Revved up from Philoguy's Diary and disgusted by the neoliberals, in general, I got something to say. It is certainly more of a comment than a proper diary. But here goes...
You know what, if these people wanted to start a party called the Rational Republicans and be all pragmatist-y as an sane alternative to the rightwing radicals that would have been fine. They could have taken their chances with the electorate as an honest third party. I might have even respected that. But they took the people's party and turned it into that, killing it in the process and then chiding the people, "Ha! You have nowhere to go."
Their whole con has been to steal our party and leave us powerless and it has worked. From the Tip's Reagan Democrats to Blue Dogs to the DLC to the Third Way. They have been figuring out ways to steal from us and undermine us for thirty years at least. To suck up all our angst, money, and votes and funnel it toward their agenda. And they've won, at least from Daley's perspective and the Daley's of the world. And even if they face electoral setbacks and continued losses - they will still be winners in Daley's eyes because they have their hands on the reigns of power and total control of the party. And the Left's hands are safe - safely neutered, that is - nowhere near the reigns of power as long as the people who have controlled the Democratic party for decades keep controlling it.
And it would be nice to think we could steal it back, but I don't think that is possible, they are so entrenched. And besides, like a stolen, trashed, joyridden car - sometimes it is so bad you don't want it back - even if they find it.