The rise of the Progressive movement in response to the utterly failed policies of our Government over the past 7 years is undeniable.
The blogosphere has played an important role in the rise of the Left, and the blogger community is an undeniable force within the the Democratic Party today.
Coupled with this rise is a clear decline in the power and influence of Right-leaning Democrats.
There is a new ideological power momentum within the Democratic Party. We must find a way to for this fact to translate into appropriate representation. In addition to being fair, we must be cautious to renegotiate the power structure within the Democratic Party, Which remains the Best tool for advancing the Progressive voice and enacting Progressive Policy.
2008 elections will likely see a US population more broadly aligned with Progressive ideals. As such the ascendancy of Progressivism in the Democratic Party reflects the policy leanings of the voters.
Leftward movement of our Government in 2008 should be inevitable.
It is common for a newly empowered entity to expect drastic changes that respect the new power structure. It is easy to become impatient when the existing structural organization is slow to respond. When an entity has long been in the minority, and is accustomed to being ignored or marginalized, it is common to be skeptical that prior power will yield to the new order.
I believe these issues are all playing a role in the present day showdown between Progressives and Conservatives within the Democratic Party. The DLC is loathe to consider themselves less important than they have been in the past. They are reluctant to yield power. Progressives are feeling righteous. Their warnings and analysis over the past 5 years, as Kos puts it, have almost all been right. We are recognizing our power and expecting it to be realized immediately.
I think the biggest mistake would be to become drunk with power. We must not to fall prey to the same type of hubris that has driven this current administration into darkness. Change takes time, and we must be certain to wield our power when and where it will be most effective at ensuring our long-term dominance. Short-term victories are meaningless if we gain them at the expense of our long-term success. Passionately demanding immediate supplication from the waning "old" power structure is invigorating, but reckless.
We must not destroy the elements of the party that we still depend upon for the ascendency of our power. We need all Democrats to come together for electoral victory in 2008. The DLC will step aside, but they must be retained within our party. This may require some compromise and patience as we take our place at the helm.
I am not calling for progressives to mute their voices or to yield power when power is rightly ours. I am calling for sobriety, guile, wisdom, and strategy so that we can renegotiate our position within the Democratic Party without gutting the Party through purges or vitriolic infighting.
As I mentioned yesterday, The Right would like nothing better than to see the Democratic party become embroiled in an intra-party dispute. It is our jobs as shepherds of the New Progressive Power not to let that happen.