Progressive, My Ass

February 23, 2006

Progressive, My Ass
DFA, PDA, moveon.org-- are they anything more than wimpy projections of the DNC? They seem to be acting that way in Pennsylvania
by Rob Kall (foul language warning)


http://www.opednews.com

We have DFA endorsing four Progressive women. Very nice.

We have moveon.org sending out a poll, basically asking if we should be working on dumping right wing asshole democrats. Whoopeedoo!

But here in PA we have the DNC pouring millions into the campaign of the most right wing purportedly democratic candidate since Zell Miller-- Bob Casey jr. And none of these major "progressive" organizations, and not PDA-- Progressive Democrats of America-- are doing a damned thing, when there are two perfectly good candidates (Pennacchio and Sandals,) and my opinion, one superb progressive candidate, Pennacchio also declared and in the race. Shame on them.

This tells me how weak these progressive organizations are. It tells me that they are possibly not really progressive at all. Maybe they are even the wimpy democrats that the right wingers who write to me talk about all the time.

Moveon.org is already on my shit list for running a lousy excuse for a poll last year that was biased and set up to make Casey the winner. It failed to disclose the most important facts in terms of the candidates positions on issues. I KNOW from the scientific poll I ran, (OpEdNews/Zogby People's Poll )that when people DO know the positions, they drop Casey like a lump of hot coal. His lead on Santorum disappears. I later learned that there was a connection between the wife of the man who ran the moveon poll and Casey's campaign. Pathetic!! Moveon should make up for it by doing a similar poll again, only this time, do it right, maybe even use a third party organization like I did-- Zogby.

I can't help but think that across the nation, this same kind of failure on the part of progressive leaders must be playing itself out. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they are just pathetic, leaderless failures in Pennsylvania. I know one groups says that every local group in PA must endorse a candidate before they will get behind a progressive candidate instead of Casey. One or two local groups have not agreed on the same candidate, so they don't have unanimous concensus. So they haven't made a decision. I don't call that grassroots decision-making. I call that unwillingness to commit or decide. Even if they are unwilling to commit to a progressive candidate, they should, at least, speak out against Casey, who is about as far from progressive as a candidate can get. And they should speak out against the centrist politicos who claim to be progressives. Well, maybe not speak out against them, but at least challenge them to prove they are progressive. This, of course, raises the important question, what makes a progressive a progressive?

<snippage>

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rob_kall_060223_progressive_2c_my_ass.htm

why there are not more calls for drastic changes even within the Democratic Party.

Apparently there is a fear of alienating "moderate" Democrats.

there is a very strong temptation not to do anything that is seen as new or different for fear of alienating a portion of the Democratic base.

History seems to paint a different picture. Look at Medicare or Social Security. These were bold steps that changed the landscape. However, the people who pushed these ideas were not concerned with alienating voters. They were concerned with trying to implement solutions they believed were right.

The people followed because, in a way, they were assured by the resolution of the leaders who represented them. A strong leader who is both right as well as strong is a leader people find popular, and they often have the ability to cut through politics and be Americans first before Democrats or Republicans.

Two-party politics as a representation of the views and opinions of America is something I find deplorable. Unfortunately, this is the system that is given to us, and we make do with what little, so little, is given to us.

Can somebody explain why Pennacchio isn't the one these groups are supporting??????

It doesn't seem anyone really cares or listens. Most people, those on DU included, seem to prefer to echo the words of their 'masters'. Some folks who look over at Freepers and call them sheep really need to take a hard long look in the mirror.

...and before I get flamed, let me just say there is no reason to get angry unless the shoe fits.