"Muscular Liberalism"?

[Stinky The Clown]

Jonathan Alter, on MSNBC's website, writes an interesting column.

A Powerful Response
Jim Webb tore up his party's playbook—and helped point the Democrats in a new direction.

By Jonathan Alter
Newsweek
Updated: 11:37 p.m. ET Jan 23, 2007

Jan. 21, 2007 - Something unprecedented happened tonight, beyond the doorkeeper announcing, "Madame Speaker." For the first time ever, the response to the State of the Union Message overshadowed the president's big speech. Virginia Sen. James Webb, in office only three weeks, managed to convey a muscular liberalism—with personal touches—that left President Bush's ordinary address in the dust. In the past, the Democratic response has been anemic—remember Washington Gov. Gary Locke? This time it pointed the way to a revival for national Democrats.



Webb is seen as a moderate or even conservative Democrat, but this was a populist speech that quoted Andrew Jackson, founder of the Democratic Party and champion of the common man. The speech represented a return to the tough-minded liberalism of Scoop Jackson and Hubert Humphrey, but by quoting Republicans Teddy Roosevelt (on "improper corporate influence") and Dwight D. Eisenhower (on ending the Korean War), he reinforced the argument that President Bush had taken the GOP away from its roots.

Webb was given a speech to read by the Democratic leadership. He threw it out and wrote his own. As a well-regarded novelist, Webb has a sense of narrative and human drama. He apparently felt that the boots his son wore in Iraq, which he used to great effect during his successful Senate campaign against Sen. George Allen, might be a bit hokey. So instead, he showed a picture of his father during the Berlin airlift. He then went on to describe taking the picture to bed every night and his family's long record of military service.

As a highly decorated veteran of Vietnam and the Reagan administration (where he served as Navy secretary), Webb is the perfect instrument for rescuing Democrats from the image of wimpy, weak-kneed wussies that has so hampered them in recent national elections. The contrast with Bush and Vice President Cheney—both of whom avoided going to Vietnam—could not have been starker. Webb did not have "other priorities" (Cheney) or a cushy billet defending Texas from Mexico (Bush). But unlike fellow veteran John Kerry, he has a military bearing and nonelitist tone that is appealing.

..... snip ....... the story goes on to speculate on Webb for President in 2008 and other mental masturbation about how bad Democrats are ......

(above emphasis is mine)

Muscular liberalism ...... an interesting phrase. Jim Webb is the one Alter chose to personify the phrase, and for obvious reasons.

But we all know that Jim Webb, while a hero of sorts to many of us - certainly he is to me - is hardly a 'liberal' in the more commonly felt sense of the word. He's sure not as liberal as I would like him to be. But therein lies a dichotomy. I don't feel any need whatever for him to be more liberal. I like him just the way he is.

And in reading the many posts after his Dem response on Tuesday night, many of you seem to agree with me on this point.

Muscular liberalism .....

I gotta keep rolling that one around on my tongue. I have to admit it has a nice ring to it. It sets a certain tone, paints a certain mental image. It puts me in mind of the Depression-era art deco paintings of 'the worker' ..... like this one .....



...... or even the image of Rosie the Riveter ....



Muscular liberal, huh? .........

Looking at some who were elected this go-round, the term might well be spot on. Some of the vetreans who made it into Congress, like Joe Sestak. Jon Tester fits the bill, too.

These are people who we might not traditionally think of as Democrats. Much of our image, even today, is more a 1980s Alan Alda or Mike Farrell than a Jim Webb. Not that there's anything wrong with Alda or Farrel; there surely is not.

But these new 'muscular liberals' ...... that's a whole new ballgame.

And one that's damned appealling to a lot of people.

Muscular Liberal ....... I like it.

[blondeatlast]

1. As the proud daughter of a "Rosie," I wlecome the term.

I don't run away from a fight and I don't let the bullies get away with it--as they have been trying so hard to do since the Reagan years.

"We can do it, we will do it, and we'll knock you to the side if you stand in our way!"

[acmejack]

2. Perhaps we might be careful not to strain ourselves flexing

Before the mirror.

[blondeatlast]

6. Who needs a mirror? Just a side by side comparisonm of Jon Tester

to that "hard workin'" Kennebunkport Kowboy is all we need to project.

[Vexatious Ape]

3. You're on to something here.

Who wants to be part of or in support of the wimpy party?

[blondeatlast]

4. I'm guessing a lot of people won't like the term, but it's an image the party needs

to project to the working man.

Compare Jon Tester on his farm to the Kennebunkport Kowboy doin' that hard work on the ranch. It makes KK look utterly ridiculous.

I've lived in Montana and my best friend's dad was a rancher there--ain't no way in HELL Dubya could handle it.

[AX10]

5. Once we were strong liberals. Now we are weak.

We need to be strong if we want to win. Don't be afraid to state your position clearly.

