Selling Out the Democratic Party -- Alternet.org

[IrateCitizen]

I found this article to be excellent, casting the ousting of Gray Davis and the near-election of Matt Gonzalez as not unrelated events but VERY related ones. The question is, does the Democratic Party want to pay attention, or continue to ignore reality?

Selling Out the Democratic Party

By Christopher Scheer, AlterNet
December 10, 2003

How many times must the public send the message before the Democratic Party decides to stop shooting the messenger? The Gore-Bush contest of 2000, the 2002 mid-term elections, the California recall, and now the astonishing near-defeat of Gavin Newsom in San Francisco's mayor's race, each contain the same crystal-clear message: choosing Republican Lite-weights to represent the Democratic Party makes a lousy political strategy.

But the Democratic establishment would rather blame Nader and the Florida freaks. Blame Arnold and the Recall Repubs. Blame last-second progressive S.F. mayoral candidate Matt Gonzalez and his hipster horde. Blame "Mean" Dean and his Internet machine. Blame 9/11, late-night GOP roll-call votes ... anybody, in fact, but itself.

The sad, mostly unacknowledged fact is that in the shadow of Bill Clinton's enormous charisma and political brilliance, the Democratic Party has been steadily receding in influence across this country for more than a decade. Congress, gubernatorial races, city elections – you name it, and they've lost it. And the reason is simple: because the Democratic Party is too busy raising money to connect with the American people.

The latest example of this misplaced sense of priorities is the mayoral victory in San Francisco on Tuesday night. The local party machine favorite, millionaire entrepreneur and boy socialite Gavin Newsom, received endorsements from every party heavyweight imaginable. The campaign of the protégé of the ultimate politician's politician and outgoing mayor Willie Brown was favored by dramatic appearances by Clinton, Al Gore and both of the state's senators.

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[La_Serpiente]

1. Maybe McAuliffe is trying to open up a dialogue with Nader

Nader Article

Reaching out to Nader

Tending to another trouble spot these days is McAuliffe, who sources say has opened up a steady line of communication with Nader over the past three months. The two had lunch in Washington on November 5, the day after Democrats lost gubernatorial races in Mississippi and Kentucky, and spoke most recently Tuesday, shortly before the debate in New Hampshire.

Democrats said McAuliffe, who might speak with Nader again this weekend to talk about his Thursday night fund-raiser in New Jersey, is trying to avoid the mistakes made in 2000, when Nader complained Democratic leaders largely ignored him.

"My assumption is that Nader is running . The working hypothesis is that he's running," one party insider said. "But you don't want him to run and then air these claims that no one from the party ever talked to him."

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Personally, I think it is a good idea. The Democratic leadership needs to realize why so many liberal actvists are leaving the party before it is too late.

[Ardee]

2. slowly I turned, step by step.......

Some folks have been awake and rather pointed in their mention of these very facts for some time now. Alas, most ,here at DU, and out there in the real world simply refuse to do any self examination, prefering the more exciting world of bashing other candidates and the opposition, even, as in the case of Ralph Nader, that opposition is speaking very real truths about the democratic party.........

Despite the following I assure you that I am a rather optimistic person who is convinced that, eventually truth will conquer lie, right will defeat wrong and the good guy will really rescue the fair damsel in distress.Now for the aforementioned following.....

Things are just going to have to get worse before they get better, people here in America always have their toys to distract them from the realities they refuse to face. Dont like the news, hell, play video games, buy a new toy, overeat. Democrats sell out repeatedly by supporting heinous Bush legislation, never mind, mow the lawn, weed the garden.

While I dont think that Bush is a lock for the next four years it will have to be Bush who defeats himself, the dems havent a friggin clue!