Joe Conason at truthdig:
But what do the Wisconsin results mean to President Obama, whose gauzy dream of a “post-partisan” era in Washington have been so bitterly dashed by the rise of the tea party? In a battleground state that could go either way next year—and that went sharply rightward last year—the progressive Democratic mobilization over the past six months has been nothing short of remarkable.
Consider that Wisconsin has only seen 20 or so recall elections over the past century, and that of those elections only two have previously resulted in the recall of an incumbent. Consider that incumbents generally have a powerful advantage in any election, especially an off-year recall. Consider further that only a few months ago, the Republicans used their majority to pass a highly restrictive voter ID bill that probably suppressed the vote of Democratic-leaning constituencies, including low-income families, elderly Medicare and Social Security beneficiaries, ethnic minorities and students.
<snip>
The first lesson is that bipartisanship seems to be encouraged among Republicans these days only when they suspect that voters may be sick of their extremism. Just as Walker is now worried about his future, so is Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who has suddenly realized that he prefers cooperation to confrontation over collective bargaining—evidently because he fears the results of a potential repeal referendum on the issue in November.
The second lesson is that there is only one way to instill such fear among Republicans, in Wisconsin or Washington: By demonstrating the will to push back, as hard as necessary, on behalf of the principles Democrats have always promised to uphold.
The above FOUR paragraphs are from Conason's piece and do NOT represent the entire piece (there is more at the link).
Below is my added paragraph and is not attributable to Conason:
I'd add another lesson: Stop marginalizing & belittling progressive Democrats. Just look at what progressives were able to achieve when fighting back by standing up
for the principles that were the foundation of the Democratic Party of yore, those principles which you've rhetorically recognized as essential to our republic and which you've ceded so readily once in office. An office which progressives helped you achieve. Like Wisconsin, progressives are often the ones pounding the pavement, getting out the vote, fighting the good fight. The president would do well to remember that, and not just at election time when we're once again needed.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
