Where are the Democrats?!

[GOPFighter]

Richard Cohen hits a home run here.

"Rep. Tom DeLay is called "The Hammer." He is a man of fierce beliefs who has long confused politics with war -- religious war at that. At one time he would have been labeled an "extremist," the sort of politician whom reporters seek out for colorful, wacko quotes. But now he is in the GOP mainstream where, among other things, he has bludgeoned the Democratic Party into pathetic meekness. On the Terri Schiavo debate, the party went AWOL."

"By late Sunday, when the debate had reached the House of Representatives, Barney Frank stood almost alone in opposing the bill. Cliches suffered. Here was an openly gay Democrat, the Massachusetts liberal of all Massachusetts liberals, defending the Founding Fathers, federalism and the American tradition of keeping the government's nose out of a family's business."

"It was a bravura performance and one could only have wished that it had been matched by John Kerry or Hillary Clinton -- or any of the other Democrats who are being mentioned as presidential candidates. Most of them seemed to be cowering in some bunker, calling their consultants and pollsters, asking what they should do and how they should do it. Please, have a memo on the desk by morning."

So very true. One reason why the looney right is so successful is that there so few principled Democrats willing to stand up for what's right. Yeah, they'll be painted as "Terri Killers" by Freepers, the RW talk show hosts, and the Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC talking heads, but dammit we're talking about the integrity of our legal system in this country, and the separation of powers and the separation of church and state. Damn!

[Deep13]

1. I think in this case ...

... thet figured on letting the Rs make more rope so they would ultimately hang themselves. Seems to have worked. Even people who basically agree with the R position think that the government has really gone too far.

[TwilightZone]

2. Never get in the way...

of a perfectly good train wreck.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. I sent an email to Mr. Cohen this morning. I disagree that its the

Dems who are the 'real losers'. Sitting back and watching what this circus has cost the GOP is a much saner strategy.

[primavera]

5. Why does it hurt Repukes who voted for this abomination...

... but doesn't hurt Dems who also voted for it? You seem to be saying that Repukes are making fools out of themselves and Dems shouldn't interfere, but excuse me, a great many Dems voted for this as well, so why aren't they looking just as foolish as the Repukes?

[GOPFighter]

6. You may be right, but...

...personally I think the RW furor is just beginning. This is a critical issue for the RW/GOP loonies because they want to use this issue to justify packing the courts with fellow looneys. I'll bet the White House is going to pull out all of the stops to turn public opinion against the court decisions. We (the Democrats) have got to fight back and stick up for those courageous courts and judges.

[chaumont58]

4. I disagree with Cohen

I think the Dems have been doing just the right thing. The small group of House Dems speaking Sunday provided the oposition stance. Beyond that, what is gained? Frist, Dave Weldon, Delay are doing a perfectly fine job of making fools of themselves, without the need of further help from any Dem.
There is not much that Cohen produces that I like. He has been a supporter of Bush's folly in Iraq. My take his effort here is that he, as usual, has been going to too many beltway parties and is relaying what was said at the party. He is a window into that bizarre world that is inside the beltway, where working reporters(such as Joe Klein) posit chimpie as material for a Nobel Peace Prize. Yesterday, I caught part of Lawrence ODonnell(sp?), on CSPAN I, speaking to high school students. He talked of how he was against the VietNam War, when he was in high school. He dondemned US involvement, as not being in the National interest. He then said we will have to wait 30 years to find out if Bush's Iraq war was justified. Bizarre. This guy writes WestWing.

[GOPFighter]

7. I don't always agree with Cohen...

...but I like his "over the top" writing style. He puts a lot of emotion into what he writes and I like that. Plus, he's unpredictable and isn't afraid to take an unpopular stance. Of course, sometimes he's wildly wrong (like supporting Bush's war in Iraq).