[Olney Blue]

7. Great post! Muscular liberalism. K and R.

[Bucky]

8. Olney Blue! I remember reading lots of smart posts from you in the past.

How come you don't have a DU journal? You're someone whose journal I'd read on a regular basis

[Olney Blue]

10. Why, thank you Bucky! However, I'm more of a "drive by poster" most

of the time. I appreciate your compliment, though.

[Lone_Wolf]

9. muscular liberalism vs. candy ass conservatism has a nice ring to it

You would think that most blue collar types would be turned off by candy asses like Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and the fake Cowboy.

[ShortnFiery]

25. Yes, the neo-conservatives are cry-baby powder puffs with cotton balls.

:rofl:

[sendero]

11. I've been advocating this style of politicing..

... since the day I came here in 2002. Liberals get no respect because their compassion is effectively painted as weakness by the noise machine.

Rhetoric like Webb's is exactly what we need to counter that mistaken notion.

[Adelante]

13. Yep

Me, too.

[wyldwolf]

12. Muscular liberalism - a term applied to Truman/Kennedy era Democrats...

... in regards to National Security.

Last spring/summer, that concept wasn't real popular on DU because of the writings on it by Peter Beinart and others.

[welshTerrier2]

14. image and reality

when we paint a picture of Democrats as "muscular liberals", we tap into an enormous block of voters who rightly are concerned about safeguarding the US. Using the term as "advertising" is a sound political strategy for Democrats to follow. We will never sustain a political majority if we are seen as weak on defense or seen as unwilling to make an appropriate response if the US is attacked.

the above focusses on the politics of muscular liberalism. it's about the IMAGE that the party projects.

But beyond image is the underlying reality of good policy. Under no circumstances should we follow a course that might send a popular political message if it results in poor policy that jeopardizes the country and jeopardizes the cause of peace. The military-industrial complex has had a strangehold on our government for far too long. It is not good defense to sink more money into the defense budget than the rest of the world combined. We need to spend more on troops and less on profit-oriented "defense". If Democrats, to project a political image as muscular liberals, choose to ignore the ravages of the MIC on national defense policy, then I could not support the new image. If Democrats, to make political gains, are going to support insane military adventures like the IWR, then I could not support the new image. If Democrats, putting politics before policy, are going to fail to make the case that our military is often used inappropriately to procure profits for private oil companies then I could not support the new image.

Neither Democrats nor the country itself will have a bright future if we let the marketing department run things. So, while I have no problem with "muscular liberalism" as a marketing theme, good policy has to be the first consideration. Let's define muscular liberalism before we start advertising it. We have to be about much more than slogans.

For me, muscular liberalism should mean that we, as Democrats, will ensure that the country has all of the defense it really needs. It will mean that we are not defining ourselves as pacifists who are opposed to war under any and all circumstances. If war is necessary, absolutely necessary, we will respond. But it also should mean that we see corporate abuses in our defense appropriations system and that we believe this weakens, not strengthens, the country. It should also mean that the best defense includes building strong alliances with the global community. You don't build strong alliances by building an empire and exploiting the weaknesses of other countries around the world. We cannot allow a foreign policy driven by empire if we truly want the country to be stronger and safer. Muscular liberalism must look beyond just military solutions to the problems we face. If we get the policy right, then a slogan like muscular liberalism will be more than just a slogan; it will be a policy that will be benefit the country and therefore will benefit the party politically.

[Stinky The Clown]

21. Good thoughts, all, and not in the least incompatible with what I took from the original article ...

..... but to be sure, caution is needed. I'd like to think we, as a party, have grown a little since the last time we had what might be termed as 'muscular liberalism' ...... the Scoop Jackson era. That whole crowd are the direct progenitors of the PNAC/Neocon maniacs we have today.

While I am not in the least a schooled student of every policy nuance of every elected or wanting-to-be-elected Democrat, I have the general feeling that the ones who might fall into this new, amorphously defined group of 'muscular liberals' are very much aware - and wary - of the issues surrounding the whole MIC problem.

Just by way of example, the Jane Harmens and the Joe Libermans (I know - not a real Democrat anymore) are very much out of favor. In my own mind, in considering this new 'image' or 'branding' or 'marketing' meme of 'muscular liberalism', they don't fit.

I suspect Jim Webb is the prototype for this new theme. So is Jon Tester. Maybe Wesley Clark, too. None of them seem *afraid* of war, but they all seem to be hard wired to avoid it at all costs, favoring diplomacy. I know that Clark, back in the 03/04 cycle, talked about knowing where the fat and fallacy of the Defense budget lives and wanting to go after it. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, he was talking about funding domestic social programs with money saved at the five sided War Palace.

