I think Progressives can take heart from the Scott Brown win. No, I'm serious

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

Scott Brown just affirmed the 50 state strategy of Howard Dean. Wins are possible in the strangest places. A Republican came from out of nowhere and won a seat that had been Democratic for 40 years. He won on an anti-incumbancy "throw the bums out" mentality that is festering in the American populace.

We have been told for decades ourselves that Red States if winnable at all or only winnable by DLC/DINO types so that the choice of the people is Republican or Republican Lite. Selection and support of actual candidates has been the job of the DCCC and the DSCC, NOT the DNC and Howard Dean as many have put forward. It is well known that DLC'er Rahm Emanual supported selecting other DINO's like himself who also had lots of personal bucks to put into their own campaigns see here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3243783
and here:
http://memoryattic.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_archive.html
3rd article down. (Interesting enough, if you click on the link to the Alexander Cockburn article that was posted in the link above, it is serverely edited and no longer includes the phrase "fence-straddling millionaires")

and here
http://www.counterpunch.org/walsh11112006.html
2nd article - Rahm's Losers where we learn that only 8 of his 22 hand picked candidates won

But anyway, Rahm has always told us that only DINOs could win Red States and made sure that only DINOs were ALLOWED to run in Red States because anyone else could never win. How do we know? It's like saying your kid won't eat chicken, but yet he's never been offered chicken.

In this current political environment DLC'ers and DINOs are sure losers - look at what's happening to Baucus, etc. If offered the choice in this next go round between a Republican and a pretend Republican, the people will pick the REAL Republican. Why not offer the people an actual choice - A Republican and a REAL Democrat who espouses traditional Democratic values of working for the poor and working class, labor, civil rights, etc? who also has the ability to frame those stances articulately against his opponent.

If we are smart, we will frame the debate NOT as Big vs. Small government but as

EFFECTIVE vs ineffective government. (Reread Al Gores MLK speech from a few years ago about the role of government and how the conceptof goverment itself has been demonized by the right.)

[peace frog]

1. OK, so Brown's win affirmed the 50 state strategy

The fact remains that Tim Kaine runs the show now (if you can call that "running") and he is ineffectual at best. So now what?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

2. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7522434#7524232
Phoebe Loosinhouse (1000+ posts) Wed Jan-20-10 05:52 PM
Response to Reply #19

29. Wasn't one of the first announcements after Dean left that no more 50 state strategy?
I found that exceeedingly weird. Why would anyone abandon a strategy that turned nine previously red states blue?

I honestly wonder sometimes if the Dems weren't horrified with the majorities they won since it clearly gave them actual power to create the mandates they were given. I think they're secretly relieved they have the mythic 60 vote yoke removed. I love how our own Blue Dogs torpedoed everything in their power. They could have been brought in line. Harry and Tim Kaine could have said "play ball" or you'll be second vice chair of the Senate Bed Bug Committee and don't expect any future funding. If the Repubs ever get to sixty votes you'll see a juggernaut the likes of which we will not believe as they go ahead and dismantle and privatize the government.
************************************************************************************

To continue that discussion here - I have to start to wonder if the goal of the Democrats is actually to win majorities. What plausible reason could there be to dismantling a highly sucessful long term political strategy that resulted in definable wins?

I have to say, I see Rahm's hand at work here as well. We know that he and Dean butted heads long and hard. Now, surprise, surprise Dean's sucessfull strategy is thrown out the door.

If I wanted to indulge my most paranoid take on things, I could paint the whole DLC/New Democrat/ Third Way deal as just a long term plan to turn Democrats into Republicans and pass Republican legislation under the guise of being Democrat.

After looking at the healthcare debate, how do you think the "Entitlement Reform" debate will shape up? How about the suggested Committee to oversee Medicare that divorces itself from other Congressional oversight? How about Annual limits on healthcare caps that are overseen by a political appointee?

WE need REAL Democrats now! We need to find them and elect them and we have to tell the Democrats that we elected already that we expect them to behave and act like Democrats.

[peace frog]

3. I agree completely with your last two sentences

but again the question is: so now what?

It's become abundantly clear that it can appear that we have found and elected real Democrats but then in most cases they don't "act" like real Dems once they take office. Isn't that what we on DU have been complaining about re Congress and the Obama administration. And you can see how well our elected real Dems have responded to our pleas/demands to "act" like real Dems. It's all fallen on deaf ears. So now what?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. I've said before that we may need a political movement that exists

outside of Party boundaries. The Tea Baggers started off that way, but now they have been co-opted by the Repugs (which is a GOOD THING - they were more potent and dangerous as a true outsider group - now they just look like a bunch of nutty Republicans who still can't articualte a coherent thought. Why do you think Scott Brown tried to distance himself from them, even though he had their support?)

Anyway, we're ripe to have a Worker's movement or something along those lines to protest the ripping off of the working class, the poor and the middle class in this country in order to enrich the haves and the corporatists. That's where I'm at.

I think a Progressive Leader will arise. There's a vacuum and history is waiting for him or her to emerge.

[peace frog]

5. I hope you are right

but I like my leaders alive and well. Just sayin'.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. I'm not getting your point - are you saying that any leader that arises on behalf the people

is in danger? I don't think that's any different today than it has ever been. MLK knew that, Mahatma Ghandi knew that, Caesar Chavez knew that, any leader of the oppressed throughout history knows they are the enemy of the oppressors. And yet they still arise.

[peace frog]

8. The point is very simple

and I daresay you do get it. I like my leaders alive and well. Those who might consider being leaders but suspect their leadership may be detrimental to their health and well-being, could decide to opt out.

[LiberalFighter]

6. How does one influence what the DNC Chair decides?

By doing any and all of the following:

Be a precinct committee chair/vice chair
Run for and become a County Chair/Vice Chair/Secretary/Treasurer
Run for and become a District Chair/Vice Chair/Secretary/Treasurer
Run for and become a State Chair/Vice Chair/Secretary/Treasurer or other position
Run for and become a DNC Committee person from your state
Be a State Convention Delegate
Be a National Convention Delegate

By having these positions filled with nearly like-minded people it will change the attitude of the DNC and co-horts.

It would help to get elected to political offices too.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. That is EXACTLY the power plan of the Tea Baggers

they announced a plan to make themselves Republican precint chairs all over the country. You are 100% exactly right with what you post here.

Although, it's not just the DNC. The DCCC and DSCC control funds and backing too.

[LiberalFighter]

10. Democrats need to understand

Precinct Chairs and Vice Chairs elect their County officers.

County Chairs and Vice Chairs elect their District officers.

Eligible District officers elect their State Part officers.

Depending on state laws State Convention Delegates determine many of the candidates that end up on the General Election ballot when there is competition. But some of that is influenced prior to the State Convention when the candidates make the rounds of county and district meetings.

In our state, many I believe are upset with our State Party because they attempted to twist arms as to who would be the candidate for Governor. Their endorsed candidate failed to win the primary and many screwed up by putting both the primary and general election portion of the allowable contribution on the losing candidate. Because of that the primary winner did not have the usual available finances to run an effective campaign.

[liberalla]

11. kick