Left Behind
Among the several people I met in Chicago was Ed Kilgore, former policy director of the Democratic Leadership Council and advocate for all things moderate. I wish I could tell you he told me something insider-y, but since we met at the Teamster "cookout" we were reduced to shouting over the Union loudspeakers, a circumstance not conducive to nuanced conversation.
However, I did get the impression that the DLC is feeling left behind.
Joe Klein wrote last week that none of the Dem presidential candidates visited the DLC annual meeting in Nashville. Not even Hillary Clinton, who is a prominent member of the DLC. And today Martin O'Malley and Harold Ford Jr., governor of Maryland and DLC chariman, have a whiny op ed in the Washington Post asking why no one likes them any more.
Awwwwwww....they just can't understand why demanding the Democratic party shift right to claim the center is a bad idea?
F--k the DLC!!!
What's "moderate" about the DLC? It's corporate, pure and simple.
no shit,, they are pure ass..
We all know that Harold Ford Jr. is after your white women and that he hates gay Americans. What more is there to know about the Leadership of the DLC?
Here is the Republican Right Wing endorsing Harold Ford Jr. during his last campaign for Senate. I guess the DLC is looking to put together ads for Democrats in the same way to help them move to the right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkiz1_d1GsA
center.. bad...off center to the left a whole helluva lot better....DLC...very bad...
File this under: "Don't get it. Never will."
Wrong direction. The democrats need to shift left to claim the center. Right now, they're to the right of the country.
Who do they think they are - Unity 08?
Samuel Abram @ 7:
If ever there was proof that the DLC is wrong, just look at the last election.
People will not vote for Republican-Lite when they can vote for Republican.
The only way to convince people to vote FOR YOU is to STAND FOR SOMETHING.
If there's anything that Bush has taught us, it's that if you stand up for your values (no matter how effed up they are), Americans respect that.
Well you know how it is when they go to the polls and
can't add
too bad
so sad
The nation has been dragged so far to the right already and these poor fools want to meet them in the middle. The middle is the far right Harold.
-GSD
Just how far right does Harold Ford Jr. want to move the Democrats? This far?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKg9uMsOWNk
What the DLC represents is "Liberal" economic elite consensus that views the role of the Democratic party as a platform for a narrow range of social morality issues. Not that there is necessarily anything wrong with the issues they embrace, it's the issues the reject that are disturbing.
The DLC:
1. Does not hate gays
2. Supports a woman's right to choose
3. Wants to make you wear seatbelts and stop smoking
There is nothing wrong about the above issues. But what issues that are important to all Americans are they dismissing?
The DLC:
1. Does not want to regulate corporations in the public interest including:
A. Unions and workers rights
B. Significantly regulating corporations in regards to protecting the environment
C. Eliminating corporate and economic elite corruption of government by real campaign finance reform
The middle was stolen and moved way right.
Won't give any money to the party at this time, only candidates of progressive posture.
The failure to re-assert civil liberties in law -- i.e., repeal -- is a deal breaker for me.
Torture is a moral value.
...
So .. they are republicans on all the stuff that actually counts, economic policy. If you think for a second all these social wedge issues mean nearly as much as NAFTA you are kidding yourself.
After a quarter century of corporate propaganda, you'd think we'd be able to tell by the name that these groups are no good. Bush's "Clear Skies" initiative, to clear the skies of birds (h/t Franken), the Focus on the Family organization, which is all about the church-corporatist indoctrination. The American Heritage Foundation, which is all about violating our heritage and undermining our foundations in order to leave only fascism for our posterity.
So the Democratic Leadership Council... about corporations leading Democrats by the nose, to the right!
I'm starting to yearn for an organization called "Great Flaming Losers of Spaghetti-Monsterism." With a name like that, it would end up being a stalwart champion of democracy, progressivism, justice, and the Rule of Law.
Geez, don't these Dems pay attention to us. They're moving in the complete opposite direction. The right has had their way too long and it isn't working. Doesn't seem like the "right" direction to go to for a variety of reasons.
