Kerry folds and the "Chicken Little" strategists win another one (for the other team).
If the so-called Democratic Party "leadership" doesn't tell the Chicken Littles where to go -- and do it soon -- we'll all be singing:
Where have all the Democrats gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the Democrats gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the Democrats gone?
They self-destructed every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
-- Based on http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/flowers-gone.shtml">Where have all the flowers gone?
Americans want leaders to stick to the truth and stick to their guns. If Kerry had done this, we would have heard something like this:
"I cannot apologize for the actions of others. The RNC and the White House know exactly what I said and what I meant. They knew it on Monday. They knew it on Tuesday. And they know it today. Their fake outrage is revolting. It is tragic that so many broadcasters and commentators once again took this White House smear at face value and parroted it. It is probably to much to hope that these same commentators will stop feeding the phony controversy and focus on the REAL scandal -- that this is just the latest in a long stream of outrageous lies and smears to come out of the Republican noise machine.
Instead, we got a mealy-mouthed apology from the smeared for being smeared.
Post from yesterday:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2532084">Oh NO!! A Democrat demonstrated Strength!. . .. . .Bad Sen. Kerry, Bad!! Why did you Stand Up for Yourself?? You're hurting the Party. Yikes!
The "chicken little" strategists are out in force. As usual, the consensus is the OPPOSITE of reality.
The Biggest problem members of the Democratic Party face is the perception that they are Weak. Every time a Democrat stands up and shows strength it challenges the Weak Dem image and gives the entire Party a boost.
The "conventional wisdom" inside the bubble was exactly the same after Clinton forcefully confronted Chris Wallace's propaganda (Terrible thing for the Dems. . .) Of course, within a day, it became clear that pushing back was probably the best thing Clinton has done for the Party all year.
It is long past time for our our so-called "Party leaders" to recognize the irrationality of "strategic thinking" that comes to the SAME conclusion 100% of the time -- i.e., to take the path of least resistance by (1) betraying principle through action or inaction; (2) taking the least "controversial" stand, or (3) putting off the difficult or principled action to a later date.
Like the "I'll quit tomorrow" addict, they assuage guilt and shame by telling themselves "we'll do the right thing and fight back, later." Tragically for the nation, "later" never comes because, like the addicts they are, the "strategerists" always identify reasons that "now" is bad time to bite the bullet.
If the chicken littles keep calling the shots, they are going to kill the Party.