Thursday, August 26, 2010

My Open Letter to the Democratic Leadership

Warning: the following message to the Democratic Party is going to have some harsh language in it. so if that sort of thing offends you, bail out now.


Today I read yet another story about how “Democratic Party insiders” fear that the Democrats are going to lose their majority in the U.S House and possibly even the Senate. The “insiders” and “strategists” requested anonymity so as to “speak candidly” about the prospects.


Well allow me to speak candidly as well to these anonymous officials of the party:


What the FUCK do you people think you’re doing?


You’re supposed to be helping the Democrats win in November, you assholes, not conceding the fucking game. The dumbest assistant coach of the most hapless junior college team in the NCAA knows better than to tell reporters “yeah, jeez, it looks pretty bad, I think we’re going to get our asses kicked this season.” If he did, he’d be out of a fucking job, and good riddance.


Here’s something even I know, Brainiacs: people vote for winners. If you talk like you’re a loser, people aren’t going to vote for you. They’re either going to stay home, or they’re going to vote for the other guys. You know, the guys who are strutting around talking about how they’re going to win. Either way, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I’m no high ranking Democratic party strategist, but even I can figure that much out.


I’ve given my time and my money to this party, and I’ve written almost weekly in support of its candidates for over ten years now. Since I live in one of the most heavily conservative areas of a southern state, I take shit for it every day--including the occasional anonymous threat--from mouth breathing redneck assholes and cranky old racist teabaggers who treat me like something they scraped off their orthopedic shoes because I don’t think Sarah Palin is the Second Coming, with Tits. And you want to know what new and exciting flavor that shit’s being served in lately? “Even your own leadership thinks you’re losing in November. HAW HAW HAW!” Thanks a lot, you craven sons of bitches. Thanks just fucking LOADS.


I’m still fighting though. And I don’t even get paid a “political strategist’s” salary to do it. So why the hell are you pulling down hefty bucks to throw the game?


You know what, you chickenshit bastards? If you don't think the Democrats can hold a majority, then quit. Fucking leave. I mean it. Quit being a ‘high ranking Democratic strategist” and go buy a goat farm or write a novel or something. Put some people in charge of the party with some goddamn backbone and some will to win. Because for all the sports analogies, this isn’t a game. It’s the future of the country we all love. And you defeatist lackwits are about to let it fall back into the hands of the same people who ran it into the ditch.


You want any kind of meaningful reform to be stalled because some birther lunatic is tying up the Senate until Obama personally walks down to the Capitol and gives him a DNA sample to prove he’s human? Then keep talking. You want to see some right wing dingbat tie up the House for the next two years with investigations over how much the First Lady spent on her last pair of shoes?


You don’t? Then SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GET BACK TO WORK.


Do your damn jobs, which do NOT include eroding the confidence in your own ranks and making the other guys look like the winners three months before the election.


If anyone who reads this knows any of these “insiders”, will you please pass this along to them? Maybe somehow, some way, one of them will get the message that we want leaders who’ll fight for the party and for the future of America.

17 comments:

Fran said...

Thank you!

Andi said...

Second Fran! Thanks!

L.J. Sellers said...

I've been thinking this myself. We need to show no fear!

nathan said...

Hear motherfucking Hear! I am so goddamn sick of these empty ball sacks. They've effectively blocked out most progressives, and voting for a progressive third party just effectively installs more republicans. The new/youth/African American/progressive voters who made a big showing at the polls last time will stay the fuck home in November (and possibly 2012 as well) and these maggots will be squarely to blame. Sometimes I really do think the DLC (or whatever mutant forms they've morphed into now) and the so-called "Blue Dogs" are actually inside GOP operatives.

Charlieopera said...

voting for a progressive third party just effectively installs more republicans.

Yeah, well, so long as you look at it that way, it will.

And since they consider you the professional left and act hardly at all differently than the last administration, why would you reward them? Seriously, what's been the difference between a bumbling Bush & President Fredo thus far?

As regards the concession to losing seats, it is pretty pathetic ... and suggests they not only ignore the left, they're warning it.

Misanthropic Meanderings said...

WOOOOOO! *flicks a bic* Preach!

nathan said...

Say we have 4 voters: two traditionally vote democratic the other two traditionally vote republican. In the former camp, one is left/progressive and one is more centrist. In the latter camp, one is an rapture loving evangelical racist, the other loves the upper-class tax cuts the GOP provide. The latter two have next to nothing else in common except that they are both voting GOP for sure. If either in the first camp votes third party, the GOP win. That's just the way it is. I try to vote for green/socialist/left wing candidates in local elections whenever possible, but until we dissolve the electoral college we're stuck with this scenario.