I actually met Governor O'Malley. He checked out my electric car at a Labor Day Parade event last year and promised to support alternative fueled cars.
Darn this commenting system once again. It posted before I was done.
The DLC does not support:
1. Universal health care
2. Rational foreign policy
3. Trade deals that include environmental, labor and human rights protections
Look at how the important debates over judicial appointments that affected all of these issues that are of import to all working/middle class and poor people. The appointments of Roberts and Alito were exclusively limited to the debate over Roe vs, Wade but as we have seen, these appointments affected a broad range of public concerns that were not discussed and that would have disturbed even religious right voters had they known that they would loose crucial protections: at work, for basic human rights and civil liberties, and the environment.
If there’s anything that Bush has taught us, it’s that if you stand up for your values (no matter how effed up they are), Americans respect that...
Errr, huh?
This is logic so twisted I can't even begin to parse it together - Bush, who has no particular 'values' other than looking after the interests of himself and his small, select group of rapacious greedy s.o.b.s at the expense of ordinary Americans, the economy, and the reputation of America globally, deserves our respect... because he's stood up for truly fucked up values?? WAHHH?
People aren't supporting the DLC because it's left of centre, or right of centre, or left of right or middle-centre, yatta, yatta. They're leaving because the DLC has fucked up values. And that does not deserve our respect. Just as Bush's fucked up values does not deserve our respect - whether he stands up for them or not.
Jo @ 8:
LOL, good one. I for one am tired of these "centrist" idiots looking to get along with the regressionist right in this country.
I wonder why nobody at the debates mention Hillary's membership in the DLC? And mention it along with Lieberman's name? They could mention it kind of casually, kind of like "Hillary, did Lieberman sponsor you into membership in the DLC?"
I imagine at some point, the DLC will become popular again, in a 'retro' sort of way. Good music for the clubs at least.
It's the damn triangulating DLC that gives the argument that the "Democrats stand for nothing" substance. It's the Blue Dogs that cause mass defections from the party to independents and go nowhere third parties.
I thought the DLC was that space between North and South Korea...
Hey Harold, how did that moving right work for ya in the last election? Still don't get it huh?
Jo @ 8:
Does anybody else find it curious that Unity '08 was kicked into gear just as the fortunes of the Republican party and the DLC corporatists were on the decline? I listened to some Unity '08 apologists on the radio talk about the extremes of both the Republican and Democratic party. Never did I hear them define what they meant by the so-called extremism they perceive in the Democratic party but I'll bet it has a lot to do with corporate regulation.
Biff Skippy Varsity Quarterback @ 24:
No, the DLC is that space between keeping the women barefoot and pregnant and gay civil unions.
BOO HOO !!!
Poor DLC -- a 100% failure record. Not one achievement due to their dumbass thinking in over 15 years... Al From's boasts to the contrary.
2 Related Threads at dKos on this subject:
1. Machine Dems Declare War on Base
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/7/10145/65624
2. DLC versus the netroots, circa 2005
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/8/163254/6844
My own mini-debate with a questionable Dean-supporter at dKos:
http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2007/8/7/10145/65624/463#c463
Those fools were never content with a slight shift rightwards. Rather, as the GOP continued its maniacal journey towards Cheney town, they marched in step and called it compromise. At least half of all DLCer's should just get it over with, do both party's a favor, and register republican. And that includes Hillary Clinton and Joe "Bend Over" Biden.
I know it's OT but I thought this was funny.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/08/powell-donates-to-mccain/
WASHINGTON (CNN) – CNN has learned the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain received a check Wednesday from former Secretary of State Colin Powell, providing a symbolic boost to the Arizona Republican’s struggling White House bid.
McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker confirmed the contribution, telling CNN, “The Senator appreciates the support of General Powell.” Powell’s office did not return calls seeking comment.
Oh boy, I bet McCain's campaign is going to just take off now after receiving that all-important and coveted endorsement. Powell sure can pick the biggest losers to back. I guess Powell is good at identifying his equals.
