Has the Democratic Party lost its way?

[Karmadillo]

I think so. At this point in history, we don't need bankster bailouts, we don't need Forever Wars, we don't need healthcare reform designed to continue the tyranny of the health insurance industry, we don't need global warming on the back burner, we don't need private sector hoodoo as our jobs program, we don't need BP in charge of trying to fix the disaster in the Gulf, and we don't need promises of Genuine Change used as the disposable campaign wrapper of a business as usual administration. What we need is to revive the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party so that we are a party dedicated to the welfare of the People, not the Profiteers.

Is that possible? Can we do it? As Cesar Chavez would say, "Yes we can." One, we're right. Two, we outnumber them. Will we do it? Maybe, maybe not. The Corporate Media loves to spend its time convincing us of our powerlessness, but we don't have to listen to them if we don't want to. As FDR said, "Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds."

It's not hopeless. The history of America is full of men and women whose lives prove we can find our way out of the wilderness. It's not a matter of miracles. It's a matter of courage and determination.

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=remembering_paul_wellstone

Five years ago we lost a politician who fearlessly stood up for the best of progressive ideals. That his positions are now coming into widespread acceptance is a testament of the courage of a man who spoke out for what was true.

Ezra Klein | October 25, 2007 |

Five years ago today, at 10:22 in the morning, a Beechcraft King Air 100 plane crashed into the forest about two miles from Eveleth airport, where it was supposed to land. The pilots, trying to navigate through freezing rain and snow, had let the craft's speed slow, its engine calm. The drop in velocity sent the plane into a fatal plummet, taking the lives of all those on board, including one of our greatest political leaders.

But that great man was, first and foremost, an organizer, a believer in the power of ordinary individuals. He would be appalled to see his name listed before those of the others who died on that plane. So it won't be. On that day, Sheila Wellstone died, as did Marcia, one of the Wellstones' three children. Will McLaughlin, Tom Lapic and Mary McEvoy perished, all of them working for Wellstone's reelection campaign. The two pilots, Michael Guess and Richard Conry, were killed. As was Paul Wellstone.

<edit>

Wellstone's populism was not an affectation, or a political posture. It was laced into the fabric of his personality. It's what made him different than other politicians. His measuring stick was not the poll numbers, not the editorial pages, not the political prognosticators, not the Sunday shows -- it was the farmers, the students, the seniors, the people. His fealty to them explains his frequent lonesomeness in the Senate. When the people are your judges, you can stand against the Iraq War in an election year, you can lose votes 99-1. You can fail to pass legislation, because you know the compromise would fail your constituents. "Politics is not about power," he would say. "Politics is not about money. Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning. Politics is about the improvement of people's lives. It's about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and the world. Politics is about doing well for the people."

Because of this, Wellstone had an immunity to the political trends that few politicians exhibit. When liberal was an epithet, Paul Wellstone wrote a book called The Conscience of a Liberal. When unions were in deep decline, Wellstone stood with them, and now the AFL-CIO now gives an annual award in his honor. After the Clinton health plan was crushed and Democrats retreated from health reform, Wellstone pushed for single-payer. While Clinton was chasing dollars to outspend and overwhelm Bob Dole, Wellstone was calling for full public financing. When progressives were marginalized and cowed by the right's cynical use of 9/11, Wellstone stood on the floor of the Senate, deep within the chambers of power, at the epicenter of cowardice and "responsible" hawkery, and roared on behalf of our ideals. That they were politically inconvenient never deterred him. "If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for," he said, "at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."

more...

[Sebastian Doyle]

1. I'm a member of the party of FDR, Paul Wellstone, and Howard Dean

Definitely NOT the party of Blanche Lincoln, Rahm Emanuel, or Bill Clinton.

FUCK the DLC.

[laughingliberal]

5. +1 nt

[corpseratemedia]

18. +2

[glitch]

19. and that goes for anyone empowering them as well. nt

[daleanime]

2. Thank you...

don't know if anyone could have said it better.O8)

[villager]

3. Seemed to start in earnest with the cowardly "responses" to Reagan/ism...

n/t

[ProSense]

4. "we don't need healthcare reform designed to continue the tyranny of the health insurance industry"

People across the country (NH , ME , CA and TX) disagree with that characterization.

Remarks by AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka at the Lawyers Coordinating Conference June 03, 2010

<...>

This week, you have heard and will hear from courageous public officials and genuine heroes from throughout the Obama Administration. We need only think back to the days of the Bush NLRB and the September massacre to realize what a difference it makes to have Barack Obama as our President.

I want to thank you for all that you did to call out the Republicans and the Chamber of Commerce when they were blocking Craig Becker and Mark Pearce -- for all the calls, e-mails, letters to the editor, and that terrific letter to President Obama from hundreds of you -- under the banner of "Lawyers for Working Americans" -- calling on President Obama to make recess appointments for Craig and Mark. It is so important to know that you are out there and we can count on you.

In little more than a year since President Obama took office, we have achieved more than appointments. We stood with the President and the Democratic leadership in Congress to pass historic health care reform—bringing health insurance to tens of millions of Americans, improving benefits for union members and holding insurance companies accountable—it's been a goal of the labor movement since the 19th century. That legislation is just the beginning of change in health care. And we are on the verge of passing comprehensive financial reform, including key components of labor's agenda like regulation of hedge funds and derivatives, and giving our pension funds real power in the board rooms of the corporations we own.

more

The majority of the country recognizes that this was a significant step forward.

[daleanime]

8. Yea, we've taken a step....

problem solved, every one go home now.













Just in case it's needed. :sarcasm:

[ProSense]

11. Never said that, but doesn't change the fact that the statement is a mischaracterization. Also:

"we don't need global warming on the back burner"

Agree with that, but has the party lost its way? From where? There is a climate change bill in the Senate right now. It is the first time a major piece of climate change legislation has had a shot of passing.

Some of those opposing it have been in the Senate for years. Where are the people pushing for it? I forgot, some are trying to kill it. The very people who have ignored the bill being voted on today that would strip the EPA of its power.

[leveymg]

12. 30 out of the 33 million "who now have healthcare" are opt outs, whose enrollment pays for the

expansion of programs for 3 million, most of whom won't have additional coverage for several years.

So, I'm sick and tired of hearing from party hacks about the wonderful HCR the Administration and Congress cobbled together. They epic failed on the substance of HCR, and what we got was most a bailout for the private insurers that industry wanted.

This was only symbolically a "step forward" that left a very nasty taste in the mouths of progressives who were expecting some sort of public option to weigh against mandatory buy-in.

[ProSense]

16. What?

"30 out of the 33 million 'who now have healthcare' are opt outs"

They are opt outs who have health care?

[leveymg]

20. Most of the 30M are younger, healthier persons who had opted out of private coverage

In other words, exactly the low-risk, low-cost population the private insurers wanted. By "opted out" I mean their lack of coverage is largely a voluntary decision not to purchase coverage.

[girl gone mad]

26. You've really got your work cut out...

trying to spin that piece of junk.

Most of the popular parts have now taken effect, with the awful stuff still years away, yet people already http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/march_2010/health_care_law">overwhelmingly support a repeal.

[BeFree]

6. +1000^12

What the donkeys are doing is following the elephants in this circus,

cleaning up behind them,

then selling us the product as some kind of magical political and socioeconomic fertilizer.

[laughingliberal]

7. K & R nt

[elehhhhna]

9. Found its way. The way of self-dealing.

[salguine]

10. It didn't lose its way; it sold it to the highest bidder.

[Bitwit1234]

13. What I can't understand about Obama's administration IS THIS

why is it necessary to cow-tow to all the republican's requests and turn a deaf ear to the Democratic Base. We never get our priorities taken care of because they are too damn busy changing every thing to pacify the republicans. WHO BY THE WAY LOST THE DAMN ELECTION AND ARE IN THE MINORITY.

And when they were the majority they ran full steam ahead over any thing and every thing the Democrats suggested. Why don't we do that.

[kctim]

21. You don't understand

because you are so wrong.

Didn't cow-tow to republican requests because did not need republicans with the majority had. Did have to work with moderates though.

The 'Democratic Base' you speak of are the ones who believe only they are the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party. They are also the minority of the Democratic Party and that is why you believe you never get your priorities taken care of. Not to pacify republicans, but to work with Democrats who are not part of that 'base.' Moderates.

This holier than thou, self proclaimed 'Democratic Wing' of the Democratic Party is doing nothing but creating division with in the party itself. A plan Republicans would be proud of.

[Individualist]

23. Wrong. It's DLC that has created a division among voters with their pro-corporate, anti-progressive

agenda.

[kctim]

24. Interesting reality there

Only about 20-30 percent of Dems consider themselves liberal/progressives. The vast majority of Democrats approve of the job President Obama is doing. DLCer Lincoln won against an opponent who would be probably be considered DLC in about any other race. Moderate Dems, sorry, DLC Dems are polling pretty well in the upcoming elections in their areas.
And you actually believe the agenda that the majority of Democrats support and vote for is causing the division?