As for Obama and Bush being the same, they're simply not. it might be fnu to say, but it's not reality. Has Obama continued a lot of Bush's horrific policies? Unfortunately yes, he has. But we on the left have far more audience with him than we EVER would with Bush or ANY republican ever. And small accomplishments have been made (slightly overstated in the link below, but the case stands).

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/7/16/884467/-He-has-done-what-he-promised.-Hes-transforming-our-country

I'm not happy with how things are, and a lot must be done. But as a hardcore leftist, I'll take a reasonable corporate centrist over a corrupt, sociopathic imbecile any day. I'm funny that way.

Charlieopera said...

But as a hardcore leftist, I'll take a reasonable corporate centrist over a corrupt, sociopathic imbecile any day. I'm funny that way.

Interesting, on a right wing blog I visit (below—you’ll have to search for Charlie Stella in the comments), today I posted (in response) about how different blogs respond to opposing opinions (all the name calling that goes on, etc. ... maybe direct email if you want (not to drive this site crazier than I already make them), there’s too much to go into regarding how workers were screwed over by both parties (ESPECIALLY those “reasonable corporate centrist(s)” you mentioned ... or the fact that much of Bush’s policies were blessed by Democrats throughout his 8 years—even when Dems held the majority) but, more to the point, you can’t do something you predestine yourself not to do (i.e., change a third party into something viable). My point being: what’s the difference if you don’t? At the least, after losing a couple of elections, the Democrats would have to pay attention to those who abandon them. So long as you stay in line the way they want, why should they listen to you?

http://standupforamerica.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/answering-some-inquiries-about-sufa-readership/#comments

Peorgie Tirebiter said...

As a first time visitor following a link from a commenter over at Balloon Juice, I'd like to just say thanks.
For what it's worth, I imagine in this case, "anonymous insider" translates to cheese-dick has-been hustling a guest shot on some third tier cable show. Thanks again and I'll check out the Jack Keller series.

Steve Malley said...

It needed saying... :D

Jason Block said...

The main problems the Democrats have had for the last forty years are apathy and a failure to unite and wield power once they've siezed it. Voters who think their side is secure don't vote. Over and over again, Democrats only show up when they think they might lose.

One common Progressive refrain is that there is no difference between the Democrats and the Republicans - that the moderate Democrats are no better than the Republicans. That's what lost us the election in 2000 when people voted for Nader. Then look what happened.

The Democratic voters and their representatives are so used to being the voice of opposition that they don't know how to lead when they have the chance. They've siezed the middle of the map, the Presidency, and refuse to push their advantage against the enemy but instead bitch about their own quarterback. Obama is the best gift the progressive left ever had, and the only way we will get more of what we want is if our team continues to hold the center of the map - the Presidency.

But, this is how the left eats itself and we've been doing it since 1968.

In the UK recently many far left voted Lib Dem becuase they were mad about the war. Now they have a Tory government pushing a disfunctional ideology, with a lame Lib Dem appendage that got nothing they wanted.

In the US system, all we'll get with a conservative victory are a bunch of cryptofascist numbskulls in charge of the largest arsenal in the history of man. Antiwar activists take note, would you prefer a series of limited UN/NATO law enforcement engagements in the style of Clinton's Kosovo, or an all out imperial shitstorm in the middle east?

Charlieopera said...

One common Progressive refrain is that there is no difference between the Democrats and the Republicans - that the moderate Democrats are no better than the Republicans. That's what lost us the election in 2000 when people voted for Nader. Then look what happened.

So, it was Naderites who voted for both wars? If I’m not mistaken, 9-11 happened after the presidential election (regarding Afghanistan) and our current secretary of state didn’t bother reading the intelligence reports she later blamed as inaccurate for her vote in favor of the war with Iraq. In the Senate, more than half the Dems 29-21 voted for the war. For the record, the only Independent (a former Republican) voted against it.

Obama is the best gift the progressive left ever had, and the only way we will get more of what we want is if our team continues to hold the center of the map - the Presidency.

Some might argue that Obama appears to be the best gift the progressive left ever gave to the Republicans. Unless he gets people back to work soon, he’ll be one and done (with a bad aftertaste left in the collective mouths of independents).

In the US system, all we'll get with a conservative victory are a bunch of cryptofascist numbskulls in charge of the largest arsenal in the history of man. Antiwar activists take note, would you prefer a series of limited UN/NATO law enforcement engagements in the style of Clinton's Kosovo, or an all out imperial shitstorm in the middle east?

cryptofascist numbskulls

Name calling ... geesh, don’t yous ever get tired of it?

How do classify an upsurge of $30,000 troops to Afghanistan (aside from a Nobel Peace Prize winning move)? Wasn’t that something “the best gift the progressive left ever had” did?

