We Must Become the Party of Boldness, Not Acquiescence

Boldness. It is a word that has defined our history. This week alone marks the anniversaries of the landing at Plymouth Rock, the Wright brothers' first flight and the launch of the first manned mission to the moon. As Democrats, we are the party of bold measures such as the New Deal, the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift and Apollo project to reach the moon. More importantly, every single day as Americans we continue what is often called a "bold experiment in democracy" that many questioned whether it would last two decades let alone two centuries.

In the hallowed halls of Congress are many busts and tributes to men of courage and conviction who have played an essential part in this bold experiment. Sadly these lions of American history are unable to speak today to the cowering sheep of today's Congress.

Last November, the American people spoke loudly - they wanted change. Today, nearly seventy percent of Americans want us to begin withdrawing from Iraq, but time and time again the Democratic leadership has sheepishly caved in to a Lilliputian President whose approval rating is in the twenties.

Two centuries ago, our founding fathers drafted a charter of liberty to protect us from the abuses of King George. Two central elements of that charter are the separation of powers by which each branch is held accountable and the Bill of Rights which protects the sanctity of our homes from encroachment by warrantless searches and seizures and guarantees us due process under law.

Last month, however, the Senate confirmed an Attorney General nominee who believed that the charter of expediency trumped this charter of liberty. This week the Congress will vote on expanding the ability of another George to freely monitor our communications and granting immunity to the telecom companies that illegally handed over our personal data to this administration without a warrant.

Fortunately, lions still exist. Senator Dodd and others have pledged to filibuster and block this abandonment of our rights. We must stand with them in this fight because this is not about big business or nuances of law, it is about the same principle that led the Minutemen at Lexington to fire the "shot heard round the world" - liberty. It is time that we Democrats rediscovered the sense of boldness that led 75 badly outnumbered Lexington farmers to believe they could defeat an empire.

It was this same sense of boldness that led Harry Truman to launch the Berlin Airlift in 1948 after the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin leaving its 2.5 million citizens with only enough food for 36 days. Although one general declared an airlift to be "absolutely impossible," in the first battle of the Cold War Harry Truman decided to make the impossible possible. Over fifteen months, the Berlin Airlift delivered 2.3 million tons of supplies - and even Bob Hope - with a plane landing every minute at its peak. In the battle between the possible and liberty - liberty had won.

For many years the world has looked up to America precisely because our commitment to liberty was absolute and our belief that nothing was impossible. Sadly, this has not been the case for the last seven years, as Congress has sheepishly succumbed to the neocon wolves' lust for power at the expense of our liberty. Last November, however, the American people elected a new Congress and now expect to hear the roar of leadership not the bleating of acquiescence.

It is time that the Capitol reverberates with the thunder of Democrats' determination to defend our liberty, just as the crackle of muskets echoed in the fields of Lexington. It is time for a Congress that is absolute in its defense of liberty and rejection of the impossible. In sum, it is time for Democrats to once again become the party of boldness.

Comments

[apatge]

Wow! A decent human being running for Rick the Rat Renzi's AZ CD-1 seat! How refreshing! Howard is the real deal. He cares, he is committed, and he cares about the issues that are genuine ones. It is time we elect someone who will really represent us, not his daddy's lobby buddies. He cares about the issues that will impact us tomorrow and the rest of tomorrows. He has the passion, the human qualities we need, and the honesty to carry out his duties as an elected representative should. We need Howard here in AZ as well as in DC to fight big corporations and corruption.

Howard needs our support to help bring government accountable. Accountability is a big point with Howard Shanker and when have we seen that lately in politics? He has an uphill battle also, because the DCCC seems to anoint candidates they choose instead of who we, the voters choose. If you have friends, relatives,or associates here in one of the biggest geographic districts in American, Arizona Congressional District 1, write them, call them, email them, blog them about voting for Howard Shanker in the upcoming primary election and general election. We have to make a difference in our future and Howard Shanker can help us do that.

We have met the candidates for this office and Howard is the only one who is willing to give 110% with integrity, honesty, and compassion for those who are in need. He will ensure equality for us for a change!

It is time to take a stand. I now consider Howard Shanker to be a friend and I will stand up with him and for him. Will you?

Pat George
Camp Verde, AZ

[Desiderata]

To dream the impossible dream....

Thank you, United State Senator Dodd, for being an American first and a presidential candidate second.

You do tower above the petty ambitions of Clinton and Obama, now.

[PeggyBrownstein]

Shanker's comment about the "the charter of expediency" really resonates today with Mukasey telling the CIA NOT to cooperate with the investigation regarding the distuction of the torture videos. This is the doing of Senators like Diane Feinstein who were more concerned with "expediency" in quickly (re)placing a new AG than with protecting "the charter of liberty."

Another AG protecting Bush! What a surpise; sickening that Feinstein was so short sighted.

[LizM]

I am afraid that last November, the American people did not speak nearly loud enough...not by a long shot! While seventy percent of Americans may want a withdrawal from Iraq to begin, few of them seem to understand HOW that withdrawal should happen.

If bold leadership is what you"re looking for, then you need look no further than Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Senator Biden is the only candidate, of either party, who is prepared to end the war in Iraq and withdraw from Iraq without leaving a failed state behind. He is still, the only candidate who has developed a comprehensive and viable strategy to promote and facilitate a sustainable political settlement in Iraq based on federalism and the Iraqi constitution. His strategy is not only supported by a majority of Republicans and Democrats in the US Senate and House, but is also endorsed by the major powers and by Iraq"s sectarian leaders.

I would suggest that Senator Biden, once he captures the Democratic nomination and in his capacity as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will immediately be in a position to begin to lay the groundwork to put his Iraq exit strategy into action.

[23000Days]

Exellent post, Mr. Shanker. I hope you succeed in Arizona; you would be a welcome addition to congress, right up there with Feingold, Dodd and Kucinich.
We are especially proud of Sen. Dodd tonight!

[jazzman]

Boldness arrived in Washington today. His name is Christopher Dodd!!!

[bennet]

Finally a Democrat with brains and guts! Great piece - we need people like you in Washington.