The Apalachin meeting was the historic summit of the American Mafia held at the home of one the members on November 14, 1957. Allegedly, the meeting was convened to discuss various topics including loansharking, narcotics trafficking, and gambling, along with dividing the illegal operations An estimated 100 Mafiosi from the United States, Italy, and Cuba attended this meeting.
While Vito Genovese, then head of the renamed Genovese family, initially called the meeting as a way to recognize his new power as capo dei capi in essence it was an attempt to get all the segments of the crime family to work together for their mutual benefit. (Wikipedia)
I read two stories this morning which prompted me to think about this
Is Chuck Schumer actively trying to blackball progressive candidates? — Senate campaign committee now accused of trying to block progressives from running against Republicans
and
Democrats' messy impeachment push hits critical phase — The window to impeach Trump is closing, and senior lawmakers are sending mixed messages.
I am not proposing such a meeting to resolve issues between the Democratic candidates running for president. I am crossing my fingers and hoping that primary process will provide us with the best candidate to beat Trump.
My notion is that the divide and divisiveness between the progressives and moderate Democrats in Congress could lose us seats in Congress, erase whatever hopes we have of winning the Senate, and even propel Trump into his second term.
While Lincoln made the phrase famous, “a house divided shall not stand” is from the Gospel of Mark where Jesus states, "And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” in response to the scribes' claim that "by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.” It is also in Mathew: “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto him, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” We could capitalize house here, and add Senate and rewrite it as “A House and Senate divided against each other may not stand.”
This should be a clarion call for all Congressional Democrats.
There are a few issues that must be dealt with and resolved expeditiously for the benefit of the party:
Ideally Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi would have already called this meeting. Maybe they have, although keeping it secret would have been a feat worthy of the Mafia (and they got caught). Assuming such a meeting isn’t in the works because Nancy and Chuck don’t think it is necessary, normally it would be up to one of two people.
On paper the task would fall to Tom Perez, head of the Democratic National Committee. I just don't see him as being up to the task.
This leaves only one person who I think could pull it off. I don’t think I need to tell you who it is.