hemorrhaged voters to Ross Perot's insurgent campaign. Gingrich understood that in order to become a majority, the GOP had to regain this critical block of independent-minded voters. [...]
Newt valued ideas. You may not be attracted to Gingrich's ideas, but he certainly had them. He valued the role of transformative ideas in history and worked closely with conservative think tanks to develop and disseminate them. [...]
The future is not yet written, and there is no fate but that which we make for ourselves. If you are feeling powerless, seek out others who share your concerns, and grow stronger together.
Most importantly, however, I implore my fellow progressives to set aside our petty differences, and focus on the task at hand: rebuilding the Democratic Party from the grassroots up.
It will take time to see results. The next elections are in 2006, but it may be several election cycles before the tide fully turns.
It will take energy to effect change. Many within today's Democratic Party have a strong interest in preserving the status quo, and it will take a determined effort to change things. Do not pin your hopes on a single reformer; instead, resolve yourself to be an agent of change. Attend Meetups and Democratic Party meetings, and speak out against things you believe to be wrong. Meet your state legislators, Representative and Senators in person, and stay in contact with them throughout their term. If you don't like what they're doing, run for office!
None of this will happen without YOU! Every single one of you can make a real contribution to the reform of the Democratic Party, and I'm not talking about money. Without your ideas, and your energy, and your willingness to hold your politicians' feet to the fire, there will be no revolution.
Learn from Newt: there is opportunity in the exile to minority status. It's time to get organized, find our common ground, and take back our government.