good anaylsis by Al Sharpton

[BayCityProgressive]

AS: I want to influence the direction of the party. I
think the party has moved far to the right. I think that
is why we have not been effective. This whole centrist
move, which I consider a right move, hasn't worked
politically. Centrists keep saying we can't win without
going to the center. Well, they have been in charge of
the party since 1992. It's 11 years later and we have
lost everything. We lost the House in 1994 with
Gingrich, and we failed to regain it in 1996, 1998, 2000
and 2002. How do you lose five Super Bowls and not say
there is something wrong with this coach and this game
plan? Aside from the fact that I don't believe in what
they are saying -- pro death penalty, pro business,
deregulation, pro NAFTA -- politically it hasn't even
worked. They act as though they are outsiders shooting
at the inside. They are the insiders. They have control
of the party, and they have failed. They have put this
party on its deathbed.

I am not a big fan of his but I thought this was a good analysis of the party. Even though we lost a few presidential at least we had congress/senate. Now we have Nothing.

[Julien Sorel]

1. Why is it that Sharpton and Kucinich, the 'true'

Democrats, poll so awfully if their criticism is correct? You'd think that between the two of them, they'd at least be in double digits if their message was even close to resonating. These posts appear almost daily, but the question is never answered.

[RichM]

5. Let's test that logic."Why is it that Democrats in general poll so awfully

if their policies are better than those of Republicans?" (Why have they lost both houses of Congress in the last 9 years?)

"Why is it that polls show that Bush has been a popular president for most of his term, if he is so awful?"

"Why is it that Bush is STILL regarded as a 'strong leader' if he really isn't?"

"Why do most Americans believe Saddam was behind 9-11?" ... etc etc.

You can't assume that polling well makes you right. You can't assume that NOT polling well makes you wrong.

[noiretextatique]

6. this speaks to the 'success' the failing strategy...for democrats

of which sharpton speaks of. among even so-called democrats, who *really* believes a left of center candidate is 'electable?' not many...and this is the real reason why kucinich and shaprton don't have a chance...or anyone who is truly left of center. simply put...too many democrats have bought the republican and republican-lite party line. that's why only moderates and centrists have a snowball's chance in hell of winning: the democratic party has abandoned its own principles...to its detriment.

[mmonk]

2. Actually

the center is left these days. Our people in Congress became weather vanes concerning the Iraq war except people like Byrd and Kennedy. Following the Romans or Napolean into history by trying to conquer the middle east isn't center.

[BayCityProgressive]

3. they are not ahead..

because they are shit candidates. Kerry is favored because of his liberal domestic stances an Dean for his antiwar stance. They are both credible candidates and if we had a credible candidate that held both of those ideals like Wellstone I think he/she would be doing well.

[mmonk]

4. I admired Wellstone (he went to college in my state)

but the country is further right than we are unless something changes. I'm center left personally but would vote left (but not right). We'll see what happens.