Punch Back?

Interesting article in the Nation by Dave Zirin, “Why Democrats Won’t Throw a Real Punch:  Faced with existential threats from the right, the Democratic leadership remains timid; faced with demands for justice from the left, it goes on the attack.”

I am not sure I agree with all of it. Zirin is, I think, too hard on Biden and Obama. But he does make an interesting point: to wit, that the Democratic party establishment has been far more ruthless with progressive fellow Democrats than with Trump, MAGA, and the Right in general. It played harder ball with Bernie, for instance, that it has so far with Musk.

He argues that there are a number of reasons for this, but perhaps most of all it is because on some level the Democrats support and identify with the wealthy and the powerful who now control the GOP. They would, perhaps, cheerfully support the Techbros and the billionaires if only they were donating to Blue rather than Red candidates.

As I say, I don’t know if I agree with that. But it is something to think about. And, whether his thesis is right or wrong, Zirin is definitely correct when he suggests that Democrats need to start fighting back. And that we need to do it now.

Or we may never have a chance to do so ever again. 

Irresponsible Adults

 Here’s the situation. If Trump gets back into the White House, we’re in deep trouble. That’s inescapable. We either vote blue or endure fascism. 

We also only have a short time between now and November. The only candidate who already has the necessary organization in place, who has the volunteers, who has the funding, and most of all, who has the name recognition to win against Trump is Joe Biden. That is a simple fact.

Yet, some powerful people in the Democratic Party, and in the media, called for Biden to step down. Given the reality of the situation, this is a perfect blue print for defeat.

When I was a boy, I remember my father talking about “irresponsibility” and the Vietnam war. He was no fan of the war, but he became incensed when critics would suggest that the war was being mis-managed (which it was, admittedly) and then demanded that the military do everything differently. They had, of course, some elaborate plan that was to be put in place.

But the reality was that such vast changes in strategy and tactics could only be managed with enormous effort. While the changes were underway, the other side would have simply won without breaking a sweat.

Thus the critics’ were irresponsible. 

And I fear that’s exactly what Biden’s critics are at the moment--irresponsible. They are calling for changes which cannot be made without losing the war entirely.

That’s something to be thought about after the election if Biden wins.

If he doesn’t win, it will be because of these same Elites and Pundits, and our only consolation is that under a Fascist dictatorship,  they will be the first into the camps, and in front of the firing squads.

It awaits them.

From The People Who Brought You Pearl Harbor

 I really admire Hillary Clinton, and I voted for her in 2016. But I also knew that she was greatly disliked by many Americans, and I feared for the worst when she was made the nominee. 

And, of course, the worst happened. It happened because the leadership decided she should be president, regardless of her actual electability, and they imposed her on the ticket in spite of, not because of what the voters wanted (which seems to have been Bernie Sanders). And, so, what we also got was Donald Trump, four years of chaos, Covid, and a very near economic disaster. 

But I think we now have a very similar situation on our hands. When Democratic elites, media members, and various pundits demanded Biden step down, they were effectively stating that their opinion about who should be president was more important than what voters believed -- and voters repeatedly said that they were sticking with Biden, regardless.

I think, then, that we need to look very hard at this situation. And we need to ask, in future, if the Party’s leadership needs to be shaken up a bit.

And maybe reconstructed entirely.

A pompous ass...

A (probably useless) letter to the chiefs of the Democratic Party

Like it says...

We need the Terminator in politics...

I read the other day that one of the Democratic party strategists is suggesting that his party take more of a lead from the GOP. They need, he suggests, to be tougher and far less moral.

Not a bad idea. But, really, I'm not sure the Dems can manage it. I mean, who do they have that really match the malice and cunning of, say, a Karl Rove?

Which I suggest they need to bring in outside talent. Someone, say, like Terminator. But with more metal and fewer morals.

After that, it might almost be something like a fair fight.