How high should we jump in celebration for the military spending bills just passed by the House and the Senate? Oh, and for standing up to Bush in the subpoena showdown in US Attorney-Gate. Way up? Just a little? We probably don’t know yet. But it is just possible that the Democratic Party is finding its collective balls.
Collective balls, if they actually got ‘em, is amazing enough in itself. The common refrain about Democratic unity is that it’s like herding cats. Too big a tent, too many agendas. But maybe, just maybe, the Dems are figuring out that there are some agendas that all of their constituents can get behind:
1. Ending the war – I mean, please…70%. Across the board, in just about every poll, for months and months. Men, women, evangelicals, just about every demographic except FOX News viewers support ending the war. That there are Democrats that may still have reservations about ending the war just floors me. If you are afraid that you won’t be able to win future elections by supporting something favored by 70% of the electorate, then you are way to timid to be in politics in the first place. Get the fuck out! Why the Senate’s version is not binding boggles my mind. But hey, this is better than even a month ago.
2. Corruption – Hooray for Waxman, and keep at it. Americans bristle at the phrase “wasting tax dollars.” Every speech any Democrat gives should include the myriad of waste and corruption allowed under the last Congress and current administration. If people complain that it is slowing down government, let them know that the mess is so bad, that you have to clean it up before responsible governance can begin again.
3. Punishing criminals – At our core, we Americans want our pound of flesh when wronged. We sat by, especially Democrats, and watched the Republicans beat the shit out of President Clinton. And elected Democrats went along with it because A) they were in the minority, B) they are generally a bunch of pussies, and C) Clinton was just slippery enough that Americans wanted to know if laws had been broken, and if they had, were willing to flush an effective presidency to keep law and order. Many House Dems voted for impeachment when it looked like Bill perjured himself instead of saying “none of your fucking business.” With this in mind, to go easy on Plame-gate, or Attorney-gate will be unthinkable. Americans will not thank you for letting the White House function without interference, they will revile you for letting a bunch of bullies run roughshod over our Constitution and our National dignity. We will be disgusted by you, and then ignore you, and then, fail to show up in needed numbers and support you when you need us. Just ask Al Gore.
But is the above list even necessary? Hell no! At least it shouldn’t be. I mean, the crimes of this administration are so legion, and so obvious, and the decisions so bad! And yet Bush acts like he still has the majority. And up until the last month, the Democratic majority let him. Take the “surge.” This was and is a bad, bad, bad idea. Nobody wanted it. Nobody but the last few inmates in the neocon asylum. Why not shut down government to stop it?
Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks made a great observation on the radio a few weeks back. He argued that the reason that Americans have not gathered in mobs on the White House lawn with torches and pitchforks is because we respect strength. The message from the election: end the war. The Iraq study group: end the war. 70% of Americans: end the goddam war! What does Bush say?: escalate the war! While everyone stood staring with mouths open at the suggestion, the debate had shifted from whether we should end the war, to whether we should escalate the war. And he fucking did it! He fired generals until he found one that agreed with his insane plan, and he did it. And for months, talk of actually ending the war was muted.
The Dems should have shut government down immediately. Let the Republicans filibuster! Let them stand up and explain why it is a good idea to send more of our young people into a meat grinder. They won’t be able to do it. They can’t pull it off. They too, read the polls. (While you were at it Dems, you should have made them actually filibuster the minimum wage bill, and explain why working Americans don’t deserve more than $5.15 per hour.)
The recent actions by the House and Senate are promising. Don’t fuck it up. Don’t compromise on justice for administration lawbreakers, or what is obvious to at least 70% of Americans. Show your own strength.
Or what? Or you will squander the political capital you currently enjoy. Your power comes from the People. The average Joes and Josephinas grinding out 50 hour work weeks with limited and overpriced health care. We are disgusted with Republicans, but we don’t really trust you. You were weak when you could have filibustered Alito, you were complicant in an illegal war, domestic spying, torture and renditions. You fucked us with NAFTA (thanks Bill!).
“Yeah, yeah” you say, “who the fuck else you gonna’ vote for?” Who else are non-facist, non-religiously deluded, non-CEO voters going to choose?
For one, nobody! Democratic voters may decide that there is no choice worth leaving the house for. The country is going down the toilet anyway, so why help flush? For two, Ralph Nadar! I almost pulled the lever for Nadar myself in 2000. At the last moment I did some political calculus and voted the least of two evils, not my conscience or my “choice.” He says he is considering a run again in 2008. If Dems, especially in the Senate, don’t act with courage and conviction, he will bleed away Democratic votes like a Medieval barber. He has name recognition with the best of the contenders, and is a stark contrast to Hilary or Ried. And, he can speak to the concerns of the working stiff way better than Obama or Edwards can. He can’t win, but he can disable the campaign of a political time-server who shows more concern for power than for constituents. He can appear heroic next to senators who show cowardice when faced with the tough political challenges of the day (can we say Hilary?).
So keep showing those balls. Let the hairy sack peek out from the bottom of the boxers. Hell, flop ‘em on the counter and shout “IMPEACH!” If you don’t give them air regularly, Americans will abandon you like they did in 2000.
2008 shouldn’t even be close. A complete sweep, House, Senate and White House with large margins. With the seriously crooked shit in the news on a daily basis, we should see three or four “clean” Republicans switch sides before the next elections. And if those Democratic balls are hangin’ about the knees, it’s a lock.
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