Our lack of leadership: A paradox

[ProfessorPlum]

The people here at DU have provided me a lot of food for thought over the last 3 years. I find a lot of reasonable, sharp, ethical minds here, and it reassures me that the whole human race has not become the kitten-eating lizards that we see displayed as the heads of the GOP.

But what I find disturbing, in a real reality-twisting kind of way, is that there aren't any people "like us", either in the Capital Hill Democrats or the ones who seem to be leading the national party.

What I mean is: I think that as a community here, as a whole, we have a pretty realistic view of what is going on in the world. It's cynical, but it is eyes-wide open without the sugar coating. And what has become painfully obvious is that this view is not shared by ANYONE in this country who has any political or media power.

I know that "bashing" the Democrats in Congress and in the party leadership goes in and out of style. Some people don't believe in it, because our leadership holds the only hope to go up against the rapacious GOP. Others think it is the circular firing squad, counterproductive. Still others engage in it freely.

But what does it say that we are tempted to engage in it? That our leadership doesn't share our view of the world - our view of history, morality, even right and wrong.

Picture Joe Biden "not sure" whether he would vote for Gonzales, the torturer, or not. Picture Chuck Schumer wanting his fellow Dems to not investigate the shady doings in Ohio. Picture Hillary and Kerry and on and on and on voting to allow Bush to f* up the invasion of Iraq.

If we ever got any big Democrats here, WE'd have to educate THEM on what is actually happening in the world - they seem in a fog of reality created by American media, or worse. They don't read blogs, clearly, or even seem to give issues even the passing thoughts that some people here can - historical perspective, warning bells about creeping fascism, nothing seems to be on their minds, really.

What makes me uncomfortable about this is it leaves me with this feeling: either all of us here are crazy, engaging in some kind of mass delusion, or else all of our leaders, including Democrats and the media (and of course the GOP) are totally clueless. What are the odds of one or the other? The reality I see in the news and here at DU makes complete sense - why can't our Democratic leaders see it? Why don't our points of view seem to have any representation on capital hill?