Hope for change
I've been catching up on my reading and processing Tuesday's results today. While I'm fairly certain in the short term, it's going to be a bloody mess and we're going to lose ground, I found some hope in the long term we may make some progress in reforming the Democratic party.
The NYT raises an important point on Dem losses, (via James Joyner):
But that aside, the nationwide view is brighter. Almost half of the Blue Dogs are gone now, including 21 of the 34 who voted against HCR and most of the Dems who voted against unemployment benefits. Despite the media hype about this new power in politics, only 32% of the Tea Party candidates won their races.
Meanwhile, a full 94% of the rest of the Progressive Caucus won. We kept Michael Bennet, Kristen Gillibrand, Jared Polis, and Chellie Pingree who supported the public option. Raul Grijalva, whom you might recall received numerous death threats and that toxic substance in the mail that was barely mentioned in the liberal media, overcame huge odds to win. Boxer spared us from the horror of demon sheep.
In the end, a lot of old wood was pruned out of Congress. Progressives ended up with a more powerful presence in this branch of government. Thinking whether that grows into meaningful change will depend on whether our power activists feed them with narrative support, rather than lavishing the majority of their attention on tearing down the crazies.
The NYT raises an important point on Dem losses, (via James Joyner):
The horrible economy, frustration over the bailouts (which were, at the end of the day, bipartisan with Bush having done two before Obama’s), and other factors set the stage for a Republicans to take substantially more seats than out parties typically do in a midterm cycle. So did the fact that Democrats held dozens of House seats they had no business holding (in terms of the ideological preferences of the constituency) after backlash elections in 2006 and 2008.That was always the blessing and the curse of the 08 Dem majority. We accepted the necessity of those Blue Dogs in order to hound the GOP out of power. But they come from very red districts. Three who survived are from the part of western NC where I currently live. In my district, the voters returned Foxx with a crushing margin. It's not a wealthy district. Seriously. I saw the numbers and was struck cold to the bone with the realization that I am so out-numbered by such easily deluded slogan voters. Who own guns. And hate liberals.
But that aside, the nationwide view is brighter. Almost half of the Blue Dogs are gone now, including 21 of the 34 who voted against HCR and most of the Dems who voted against unemployment benefits. Despite the media hype about this new power in politics, only 32% of the Tea Party candidates won their races.
Meanwhile, a full 94% of the rest of the Progressive Caucus won. We kept Michael Bennet, Kristen Gillibrand, Jared Polis, and Chellie Pingree who supported the public option. Raul Grijalva, whom you might recall received numerous death threats and that toxic substance in the mail that was barely mentioned in the liberal media, overcame huge odds to win. Boxer spared us from the horror of demon sheep.
In the end, a lot of old wood was pruned out of Congress. Progressives ended up with a more powerful presence in this branch of government. Thinking whether that grows into meaningful change will depend on whether our power activists feed them with narrative support, rather than lavishing the majority of their attention on tearing down the crazies.
Labels: Congress, Democrats, Election 2010, liberals, policy
posted by Libby Spencer at 6:29 PM
5 Comments:
Bear in mind these folks definition of a "liberal" is anyone they disagree with or is tagged with the moniker by one of their "leaders."
I followed Faux's advice, and went over the border into Mexico to pick up that truckload of illegal voters, but they never showed up. I guess you just can't believe the stuff Faux tells us. But I did my part.
Blake, I do realize that and find it somewhat terrifying to realize I live in the heart of "their" country. Suddenly understanding that whole, "we surround you" thing that Beck was pushing back in beginning of the TP phenom.
LOL Ruth. Too bad it didn't work. We surely could have used the help.
I'm sorry but I don't see how you can claim Bennett as a "progressive"win. Bennett recently promised to oppose the Union check off bill. He opposed the public option until it was already gone. He never takes a progressive stand unless he is already assured it won't pass. Bennett was a banker (well corporate raider), and as such always has their backs.
Andrew Romanoff is a true liberal and always has been. He is easily the most popular Democrat in Colorado, and if Bankers and DNC had kept their noses and money out of COlorado Demicratic Primary, we would have a true progressive representing our state.
Admit I don't know much about Bennett. That was a quote from the link saying he was member of the progressive caucus. Didn't really follow CO race closely, but it seems to me the alternative was much worse.
Agree though, that in general the DNC is just a big a problem in the primaries.
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