We have an insidious, deadly, virus Kossacks! And, like herpes, there is no known cure. Many have suppressed symptoms for years only to have an occasional outbeak. We need to isolate it, quarantine it, and eradicate it. And we need to start today!
I know many Congress critters have it. I’m afraid it has infected some Kossacks. And it has led to weakness in the knees, ineffectiveness, spinelessness, and its overall effect is paralysis.
Symptoms
Like coprolalia (involuntary swearing or the involuntary utterance of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks), infection leads to inappropriate speech. Some examples (actual quotes, with emphasis added)
"Well, you know, this is my second trip in four months, and while there I visited throughout the region to Israel, Jordan, Palestinian territories, Egypt, and I have to tell you, I think we're making progress. When I spoke with the Generals, and the troops on the ground, and Ambassador Crocker, there's still a lot of challenges, but noticeable and important progress, and I think we need to try to work together to try to make this thing a success.
" This bill represents a comprehensive plan for a new policy and new direction. It will compel the President to finally plan for an orderly strategic redeployment in Iraq.
"It's working. We're just years too late in our tactics," she said, referring to the beefed-up U.S. troop presence battling insurgents in Iraq, including war-torn Anbar province.
We can't be fighting the last war. We have to keep preparing to fight the new war. We have to win."
and
"I’m going to vote for both of these bills in the hope that we can put something on the President’s desk..." (referring to the Administration’s original "FISA Update" and the version amended by Republicans).
This infection goes by many names, but is most commonly called "The Democratic Leadership Council" or DLC. "New Democratic Coalition", a recent variant, has infected 20 Senators and 44 House Representatives, infecting many committees there according to their web site.
DLC Is Dangerous
Markos knows how dangerous DLC can be, recently exposing Harold Ford, (whose infection is definitely not under control), on
"Meet The Press".
It was DLC infected Democrats who helped George Bush spread his propaganda (lies) regarding Iraq.
It was DLC infected Democrats who sabotaged Howard Dean’s candidacy.
It has been the DLC that has steadfastly opposed efforts to get us out of Iraq.
Person for person, DLC infections have been more damaging to peace than Republicans. Any coprolalia-like statement from a Democrat is heard over and over again in the MSM, getting many times the coverage of similar statements by Republicans. Joe LIEberman received much more attention when he was a DLC infected Democrat than he does now that he’s an independent. In that regard, Lamont’s campaign was a partial success in that it drove lying Joe out of the party, marginalizing him. I understand LIEberman has registered as a Democrat again. Where is the outrage? We must not let him sneak back into the Democratic party. Democrats rejected lying Joe in 2006. Connecticut Democrats do not want him. We must not restore him to a position where he can play his destructive role in the media!
DLC has paralyzed the Democratic led Congress with regard to the war. With over 60% of Americans opposed to the war, it is understandable that Congress’ approval rating is in the dumps right along King George’s. The country realizes the party is sick, and has no health care coverage. No Democratic leader (save John Edwards and lately, Barack Obama) speaks out strongly against the DLC. Democrats cringe, but ultimately ignore DLC infected members’ coprolalia. But it’s more than an embarrassment, it’s destructive! And this is, after all, a matter of life and death for Iraqis and those serving in Iraq, and yes even the soul of the Democratic party.
Progressive Minority
Oh how I remember how we celebrated when Democrats took control of both the House and Senate in 2006 -- better results than most had expected. Naively, we expected great things. Heady days before reality set in. Now we see how Progressives are still a minority, especially in the Senate. While Progressive Democrats outnumber DLC Democrats in Congress, Progressives to not hold Congress. We are far outnumbered by DLC and Republicans. This is why impeachment is off the table. This is why we struggle to pass a funding bill with a firm deadline. This is why we continue to fund the war. And This is why the FISA Update was rushed through Congress.
