I am stunned at how poorly so many of our Democratic Senators have behaved in the health care debate.
Do we really have to take this shit? I don't think so.
Right now, it seems our elected leaders are really taking progressives for granted. And that not only hurts us, it hurts the party and the country. America would be better, and Dems would be WAY more popular, if progressives had gotten their way and the public option had been passed.
I think we need to use the primary process to elect real progressives. We have to often acted as if we were ashamed to be progressive - you can't win an argument that way - and you can't win elections without winning those arguments for the voters. Even if we lose the primary, we get the platform for progressivism, as Tea-baggers are doing for their twisted viewpoints in the GOP.
Far too many Democrats have failed to lead or even opposed the fight for real health care reform,. I think we have the right and obligation on a progressives site to speak up in progressive opposition to any elected Democrat any of us feels need a primary challenger.
I'll mention one race specifically, that we need to start looking for a new Democratci Senator from Arkansas, among other places, in 2010. Since Lincoln has been a major voice against HCR, there must be a challenger. I've only heard the name of Bill Halter, so would open the thread for other names if Halter doesn't run, as seems possible.
I think that Bill Halter could not only beat Lincoln, he could do what she can't: win the general election. Any progressive Democrat would have a better chance than Lincoln, who has discouraged many of her own voters.
While the DKos poll in December showed Halter trailing to Lincoln & the ReThugs, his name ID was his only real problem, his favorability +/- numbers are much better than rest of the candidates. When Arkansas-ites see Halter, they like him.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
But I also have to say the worst thing about this is to have to advocate 1 less woman in the Senate. It is a fucking crime that there are so few women in our government.
I think it is fucking awesome that progressives have this site that they can go to not just to cheerlead for Democrats, but to pressure them to indulge in their progressive side. The seeming failure of the public option is a sign to me that progressive voices are not being heard enough, even by elected Democratic "leaders."