SIROTA: Will the Dems Step Up in the New Year?

[yurbud]

Sirota nails the key concern many of us have here: will the Democrats stand for something if they replace the GOP as the majority, or just be the other corporate white meat?

It is not enough to have a corporate crony party that treats us with benign neglect rather than one that is actively trying to exterminate the middle class.

We need a party that represents the interests of the majority of Americans who aren't living off trust funds and off-shore shell corporations.

December 23, 2005

Will the Dems Step Up in the New Year?

By David Sirota

2005 has shown that many Democratic Party leaders have made a conscious decision to take no position on almost every major challenge facing America. On the major economic issues, the party has talked a good game and lashed into the GOP--but on some of the biggest congressional votes, many Democrats have stood in lockstep with the Republicans. Just look how many Democratic senators supported the bankruptcy (18), energy (25) and class action (18) bills for proof.

<snip>

Perhaps most problematic for Democrats is that some of its highest-profile spokesmen seem to go out of their way to undercut the party's courageous leaders.

For every Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) or Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) fighting against the corrosive influence of corporate lobbyists, there is a Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), publicly bragging that he wants to be the first contact for K Street lobbyists.

<snip>

For every move by a Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to demand answers about prewar intelligence, or a Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) to press a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, or a Murtha who says it's time for a change, there is a Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) opposing a withdrawal, a Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) saying he has no regrets about voting for a war based on lies, or a Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) actually telling reporters that the party won't have an Iraq position until "the right time."

http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2445/

[InsultComicDog]

1. So true...

...but it's still an improvement over the last couple of years

[yurbud]

2. If the Dems settle for corporate toadying without heavy-handed tactics

of GOP, they will go down in flames too.

Essentially, the DLC is all the corruption without the ideological window dressing.

[depakid]

3. "Does the party really want to be a majority party?"

I'm not inclined to think so, based on the record- I hope the leadership proves me wrong, but I'm not holding my breath.

Most of the evidence suggests that they'll do nothing to reign in the DINO's, and won't take the strong stands necessary to both contrast the party with the far right's extremism- or show the public that they have the courage and fortitude to be trusted with leadership. There have been some encouraging signs lately- but bluster is not enough.

Alito is the big test, and 2006 may well ride on it. My take is that if they punt on that one, they're done- and perhaps, deservedly so.

[yurbud]

5. they seem to be fighting about every third battle. I think they "won" SS

social security because the public knew it was a scam to begin with.

Like most people have said here though, we have to clean out the Dems because starting from scratch or even coalescing around an existing third party would mean the GOP gets another couple of cycles to pack the courts, rig the voting machines, and make sure anyone who looks like a real leader dies in car accident, plane crash, or double shotgun blast suicide.

[radio4progressives]

4. K&R

:applause: