Howard Dean (see David's prior post) has it partly right. But I'm really getting sick of the bumper-sticker mentality in analysis from even the more progressive MSM:
Tuesday night was about nothing more than people pissed off because the "change" they THOUGHT they'd voted for in 2008 has barely creeped along. And they're pissed still, taking whatever path the fix has to take. It's a "lead, follow, or get out of the way" mood. The loud Tea Party partiers grab all the news, but the silently boiling anger of "center-left" America is still pissed that nothing has happened after the eight years of W's wacko-corporate "administration." And they're not too stupid to know where the real fault lies, in BOTH parties—and it's not Obama, whom they rose up together for and just got elected. What's worse, poll-takers who never differentiate enough in their reply options often offer no true insight for the media talkers who take it from them.
Look, Arlan Specter was an honorable moderate Republican, sacrificed after a party switch to get watered-down health care reform done... but in truth he's a Chamberlain-like pawn that voted for Thomas, Alito and Roberts with good intentions, not clear-eyed reality. A moderate Repub does not an old-time people's Democrat make. And that's what Pennsylvania wanted.
These are not moderate times and they call for immoderate measures... and the grass-roots force is that both parties are trying to get back to their cores, away from center, in the only ways they each know how. And as some have guessed, if the more thoughtful TeaBaggers (!!) go far enough they might just come full circle and wind up mostly being "populist", meeting progressive Dems on the far side of that circle. At least on some issues—like a rejection of corporate control, for one, once they finally wake up to it.
Then in Arkansas, last time I checked, ActBlue's Halter was behind Blue Dog Lincoln only @ 2%--that's just @ 4,700 ACTUAL votes. And that's with 8% still to count. What's more: total Dem turnout so far is 301,703—compared to 156.573 for all Repubs. November will have its own dynamics--I know all about DINOs still in the South—but rally? Halter is plain-speaking and just as "populist" as "progressive." That runoff is just in three weeks.
When people figure out that "incumbents" are not their enemy so much as the unchecked, de-regulated corporate power money corrupting and controlling and distacting everything in their lives ... and that Ross Perot's "giant sucking sound" is not only jobs but also cash pulled from the middle class and right into the Two Percent's own fatter, tax-avoiding backpockets...laughing all the way to the bank for those who still serf them....
... then Halter ought to have a chance come November as well, Conservadem voters or not.
And for all the Tea Party darlingness of Rand Paul's win—geez, look at the basic real numbers in Kentucky, for cryin' out loud. Total GOP turnout: 351,927 ... Dems' turnout: 520, 412. You start shooting holes in the less-progressive end of the Paul platform and how long will the yell hold up, in the middle? DINOs included?
I guess we'll see in the end, come Nov. 8. But don't misread the intentions right now. Incumbents who are not dead wood—like Barbara Boxer—need not fear. Those who speak their mind plainly without payoff, and keep an eye on reality, should get both respect and votes. And in these days of BP and Goldman-Sachs and war profiteer scandals, why is that so hard to do?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Big Night for Progressives!
Howard Dean Tells TPMDC: 'Big Night' For Progressives | TPMDC
You won't hear it from the Mainstream Media (and certainly not on Fox), but the big winners in yesterdays elections were progressive democrats. Turnout was higher on the democratic side, we won the one actual national election against a republican (keeping Murtha's seat in PA) and Joe Sestak beat Arlen Specter!
You will likely continue to hear how tea-bagger anti-incumbency fever spells defeat for Democrats in the fall, but I've never believed that and these elections results indicate that our own progressive efforts to get the corporate dems out of office is working and making the party more appealing.
No reason to relax, but we are not fighting a losing battle here, we are making the small incremental gains that are part of how democracy works.
You won't hear it from the Mainstream Media (and certainly not on Fox), but the big winners in yesterdays elections were progressive democrats. Turnout was higher on the democratic side, we won the one actual national election against a republican (keeping Murtha's seat in PA) and Joe Sestak beat Arlen Specter!
You will likely continue to hear how tea-bagger anti-incumbency fever spells defeat for Democrats in the fall, but I've never believed that and these elections results indicate that our own progressive efforts to get the corporate dems out of office is working and making the party more appealing.
No reason to relax, but we are not fighting a losing battle here, we are making the small incremental gains that are part of how democracy works.
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