Donner Party Democrats: "As the snow piled high deep into March, the Dems turned on each other."

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Op-Ed Columnist
Donner Party Democrats
By TIMOTHY EGAN
Published: March 22, 2008

When they set out, it all looked so bright — away to the West, to the Denver convention, nothing but blue skies ahead. They had a continent to cross, a nation to convince, and they vowed to do it in a way that had never been done before....

***

And then, as the snow piled high deep into March, the Dems turned on each other. One of their leaders had been hanging around the camp of another preacher man, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. — a nutball like Robertson, blaming America for bringing on the horrid attack. What is it with these men of God? Should have left them home.

The Dems grew raggedy, worn, desperate. Whereas the first Donner Party was bogged down in the snow of the high Sierra, these Dems could not get out of the Rockies. One faction wanted to declare it over, based on greater popular support. The other one wanted simply to stick around long enough, waiting for the rival to self-destruct.

Their former leader, Clinton the Elder, was kept on a leash — nothing but cards at night. He said he’d seen far worse in his time. “Will there be more animosity as this thing goes on? Yes.” That didn’t help. Looking for leadership, they turned to a quiet man in the rear, a doctor from Vermont: Howard Dean. Do something, Doc! Scream! But he cowered, mumbling about do-overs and going back to Michigan or Florida.

At their lowest ebb, they looked back and again saw the straggler, McCain. He was stronger, walking with renewed vigor despite his age....

His party was united. What had been hatred for McCain was now hatred for the other party’s preacher. They could direct all their historic resentments, their bound-up frustrations, against this preacher, the Rev. Wright. So long as they hissed and booed at his picture every night, they stayed together, saying the nastiest of things.

The original Donner Party made history for one reason: by eating their dead. Cannibalism — it was all they could do to stay alive.

These modern Dems press on, tearing into each other, crawling to get to the summit, still five months away, in the mile-high city. They are now ravenous with hunger, and it is starting to show.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/opinion/22egan.html?em&ex=1206331200&en=15225258008f39d7&ei=5087%0A

[JohnnyLib2]

1. Having grown up very near Donner Pass

and having that tragic story brought up in many classes at University of Nevada-Reno, this article certainly makes a vivid point. The disaster developed across weeks and involved critical decisions made or not made.
Egos were involved. The worst of outcomes occurred and was documented.
And hindsight was of little value.....

As my elders in Nevada would say, "remember that story."

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Thanks for sharing your insight, JohnnyLib! nt