So long as we all predetermine a third party can’t win, a third party probably won’t win ... the question remains, has there been enough of a difference between the two major parties to continue the fiasco as is?

Obviously, you think so. Good luck with that.

Charlieopera said...

One common Progressive refrain is that there is no difference between the Democrats and the Republicans - that the moderate Democrats are no better than the Republicans. That's what lost us the election in 2000 when people voted for Nader. Then look what happened.

So, it was Naderites who voted for both wars? If I’m not mistaken, 9-11 happened after the presidential election (regarding Afghanistan) and our current secretary of state didn’t bother reading the intelligence reports she later blamed as inaccurate for her vote in favor of the war with Iraq. In the Senate, more than half the Dems 29-21 voted for the war. For the record, the only Independent (a former Republican) voted against it.

Obama is the best gift the progressive left ever had, and the only way we will get more of what we want is if our team continues to hold the center of the map - the Presidency.

Some might argue that Obama appears to be the best gift the progressive left ever gave to the Republicans. Unless he gets people back to work soon, he’ll be one and done (with a bad aftertaste left in the collective mouths of independents).

In the US system, all we'll get with a conservative victory are a bunch of cryptofascist numbskulls in charge of the largest arsenal in the history of man. Antiwar activists take note, would you prefer a series of limited UN/NATO law enforcement engagements in the style of Clinton's Kosovo, or an all out imperial shitstorm in the middle east?

cryptofascist numbskulls

Name calling ... geesh, don’t yous ever get tired of it?

How do classify an upsurge of $30,000 troops to Afghanistan (aside from a Nobel Peace Prize winning move)? Wasn’t that something “the best gift the progressive left ever had” did?

So long as we all predetermine a third party can’t win, a third party probably won’t win ... the question remains, has there been enough of a difference between the two major parties to continue the fiasco as is?

Obviously, you think so. Good luck with that.

Ellis Vidler said...

Thanks, J D. Why are Democrats such wimps? We need to show some backbone and fight, not lie down and invite the extremists to walk on us.

Charlieopera said...

We need to show some backbone and fight ...

One way to show the Democratic Party that you’ve got backbone is to stop fearing them losing an election or two (or six if that’s what it takes) and move further to the left (Nader, et al). This President had an absolute majority with which he could’ve rammed national health insurance down the other party’s throat. He also had the political capital immediately after the election to do that and a bunch of other good things for this country. He could’ve used the pulpit he so masterfully won an election with to bully some of those blue dogs into submission (or at least made the goddamned effort). He didn’t. He sat back and gave us No Drama Obama. A big mistake that cost him more than his political capital and us genuine national health insurance. Republicans saw he was the indecisive lecturer they hoped for and they played the “no” game until the blue dogs shit their pants and backed off completely.

He’s acted as Bush-like as he possibly could (including Afghanistan) and now he may have to act even more Bush-like because of the midterms.

His press secretary calls some of you the “professional left” and yet you defend him tooth and nail by comparing him to extremists on the other side of the aisle (instead of demanding he pay attention to you). Who cares what Sarah Palin has to say? You’re not going to convince her followers of anything and there just aren’t enough of them to worry about. Hell, Sarah Palin is the Democratic Party’s best friend. If she doesn’t scare independents to the left, nobody can and it’s the independents who will make the difference (which is a sign in itself that third parties can, in fact, gain power over time). What does pointing fingers at irrelevant politicians and rightwing whackos get you exactly? The Democratic party wouldn’t be able to blow you off if you blew them off first. What happened post Bush was the ultimate opportunity for major legislation reform and Obama just didn’t handle it. Now he’s stuck in the mud of his and his party’s own doing. He is the most charismatic figure to come along in a long time. Maybe he needed a few more years of rough politics to figure it out, but maybes aren’t getting it done.

Or maybe he does believe gays shouldn’t marry (him and Carrie Prejean) and that corporations should be able to bankrupt American workers whenever they gamble and lose and that the right war in the right place at the right time (10 years down the road) will net him one more Noble Peace Prize. I can go on (and usually do) but it seems there’s more fun in bashing crypto fascist extremists ...

You think I sing the same old song over and over? Oy vey ...

Jason Block said...

"cryptofascist numbskulls"

That wasn't name calling, that was a description.

All I can say is that the left was crippled for almost forty years by certain attitudes and beliefs that are apparently alive and well.

Charlieopera said...

All I can say is that the left was crippled for almost forty years by certain attitudes and beliefs that are apparently alive and well.

Yes, waisting their votes on the Democratic party. From Jimmy Carter onward, a total bust.

Good point. :)