Time to Cut Bait on the Losers
The oldest phrase in politics is the adage "Politics Make Strange Bedfellows." I have in my years around the bend in politics and business made a lot of friends on the other side, many of them old-line Republican leaders (i.e. reasonable, thinking, patriotic, centrist). These folks have really had it with the direction their own party skipped down in the past 8 years. They have had it with obstructionist behavior by Tom DeLay, Bill Frist, and Mitch McConnell; the pure lies of the Bush Administration that resulted in an unjustifiable war, and the anti-America business policies that caused the wholesale exporting of American jobs to India, China, and elsewhere.
Some of these leaders have jumped ship from the Republican Party in the last couple of years. These "New Independents" are leading an area of political activity that is fighting back against the obstructionists, the tokens, and the haters in their now-former political party. A couple of these fine Americans have been giving me their morsels of wisdom on a regular basis now, and honestly, their opinion can be summed up in one phrase.
"Its over, they lost, screw 'em."
These same fine Americans, literally a week after the election in November 2008, began to bubble with centrist hope, but also with warnings about what the Republicans had up their sleeves for the new President. The Republican plan has been and will continue to be obstructionist and make Obama look like a failure right out of the box. Their strategy is rooted in the idea that if he fails to enact policies of real change in the first 100 days, then they will have weakened him for the entire first four years; and in effect get what they want regardless. They're counting on co-opting the "big O" much in the same way they strangled many of his Hill colleagues.
Yet President Barack Obama is being particularly careful not to purposefully alienate Senator McConnell and his band of angry men on the hill, let alone telling them to go jump in a lake. He seems to be navigating a crazy mine field of Progressive vs. Radical Conservative members, making neither totally happy, but not kicking either group in the groin. Why?
Well the reality of the current political environment is that President Obama is carrying a silent-but-deadly majority group of leaders that are not represented in the mainstream media, the populist political establishment, or the right-wing crackpots that dominate the establishment Hill. The silent fathers that are the new Independents are with him, and both of the other sides know it, and they're really freaked.
The Progressives don't yet understand that the new Independents are their friends, basically because they are authentic leaders who aren't afraid of a good debate, are fine negotiating with Unions, try to buy American, and want everyone to do well. These are not greedy or power-hungry leaders. They already have the authentic power, and the authentic leadership. They are furious how the NeoCons and Right-Wing Religious Zealots took over the Republican Party -- enough to leave it behind.
The new Independents are driving an openness and conviction of purpose in the fight for what's necessary in order to save our country, and they spoke in droves when they began working for and donating to Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign. Now that they are in the position to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, they have his ear, and they are standing behind him as he fights for the survival of our country.
What they are saying to him right now is, "Give the righties enough rope to hang themselves with." He's doing exactly that.
Unfortunately the Progressive leadership is silent right now, because they are not pushing the envelope of authentic power they have in Barack Obama. I guess its probably because they haven't experienced it for so long that they don't really remember what they can do with it when they try. Sure, old line Progressive leaders like Harkin, Dodd, Kohl, and Sanders get it. They were there in the Wellstone days. They were there when Harkin and Dole locked arms and kicked ass on the ADA back when it was needed. Unfortunately they're not being listened to at the moment by Pelosi and Reid.
The new Independents were there too, though, and they are actually providing Obama with the political cover he needs where the Progressive movement seems to be faltering. In constructing and directing his "Cabinet of Rivals" Obama is walking the walk and talking the talk of a real reformer. He's going to do what it takes to save the country, regardless of whom he pisses off, and the new Independents are with him, come hell or high water.
They've just about had it with the Righties, though, and Obama is just about ready to unleash the hounds of moderate, across-the-aisle, collaborative, congenial Hell in a response to all the obstructionist b.s. He's jettisoning any idea that doesn't pass a co-operative tribunal test, and that includes dumping people who don't pay their taxes or meet other high standards of public service. In the past hour both Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer both have withdrawn, and Judd Gregg has entered the fray. That's what the new Independents are driving policy-wise, and we should expect higher standards, aisle-crossing, and ass kicking in the coming months.
The new Independents are causing the President to make decisions with a new level of accountability that hasn't been seen in my own lifetime. If people like Daschle have to step aside, you know that the President isn't screwing around, and has the backing of a deeper echelon of American fatherhood (and motherhood) that isn't going to relent, cave, or give up. They are committed, and they have high standards. They demand accountability, they demand openness, and they demand real leadership. Their judgement at this point is "Cut Bait On The Losers," regardless of who the losers are.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
republicans dont have to do anything..
I'm not sure I follow your logic, zen. Can you expound?