One lesson I thought should have been made very clear is that you can not negotiate with terrorists.
Who funds the DLC?
From IRC
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1463
Don't the DLC remember what happened to Clinton, the most right leaning candidate possible while still being a Democrat? There's no point in trying to appease the right or the just right of center as they aren't sane. The rightwingers aren't going to ever be moderate, so there's no reason to try to play nice by promoting Democratic candidates with rightwing sympathies.
According to McClatchy Newspapers, Democrats are more liberal. Democrats identifying themselves as liberal have increased from 26 percent in 1994 to 40 percent in 2004. Democrats believe that government must be involved to fix some of society's problems. The DLC is GOP light. Many old Democrats like myself were dissatisfied with the way Clinton handled many problems. Although I preferred Bill Clinton to a Reagan or H.W.Bush, I saw how Clinton gave away the store to the corporations and continued many of the foreign policies the same way as the Republicans did, e.g., Cuba and Iraq. The DLC does not, and maybe never did, represent the Democrats. More of the so called independents are leaning to the Democratic Party, and that will make the DLC less relevant. I say, good riddance.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/18692.html
LongTooth @ 29:
Add:
Harold Ford (that's him in the photo, looking down in the mouth. :lol:)
Bart Gordon
Lincoln Davis and all the MadDog-BlueDog caucus! And every TN Dem (but one)!
Although I must say "thank you" to Ford: by running for Senator (and losing to a clone with an [R]), his seat fell out of the Ford Crime Family's hands and is held by a True Dem: Steve Cohen, who has distinguished himself with excellent grilling during congressional hearings. And has drafted a bill to impeach AG Gonzalez. (YouTube has several of him.)
Makes me almost want to move to his district...
More about the Bradley Foundation:
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=11219
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/org/bradley.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynde_and_Harry_Bradley_Foundation
http://www.mediatransparency.org/funderprofile.php?funderID=1
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bradley_Foundation
To understand the DLC, you must understand the Bradley Foundation.
the DLC will just be a voicemail recording soon
Harold Ford-Republican-in-Training
Amd I thought this was going to be a Tim LaHaye post ... I guess the DLC could write Tim LaHaye's next book.
Good! Leave them behind -- the DLC is bad for the party.
The DLC accolytes made the mistake of conflating their influence with Bill Clinton's political abilities. They thought they were the key to his victories. And any time a repug blogger or talking head advises the Democrats to move center-right, it has to be a bad idea: Don't take tactical advise from your enemies.
How far to the right?
"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, l952-----
...
God what a gullible piece of claptrap... Harold Ford Jr (or lookalike) looks dejected and writes a article to say what a victim he is and you fall for it...
S*it the Democratic Party is TRULY LOST.
Please wake up people and look at the people that the DCCC with the help of Rahm (yes I know he's no longer the quote head of DCCC and Schumer wants to put up for the 2008 !!!
WAKE UP!!!
Off the top of my head: DLC candidates such as:
(1) Jay Footlik (ex-Clinton/Jewish Liasion staffer Footlik Changes Position on Iraq)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/13/104156/273
(2) Rodney Tom (against progressive Darcy Burner) ... switched from State Republican to State Sen Dem -- now wants to run for a Fed Dem with apparent Democratic insider backing! And Darcy can win the district!
(3) Bob Kerrey if Chuck Hagel steps down or otherwise... Bob Kerrey == Liebermans TWIN!
So, how did DLC pick Bob Casey work out for you guys...? Picked by the guys who are feeling so neglected at the moment, but are CONTROLLING THE SHOW == even supported the war, luved Alito and was the helped Bush get his veto for the Stem Research.
I am so pissed with the complicity or naivity, or sheer stupidity of what I'm seeing around the blogs... Look at who is being put up for 2008 - who is funding them, interest groups (foreign and domestic)... argghhh....
AConfederacyofDunces @ 41:
Excellent description of the Bush political suicide.
