Molly Ivins: Enough of the D.C. Dems!!!

[im10ashus]

Enough of the D.C. Dems
By Molly Ivins
March 2006 Issue

Mah fellow progressives, now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of the party. I don’t know about you, but I have had it with the D.C. Democrats, had it with the DLC Democrats, had it with every calculating, equivocating, triangulating, straddling, hair-splitting son of a bitch up there, and that includes Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I will not be supporting Senator Clinton because: a) she has no clear stand on the war and b) Terri Schiavo and flag-burning are not issues where you reach out to the other side and try to split the difference. You want to talk about lowering abortion rates through cooperation on sex education and contraception, fine, but don’t jack with stuff that is pure rightwing firewater.

I can’t see a damn soul in D.C. except Russ Feingold who is even worth considering for President. The rest of them seem to me so poisonously in hock to this system of legalized bribery they can’t even see straight.

Look at their reaction to this Abramoff scandal. They’re talking about “a lobby reform package.” We don’t need a lobby reform package, you dimwits, we need full public financing of campaigns, and every single one of you who spends half your time whoring after special interest contributions knows it. The Abramoff scandal is a once in a lifetime gift—a perfect lesson on what’s wrong with the system being laid out for people to see. Run with it, don’t mess around with little patches, and fix the system.

cont'd...

http://www.progressive.org/node/3142

[blm]

1. Molly should note which Dems are for public finance of campaigns or isn't

she interested to know exactly who stands for what? Is it really so much easier to just attack them all whether it's fair or not?

[im10ashus]

2. I am not sure what your point is.

Perhaps you could clarify? :shrug:

[blm]

5. Public financing clears DC of most unethical lobbying and bad legislation.

The REAL reformers and the REAL lawmakers to support are the ones for Clean Elections. Seems to me that should be the first area of support from leftleaning journalists and pundits.

[im10ashus]

10. Goof point.

Clean elections should be a guaranteed right. How to ensure that though? It's getting to where there's no trail whatsoever, and we are left scratching our heads, wondering how they get away with it.

[redqueen]

6. It'd be easier to make a list of which ones are for public financing. n/t

[Talismom]

3. As usual, Molly rocks! n/t

[wtmusic]

7. They got her dander up now nt

[MrModerate]

4. Hear! Hear! However . . .

How do you get from where we are now, 'Licans ruining the country and Dems hiding under rocks (from what, I'm not sure) to where we need to be: Dems as most DUers see Dems (genuinely progressive, with ideals AND courage) with sufficient power to hold off the forces of darkness that have taken over the 'Licans lock, stock, and barrel?

If we throw out OUR rascals and they don't throw out theirs, don't we just guarantee continuation of the disastrous course the 'Licans are taking us on?

Just wondering, because my imagination's wiped out: I don't see any way forward but to push for Dems AND DINOs, just to ensure that 'Licans get shown the door.

[harpo]

8. I would agree with Molly

[brentspeak]

9. The Democrats would dominate Congress for the next 40 years

if only they had the guts and intelligence to be the party that opposes lobbying in all shapes and forms. That's a stance that would resonate with 90% of the public.

But I guess they're just as addicted to K-Street shrimp cocktail parties as are the Republicans...

[sui generis]

11. the thing is

If Senator Clinton isn't speaking to progressives because we're too far left, then she should get her campaign donations from her light pink base. Go on girl - there's plenty of money over there. Just don't mix it up with ours.

If you want blue support, support your base Hillary. And a worrisomely large portion of your base are people who think equal rights come before all else has any relevance to our lives. All we need is a lick and a promise - but we aren't even getting that.

So Hillary, and Howard Dean, do NOT come to us with your hands out this time unless you are prepared to treat us as equals.

You don't get a free pass this time.

[im10ashus]

12. Funny you should mention that regarding Clinton.

Clinton is my Senator, and I just sent a rather lengthy e-mail to her on Sunday, telling her not to ask me for a single donation UNTIL she gets back to the left. Pandering to the right is not going to win any votes on the left.

[JHB]

14. "Gets back to the left"?

When was she ever there?

[im10ashus]

16. Touche!

Perhaps I should have said, "when she moves to the left" or something like that. :hi:

[MrModerate]

15. So if Clinton drifts right, who ya gonna vote for?

Greens? Republicans? She's tacking to the right because she knows that -- in large measure -- her left wing has nowhere else to go.

Now no one's asking me, but if they did, I'd say there's no need. If you demonstrate strength of character and reasonableness, you can stay comfortably "left" and still sweep up the undecided centrists.

This is particularly true since the 'Licans have pretty much disgusted true center-moderates with their whoring on the altars of the christianist right (i.e., there's a much bigger gap between the center and the right than there is between the center and the left).

[Ganja Ninja]

13. Ever wonder why so many Dem voters don't bother to vote?

Today I'm wondering why so many do bother to vote.:wtf: