What’s wrong with the Dems?

2004.11.03 — Government | Politics | Campaign 2004 | by Jason Botwick

Sorry Charlie. I know all the polling in recent weeks has strained to make it seem like Kerry might win. But stepping back, it's obvious that Kerry has simply failed to make a case for himself.... It's obvious to people who call themselves liberals these days that Bush is a nincompoop, but the Democrats are obsolete. Kerry is the poster child for their futility, and the voters—dumb as they may seem at times—can see this as clearly as that top 'E' on the vision chart. Shit, it even looks like Daschle will lose his seat. When was the last time a Senate leader lost his seat?

Couldn't say, but Gingrich resigned his House speakership in disgrace. Does that count? —Ed.

Even though it's years late, maybe the realization will finally dawn on the Democrats after losing the presidency for the second time to a bumbling idiot, plus losing more seats in both houses of Congress that they need some fresh ideas and fresh faces.

Obamo or whatever his name is from Illinois doesn't count just because he's black, has big, round eyes and a bushy tail. Universal healthcare: sounds good. Doesn't fly. They've been playing that old saw since fucking Truman! That's almost 60 years ago.

Hey Democrats, what's new?

"Nada mucho. You?"

I heard a high-ranking Democratic strategist interviewed during their convention. The interviewer was asking what he thought the future of the Democratic Party was. Where was it going, what was it going to stand for in the new century, etc. The guy said, and I'm not exaggerating, "Well, we're going to see what new up-and-coming stars emerge into our party, and then see what they stand for."

I almost did a spit take when I heard that. I mean, are you kidding? Is that really your plan, Democrats? Brilliant. Can I summarize: "Let's see what's popular, and ride it." That strategy is working so well right now, why fix it if it ain't broke?

Shit, and I thought W was dumb. If that kind of thinking is not a death knell for the Dems, I don't know what is.

What do Democrats stand for? Are they any longer to be considered liberals? Sure, in contrast to W's right-wing idealogue minions, they look relatively liberal. But that obviously doesn't cut it, and among other reasons, this is because people can see that the emperor isn't wearing any clothes. In fact, there's no emperor.

Used to be, Democrats argued and fought for social justice. In other words, doing what's right because it's right, and even if it was hard and unpopular. At least, that was the line, and some guys actually lived up to that Kennedyesque-sounding ideal—most notably, LBJ. But now, it's about doing what they think the public would've thought looked like it was right once.

Unfortunately, there is no substance under that moldy old crust. Christ, the only thing that "energized the base"—holy fuck, am I sick of hearing that—of the Democratic party was their seething hatred of the president, a hatred so deep and ugly that it nobody can remember a president who was so deeply despised—well, except for that Clinton guy. Or Nixon. Or Carter. Or... hey, maybe all this "we are so polarized right now" shit isn't such a new thing, eh?

Poor Dems. That's it, nothing to them. No ideas, no causes, no movements to unify. Playing right into the Republicans' hands, they have allowed the right to frame the national debate and have defensively centristized themselves into obsolescence.

Now the Republicans are the ones who have stepped into the vacuum and seized the moral high ground, despite their corrupt, bankrupt idea of what morality is.

Again, I have to return to the idea of leadership, and how we have none. Bush is a big mouth, not a leader, but because he says over and over again that he is a strong leader, that has become sufficient in the absence of any example of leadership meeting a standard worthy of some of our past heads of state. Kerry didn't fit the bill, and he didn't even fool Democrats on that score. Nor did he convince anyone that being liberal-minded is actually OK, and maybe even right. How did they expect to turn any independents or Bush voters?

It's time for people who actually care about progressive causes to put their money where their mouth is and support and vote for someone who actually acts progressive.

Too bad it's too late this time.

But hey, don't blame me; I voted Jensen.

Thanks for your support. Sorry I posted such lousy numbers. —DJ.

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