GOOD!
SandThroughTheEyeGlass @ 42:
Nothing is won or lost in a day. The DCCC and the DLC have been in ascendancy for 25 years (not the measly 15 that some have asserted). They won't be pushed aside overnight. Schumer, Rahm, Clinton, Biden and other half-baked DINOs must be removed, but it will take time. Most of these never were real Democrats, those that were sold out decades ago.
The party has been in tatters since the Reagan election, despite its GROWING strength in the 80s. It lost its will. Getting rid of the DLC scum is a necessary step to regaining a purpose. These folks have only one aim, getting into office for the power. They love power for power's sake. Time to remove them like an ugly growth.
In their WaPo op-ed, O'Malley & Ford wrote "George W. Bush is handing us Democrats our Hoover moment" and then lament that the Dems aren't tilting right in order to seize that moment. But I seem to remember that in the original "Hoover moment," the Democrats got FDR elected; not much tilting right in that case, huh? They also lament the demise of "the centrism that vaulted Democrats to victory in the 1990s." But I guess my memory is bad again, because I don't remember too many Dems other than Billy boy getting elected in the 90's; I remember the 90's as the time Repubs seized control of Congress, a control they kept until 2006 when the voters decided that tilting right only led to war, the loss of civil liberties, the demise of a major American city, etc etc
It is interesting to note that Bill Clinton was describe at one point as being a Conservative Democrats, and that he was at the time the middle, but now we see that some of the things he did open the avenue for the right winger, and we are so thrown to the right that some democrats think that we need to appeal to the right winger that voted for Bush, to win this election, when in my views that the right winger are so disgusted with Bush that we could go further to the left to balance things out with 6 years of un-doing. Or the Right winger know that the republican won't be able to win in 2008, that they have thrown support for a right leaning Democrats, such as Hillary or Barrack. I know that Edward is behind the times on the Gay issue, but I think the Gays could survive going without getting married a little longer if it meant bringing our country back to civility.
I would like to hear a gay person take on Edward, if they be willing to support him regardless of Edward viewpoint on Gays.
[...] Clark Contact the Webmaster Link to Article hillary clinton Left Behind » Posted at Crooks and Liars on Wednesday, August 08, [...]
Too Damn Bad...I hope Howard Dean called 'em up and laughed!
In the eyes a Europeans it's usually obvious that Republicans and Democrats have normally represented heavy right wing and light right wing. Ask any European, and I think most will agree that both major American political parties are to the right of what is perceived to be the "middle" in their country.
nonny mouse @ 19:
Somehow I knew that comment was going to draw fire.
I know that you know that Bush has no "values" other than looking after the interests of himself and his small select group of greedy SOBS.
But what the Bushies have sold themselves on is "protecting Americans" and "taking on terrorists" and "helping grow the economy."
My point is, you can't say, "We also want to take on terrorists, only without torturing them," or "We also want to grow the economy, only not at the expense of hurting business."
In other words, you can't be like the Republicans, only not as hardcore.
You have to say, "Our crumbling infrastructure kills more Americans than terrorism."
Or "Giving tax breaks to middlie-income Americans will grow the economy more than giving tax breaks to just the top 5%."
Or "Corporations who turn coat and move their base to the Caribbean or Dubai shouldn't be rewarded with huge government contracts or tax breaks. Only corporations who stay in America can benefit from America."
In other words, take a stance that varies enough from what the Republicans are offering that makes clear what you stand for.
The DLC is all about trying to play both sides of the fence, leaving people to wonder what they stand for.
As repulsive as you and I may view their ideals, people are well aware of where Republicans stand.
All I'm saying is the Democrats need to clearly differentiate themselves, and not pander to the center. The clearer the distinctions, the easier the choice for a voter.
celsius @ 50:
Point made, much more succinctly. Thank you.
But the right wing DOES love America, they just have a FUNNY way of showing it.
"He was the only Democrat to be elected and reelected president in the past seven decades, and he left office more popular than almost any other president in recent memory."