What would the world look like, if the Party of Corporate Welfare disappeared? The Democrats would have to compete with Independent parties that run on their merits. Well, it doesn't take long to have the shuddering and convulsing start. Better to help prop up the Party of Corporate Welfare, than to shift to running on the merits of the Democratic Party.
tompoe-
Which party is the party of corporate welfare? Just the Republicans? I can tell you from experience, there is enough corporate influence through money in both the Republican and Democratic parties to refer to each as Parties of Corporate Welfare. The question is, what are the individual members of each party willing to do to change the game. I think in the case of the Dems at least there is some semblance (albeit tiny) of a crack in the dam. I've seen nothing on the R side to indicate that they want to change at all. Re: the Independent ideal...wh
Who are these old school folk this article speaks of? And why the heck isn't the old school Democratic group stepping up and kicking some serious Senatorial butt? I amazes me to hear and see so very little from the Democratic causus regarding this stimulus plan, what the hell is wrong wiht them? They were whimps during the Bush reign, and I thought it just had to do with Bush and his cronnies being such bullies, but now what is their excuse? We need a stronger Democratic representation in order to push back the Republican bullies, and if we don't, we are going to end up in hot water again.
Beca-
RESPECTFULLY---if I revealed exactly whom I'm talking about in this post, I would lose these people's counsel. They don't trust people who are quick to reveal their identities for obvious reasons. Anyway, I'm not a politician, I'm a writer...I am not beholden to anyone but my own priorities
Why would Dems criticize a piece of legislation they are responsible for? I mean DeFazio and Sanders are two whom have been pretty vocal about particular measures, but by and large the causes and caucus itself only has itself to blame if this thing doesn't do the trick.
Remember, Dems are in charge now...that means they have to take the responsibility for what happens if it doesn't work.
Cut bait already!
Stop trying to blame the Republicans for the failures of this crap of a "stimulus bill".
The Democrats have more than enough votes to pass it so rather than wasting your thoughts on why the Republicans voted NO on this bill you should be demanding to know why the Democrats have failed to pass this bill.
Like it or not the Republicans are on the right side of this issue, sixty three percent of the American public say no to this PORK PACKAGE.
The reason you and the rest of the Democrats are up in arms over the lack of Republican support is that the Democrats will have no-one to blame for this disaster except themselves, something they have never done before.
Remember Obama said "I won, your guy lost" things will be done the way the Democrats want it!
Where is your disdain for the Democrats who voted against this bill?
Where is your disdain for the Democrats in the Senate who have spoken out against this bill and agree with the Republicans?
Yet to hear all the Democrats speak of this bill you would think that the Republicans filibustered this bill. The Democrats do not need any votes from the Republicans, they have enough to pass this bill without one single Republican vote.
The Republicans are right, the Democrats are wrong place the blame where it belongs squarely on the Democrats.
If you were more informed, you could understand that both parties are at fault for the mess that this has turned into. Since you are participating in the discussions, I hope you take a look at the article about how John Boehner got served about the lies that he told on ACORN just to start a revolt against this package. Clueless!
I am informed and I understand that both parties are at fault with this whole mess, however, this does not mean that the Democrats have ANY right to blame the Republicans for their short comings. This bill was written by the Democrats, the way the Democrats want it and the Republicans were told to sit in the corner and keep their mouthes shut by none other than the President himself, remember "I won, your guy lost" things will be done the way the Democrats want it, so how is that not partisan politics?
If you were more informed you would understand that in order for the Democrats to pass this piece of crap they call a "stimulus package" they will need to compromise.
Clueless? If you think that Boehner "got served" because YOU think he lied about ACORN then you are misinformed, the neighborhood stabilization program funding of $4.19 billion can easily provide money to ACORN. I'll say it again, if even one dollar ends up in the coffers of ACORN it will prove you wrong, then will you believe?
dreamsmash
Sorry, friend, but the Dems can't get legislation through without help from Republican
As for "blaming Republicans" I think you've missed the point of the piece. The persons I am referring to within the political establishment are people who are dyed-in-the-wool Republicans who think their own party doesn't really represent them anymore. These are not the Right wing hypocrites that have overtaken the Party of Lincoln. They're the moderates, who believe in compromise.
The "new Independents" are the folks who own the car dealership, the guys who give their time and money to the Rotary, and the guys who ultimately sit right next to folks like me in church. They believe there IS a way to work things out to help all people, and they believe that SOME government is necessary (food stamps, unemployment, transportation funding, Medicare, Medicaid, VA, etc.) is a good thing. They don't believe that letting people slip through the cracks is good.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
