Staying the Course: Bad for Bush, Worse for Us!

[Nerdling]

When I look back to 2004 I remember how great it felt before the election. I truly believed that John Kerry would be elected President of the United States. I also believed that we stood a good chance of taking back the Senate and maybe the House. Everything was peachy - people were talking about making gains, taking Red States and even being competitive in Texas.

But here's the thing: We got our butts kicked because we second guessed ourselves. Sure, the primary voters really are the ones that pick the nominee, but they picked Kerry because they were maneuvered to him on the premise of electability. Bad choice, even the early "Devils Advocate" play on Kerry showed him as a relatively weak candidate ripe for exploitation.

Now, I'm not chastising us for getting it wrong, every mistake is a valuable lesson learned. All I ask --no, I PLEAD-- is that we do not make the same mistakes twice. However, instead of learning from our mistakes, what's our party doing? How about repeating them across the country in every congressional race where the DCCC/DLC could find a token Dem in uniform to replay the Kerry loss all over again?

Enter the "Fighting Dems"

Where we've apparently decided the only problem with Kerry was he wasn't quite Republican enough.

Democrats tap anti-choice, pro-gun candidates

Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Brad Ellsworth likes to hunt, opposes abortion and says he'll put his ``family values up against anybody.'' He may be the Democrats' new dream candidate.

MediaGirl's excellent analysis of this cynical, foolish and IMMORAL practice is here.

So what's the answer? A new litmus test: rather than appeal to the Democratic base, you pander to the acidic views of the radical right. In other words: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

And cue progressive heads exploding all over the blogosphere:

Fighting Dems?
No More Fighting Dems
It's Not About the Uniform
Fighting Dems Fatal Flaw

But as if anti-choice isn't bad enough, with D-trip recruits like Tim Dunn...

Fighting Dem? Not if you're a woman

Meet Tim Dunn. NC-08. (map) He's a Democrat. He's anti-choice and he's against gay marriage. If you live in North Carolina don't vote for this guy.

You can donate to Tim at this Act Blue site page, Pro-Life Democrats (new list for 2006 races). But why would you want to? This also begs the question. How is supporting anti-reproductive freedoms acting blue? Wouldn't that fall under the heading of Acting Red?

If you have some time to kill, go googling: "Tim Dunn" pro-life and read what some are saying about Tim Dunn.

My personal pledge is, I don't vote for any anti-choice candidate regardless of party and I do what I can to make sure they aren't elected. I urge all of you to take the pledge with me.

...apparently we're also fighting FOR the Iraq war now!

Listen to this Air America interview: Jan 3rd Fighting Dem Tim Dunn

It's insulting.

"I guess I'm a little bit of a different Democrat." You don't say?

Tim Dunn has a "passion" for the mission in Iraq. Tim Dunn "literally was down on his knees praying that we'd find weapons of mass destruction." Then Tim Dunn (now a lawyer) volunteered after retirement knowing what we know now to go back and help Bush prosecute Saddam.

The one-dimensional interview revealed the D-trip strategy well.

A big brainless BOOYAH! charge into 2006.

I guess the audience calling and live blogging their disdain is why Sam Seder cut the interview short and scolded us about 'litmus' tests for the Democratic Party.

Sam and Josh apparently personally don't care if he's anti-choice.

You don't Air America? Well, screw you. I do.

Sam: People are saying he's anti-choice...
Josh: In this case, I don't care...We've got to be careful not to institute litmus tests.

Even though Air America and the DCCC obviously have a litmus test now only supporting anti-choice, pro-war, Republican-light veterans in 2006.

So with all this stumbling and backlash, what's the DCCC/DLC doing to jump start Tim Dunn's faltering campaign?

Bringing in Max Cleland.

And be sure to mark your calendar for a rally in Charlotte on January 21st with Senator Max Cleland. Senator Cleland is a true American hero and I am proud to have his support as we team up to fight for change in the 8th District. Stay tuned to this page in the coming weeks for more information on this exciting event.

Now where have we tried that before.


And we're right back where we started.

That weekend is the anniversary of Roe V Wade, and they bring in Max Cleland. Max Cleland. Max... Cleland.

Listen. We can't give Bush hell for 'staying the course' if we do it ourselves. If we continue to nominate, back and fund pro-war, anti-choice or ambiguous candidates in our lemming-like march to the right, then we will lose. We will LOSE again in 2006. And we will lose the very rationale for being the Democratic Party.

The majority of people in America are pro-choice and anti-war. So guys, let's let the Republicans be the Republicans, and not give them any more ground. Pick a side and have the strength to stand with your convictions instead of this flip flopping trying to be Republican light.

We don't need more Murtha's voting against us in Congress.

People want progressives. It's how you move forward as a society. It's how you build a solid, long lasting Democratic Majority in states burned by Republicans.

This is one of the many races across the country playing out this way, CHANGE THE COURSE NOW! We can't take our nation back until we first take back our own party.

[Maddy McCall]

1. Hmmmm.

[Nerdling]

2. o_O

hmmmmm what?

:P

[ManiFesto]

3. Excellent Points!

Tim Dunn especially might as well be the poster child for what's wrong with our sell-out Democratic 'leadership' in Washington now.