Centrists in the Middle of Party Conflict (Avoid Tilting to Left: DLC)

[Rose Siding]

Centrists in the Middle of Party Conflict
Democrats Must Avoid Tilting to Left, DLC Urges

PHILADELPHIA, July 27 -- "Bring him on!" blares the new cover of the Democratic Leadership Council's magazine, with the headline floating just above a photo of President Bush. For additional emphasis, a smaller headline in the corner advertises: "Special Red Meat Issue!"

It is as if an imposter from the liberal wing of the Democratic Party had taken over at the organization that has spent the past two decades prodding and pushing the Democrats, with considerable success, to adopt a more moderate, centrist and pro-business posture.

snip>

"Of course we're worried about where the party may be heading," From said, asserting he had no regret about taking on the former governor. "Look, Howard Dean has run a very good campaign," he added. "The question for Howard Dean is whether it's a sustainable one."

Still, the DLC, once an insurgency against the party's liberal establishment, finds itself as the established centrist organization that is having to fight for its position and its policies inside the party.

On the key issue of this campaign for party activists, the war in Iraq, the DLC is on the opposite side of the debate, and its new critique of Bush's presidency does not include the issue of going to war in Iraq. The candidate most associated with the DLC, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), has struggled to build enthusiasm for his candidacy. Dean's success and Lieberman's struggle seem to symbolize the shifting balance of power within the party.

"It doesn't mean the side we're on is the wrong side, either for the party or for the country," From said today. He added, "The moderates and conservatives are not as prominent in the Democratic Party . They're certainly not as loud, but we'll see what happens when they vote."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54255-2003Jul27.html

[Rose Siding]

1. DLC convention on CSPAN started @ 9:30

I can't bear to watch but the discussion is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=91690&mesg_id=91690&page=

[shirlden]

2. The DLC is the problem

not the solution. Clinton may have been a guiding force with this organization, but without him they are merely obstructionist and repug lites. They have no concept of how the party should be putting out the message or even what message to put out. They totally blew the 2002 elections and now think the same strategy will get us a Dem prez. These guys are living in a political fantasy.....we can win only if we return to the party base, get out the vote, and do poll watching for an honest election. From and Reed should pack it up and go find another high-paying non-job. How about lobbyist for the Repug party. They would be naturals for that and I bet the pay would be better. Or (put on tinhat here) perhaps they are all ready being paid by the Repugs. Hmmmmmmm ?????
:shrug:

[w4rma]

8. The DLC gets their funding from many of the same big corporations

that the Republican Party does.

[markus]

3. "We'll see what happens when they vote"

So, I take from the last quote in the snippet above, Mr. From is threatening to take his votes elsewhere? Who's going to call him to account for threatening to undermine any nominee who doesn't pass his approval.

Shit, I stopped being a reporter 17 years ago (pause for reflection at how time flies, etc.) but geezumpetes, isn't there anybody left around to ask questions?

Could we replace the Washington Press Corps with figures built by the Toy Story people, just so as to fill the screens with appropriate representations of a "free press"?

[On the Road]

5. "Mr. From is threatening to take his votes elsewhere? "

:wtf:

This guy is threatening to vote Republican? Or persuade others to do so?

If that's what he's saying, he's more than a conservative. He's a traitor.

[realFedUp]

4. let's see....left of current fascism is?

rightwing I think....

Let's move the country to truth, justice and what
was the American way.

[Rose Siding]

6. It looks like

From/DLC is taking "uniting" lessons from W.

[iam]

7. Moderation?

Did the conservatives sieze control of the entire country by being moderate? Conservatives went nuts and the sheeple followed. The DLC and Lieberman are going to make the Democratic party a permanent minority party like the republicans were before they stopped asking politely for power and finally kicked the door in.
Democrats need to go nuts and kick the door in, not to moderate.

[stickdog]

9. Disturbing Quote

OK. Your candidate sucks. Even though fat cats are his best friends, he still can't raise any money. Dean is rolling along -- attracting independents and new electoral blood along with record breaking fund raising among the rank and file.

Only Dean's numbers keep growing. The rest of the field is simply running in place.

So you say:

"It doesn't mean the side we're on is the wrong side, either for the party or for the country. The moderates and conservatives are not as prominent in the Democratic Party . They're certainly not as loud, but we'll see what happens when they vote."

How are you going to get them to care enough to vote, Al? What are your candidates going to do to energize the moderate and conservative Democratics you somehow think make up the majority of Democratic primary voters?

Or are these votes just going to appear magically?

Why am I thinking about Diebold right about now?