The Facilitators – Moon of Alabama

January 26, 2005

The Facilitators

Is it impossible to characterize the Democratic Party as an opposition party? To me they look just like relative stupid facilitator of the untamed fire of freedom ^®

Too many Republican senators allow Bush’s top aides "to get away with lying" said Sen. Mark Dayton, a Democrat who opposed the war and will face reelection next year in the swing state of Minnesota.
WaPo: Democrats Criticize Rice Over Iraq War

—
Condoleezza Rice was easily confirmed as secretary of state today, overcoming charges from some Democrats that she had been a disingenuous architect of a failed administration policy in Iraq
…
Twelve of the Senate’s 44 Democrats and the chamber’s lone independent, James Jeffords of Vermont, voted against Ms. Rice. No Republican voted against her.
NYT: Senate Confirms Rice as Secretary of State on 85-13 Vote

What is there to loose for 32 democrat senators by voting against Rice?

Indeed:

"In some cases tame opposition parties are created by the governing groups in order to create an impression of democratic debate."

This seems to characterize the state of the union if we read this international policy position one Neodem uttered some weeks ago (copyright Sharansky):

"In light of the fact that we’re now in Iraq, with all the problems in terms of perceptions about America that have been created, us launching some missile strikes into Iran is not the optimal position for us to be in," he said.

"On the other hand, .. I guess my instinct would be to err on not having those weapons in the possession of the ruling clerics of Iran. …"
Link

Is there any chance for a future progressive and rational US policy? I doubt and fear the consequences.

Posted by b on January 26, 2005 at 23:09 UTC | Permalink

Comments

“On the House floor, Democrats introduced a resolution urging Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq immediately.”
Congress reacts to worst day of deaths in Iraq

Posted by: SusanG | Jan 27 2005 0:14 utc | 1

b:
The fact is Bushie is moderating himself as we speak. The 34 killed todat don’t look good and he knows the American public is pssed (except for the neo wingnut religous wackos). The Dems see a chink in the armor. the problem is, if and when the dems get control, will they betray the grassroots as the repubs have the religous right. the neodem Lieberman should be ran out on a rail like is talked about at Kos. The inside the beltway dems must be put in their place and the grass roots must forcefully assert the progressive populist economic agenda.
The repubs have been using abortions and other social issues to get elected since Ragass and nothing has been done. It make to good of a wedge issue to keep the sheeple occupied while they rape and pillage economically. We must turn economics into a moral issue, to overcome the free market dogma of the right.
The Bushies have been dubbed liars and the press finally feels a little freer to call them out knowing he’s a lame duck. I have read a couple of articles know, one linked from Talking Points Memo that outright calls Bushie a liar. Now that Bushie has turned to domestic issues where he can’t use the war for cover, he will be called out more.
On another topic, Bill Frist must be the biggest lame ass I’ve ever seen. You can say what you want about that bigot Trent Lot, but at least he wasn’t a total lacky for Bushie like Frist is. Boy does he lack a spine. He has his head so far up Bushies ass when Bushie breaths its actually Frist breath coming out.

Posted by: jdp | Jan 27 2005 0:16 utc | 2

And it looks like Kos is gearing up to fund anyone who will take on Lieberman in the primaries, even though it’s a break with his policy.
Bernhard, it’s been painful to watch the Dems, I agree. But I think we’re seeing some stirring. Consider:
1. Only two Dems voted against Rice in committee — Boxer and Kerry.
2. When it got to the floor, 11 joined them (one independent). While not ideal, it’s growing.
3. The Gonazales nomination left committee today with every Democrat voting him down.
I really think the floor vote on Gonzales will be the put up or shut up for the Democratic Party. And I’m feeling more positive about it than I was a few weeks ago.

Posted by: SusanG | Jan 27 2005 0:40 utc | 3

blood in the water?

Posted by: beq | Jan 27 2005 0:46 utc | 4

As usual, the most perceptive insights come from Sy Hersh: “we are been taken over basically by a cult, eight or nine neo-conservatives have somehow grabbed the government”
Dem takedown of Gonzales is the best sign I’ve seen from them since some time. I suppose they thought they couldn’t appear serious pols if they went after both Rice and Gonzales and opted for the most outrageous and lesser known. But just 1/3 voting against Rice is pretty shameful.

Posted by: Clueless Joe | Jan 27 2005 0:59 utc | 5

SusanG I’m surprised at you. “”…some stirring…” There is NO chance that some or most dems, stirring or not, will stand up and make a case against the $$$$$$$$$$party – because they are a part of it.
Sure there is an outside chance that Gonzales could be voted down in open session. He’s a fukkin criminal f’godsake. So is Condi and she was approved by these ass-likkin dems as if they loved her…while she is slipping the shiv deep into their “constituents'” gut and smiling her snake-smile all the while.
“…while not ideal…” no Susan, the only thing that is growing is the power of the entrenched muthafukkers who have multiple orgasms as our soldiers die in the pursuit of their objectives, whatever those are.
How bout we tell it like it is, which is that civilisation is being royally fucked by the cretins in power. (OK maybe you won’t argue that point, but please don’t give credit to the dems who are assisting the cretins)

Posted by: rapt | Jan 27 2005 1:10 utc | 6

wow clueless joe,
that interview with Hersh at Dem now is powerful shit. Hersh is the man. We need about twenty to thirty more of him.

