Jimmyjames has a very well written, well reasoned diary that discusses the "electability" argument. I complete agree with his conclusion, but I want to take on the logic of one sentence in particular because I hear it a lot amongst Democrats and the NetRoots:
"If I'm honest with myself, I know that I will vote for any yellow dog that is on the ticket. The stakes are too high to stand on principle."
Here is my question, if the stakes are so high how can we NOT stand on principle?
In 2000 Al Gore and the rest of the Democratic Party refused to stand on principle. As a consequence of that failure to stand on principle we were rewarded with the Bush administration.
In 2002 the Democratic Party (and Hillary Clinton) refused to stand on principle. As a consequence of that failure to stand on principle we were rewarded with the Iraq war.
In 2004 a few of us stood on principle and we nearly got Howard Dean the nomination. Unfortunately John Kerry got the nomination and, when push came to shove, he refused to stand on principle and fight back against the Swift Boats. As a consequence we got the second Bush administration.
In 2005 the Democrats refused to stand on principle and filibuster the John Roberts and Sam Alito nominations. Now the Supreme Court is owned by corporate interests.
Throughout 2006 the Democrats refused to stand on principle and ultimately caved on FISA and warrantless wiretapping.
In 2007 the Democrats refused to stand on principle and hold Rove, Bolton, and Myers in contempt of Congress.
In 2008 we Democrats have another opportunity to stand on principle. Are we going to cast a vote that says we refuse to reward politicians who use fear, lies, and racial division to win, or are we going to vote for Hillary Clinton?
Before you answer consider this: I've been reading this blog from the beginning, and every single one of you have complained bitterly about Democrats who cast votes that were politically expedient but unprincipled. Diary after diary, comment after comment, has been written complaining about the Democrats who didn't stand on "principle".
So folks, if Hillary Clinton wins the nomination our hour will come round at last. Do we stand on principle and vote against the politics, ethics, and morality embodied by the Clinton campaign and her cronies, or are we just another special interest group that chooses to compromise those principles when it becomes politically expedient?
As my grandfather used to stay, if you don't stand for something you'll go for anything. I'm choosing to stand for my principles. I'm choosing hope.