Eating Their Own
There is a very good article in the Washington Post this morning about one of the big problems in the Democratic Party. It's called cannibalism, as Dana Milbank notices in "Tasting Victory, Liberals Instead Have a Food Fight".
He starts with an interpretation of a poll from ABC News, and the expected result:
For years the Democrats have pandered to every actual and supposedly oppressed group in the country, telling them that they are the way for their voices to be heard. They've become the umbrella party for the non-conservative, non-religious, anti-establishment folks.
The problem is everyone of those groups does want it's voice to be heard, and some of the voices are a little bit, well, kooky. And the kooky voices, now many in number are drowning out the reasonable voices that could possibly bring the party back into power.
A commenter on Kos yesterday pointed out that the right is probably taking in every word that's written there, and going to throw them in the face of the Democrats, a very reasonable thought. Then he went into an f-bomb ladened tirade, showing his own kookiness.
What I think this shows, and will show in the next few years, is that we've outgrown our two party system. The Democratic umbrella is going to have to shrink a little bit for that party to get back to a majority in either house, or regain the White House.
The GOP suffered the same problem in 1992 and 1996, when fiscal conservatives bolted in big enough numbers to vote for Ross Perot to give Bill Clinton 2 terms. In 2000, though Perot's movement lost steam when it turned too kookie for most of the folks it had attracted. Most of the folks who voted for him returned to the GOP.
Nader did the same thing in 2000, probably costing Al Gore his shot at the White House. In '04 he wasn't a player, because he went too far.
Soon, though, a charismatic liberal will show up to run for the Greens or another party that will pull enough folks away from the Democrats that they can actually repair the damage the nuts have done to their party. It's going to mean a smaller party, at first, but will actually grow it as the Reagan Democrats and other centrists who've left the party feel it's safe to return.
As long as the Democrats try to be all things to all groups, they will be the minority in Congress, and have a hard time winning the White House.
When they find their base again, and become a reasonable thing to most people, they might have a chance at winning some elections. They might also have to deal with giving up some seats in the short term to a Green party, to show the folks in the middle they've abandonded that they want them back.
Technorati Tags: liberals, Democrats
He starts with an interpretation of a poll from ABC News, and the expected result:
The new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds congressional Democrats in the best position they've held in 14 years, besting President Bush and Republican lawmakers on Iraq, the economy, health care, immigration, ethics and more.This is true, it's where the Democratic Party has found it's biggest problems lately. They can't seem to leave "good" alone. But there is a reason for their problem, the very make up of the party.
All of which can mean only one thing: It is time for the Democrats to eat their own.
For years the Democrats have pandered to every actual and supposedly oppressed group in the country, telling them that they are the way for their voices to be heard. They've become the umbrella party for the non-conservative, non-religious, anti-establishment folks.
The problem is everyone of those groups does want it's voice to be heard, and some of the voices are a little bit, well, kooky. And the kooky voices, now many in number are drowning out the reasonable voices that could possibly bring the party back into power.
A commenter on Kos yesterday pointed out that the right is probably taking in every word that's written there, and going to throw them in the face of the Democrats, a very reasonable thought. Then he went into an f-bomb ladened tirade, showing his own kookiness.
What I think this shows, and will show in the next few years, is that we've outgrown our two party system. The Democratic umbrella is going to have to shrink a little bit for that party to get back to a majority in either house, or regain the White House.
The GOP suffered the same problem in 1992 and 1996, when fiscal conservatives bolted in big enough numbers to vote for Ross Perot to give Bill Clinton 2 terms. In 2000, though Perot's movement lost steam when it turned too kookie for most of the folks it had attracted. Most of the folks who voted for him returned to the GOP.
Nader did the same thing in 2000, probably costing Al Gore his shot at the White House. In '04 he wasn't a player, because he went too far.
Soon, though, a charismatic liberal will show up to run for the Greens or another party that will pull enough folks away from the Democrats that they can actually repair the damage the nuts have done to their party. It's going to mean a smaller party, at first, but will actually grow it as the Reagan Democrats and other centrists who've left the party feel it's safe to return.
As long as the Democrats try to be all things to all groups, they will be the minority in Congress, and have a hard time winning the White House.
When they find their base again, and become a reasonable thing to most people, they might have a chance at winning some elections. They might also have to deal with giving up some seats in the short term to a Green party, to show the folks in the middle they've abandonded that they want them back.
Technorati Tags: liberals, Democrats
posted by Crazy Politico at 4:19 AM
10Comments:
You said it all right here: "They've become the umbrella party for the non-conservative, non-religious, anti-establishment folks."
I admit I voted for Perot and returned to the GOP.
Your final thoughts are exactly what is happening with the southern democrats that live where I grew up. They say they are Demos but vote Republican. In reference to the quote above are the reasons people do not want to associate themselves with these loonies. Another party will end up forming...that is what I believe too. If only all the folks knew that these hijackers stand w/ George Soro, the ACLU...etc. etc. who funds them...and they dance to the money and agenda their supporters take. It is a disgrace and embarrassment to our country.
Good post. You make some great points. I especially thought this line was good:
"...some of the voices are a little bit, well, kooky. And the kooky voices, now many in number are drowning out the reasonable voices that could possibly bring the party back into power."
"Soon, though, a charismatic liberal will show up to run for the Greens or another party that will pull enough folks away from the Democrats that they can actually repair the damage the nuts have done to their party."
It will one additional thing: that "charismatic" liberal will have to pull the current Democrat party leadership out from under the Big Dem Umbrella, or no real change will take place in the Dem party.
Unless, as I predict, there is finally a true grassroots rebellion among more centrist, rational Dems to take back their party.
Americans are not going to bend over, say thanks and ask for another when someone kicks us in the ass. The Dem leaders are for the most part failing to get that, which is why they're big lusers lately.
Paula, according to them we just misunderestimate what they want to do with the terrorists :)
Suzie, while the Dem's should be ashamed of how they fund themselves, and allow those with the money to dictate (too much) the GOP isn't a lot better. However, I think on a general basis the GOP policies help more folks in the long run. You just have to get past emotions and into economics to figure that out.
Jeff- I don't think they have to do anything with the leadership. The reason is that the leadership is constantly disappointing the farthest left of the left. Reid and Pelosi aren't the brightest, but they understand they need to win elections. The far left wants blood. The Alito confirmation has some folks very rabid.
If a Jerry Brown (Gov. of Ca, not Moonbat of later years) type liberal showed up and ran as a green he'd pull a lot of folks who are disheartened by the way the Dem's rolled over on the Alito nomination. (IMHO)
But remember the words of Jesus:
43"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
The departure of the rabid leftists you forsee will surely leave a vacuum, but we have no assurance that vacuum will not be filled by someone even more insane than the current crop of psychos running the Dem asylum.
Jeff, you are right (on the left) we don't know who'd fill the vacuum. Being the eternal optimist, I believe the center, harkening (not Tom Harken) back to the days of yesteryear, and Bill Clinton, would fill the vacuum. Kind of like Bill and the interns mouth :)
Robo - SWO's do eat their young, I see it daily at work. Unlike the Democratic party, SWO's don't usually get to pick the folks who will do the eating.
I have been long expecting a split in the Democratic Party over the Labor vs Environmental divide (which I see as irreconciliable) but so far they have been able to gloss over their differences by saying opposite things to each crowd and avoiding a real confrontation between the two.
SR- I think that the split is coming. You point out a good spot for the break.
Well done, CP!
Kooky, indeed!!!
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