By Dave Anderson:
Here's Digby's take on the ACORN hissy fit:
The problem, as usual, is the Democrats, who are simply incapable of protecting their own political futures. Per Howie:
Huge victory for Glenn Beck! Only 75 Democrats had the guts to stand up for ACORN today when the not-so-hapless Republican minority forced through a motion by GOP crook Darrell Issa (R-CA) to defund the organization. This is so pathetic-- and a true vision of the Republican idea of bipartisanship (even worse, if you can imagine than the rancid kind of bipartisanship corrupt Democrats like Kent Conrad, Max Baucus, Blanche Lincoln, and Ben Nelson are always pumping for). I want to especially congratulate the Blue Dog coalition, Steny Hoyer, and the freshmen we helped elect who see nothing wrong in selling out our allies in a tough time. Here's the list of the ones who didn't sell out. read on
And Obama backed them up today ...(I would compare this to how the Republicans reacted when the Democrats tried to disable one of their important political allies. They gathered their forces, defended their guy and the resolution went absolutely nowhere.)
When I was in high school, I hung out with four guys on a consistent basis. Our friendships were based on common interests but more importantly, on the knowledge that we had each others' backs, even when, or more so, especially when one of us was temporarily in the wrong in a situation. In those situations, we would know that the other four were fighting just as hard to get everyone to the door and out of trouble as anyone else. The after action review often had multiple dope slaps in it, but the important thing was that it was an after action review for the entire group, and not just one or two of us. Thoe situations built trust and a credible promise of future reciprocity.
The Republicans as a whole have developed this type of long-standing trust with their activists. As Digby points out, their activists, including Rush, are protected by every other member of their coalition even when they do something stupid. There might be future in-coalition recriminations and changes, but against an external threat, they are protected.
The Democrats don't have that trust with their activists. Instead, the Democrats engage in ritualistic self-flagellation and hippie punching to please the Republican aligned activists that will never vote for them. Forget the fact that tax avoidance advise that bleeds into tax evasion is "normal" and "legitimate" business for major Republican donors who routinely encourage their partisan allies to hinder SEC regulation and enforcement actions. The 'sting' exercise was an attempt to bring out of the gray market money into the white market, it was not even tax evasion advise that ACORN gave.
So ACORN is now out of the voter registration business. ACORN will not be pursuing low income, urban, non-white potential voters. If that is not a description of a base Democratic voter, I don't know who is a base Democratic voter. Other activist groups will note that if the right throws a hissy fit, get ready for a Democratic driven bus to run them over.
Bitch slap politics works for Republicans by wedging Democrats from their supporters and causing the supporters to rightly conclude that elected Democrats won't fight for their interests, so why should they reciprocate in fighting for Democratic Party interests that do not fully coincide with their own interests?
I think the virtue probably lies with the Democrats and the vice with the Republicans but in the workings of man vice usually wins.
ReplyDeleteDem elites seem to take the view that their activists should FOAD so elected party members can freely go about the very serious business of converting cash from the wealthy into legislation that benefits the wealthy.
ReplyDeleteNot that far removed from how national elites view the general public, really....
Hey, Democrats! Although I left your silly party over a decade ago, my heart is still essentially with your platform and agenda. That being said, I would ask all of you to think of me as Dr. Degan, your loving and trusted family veterinarian. After a complete and thorough examination of your beloved pets, it grieves me to offer you this final diagnosis:
ReplyDeleteYour Blue Dogs must be put to sleep.
The Democrats are not going to distinguish their party by trying to sell themselves as Republican Lite. They're not going to turn America around by foolishly preserving the policies of the last thirty years. They need to educate their constituency by showing them the folly of their abhorrence of things "Left" and "Liberal". Three-quarters-of-a-century ago, American democracy was saved by a government that was decidedly left-of center in all but a few areas. It can happen again. But it's only going to happen if WEEDA PEEPOLE refuse to turn right at the next crossroad. It is only down the road.
Now if you'll excuse me, Dr. Degan has some Blue Dogs on his table that need to be put out of our misery.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
The repugs chip away at the base of support of the dems -at all times. when they are in power, they use the tools of the state to attack, including the DAs and fake indictments. At all times their media allies push the frame that dems are fools, thieves and want a black man to rape your daughter.
ReplyDeleteand, as you say, they circle the wagons and never ever feed one of their own to the lions to escape themselves. Because they don't fear the dems. they don't think the dems will destroy them.
dems on OTOH, quake at shadows and jump in fear to jettison DFHs who supported them.
ef em.