Has the progressive agenda been derailed?
The past two weeks have been bleak indeed for the progressive agenda. In 2006, our cadidates were elected on the basis of fair trade, lobbying reform and ending the Iraq war. Let's examine what has transpired.
First, David Sirota reports that the Democratic leadership is making a secret trade agreement with Bush. This agreement includes unenforceable labor and environmental side agreements:
Secret Trade Agreement
This is already bad enough. Then, we find out that Democrats are giving up on tough lobbying reform legislation:
Lobbying Reform
Okay, now this is really getting disturbing. We ran on ending the culture of corruption but don't really want to stop future corruption.
Third, the Democratic leadership caves in and gives Bush basically a blank check on Iraq:
Iraq Blank Check
So, I decided I was fed up and went over to the DCCC web site and whoose picture greets me? James Carville! The DLC strategist who tried to get Dr. Dean fired after 2006 election and replace him with Harold Ford. Remember that?
Carville Is Back
In addition, the DLC is bragging that they will write the Democrats 2008 platform. Then, let's not forget Barney Frank's "grand bargain" with the DLC to get a minimum wage increase:
Grand Bargain
Do you begin to see a pattern that started with Carville's bizarre attack on Dr. Dean and now appears to be a complete trashing of the Progressive agenda.
So, if the DLC have stolen our agenda, what are progressives going to do? I believe the Democrats will lose the Senate, House and Presidency if this continues into 2008.