Posted by: jdp | Jan 27 2005 1:31 utc | 7

Yeah, rapt, I’m surprised at me too.
“Still I look for a reason to believe.”
Go figure.
Whatever hope I’m feeling, I’m sure it will wear off soon.

Posted by: SusanG | Jan 27 2005 2:14 utc | 8

second wow on the hersh interview.
“Another salvation may be the economy. It’s going to go very bad, folks. You know, if you have not sold your stocks and bought property in Italy, you better do it quick. And the third thing is Europe — Europe is not going to tolerate us much longer. The rage there is enormous. I’m talking about our old-fashioned allies. We could see something there, collective action against us. Certainly, nobody — it’s going to be an awful lot of dancing on our graves as the dollar goes bad and everybody stops buying our bonds ”

Posted by: annie | Jan 27 2005 2:36 utc | 9

i can’t help but have some hope. many different progressive groups have been working towards forming an umbrella progressive party within the dem party here in wash state. we are holding a forum on sunday. i practically shit in my pants when i received this in my in box about 5 minutes ago. the letter is in large(1 inch, very unusaul) bold lettering. i’ve been looking forward to it for awhile but this coming from the party headquarters means it went out to the whole state. we have the power. progressives are cleaning up on local races.
Dear Democratic Friend,
Political activists from the State of Washington are joining together to create Progressive Caucuses within their Democratic Legislative Districts under the umbrella of the Progressive Democratic Caucuses of Washington (http://www.pdcw.org/). These caucuses will work to implement a progressive platform for their districts by educating members, articulating public policy, and holding elected officials accountable. These caucuses will work to maintain the new energy of the Democratic Party by encouraging transparency of Party processes, rapid and open communication with members, and continuing tolerance of diverse viewpoints.
The PDCW will promote policies and candidates that steadfastly support peaceful resolution to conflict, the protection of human rights, public infrastructure and natural spaces, as well as economic, racial, social and environmental justice.
The PDCW will be holding it’s first, Call-To-Action forum with Congressman Jim McDermott and other guests on January 30th in Seattle. Please see the PDCW website for details.
Sincerely,
Paul Berendt
Chair, Washington State Democrats

Posted by: annie | Jan 27 2005 3:01 utc | 10

I talked to the party chairman from our county tonight. She said outstate just don’t get the attention of the state party chairman Mark Brewer in Lansing. Out state is furtile ground for a dem with a progressive agenda but the state party always counts on Detroit for support.
This a wrong strategy. More retired union members are moving outstate and those are the areas that need targeted. I plan on shaking things up a little. Progressive items like economic security and health care are the items that appeal to these people.

Posted by: jdp | Jan 27 2005 4:12 utc | 11

I say cut the Dems some slack for a few months on learning how to be an opposition party. It’s a new concept to them. They are still in denail about their complete lack of power. If say, in July or September (nothing gets done in August) we are still seeing wholesale defections on major votes, then it will time to be pissed.
annie – that graf from Hersh sums it all up.

Posted by: Tom DC/VA | Jan 27 2005 4:38 utc | 12

The real and few large outgroups (with smatterings of people in-between who don’t know they’re in any group at all) in the US have long known that there is little difference between the demopublicans and the republicrats in the last… what?… 40 years or more. The politicians differences?… which “little ingroup” will call the shots. It’s only the media and those still clinging to the mythology that still think there’s significant difference. Speaking only for myself, mind you … a long-time member of an outgroup. But Ds and Rs make for good TV, eh? Keep those proles happy with fake conflict, and hope of real change. The inner and outer party members know what side of the fake line they’re lining up on.

Posted by: Kate_Storm | Jan 27 2005 7:26 utc | 13

Fuck the dems. The system is rotten to the core and is now starting to collapse from decay and it’s going to make the depression of the 30’s look like a birthday party.

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Jan 27 2005 14:35 utc | 14

when i said upthere i had hope, i wasn’t referring to the economy. i have no hope for that which is why i’m doing a madrush selloff.
i meant i have some hope for the dems. but i don’t think we can wait till the summer for them to grow balls Tom, i think we will have to see some solidarity w/ rejecting gonzales and private SS (oh, ah personal) way before summer.

Posted by: annie | Jan 27 2005 18:19 utc | 15

@Tom DC/VA: Cutting the Democrats slack for a few months is precisely not the way to get them to come around to behaving like a genuine opposition. Riding their asses is the only means to that (probably unrealizable) end.
My dipshit Democratic senator Schumer was one for two yesterday, voting against Gonzales in committee but for Rice on the floor. For him, this is progress, but his vote against Gonzales only came as a result of massive constituent outrage. And we’re still going to have to ride his ass to ensure he continues to stand against Gonzales when the full vote comes to the floor.

Posted by: ralphbon | Jan 27 2005 18:47 utc | 16

i just received an email from sen. cantwell/she’s opposing gonzales!
she’s up for re election in 2006, i gave her office an earful 2 days ago, maybe that did the trick;)
“Thank you for previously contacting me regarding the nomination
of Justice Alberto Gonzales to the position of Attorney General of
the United States. After carefully listening to Judge Gonzales
during his Senate confirmation hearings and reading his responses
to questions, I have decided to oppose his confirmation.”

Posted by: annie | Jan 27 2005 20:03 utc | 17

Rapt:
Some of the cretins are getting nervous. Of course, morality isn’t part of their calculations; Iraq is just a bad geopolitical move.

Posted by: lonesomeG | Jan 28 2005 3:28 utc | 18

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