Is anyone paying attention?
How many times do liberals have to realize that they can't win on a national level in America?
Bill Clinton was elected twice to the White House, the only Democrat president to be elected twice in SEVEN decades?
Does someone see the problem here? Moving to the left is NOT the answer. Moving to the center left IS!
It worked for Bill Clinton and it is working for Hillary. Which is why she'll be elected in 2008 as president.
Not saying liberals aren't right on some issues (like ending the failed war on drugs) but the American people ALWAYS seem to reject them on a national level.
And a guy as smart as Bill Clinton knows how to be elected president. And that isn't as a die hard liberal, it's as centrist.
nonbeliever @ 20:
Exactly. A quote from the article; "Since neither side has a monopoly on truth, the hard part is knowing when to look beyond traditional orthodoxies to do what works."
Neither side has a monopoly on truth? Traditional orthodoxies? Who ARE these people?
Sinto @ 54:
He was ELECTED as a liberal. He ended as more of a centrist for various reasons.
Martin OMalley is a repub in disquise. I live in Maryland and had to suffer loyal Bushie Ehrlich who defunded the state parks and let the Dept of Environment avoid any real oversight over developers and sewage treatment plants which overflow daily in Maryland. When Dem O'Malley came in he did nothing to fix Ehrlichs damage. In fact he defunds parks more and appears to care little about the environment. What a puke.
Sinto @ 54:
Um, you're referring to events that took place 16 years ago. Last year centrist Democrats were Left Behind, and left-leaning Democrats won in droves.
Get with the times, chump.
I wish the DLC apparatus a speedy demise.
Given the total picture of encroaching fascism, I consider the DLC members to be sworn enemies of government of. for and by the people. The DLC is a corporate front organization from top to bottom, and it's most dedicated members are mere proxies of corporations which themselves are intent on existing as the de facto government of the land. Not only do I not consider the members of the DLC to be Democrats, I don't consider them to be servants of the People or of democracy itself. They serve corporatist rule either because they have been bought-off, or worse, because that's what they believe in and that's where their loyalties actually lay.
None of them are to be trusted. The GOPers are too far gone in corruption or far too stupid to any longer care about adopting affectations of trustworthiness - it's easy to know them for what they are. I think the DLC types are even less trustworthy than the Republicans, because they are in the business of portraying themselves as something they are not. For the longest time, they have been carrying off that portrayal pretty effectively. They are, in others words, adept at obtaining trust and then betraying it( to wit, look at the job the currentCongressional leadership is doing - it is solidly under the control of the DLC types). For that reason, it will be a cold day in hell before any of them get my vote.
Samuel Abram @ 7:
Bingo.
The real problem is that conservatives have won the war of words for so long, they've shifted the perception of where the center is.
That coupled with the long-term timidity of many Democrats to stand up for their core values (most of which already are centrist), and the sad lack of focus and leadership from most of the top Dems, and we've got the perception that Dems need to run to the right.
Dems need to stay exactly where they are and fight with focus and purpose and courage for the things they hold dear. Universal health care, balanced budget, poverty and crime issues, foreign policy that is based upon reality and diplomacy, perserving the balance between long-term environmental concerns and short-term business concerns, and PROTECTING AND RESPECTING THE CONSTITUTION.
Republicans have literally become the anti-Constitution party and the Dems are so timid they aren't fighting to protect the very basis of who we are, while also making enormous political gains by hammering the Republicans for shredding the Constitution.
That is the problem with the Dems.
Whew!
People...chill. We got ta get the White house and increase the majority in the Sanate next year and protect the majority in the House. Then there will be time to run the DLC off forever. As for poor Harold...he obviously is getting ready to cash out by selling out. Else, why is he on Hannity and colmes one day and the Op-ed page of the Post whining about being dissed the next? Is it possible he is a public meatspace troll?
Come on folks! We still haven't impeached Alberto Gonzales. And, your wasting all this animosity on the DLC.
