who is the voice of the democrats right now?

[cleveramerican]

Who is the figure all the disparate wings of this party can agree on? Is there one? Who has shown them selves to be tough and pragmatic in the right measure?

I saw Joe Biden on the TV talk shows and it convinced me, he is the most consistently sensible voice I've been hearing.

[saltpoint]

1. I thought Biden's finest recent moment came in the Bolton hearings.

He really put it to Lugar and the others on that Foreign Relations Committee panel.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. "he is the most consistently sensible voice"

Wait, we're talking about Joe Biden?:rofl:

[Chipper Chat]

3. John Murtha.

I just wish he would ditch the scowl.

[greekspeak]

4. If he is the most sensible voice, we ARE in trouble

I put "MBNA Joe" Biden about one step above LIEberman on the scale of whoopity-doo democratic politicians.

[bklyncowgirl]

5. There is no voice of the Democrats and that's the problem.

Leading Democrats can't agree on lunch--well they may agree on the idea that lobbyists shouldn't be able to buy them lunch--unless it's on a corporate jet--but seriously, folks.

The party is divided between those who somehow believe that by avoiding strong stands on the issues that they will attract "moderate" voters and those who believe that they need to show a strong contrast between themselves and the Republicans. This has led to a paralysis where congressional Democrats, with a few exceptions, have avoided strenuously objecting to the actions of an administration increasingly seen as incompetent and out of control by the American people.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean might fairly be expected to speak for the party. Dean is very clear where he stands on the issues. The problem is that when Dean speaks his mind, particularly on Iraq, it is inevitable that one or more leading Democrats will immediately jump down his throat screaming. "Howard Dean does not speak for me." Likewise, Senator Russ Feingold, an outspoken critic of the Bush administration, has become increasingly isolated by his colleagues. They even cut their poster boy for reform Barak Obama off at the knees when he suggested ending certain questionable lobbying practices.

I had hoped that Dr. Dean might be able to perform a spinal transplant on the Democratic donkey but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be happening. I don't know whether the Democrats would be better off with a chairman who got along better with the Congressional Democrats. It might look prettier but my guess is that anyone who tried to light a fire under these guys would quickly get burnt and with the possible exception of Bill Clinton I can't think of anyone who would have the political skills and moral authority to bring this collection of egos together for the good of the country.

Sorry to sound so discouraged. Maybe next week something will happen to give me hope.

[mtnsnake]

6. You're right

Good post.

No one has stepped up yet, and that doesn't bode well. Snooze and you lose.

[bklyncowgirl]

10. I think that people have stepped up--but those that have stepped up..

have been stepped on.

There's an argument going on in the party and it's not one between traditional liberals and traditional conservatives. It seems that 9/11 and the Iraq war and the Democrats response to it have destroyed many of the old labels. Jack Murtha is on all other issues is a conservative but he is far more a leader in opposition to the war than many traditional liberals e.g. Nancy Pelosi.

You've got the argument on one side that in order to appear strong and tough on national security, Democrats must refrain from criticizing the war and things like the Patriot Act or warrentless wiretapping--even if you believe that the war is draining our national defenses and that our constitutionally guaranteed rights are in jeopardy.

The other side says you must call them as you see them and the people will flock to you (I am firmly of this belief).

I honestly don't know how anyone can resolve this impasse.

[PassingFair]

13. Wavelength sharing....

see my post below! :)

[mtnsnake]

7. Biden has the kind of personality that

would make voters cringe in a general election. Yeah, he's fun when he's bashing on Bush, but that's about it and there's not enough consistency. All you gotta do is just look at and listen to the guy and he comes off as miserable. The repukes would have a field day with Joe.

[TayTay]

8. There is no one voice for the Democrats

There doesn't need to be. This is an off-year election and the Dems do not hold the White House. There will be, as there needs to be, many voices.

Besides that, we are Democrats, there will never be one voice for this Party. There are too many people who have informed and intelligent views on the issues for their to be one voice. We don't operate that way.

[enough already]

9. It needs to be Feingold or Conyers n/t

[PassingFair]

11. Cutting through the crap are, in my opinion...

Dick Durbin, Howard Dean and Russ Feingold.

They are our clearest articulators, and our
most heavily attacked democratic "warriors".

IMO.

[kentuck]

12. Joe Lieberman ?

Beats the hell out of me??

[Apollo11]

14. Don't forget about Al Gore!

He definitely has the potential to unite the fair-minded majority of Americans.

He already did it in 2000 - despite the mainstream media helping Bush every step of the way.

But unfortunately the Supreme Court helped the Bush-Rove-Cheney machine to steal the Whitehouse.

In Gore We Trust
www.algore.org :)

[cleveramerican]

15. if consensus can't be found among ourselves.....

how can there be any hope of a unifying figure? Are congressional dems who voted for the war going to be crucified in there own primaries from more vocal anti-war candidates? I doubt it.
Are we all so entrenched in our beliefs that we can't be convinced of anything anymore. Is consensus even a goal of legislators these days?