Are the Dems Losing Their Way? (by EJ Dionne for Truthdig)

Are the Dems Losing Their Way?

Posted on Jun 5, 2007

By E.J. Dionne

GOFFSTOWN, N.H.—Two questions from Sunday’s Democratic debate: Does Joe Biden have to set himself on fire to get serious attention? And whatever happened to the lunch bucket issues that once made Democrats the dominant political party in America?

Maybe because he doesn’t have much to lose, Biden was the most passionate, straight-talking figure on the stage here at Saint Anselm College. But so much coverage was lavished on John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and their scuffling over Iraq and healthcare that you might have missed this. So consider, first, Biden’s comments on Darfur:

“I went there. I sat on the borders. I went in those camps. They’re going to have thousands and thousands and thousands of people die. We’ve got to stop talking and act. ... By the time all these guys talk, 50,000 more people are going to be dead! They’re going to be dead!”

Or take Biden on gays in the military. The debate moderator, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, noted that Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it would be a mistake to end the current “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

“Peter Pace is flat wrong. I’ve been to Afghanistan, I’ve been to Iraq seven times, I’ve been in the Balkans, I’ve been in these foxholes with these kids, literally in bunkers with them. Let me tell you something, nobody asked anybody else whether they’re gay in ... those foxholes.”

Noting that “the British, the French, all our major allies” allow gays to serve openly, Biden added: “I don’t know the last time an American soldier said to a backup from a Brit, ‘Hey, by the way, let me check. Are you gay? Are you straight?’ This is ridiculous.”

And agree or disagree with Biden’s recent vote to fund the Iraq war, it was good to hear him say that “some things are worth losing elections over” and defend his decision without hedges or equivocations. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20070605_are_the_dems_losing_their_way/

First Biden does make a great deal of sense on a lot of issues, which is why he's always had union support. He's as exciting as a cold, greasy pork chop, though, and that's why tabloid driven media will always ignore him.

Second, Democrats haven't lost their way, but the party power elite inside the DC Beltway certainly have. That's why the nominee, whoever s/he happens to be, absolutely must build a campaign organization from the ground up, without help from the usual suspects. Winning the mushy middle, that tiny percentage of "swing voters" isn't the point. Energizing the huge but alienated party base is the point.

People know the economy is in the toilet if they're not rich. People know the government has grabbed power to itself it was never meant to have. People know the health care system is in meltdown. People know their retirements have been stolen outright or will be woefully inadequate if anything is left. People are watching their main asset, their homes, either decline steadily in value or fail to appreciate. People know the infrastructure they bounce over every day is falling apart. People know jobs are disappearing. People know this country is in deep shit.

If another candidate is packaged as a bland, unchallenging, business as usual, nothing will change, do-nothing president, voters will stay apathetic.

Catch a clue, DLC. Edwards is gaining some support among GOPs. Do you know why? It's because his rhetoric recognizes that the other 80% of us still exist.