[Sebastian Doyle]

31. DLCer Lincoln STOLE her "victory"

You know it. I know it. She knows it.

[kctim]

40. No, I did not know that

because I had not heard those accusations yet. When did that news hit? I would love to read the details and change my statement if she did in fact steal her victory.

[Sebastian Doyle]

42. 40 polling places in Garland county. Only 2 of them open for the runoff

Election official in charge was a DLC/Lincoln flunkie, and he resigned almost immediately after the stolen election.

Do the math (and not with a Diebold calculator)

[kctim]

43. Oh that

That decision was done in March, not the day of the election and things are reported to still have gone smoothly. But, the last I heard, 4 lawsuits have been filed and it will be investigated.

At this time, it is only an assumption to say she actually stole the election though.

[girl gone mad]

27. The majority supported the public option...

opposed TARP and the rest of the trillions in Wall St. theft, supported strong financial reform and an audit of the Fed, want us out of Iraq, are ready for change. Instead, Democrats took cover behind the facade of "bi-partisanship" so they could do their corporate bidding and continue the ruinous neo-con/neo-lib agenda.

Save this lie for the Sunday Reader crowd. Those here know better.

[kctim]

28. Not quite

It's not that "those here know better," but rather that most 'here' agree with those versions of the truth.

Yes, the majority supported the public option, but less than half of them supported paying for it. Now how much do people really support something if they are unwilling to do what it takes to support it?

Most people, right and left, opposed TARP, I think.

Most people support financial reform, but what proof is there that they support one solution more than another?

Most people want us out of Iraq, but most realize it cannot be done overnight.

No matter how you slice it, Democrats do not all agree on the end goals or how to reach them. Health care reform for some is everybody being covered under a government plan and to others it is a government plan that covers those who need it, but leaves them personally alone and free to make their own decisions.
Like it or not, that is how it is.

[Tailormyst]

32. spin spin spin

[Individualist]

34. +1

[sabrina 1]

37. Well, I'm a moderate

and I think I am like most people who make up the base of the Democratic Party.

There are no lock-step 'bases' of the Democratic Party. There are people who want common sense policies regarding the issues that affect Americans in their daily lives. This idea that the base of the party are 'far left' radicals is BS. The base of the Democratic Party is what it always was, a mixture of people including the working class who have just been given the finger by the party, nurses, teachers, doctors, soldiers, lawyers, young people and old people, and service industry workers, bus drivers etc. etc.

War supporters, torture supporters, supporters of bailouts for failed corporations, anti social safety nets, anti union supporters, anti teachers, nurses and the rest of the working class, those people are usually found in the Republican Party.

However, an increasing number of them seem to have moved over to the Democratic Party and are apparently far more welcome than actual Democrats.

But this has happened before in history. Parties change. And when they do, other parties emerge. People will not go on supporting any party that does not represent them. And you can try to excuse what is happening with this party, that is your right, but when millions of people notice that they are not represented anymore, they tend to look elsewhere as people vote in their own interests first and foremost. And they don't vote for people who insult them on a regular basis, whether they are Republicans or Democrats.

Democrats have to decide who they want to represent. It is never a good idea to alienate the real base of your party.

[AnArmyVeteran]

35. Obama could have been a hero by now but he keeps giving in. And why????

What is he getting by snubbing his nose at those who elected him. If he just fulfilled his promises the left would be estatic and independents would be combing on board with their support. But Obama keeps giving into the right. But why? Everyone but him knows it's pointless because they will continue to hate him. So why is he throwing us under the corporate buses?????

[elocs]

14. Did the Democratic Party ever have a specific "way"?

Lots of different Democrats support and stand for different things. I suppose there should be some common ground where they all intersect, but I'm not sure if there has been a specific way.

People so often yearn for the good old days in so many things. I wonder if back in the good old days they knew they were the good old days. A scary thought is that maybe to some these will be the good old days.

[Jennicut]

15. Not really. The Dems of FDR were not similiar to Dems of before or after that.

There were some good periods and some bad periods in the party's history, just like with American history.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dajoki]

22. K&R

[old mark]

25. Gone since the 1960's.Maybe a little gilmmer in the Carter years

but dead as a fucking doornail now...they are not even pretending.
Clinton was a disgrace and is worse now.
Obama is a fucking republican lite, and he IS the best at least of the current bunch of presidential possibilities for 2012.

