The Democratic Party has been put on notice

[Tom Rinaldo]

The strong upswell of grassroots support for a real public option in health care reform caught some Party leaders a bit off guard. But what really caught them off guard was the tenacity with which so many of us have doggedly campaigned, no matter what the odds were against it, for that provision to be included in the final reform. No matter how strong our convictions on this matter are though, no matter how determined we are to fight for it, we do not get to vote on the final legislation. Congress in it's collective wisdom will render the final decision which no doubt the President will willingly sign off on.

In reaching their decision I assume some Democratic members of Congress are contemplating the financial hit they may take if the final reform package displease some of their large corporate donors. That's understandable; fund raising of course is a prerequisite to getting elected, or reelected in their case. Leaving aside idealistic notions of why they should even care about getting reelected if prioritizing that goal causes them to vote against the interests of those who voted them into office to begin with, they should contemplate the following also. Would they all be sitting there in Congress today, or at the very least sitting there with the type of majorities that they enjoy with a Democratic President in place to sign the legislation they pass, were it not for the passion and tenacity of the Democratic grass roots in the first place, the fervor of which they witnessed again in the last few weeks? Where would they be now without that type of passionate support, and where will they be tomorrow if it drys up, or perhaps even turns against them?

Democrats in Congress have been delighted with the results of internet based fund raising on their behalf over the last several years. They have come to depend on the enthusiasm of Democratic volunteers to power their campaigns across the finish line to victory in fall elections. The love it when we effectively refute the right wing media slander that has and will continue to pop up against them in coordinated efforts to bring them down.

If they have been surprised, or even a bit impressed by the fervor of a movement that continually has restored the Public Option to center stage after repeated premature rumors of its death, let them ponder what politics would be like for them going forward from here without that type of support to count on. The Democratic Party has duly been put on notice.

[opihimoimoi]

1. They still better than the twin disasters of them Bushie years...whada we do?? vote Pub? No ways>

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. If you don't think that there is a link between good results and enthusiasm

you have much to learn about human nature. You may not fall into this category yourself, but some people are more likely to distribute door hangers at 7:00AM if they feel fired up about the Party they are supporting. Then there are those who don't might not show up at the polls, or at least might not go out of their way to nag all of their naighbors to go there with them and vote the same way as they will.

You are correct. Virtually none of us would vote Pug instead. But that isn't the point. Bloody primary fights and third party candidates are always part of the possible mix also. And just plain old garden variety disillusionment based apathy is a force no political party likes to contend with.

[shraby]

3. It would be time to find Democratic challengers to their

seats and get rid of the blue dogs and conservadems.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. They risk losing those seats all by themselves

The ones who have precarious holds on them in the first place that is. I have been part of efforts to keep or put Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Montana, Alaska, etc. Senate seats into the Democratic column in the past. I have watched folks here cheer on virtually any Democrat defeat any Republican for a Senate Seat, because we wanted to build up our caucus. Unions often operate with the same motivation in providing funding to the National Democratic Party. Many blue dog Democrats count on support from Democrats more liberal than them in order to win.

[John Q. Citizen]

6. If the Bush's are so bad, why do Bill and Barack hang out with them? If they are that bad, shouldn't

they avoid them?

And since Obama wants Republican support for his ideas, shouldn't we voters also be working for Republican support for our ideas?

If the Republicans are good enough for my President, then they are good enough for me.

Get it?

[davidwparker]

7. What I've seen so far is not been. Has GITMO closed? War crimes

prosecuted? Etc.

Still watching ... :popcorn:

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. I see many clear improvements over Bush's Administration

But I feel that the Democratic leadership made an implied tacit agreement with progressives this year regarding a core issue on all of our agendas, universal health care. They took Single Payer health insurance off the table from the start saying that it was not poltically feasible, and asked Progressives instead to unify with them behind a fall back plan of "a robust public option". Protest over the exclusion of Single Payer from consideration has been rather muted given how strongly so many people feel about it. But in return progressives expected Democratic leadership to do everything in it's power to deliver at least a real public option as part of health care reform. Expectations are now high but so was the price progressives paid to preserve a unified front on health care reform.

To be honest I am not personally interested in generalizing the debate here right now to issues beyond health care, though of course others can and do differ with me there. My OP does not focus on generalized discontent with the Obama Administration. It is about the mobilization the grass roots has mounted to defend the Public Option, and what it means for the Democratic Party to have a movement like that ready and willing to work with them. Or not.

[rucky]

9. I refuse to accept these as our only choices.

We need to start creating more options for ourselves. Preferably ones that don't rely on politicians.

[Armstead]

4. I hate to say it but too many of them don't really care

In my opinion, we need a semi-third party that is basically aligned with the Democrats but is willing to do some parliamentary style negotiating and apply pressure to make them realize that they can't keep ignoring the public interest.

If the corporate centrists and the timid wafflers face the prospect of a loss of support of a significant block of progressives, they would most likely take a progressive agenda more seriously in the give-and-take of realpolitik.

[rucky]

8. I don't think they realize how much trust we're putting in them right now.

If they fail us, they'll realize it for sure.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. I think that some of them realize it

I don't know if enough of them do. But I am starting to feel encouraged about Harry Reid. We'll soon see.

[damntexdem]

11. And especially let them ponder what politics will be like WITH that type of support.

There's an up-side, too; and it can mean not worrying about the big-pig donors.

[Tom Rinaldo]

12. That's absolutely right

It would mean a continuation and building of a trend that has been growing stronger each year since 2003. It would be foolish to cut that short now by selling the support of the base short.