How Wrong Am I?

I have said that the Democratic Party are losers because they won't fight for their progressive base.  I believed this, and still do, to a large degree.  But the polling for next Tuesday's election is giving me pause.

Again, I yelled, screamed and blogged that Obama, Rahm and the rest of the capitulators were wrong, and pissed the base off too much to get the support needed to maintain the 2008 energy.  But look at the House: most likely to lose 50 seats to the Republicans.

Think about that.  The House advanced WAY more progressive legislation than the Senate - even a public option.  The House is almost CERTAIN to go to the Republicans.  They fought for us WAY more than the Senate, and yet they will lose electorally.

The Senate, on the other hand, was the WORST kind of corrupt cluster-fuck of conservative deal-making, and will - most likely - remain in Democratic control.  Now, the House fought way more for the common man, the average working-class American family than the Senate did.  Not even close.  And yet they are going to lose their jobs.  The Senate on the other hand held court for the status quo: the bankers, the insurance execs, big pharma - and they will be, for the most part, left alone to pillage as they see fit.

"But the Senate is hopelessly corrupt" you say.  Really?  How's about Russ Feingold?  538.com has him at less than a 20% chance of retaining his seat.  Now, Russ Feingold is the most solid progressive fighter in the US government.  He is not the most partizan (in fact, he is one of the most bipartisan), he is the most sensible.  He voted AGAINST the financial reform, because it didn't make sense for the average mortgage holder.  He voted against the Patriot Act (99-1) because it took rights away from the average American.  He is honest, and principled - and he is going to lose his seat.

So, is America REALLY a center-right country after all?  I don't know - seriously.  It may be, and I may have to get used to being in the political minority.  Or, it could be that we are just too fucking stupid to know what's good for us.  I'd hate that idea, because it's just too depressing for the future.  Or, it could be because progressives (especially Obama) failed to hold ANYONE accountable.

Really?  NOBODY in the Bush Administration needed to be held accountable for SERIOUS crimes?  NO bankers, who TOOK BONUSES WITH TAXPAYER MONEY need to have their earnings clawed back?  No stock or mortgage fraud?  No violations of our constitutional rights?

Has it been the case that we are so accostomed to rich or politically connected crimninals getting away with crimes that we don't even think twice?  Then, do we just blame the party in power for the pain we feel, regardless of the criminals who take from us as a newly established routine?

The biggest mistake of the Obama Administration was "look forward, not back."  By allowing the crimes of the elite, the Democratic leadership has given its stamp of approval to the actions that did so much harm to the American working class.  People KNOW that the wars were a bad idea, and a result of profit motivated corruption  And the know that the bankers ripped them off.  But they don't know who to blame - until the Tea Party made it simple.  And they could make it simple because there was NO ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM.

That means you, Obama.  And you too, Reid and Pelosi.  Sure, you may have stopped us from wearing apple barrels and suspenders, but the robber barrons of this time did NOT leap from their office windows.  They have instead invited you to leap from yours.  These captains of power and industry have dared you to step up and have watched you blink.  Then, they have lit cigars while you manned the shovels, and scooped trillions of OUR dollars into their waiting pockets.  THIS is why the independents are willing to give the reins of government to the worst of the worst.  Because you opted for NO ACCOUNTABILITY!

Or maybe Sean, Rush and Glenn are right.  We are a center-right country that wants middle-ages-style banking, health care and women's rights.  Whatever the case, I am longing for accountability for the powerful, or...none for me too!

Let my reign of terror begin!