If there ever was time for a real, active leftist party movement, now is it.

mark

[Tailormyst]

29. I believe it has

I'm just not sure how to help fix things. I thought that is what I was doing in 2004,2006,2008 and but now I find I was punked and all that work was just to put more greedy bastards into power to make each other more powerful and more wealthy. We were all fooled, some are still being fooled.

[GreenTea]

30. There certainly isn't any one strong Dem leader like the great Howard Dean galvanizing the party....

And DNC Chairman Tim Kaine is certainly NOT the answer....

Oh, the light-weight Kaine will make a few tough speeches, but the Republicans have his number they know they can walk all over Kaine and the Democrats without ever getting any real pounding....which should be coming daily by the Democrats, exposing the despicable lying greedy, hateful republicans and their lust for corporate fascism.

The Democrats have no real cohesiveness or plan...The Dems are floundering, they are not even addressing how the republicans are working every day to steal congressional races ...the republicans are diabolical - the republicans whole strategy has been to take congress back in 2010 and that means the republicans MUST steal some local congressional elections to do it.

And believe me the republicans and their rip-off master Karl Rove, is back, they are indeed working on many different ways to steal different election for each location, -

Purging votes in one place, hacking machines in another place, turning away voters, not enough machines in Dem stronghold is another, along with phony voter registration drives, and on and on...and the republicans are absolutely working on it each and every day.

As the Dems go blindly on with no real plan.

BUT, unlike the Democrats, the republicans have a plan - Just say no, obstructionism, just keep pointing fingers, cloud up the issues, distort and steal as many races (seats) as they possibly can get away with, and there will be many....and after it's over and the Dems are pointing their fingers, it'll be far too late!!

[GreenTea]

38. Just watch how many creative ways the republicans will steal an election here - an election there...

This November, Dems just won't believe it's possible, they think it's old news, though absolutely NOTHING has been done to prevent the same republican tactics....It means fair play is not in play and that bothers and upsets them so they would rather ignore it...they feel much more comfortable believing they are in control and everything is exactly as it seems and is being presented.

The republicans will indeed win many races and they will also steal ones they need to get the number they need for a majority, they are working on it everyday.

And when the Dems are collectively scratching their dense heads, the republicans will be laughing and toasting having achieved a slim majority...The corporate republicans stick together so even the slimmest of majorities can stop ALL Obama's or the Democrats progressive agenda.

Because the Democrats just don't believe elections can be stolen....not even small local district congressional elections in almost 600 areas throughout the country, districts you never heard of, but their vote counts just the same as your congressional district representative.

Once again, the republicans are fucking diabolical predator creatures - The republicans whole and only strategy has been to take congress back in 2010 and that means the republicans MUST steal some local congressional elections to do it.

And believe me the republicans and their rip-off master Karl Rove, is back, they are indeed working on many different ways to steal different election for each location.

Purging votes in one place, hacking machines in another place, turning away voters, not enough machines in Dem stronghold is another, along with phony voter registration drives, and on and on...and the republicans are absolutely working on it each and every day.

As the Dems go blindly on with no real plan.

BUT, unlike the Democrats, the republicans have a plan - Just say no, obstructionism, just keep pointing fingers, cloud up the issues, distort and steal as many races (seats) as they possibly can get away with, and there will be many....and after it's over and the Dems are pointing their fingers, it'll be far too late!

It's truly amazing how many people don't even consider how the republicans plan and work years ahead of time on stealing, hacking, etc. it's all the same - just get the republican in office is their mantra and they'll take it from there...

These republicans are truly shameless, diabolical, vindictive arrogant rich corporate people....just never forget that!

[Sebastian Doyle]

33. Thom Hartmann just made an interesting observation on this topic

He compared two TV interviews that were on yesterday. Tweety and Harold DLC Ford on Hardball, and Jon Stewart interviewing Tim Pawlenty on the Daily Show.

Jon Stewart asks Pawlenty about his politics and he says point blank "I'm a Republican, so of course I'm conservative".

Tweety and Fraud on the other hand sit around and rant in complete agreement about how they cannot allow the Democratic party to be Liberal.

We don't need two conservative parties. Conservatives have some place to go. Religious reich wackjobs have a place to go. Corporatists have a place to go. They have the Republican party, and they're welcome to it.

They do not need the Democratic party, and the Democratic party DOES NOT NEED THEM. The Democratic party needs organized labor, the middle class, the working class, and thanks to 30 years of bullshit economic policies, the non-working class.

[Tailormyst]

36. Its infuriating.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

39. No. It's found it's way to passivity and irrelevance where "not as bad" is passed off as good.

[Echo In Light]

41. By design