I used to celebrate the near-inevitable independent run by Ron Paul.
The fact that so many Republicans would happily vote for a racist, xenophobic, tax-hostile, anti-choice conspiracy theorist over another neocon promised to be the coup de grace that would cement a Democrat in the White House.
But that will only work if we offer independent voters something better than a party of craven sellouts who stand by with a towel and a mint as the Constitution gets flushed like so much neocon toilet paper.
Why is Ron freaking Paul the candidate who guarantees an immediate end to the war and an instant, full restoration of the Constitution? And why, of all Democratic candidates in Congress, is Zeta Reticulan elf guy the one playing Wyatt Earp?
Democrats in Congress, I'm not sure what your deal is. "Helpless" has some disturbing theories, none of which, if true, will lead to the election of more Democrats.
Americans LIKE a tough guy. They don't want Caligula, but they want someone who will call a spade a spade and uphold the rule of law. Americans want a candidate with a badge who will bitchslap the neocons and say "you gonna grease that smoke wagon or just stand there and bleed?" Americans love someone who is unafraid to utter the words "not one more dime" and "evil empire" and "tear down this wall" and "treason" when directed against a truly grave threat (in this case, Commander Guy & Co).
Americans don't want a "compromise" on domestic spying. Americans don't WANT a mitigated answer when it comes to torture. They don't want a vague timeline when it comes to illegal war. They don't want a poll taken before Congress refuses to subsidize a future coup with contracts to Blackwater. Americans don't want the impeachment of crazed despots "tabled" so existing FISA and torture laws can be belabored and finally vetoed.
Americans are now scared of their government, and want their Constitution back. They don't want to be in deep debt to the Communist Chinese. They don't want our National Guard putting out fires in Iraq when we need them putting out fires here. Americans don't want compromise with the forces of fascism. They want a leader.
Ron Paul will never see the White House. But he'll be more Nader than Perot to the Democrats if they don't give voters the bold leadership they need.
So LEAD, Democrats. I'll be damned if your craven grovelling sends enough disgusted independents into Ron Paul's camp to put another neocon in the White House. Lead or get the hell out of the way.
Right now, we don't know if you're really with us. Right now, we don't know who you are or what the hell you are doing. Right now, we don't know if you've sold out, if you're being blackmailed, bribed, if you're afraid to back these rabid wolves into a corner, or if you're just the worst strategists in history.
Show us your leadership. Show us your courage and heroism. Time to use that powder that must be drier than the Sahara by now. Show us you don't already belong to THEM.
Because right now, if we were to take up the pitchforks and torches, you might not be the ones set ablaze, but you'd certainly be up on a rail, covered with feathers and tar. History does not take kindly to Vichy stooges.
And neither will the voters.