Don't Let Your Dogma Be Your Karma Or Something Like That

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Let me preface my remarks by saying I voted for Kendrick Meek. It was not an easy vote as I knew he was a sure loser. Being a Florida Democrat I have voted for sure losers in the past like like Hugh Rodham, Jim Davis, Bill Gunter, Hugh Rodham, and Steve Pajic. None of these men were losers as individuals but they were losers as candidates; some because they weren't good candidates, some because they were running in a "bad" year, some because it's damn hard for a Democrat to be elected to a high office here, and some because their opponents were good politicians. However this race was different because there was a viable alternative to the Republican and not a garden variety Republican but a Tea Bag Republican.

I empathize with my fellow progressives and liberals who voted for Crist to stop Rubio. I didn't because I thought it was a desperate gambit that wouldn't work. If I thought it would work I would have joined them in the proverbial New York minute.

There are folks here on this board who are suggesting the Democratic party should be "punished" for their neglect of Meek. Intellectually honesty then demands that Kendrick Meek should be "punished" for failing in 2008 to endorse the Democrats running to unseat Cuban-American Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his brother, Mario Diaz-Balart. I don't think neither the Democrats or Meek should be "punished". That's how politics work. It's like the Sopranos without the violence.

What goes around, comes around.

As an aside we need to let this baby go. Calls for Meek to drop out at this point make us look desperate, amateurish, and just plain inept,

[Cleobulus]

1. First off, I don't see how Crist was a viable alternative...

The viable part, definitely not, and alternative? Only slightly less egregious than Rubio, and who the hell knows if he would have caucused with the Dems. As far as punishment, two things, first is the blame game against Meek voters has already started, on a supposedly Democratic board no less. In addition the Democrats exceed at one thing, lack of party loyalty, they punish themselves because of it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. I Guess You Missed The Point Of My Jeremiad

Maybe my writing is too subtle or I don't write clearly enough. Kendrick Meek had no problem throwing his fellow Democrats under the bus when they were running against his buddies.

As to your point about Charlie Crist being slightly less egregious I couldn't disagree more. Marco Rubio is the Tea Party darling who was groomed for this spot by Karl Rove, John Ellis Bush, and the rest of the BFEE.

[Cleobulus]

3. Meek isn't a saint, however, he would have been more reliable than Crist...

As to the second point, being a "tea party darling" and being groomed by the BFEE will not take Rubio far. The big problem is the Teabaggers themselves. They have a non-existent message, and are oriented towards being opposition, not policy makers. Not to mention that they are still a minority, a loud one yes, but still small. We aren't looking at the rise of a Republican Obama here. President Obama won the Presidency because of dissatisfaction with the Republicans and he had broad appeal withthe country. I don't see Rubio having even a quarter of that impact.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. I Don't Want To Be Misconstrued. I Like Meek. I Voted For Him.

He did what he thought he had to do to maintain harmony in his state's congressional delegation. He's not a cardboard saint. Politics is messy.

I disagree about Rubio. He has real juice. He was able to co-opt the Tea Party's message without the baggage. He's no Joe Miller, Christine O'Donnell, or Sharron Angle.

[Cleobulus]

5. True,however, there's a big difference between not being as stupid...

Or crazy as other tea party candidates and gaining broad appeal nationwide.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Crist said Sarah Palin was more qualified than Obama

Those who have been nattering at Meek here on DU since Spring should be feeling shitty. And I do not take kindly to those DUers who keep claiming Crist is a 'DINO' or a Democrat or that his win is 'our win'. All of that is disgusting to me.
Crist and Rubio are both Teapublicans, endorsers of Palin and campaigners against Obama. Those who vote for either man are also those things. Period.
Here's the deal. This "Party" always demands that I be a loyal voter, and stick with candidates who talk trash about my community, who hire the likes of Donnie McClurkin to call us vampires and child killers. If other Democrats do not vote for the Party, why the hell should anyone else? Why should I find a way to vote for a man who is prejudiced against my family, just because the "Party" nominated him? There is no reason that I should, or would. If FL Democrats can pull 'he's going to lose, so we vote for the Palinite' then I can surely vote for the Green who is not an anti-equality religious bigot, don't you think? That's how politics works.
Oh, and you say politics is without violence. Kennedy, King, and Shabazz families might not agree with you. For that matter, the Reagan family would probably not agree either.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. And Meek Refused To Endorse Democratic Candidates Who Were Running Against His Republican Pals

Liberal bloggers are irate that Wasserman Schultz, who co-chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red-to-Blue program, has declined to endorse the Democrats running to unseat Cuban-American Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his brother, Mario Diaz-Balart.

Wasserman Schultz -- along with Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), who also refuses to endorse challengers to the three Cuban-American Republicans -- says she doesn't want to stab GOP members of her own delegation in the back.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/03/wasserman_schultz_under_seige.html

I am not bringing this up to pillory Meek. I like him and voted for him but he's not a cardboard saint. You can't demand party loyalty when you feel like it and ignore those who violate it when you don't.

And, oh, I don't see a hue and cry against advocating for the indy candidate in Rhodey who said George Bush* was more qualified to be president than Al Gore or John Kerry.

Politics is messy.