Further, in my mind at least, 'muscular liberalism' doesn't go just to war and the military. It goes to our relations with our allies - allies being economic and social at least as much as military. It talks about *honestly* doing the hard work needed to advance an agenda. It takes some muscle, for example, to get the holes in the social safety net repaired. It takes muscle to just talk truth to power. It takes muscle to combat the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy that is a fact of life in our country today. By this definition, Dennis Kucinich is a 'muscular liberal'. Unfortuantely, his generally accepted image is not. But when the meme moves from being connected to people (i.e.: Jim Webb) to the party at large, he'll be seen for what he really is.

I think connecting the muscular liberal label to things military is a symptom of living in Bushworld. The military is what's on everyone's mind right now, for obvious reasons. But it can be so much more than that.

Our Speaker Pelosi is another example of a muscular liberal. So far, however, more focus has been given to her wardrobe and gender than to her work. But she's surely done some good work already and i expect more to come from her. You'll know the corner's been turned when her popular image is more like Rosie's overalls and bubushka than Armani.

[Odin2005]

15. Proud muscular liberal here!

[Vidar]

16. I like it.

[Douglas Carpenter]

17. as long as we don't muscularly liberal our way into intractable wars

especially the very real possibility of muscularly liberaling our way into another and far more devastating war in the Middle East.

An earlier generation of "muscular liberals" had a lot to do with damn near destroying the Democratic Party, most of Indo-China and America's moral authority in the world along with the lives of more than fifty thousand Americans and millions of Vietnamese, Cambodians and Laotians.

The slogan sounds catchy though.

___________

words of advice from one very muscular liberal:

"I think of war with Iran as the ending of America's present role in the world. Iraq may have been a preview of that, but it's still redeemable if we get out fast. In a war with Iran, we'll get dragged down for 20 or 30 years. The world will condemn us. We will lose our position in the world."

Zbigniew Brzezinski, Vanity Fair, 2006. Zbigniew Brzezinski was national security adviser to President Carter from 1977 to 1981.

.

[crispini]

18. It's old-style populism, really.

And I like it.

[ms liberty]

19. You've put your finger on the appeal of the term...

I like it, and I like the images it evokes which are exactly those you've used in your OP. We need to make this part of our lexicon, and use it often.

[mopinko]

20. thomas hart benton

yeah, like this.



yeah, i like hearing the term populist being used to desribe these "converts" to the party. if there are any more out there that want to come aboard, i say we offer them one of these,

[Stinky The Clown]

22. Yes!

Thomas Hart Benton ....... I had a brain freeze when I was searching for images in the OP. He is **exactly* the artist who captured what I was attempting to portray.

[mopinko]

23. still inspiring us, thanks to fdr and the new deal.

so many amazing public art treasures left to the american people, thanks to those common sense programs. when the arts are not appreciated and supported, you know your civilization is circling the drain.

[Stinky The Clown]

26. Waaaaaay off topic here, but ......... about the arts and FDR .......

FDR, during the Depression, saw the value of art and the need to sustain our artists who, at the time, were literally starving. He commssioned a ton of art to go with the buildings and other public works he established.

There is a treasure trove of it in DC. Today, sadly, mosty of it is unavailable to the piblic, since we citizens are no longer allowed in our own government buildings. The murals, the bas reliefs, the statues, much of it in the style typified by Benton.

Around the country, this stuff is everywhere. Boulder Dam is an art deco gem. Not just a functional power station, the architecture and the decoration is nothing short of spectacular.

A true national treasure is the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut, that runs from the NY line to West Haven. The bridges were each designed by different artists and then implemented by engineers. In the link below, they show some of the highlights (my favorite is the one at James Farm Road, which is very near where I grew up). The artists who FDR commssioned were quite literally saved by being engaged to design these bridges.

http://www.past-inc.org/historic-bridges/merrittpkwybridges.html

I get pissed off when I think of the buildings in DC, with which I am very familiar. The Dept of the Interior building, as but one example, has priceless murals rendered by native American artists throughout the building's public spaces. Public? Ha! Not no mo'.

[mopinko]

27. we have great public art here in chicago.

i have my beefs about ritchie daley, but he has done A LOT to support the arts. he also knows how important the arts are as an economic development tool.

[ShortnFiery]

24. Oh yes, the corporate elite FEAR an well informed "and assertive" middle class. n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

28. No argument .... but my take on this article and the people it talks about ....

..... is that while their appeal is, indeed, strong among the middle class, they also attract strongly from the lower class and underclass. EVERYone loves a rightous tough guy.

[The Traveler]

29. Webb's writings and positions

on the structural injustice and weakness of our economy have largely been overshadowed by his street cred on defense issues and his consistent opposition to this misadventure in Iraq.

I would like to hear Webb and other "populists" get the air time to express their views on economic and social matters. Unfortunately, that is definitely not consistent with the wishes of the media's corporate masters. The last thing these people want is the rousing of the working class, and they fear people like Webb might accomplish that.

[Stinky The Clown]

30. Actually, that message was part of his Democratic SOTU response last week .....

He touched on both the war and on economic issues. I was VERY impressed with his speech.