for discussion: isn't the talk of "bridge-building" and truces moot?

[ulysses]

The DLC has no interest in building bridges to progressives and never did. There are those of us on the left who've been willing, in times past, to consider it, but now, not so much.

Seems to me that, while it may be an ugly thing, there *are* great differences between the two factions and they're not about strategy either, for the most part. The fight has to happen.

[welshTerrier2]

1. the "fight has to happen" but ...

unity should be the goal ...

[ulysses]

2. sure.

Just saying, the healing comes *after* the knives are put away. :hi:

[Lerkfish]

5. define "unity"

[welshTerrier2]

6. aye aye, matey ...

"a house divided against itself cannot stand" ... Abe Lincoln

those of us on the progressive wing of the Party are Democratic mutineers ... we have been locked in the darkness below deck, given foul rations, and forced to pull the oars night and day while the captain and his mates rub elbows with kings and dine on the very finest foods and wines ... and they steer the great ship wherever they please ...

and so there is mutiny ... and perhaps we are gaining some power; and perhaps we will indeed gain control of the ship ... but as our struggle goes on, the ship is sinking ... some say, "can't you see the ship is sinking? go back in your hole or we will all perish."

but we will not, and should not, ever do that again !!!

and we say to them, quite rightly, it was you elitist above-deckers who smashed the ship on the rocks and caused all this damage to our hull ...

but all they say is that we must be silent and pull the oars as they direct ...

unity is nothing more than recognizing that while the struggle goes on, we remain in great peril ... if we can find common ground and a process of negotiation that is fair to all, great ... that would be the best path ... if not, we may win a victory for control of a hopelessly damaged ship ...

the point here is that we cannot pretend to have unity ... unity is something to be achieved ... Hillary and the DLC offered a very valid goal without any sincerity or means of achieving it ... the call was at best, a total lack of leadership; at worst, a self-serving disrespect of those who disagree with their misguided policies ...

[Lerkfish]

7. argh, argh...ye be correct, matey.

as I stated further down, the "unity" involves a movement in one direction only.
The DLC is offering us an olive branch...as long as we move over to their way of thinking.

I'm all for finding some common ground, but its an insincere rhetoric when there is no offer of compromise from their side, and its all expected capitulation on ours.

[welshTerrier2]

8. "The DLC is offering us an olive branch" ...

as long as we're willing to be hanged from their olive tree ...

[JDPriestly]

3. Time will resolve this conflict.

A faltering economy with wage stagnation and falsified unemployment figures, the Iraq war, China, immigration, global warming, alternative energy and universal health care. These are the most pressing problems that face Americans today. Politicians who speak to these problems and offer workable solutions for them will still be in the running ten years from now. Those who don't will be forgotten. If the DLC wants to stay in the game, it has to address these problems. So far, it has not. If the "left" wants to stay in the game, it has to propose workable solutions. So far it has reached consensus on these issues but has not been well enough organized to formulate and publish coherent policies on them. Time will tell. Maybe the two sides will begin to work together with the "left" identifying the issues and suggesting general directions and the DLC formulating and issuing policy. Thus far, the DLC has been too arrogant and the "left" to angry to to play their roles, but this could change. I pray it does.

The DLC needs to recognize the value of the "left's" proximity to the voters, understanding of the issues, enthusiasm and willingness to work and fight. The "left" needs to recognize the value of the DLC's organization, power and connections. Now there is a winning combination that harnesses the best qualities of each. Thus far, the DLC has been too proud to work with the "left," and that is why we have been losing elections. It all started in 1968. Check out the history of the Democratic Party at that time and you will see that we are stuck there.

[Lerkfish]

4. well, their "bridge building" means having us walk over to their side.

it doesn't appear to mean them walking over to our side, now does it?
Do I hear any "moderate" dems saying that keep unity they will now start supporting progessive candidates?

hm?

anyone?


buehler?


didn't think so.

[Capn Sunshine]

9. Its the neocon like arrogance that is dooming them

just saying the are "Leaders" and spinning off papers like they are papal encyclicals and infallible has rubbed a LOT of the membership the wrong way. There IS a progessive "wing" in the DLC, and I am a member of that, but damned if we can get any attention from the idiots in charge.

They just keep repeating their mantra and hope that it will catch on, but at core DLC is an interest group, and the track record of their "advisors" in national elections is really ,really poor.