Earlier this week I finished
Crashing the Gate. I was struck by Markos' and Jerome's description of a Progressive Conference they attended in Monterrey, California in April 2005.
Indeed, our collective weakness as Democrats and Liberals is our legendary infighting. Our refusal to subvert our absolute devotion to one core issue to the collective greater good. Our refusal to support one otherwise great progressive or liberal Democrat simply because he or she does not agree with our aforesaid one core issue, or is not sufficiently passionate and devoted to our liking with respect to our one core issue.
Markos and Jerome effectively illustrate why our divisive collection of interest groups fail us as a party in their book.
Many who know me know I am a Yellow Dog Partisan Democrat. I am willing to support Democrats even if they disagree with me on certain issues. Our success as a party this cycle in either winning seats at all levels of government depends on us not concentrating on our core issue, but rather realizing that our core issue stands a better chance being protected or furthered as a result of a Democratic victory.
As such, I propose a little community exercise here. I want to find out, at bare minimum, what this community of Democrats, Liberals, Progressives and Independents agree on. And to determine that, I want everyone willing to post an issue and their stance on it in the comments below. Now, if you agree with that issue in a comment, give that comment a 4. If you disagree with it, don't down downrate that comment, but instead post your alternate position on that issue in another comment. I want to see what our community consensus is. Hopefully we will all see that our core issues, of which we are so passionate, are actually supported by a wide variety of people here and throughout the party.
And that are interests are interwined rather than conflicting.
RECOMMEND this diary so many can participate! Thanks.