No wonder we keep losing elections.
By the way, Daily Kos himself announces yesterday that he will be "debating" Ford on Meet the Press this Sunday.
I think that is very dangerous. The tenor of remarks on Daily Kos is full of triumphalist attitude. If Kos himself acts that way it will be another bad moment for progressives. Television is a cool medium, less emotion the better.
Can anyone get through to that guy (Kos) and persuade him to phone in sick?
(this really isn't a concern troll posting [a term I just learned today]).
I'm old and have been around this track before. What is needed on tv is a cool actor. Hot integrity will just turn out the right wingnuts.
I guess this is not directly on topic, but I dont know how to use the Kos site (besides, it says it takes a day to post).
ModDem @ 63:
Exactly...Reagan came in the year I graduated college and it has been long and nasty to get to a point where we have a chance...a chance...to get the power necessary to start righting some of the wrongs which have piled up.
I think that Kos going on TV to 'debate' Ford is bad bad Karma.
The DLC is another Rove/AIPAC/AEI plot to subvert the terrorists who are behind the opposition to Bush's war of liberation in Iraq.
Awww, the DLC's not feeling the love?
It's hardly surprising. The American People and the party Rank and File have been way ahead of them for quite some time. The bulk of the party ranges from slightly to EXTRMELY to the left of these guys. Their "muddle-of-the-road" thinking tries to placate everyone and ultimately pleases no one. Guys, get a clue:
- The American People want the Iraq War ended NOW, if not sooner.
- The American People DON'T WANT any new wars in Iran, for God's sake!
- The American People have had it with the cronyism and corruption in Washington.
- The American People want bold leadership, not half-measures created by Political Constants through polling and focus groups.
- The American People want a stop put to this pandering to the Plutocracy.
- The American People want their jobs to stop going overseas and an end to the Wal-Marting of America.
- The Democratic rank and file has had it with all the pussyfooting around. They want strong, vocal opposition.
- The Democratic rank and file wants Democrats to start acting like Democrats and stop being Republican Light.
- The Democratic rank and file wants our leaders to start giving a damn about the working guy. After all, that's why we're Democrats in the first place.
- The Democratic rank and file wants affordable health care, if not a single-payer system.
- The Democratic rank and file wants an end to the demonization of homosexuals and illegal aliens.
- The Democratic rank and file wants a foreign policy based on diplomacy, not imperialism.
- The Democratic rank and file wants a stop put to the abolition of our Civil Rights.
- AND MOST OF ALL, THE DEMOCRATIC RANK AND FILE WANTS THIS ADMINISTRATION SANCTIONED FOR ITS BALDLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ILLEGAL ACTION!!!
OK guys? There's your clue. Make that your platform and you are sure to win in '08.
Peace.
39 Clytemnestra Says: Amd I thought this was going to be a Tim LaHaye post … I guess the DLC could write Tim LaHaye’s next book.
Good! Leave them behind — the DLC is bad for the party.
I think the title of this thread is to indicate that Harold Ford demonstrated on National television that he and the DLC got "Left Behind" just like those who didn't believe in Jesus (as outlined by LaHaye's books).
These days the apparent DLC strategy is to cave in to Bush and
legalize his warrantless wireless surveillance program - so it's not that
hard to see why the DLC has fallen out of favor with rank-and-file
Democrats.
Plus, when the poster boy of the DLC is Joe Lieberman, you might
expect to have some problems, right?
The DLC has become the old guy with hair plugs, tooling around in a dented 1989 convertable mazda miata, thinking the chicks dig him. They don't.
The DLC feels Left Behind?
They got religion?
DonkeyKong @ 70:
Oh damn, and that was my last chance.
Get a clue, DLC, its not the late 90's anymore!
Yet there were people on this website and others begging me to vote for this asshole over Bob Corker. I said what the hell is the difference between the two? They said it would ensure a Dem majority. Well they have one, and look what it's gotten us. Ford would have been no help. Hell, he would have made it worse.
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