Kicking Bush When He is Down: Too Little Too Late?

[mattclearing]

Is it enough to be right only when it is politically convenient to be so?

Am I satisfied that it took almost three years for many Democrats to admit the Iraq War was a mistake, and to start seriously asking questions?

Is it too much to ask that our representatives choose to do the right thing?

Several of them did. The ones who are finally coming around now beg the question, "What took you so long?"

Have the situation and the circumstances evident in early 2003 changed in any significant way?

Was there really any reason to trust the Bush Administration's accusations regarding WMD?

Joe Wilson went out on a limb to make sure that Democrats knew that this war was a sham, and a number of Democrats, a few of whom had presidential aspirations, ignored the mounting lack of evidence in the Bush Administration's favor in order to meet some imagined national security test.

Well, the election's been over for a year, and it clearly didn't work.

If this is the beginning of a real sea change in the way these Democrats approach issues and decisions, that's something I welcome, and I applaud.

But I fear that it might be a case of people seeing a weak president and piling on. A sort of, "This is what I would have done if the polls had read differently three years ago."

If that is what we're looking at here, then it is not sufficient to make up for the long cold winter Will Pitt mentioned in his excellent thank you note to Harry Reid.

I ask that Democrats consult their conscience before their campaign managers, take the considerations of Americans over their electoral best interests, and make the decision that they can live with.

And I apologize if that is what they did in the first place.

[rodeodance]

1. every kick-big or little-is helpful. kick away.

[mattclearing]

3. Agreed.

My concern is that a strong Democratic Party requires us to make decisions based on more than convenience. That way lies a Party that is a true match for Republicans.

Clearly, the Republicans don't give a fuck if they are in the minority on the issues, and people respect that.

[geek tragedy]

2. Bush is irrelevant. Our real enemies are the Congressional Republicans.nt

[mattclearing]

4. Now, maybe. But in 2003? n/t

[geek tragedy]

11. 2003 is history. I'm more worried about 2006. eom

[mattclearing]

14. But everything happening right now is rooted in 2003. n/t

[geek tragedy]

17. In our minds. What matters is what is in voters' minds in 2006. nt

[electropop]

5. I agree.

In the long run, you win more elections by doing the right thing. Bush and the Repigs managed to steal a couple, but they are facing serious serious problems now. Doing the right thing might have made it possible for the Repigs to win in 2006. At this point, the only way they can do that is massive theft. Not 5 or 6 points like in 2004, but 20, 30, or 40 points. That gets into danger territory, because at that point you risk massive civil unrest.

[mattclearing]

6. So true.

If the Democrats win steal-proof victories and still lose, there will be serious problems. Our "democracy" will be laid bare for all to see.

Honestly, I'm not sure if that's the worst thing or not. At least the civil unrest means that there is hope, and anger.

In 2000, and even last year, it was like the vast majority of people just didn't care.

[lyonn]

7. I like your post, makes you really think

Before the plame/libby fiasco the dems seemed to be meekly rockin along. What happen to speaking what the dem politicians really believed and to hell with whether that will get them elected. What did they really believe? We really don't know. Reid seems to be one of the most outspoken of bunch. Dean tried in 2004 and he got hammered and apparently that sent a msg. to dems & repubs, don't rock the power that be that control the parties. Dean appears to be gun shy now, so sad.

[mattclearing]

8. Yeah, but I give him credit for standing up at the critical moment,

and not later when it was too late.

I was hoping to avoid getting into specific names, because I didn't want this to turn into flamebait.

My frustration is that if we do the right thing for the wrong reason, it's only a temporary thing, and it guarantees we will find ourselves in this same situation again, and sooner than we think.

[lyonn]

9. Sorry, didn't think enough about flaming

Figured by now we had so much on our plate that we could talk about the 2004 players. Hey, Sharpton would have gotten my vote!! He was fun and added conversation. Kerry got my vote with no hesitation. I'm talking the dem party. We have so many smart ones out there I get frustrated by petty bickering. Many of us feel that our party is being too controled by people that are ignoring the masses.

[mattclearing]

10. I think they are coming around.

But it took Dean's internet fundraising, and taking over of the DNC to turn heads and make people realize that the party base is capable of applying real pressure. We won't be ignored so blatantly again.

[paparush]

12. Kicking Bush and Pointing out his Evilness Helps in '06 and '08

Even his own party is squirming because his so fucking pathetic and so non-traditional republican.

[mattclearing]

13. I'm not saying they shouldn't do it.

I'm just saying that I hope they are doing it because they realize now what we seemed to know back then, not just because the polls say it is now acceptable to do so.

[wiggs]

15. Kick em till they stop moving. But

But it IS something that should have been done starting 5 years ago. Dem passivity/complicity is one of the most disappointing, mysterious, and significant aspects of this whole mess.

I'm glad they appear to be starting now, though. Reid's statement was one of the best things I've seen in years. Frustrating that I didn't see the speech reprinted in its entirety in either of my local papers.

[mattclearing]

16. Agreed, on all counts.

That speech was fantastic, and the complicity of the Dems indicates to me that there is some understood agenda going on that they have not been kind enough to acknowledge publicly.

Hopefully this is the beginning of real change.