As many of you know, Sen. Chuck Shumer dropped by to do the obligatory "let's raise some money for the DSCC" diary, with the premise that winning the presidency is not enough in 2008. We need to elect more Democrats to the Senate, or so the thinking went.
Sen. Schumer got slammed for it, and rightfully so. Sometimes, those within the Beltway are so tone deaf they just don't get it. At some other point, it might have gotten a more favorable response, but Sen. Schumer's diary came just a few days after our Attorney General (who Sen. Schumer supported) said that the Department of Justice can't do anything about torture, and just a day after the insidious FISA bill granting telecom immunity is passed. Talk about your bad timing.
What struck me though was the tone. The presidency isn't enough...gotta elect more Democrats to Congress...rah rah. Well considering a lot of those Democrats we elected were complicit with the current adminstration in supporting some of the most awful legislation in recent years, that dog doesn't hunt with most of us.
In the diary, when challenged on his support of Mukasey, Sen. Schumer gave the typical Senatorial excuse as to how we can make sure individuals such as this don't serve in the highest offices in our government:
The real solution to this is electing a Democratic president in 2008 - so we don't have to make these bad choices.
In one sentence, Sen. Schumer destroyed the crux of his own argument. Because if this statement is true, electing a President is indeed enough.
A Democratic President would have the appointment power to appoint individuals with ethics and integrity who would enforce the law.
A Democratic President could veto junk legislation that stripped our civil liberties.
A Demcoratic President could use his office as the bully pulpit to render the so-called "60 vote" requirement meaningless.
I've been outspoken on this before, and other have diaried it as well, but here goes:
Dear Congressmen and Senators and leaders throughout the land,
Don't treat the netroots like we don't have a brain.
Don't look at us as an ATM machine.
And don't think we don't know what's going on inside the Beltway.
We're following along, taking notes, making lists, and well aware of the score. Thanks.
Thing is, the people have a pesky way of voicing their opposition to BS.
And leaders that come here better be ready for that. This is the virtual town hall after all.
So elected officials, you have a choice: leave the bubble of DC and face the music, or stay in the bubble and insulate yourself.
As one of our former Democratic presidents used to say, "If you can't stand the heat..."