Republican World
Republicans live in "Republican World" where the many of the rules of science are reversed. The rules of logic become particularly warped in Republican World. Lying is patriotic in Republican World. Challenging lies is traitorous. A lie about an extra marital affair is worse than a campaign of lies that result in over 4,700 American casualties. Supporting the troops means sending them into battle. Giving money to rich people is the best way to support the poor. Corporations act for the common good in Republican World. There are 4 branches of government in Republican World, with one branch above the others. And since might is right in Republican World, anything done by the Executive Branch is perfectly legal. All rules of law and morality are suspended for this branch.
Progressives can’t exist in Republican World. Progressives are repelled by the twisted logic there. As Il Duce "El Decider" says, "You’re either with us or against us." This statement applies more to Progressives than terrorists. Terrorists, like Republicans, seek to terrorize Americans for political power. On the other hand, Progressives are revolted and angered when they experience Republican World. Republican World is evil to most Progressives.
SusanG got it when she said this
For if ever we could use a reminder of the necessity of keeping a steady and true moral compass when dealing with seemingly inexplicable human cruelty, it is now.
Unfortunately, Democrats infected with DLC are comfortable in Republican World. They do not believe Republicans are evil. Only Dick Cheney and Karl Rove have gone to the dark side. DLCers oftentimes repeat Republican talking points lies. However, they are not above making up their own.
The 2006 campaign put the lie in LIEberman. If you will recall, this DLC Democrat, a big Bush supporter, famous for his positions/statements in support of the war, lost his primary election because Connecticut voters were fed up with the war and Republican World they saw with Joe. Did he accept defeat? Of course not. He started a campaign of lies portraying himself as being anti-war too. He hid is DLC symptoms, "swore off" so to speak. And it was effective. Many (too many) Connecticut voters were deceived into thinking Joe had had a change of heart, that he would work to end the war. Once safely elected, the ruse was up. Now the world sees the real Joe. While his constituents don’t like it, that horse has left the barn.
Have we learned the lessons of 2006? Have we learned yet that because they live at least partially in Republican World, we cannot trust anyone infected with DLC? Do we still remember? Will we remember in 2008?
Congressional Strategy
We come to the purpose of this post. The common wisdom lately is "more and better" Democrats. I feel this strategy is only half right, that it is half wrong. "Better Democrats" refers to Progressives, of course and is obviously a good course. But what about "more Democrats"?
If the result is more Democrats infected with DLC, I think we are shooting ourselves in our feet -- and it hurts. Yes, it is important to keep Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. Assuming a Democratic President, the magic number in the Senate is 60 to prevent Republican filibusters. But what good does it do to have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, if half the Senators with "D"s following their names vote with the Republicans? And every one of those DLC Democrats are, and will continue to be, more destructive to Progressives than their Republican cohorts. This strategy does not isolate the DLC, and would have us expand the DLC because more is better. But John Edwards gets it:
We can't trade our insiders for their insiders. That doesn't work. What we need is somebody who will take these people on, these big banks, these mortgage companies, big insurance companies, big drug companies. That's the only way we're going to bring about change.
and ...
I think you've got to take them on and beat them, I don't think you can sit at a table and negotiate with them. (emphasis added)
This is a warning and a call to action.
It seems to me that we do not need more Democrats in the House. We can afford to concentrate on better democrats. Progressives. Anti-war progressives. And the best opportunities for success are probably in purple DLC-held districts, rather than red Republican districts. While I agree with Howard Dean’s strategy, I think we need a Progressives 50-state strategy – one that uses primary challenges to consolidate power and anti-war candidates charged with exposing Republican World in the Red districts. And yes, I think this means supporting Cindy’s run against Nancy.
Unfortunately, there is more pressure to support DLC Democrats in the Senate. With the Senate currently evenly divided, we need to pick up about 10 seats to make a filibuster-proof majority. We may have to compromise to reach this magic number. But even here, I think we should do our best to field Progressives to challenge the DLC. The mood in the country has changed. The center has shifted left. We must seize every opportunity, and we will not see the opportunities unless we try.
I do not want a repeat of 2006. I do not want to wake up some morning in 2008 and realize we succeeded in electing a populous president (in my dreams it’s John Edwards) but he has been hamstrung because Blue Dog and New Democrats and other DLC infected members allied with Republicans have coalesced into an immovable blob, blocking progress and consuming all who oppose them.