In These Times * The Agony of Defeat

At this point, progressive constituency groups absolutely must develop a coherent alternative strategy and push it aggressively against both Democrats and Republicans. Without grassroots pressure, too many Democrats will cling to Bush, further befuddling any Democratic message. Too often in recent years progressive organizations have deferred to Democrats in Congress to define both the political issues and the policy options.

But it is also important that the varied groups with their own distinct constituencies forge a more coherent message among themselves. The lack of communication among progressive groups—labor, women, environmentalists, civil libertarians, peaceniks, civil rights groups, global justice activists and more—contributes to the confusion and failure of the Democrats. The only silver lining in the dark political clouds might be that the elections—and the consequences soon to follow—will stimulate that move to a more unified and effective progressive political voice.


Also -- Mixed Messages

A “bolder, clearer agenda and message” are certainly in order. The DLC and fellow New Democrats are noticeably vague about the specifics of their positions. And, to be fair, policy and ideology have never been high on their list of priorities. The New Democrats have moved to the center not because they want to enact specific legislation, but because they want to win elections.

It is nothing less than a tragedy that Tuesday’s tremendous losses will not remind them of what is really lost when people run for office based on demographic trends and not ideas. Those that claim to want to honor the legacy of Paul Wellstone would do well to remember his observation that when one runs based on convictions, “there is, of course, no guarantee of success.” But, he continued, “politics is not about observations or predictions. Politics is what we create by what we do, what we hope for, and what we dare to imagine.”