If Democrats get it right this time...

they will be America's Party for the next two decades, or more. If Democrats find their voice, declare their beliefs, and affirm their values now, they will be ascendant for a generation, or more. If Democrats don't shirk from their heritage, if Democrats don't blur their ideology, if Democrats don't back away from the legacy that FDR bequeathed them, they will be victorious in 2010, and well beyond, because this is the defining moment for the 21st century Democratic Party. This is when, and this is how, people will know and understand what, if anything, the Democratic Party truly stands for today. What it, what we, do now to deliver affordable quality health care for all Americans bears witness to the very reason for the Democratic Party in America. It is the Democrat's historical calling manifest here and now.

The Democratic Party picked up the pieces when Republicans ran the economy onto the rocks in the 1920's. The Democratic Party forged a safety net for individuals facing adversity. The Democratic Party championed public education, and fought for living wages for all who worked. The Democratic Party defended the most vulnerable among us; our elders and our children. The Democratic Party articulated the greater good, and prioritized fulfilling common needs over facilitating private greed. And in so doing the Democratic Party always made its share of powerful enemies, for the convictions of a political party is defined in equal measure by its friends AND its adversaries.

A great deal hangs in the balance. Health care by definition is a life and death matter, and how Democrats envision the role of government in protecting the physical well being of the citizenry of this nation, by assuring affordable access to potentially life saving medical treatment, speaks to fundamental beliefs about the role of government in society. The Democratic Party has long understood that powerful financial interests will not by themselves always act in the public interest, and that government, freely elected by all adult citizens under the protection of Constitutional rights, has a key role to play in preventing the powerful from preying on the powerless.

The Republican Party in recent years has become ideologically bankrupt. It's vision of an over reaching government in the personal realm coupled with an oversight-less government in the economic realm, has been almost uniformly disastrous. And when in the course of ideological events a course of action becomes indefensible, then the best and virtually only defense remaining is a good offense, and that is all that today's Republican Party has left to offer. Now is not the time for a Democratic retreat from what it has traditionally stood and fought for. Now is not the time for Democrats to compromise their core values while seeking common ground with a Party that is trying to literally move the playing field back to their soundly discredited territory.

If Democrats get it wrong this time, if they cave on promoting a strong government role in assuring and insuring the American people security from the ravages of medical misfortune, they will abandon the higher ground that now lies within their reach from which they can dominate the political landscape for the foreseeable future. We already have a political party defined by its role in defending private interests. What will Democrats stand for?

Your hopes and wishes for the Democrats are legitimate but even if they meet our wildest dreams, they will still face the dirty Republican machine.

History gives us the dual witch trials of McCarthyism and the Clinton impeachment. There's also the entire Reagan presidency which brought us an entire culture of fear. It's simply too easy for the Republican party to manufacture some falsehood to persuade American idiots to vote for evil men like George W. Bush. I guess we'll see how soon Americans forget the truly rotten nature of the Republican party. Sadly we all suffer when Republican "morans" drag our country down.

I just believe that sometimes the best offense is actually a good offense, and now is the time for Democrats to be on the offensive. Standing strong for something and then delivering results that are consistent with what you stand for is a good definition of strong and effective leadership, and most people respect that. I think that is our best defense against Republican lies and fear campaigns.

:o

And a most worthy Journal addition!


K&R

I believe we will seize this moment, and we will be in the ascendancy for many years.

The better the bill, the stronger the Democratic hold.

If we managed to get a true Single Payer, the Republican party would be dead. They'd have to start all over with some new party.

...but yes, if Democrats lead us to more, and more affordable, health care for many Americans, it will be a huge win.

But only somewhat relative. Their actions now either will or will not clearly point the nation in the dircection we need to travel.

...it'll smell an awful lot like getting it right.

Democrats have had plausible explanations for their inability to act boldly in the public interest for several decades - until now. Now we get to see what they are really made of.

People who won't be afraid to call out the Right for who they are. Sadly, Blue Dogs are severely hurting our Parties ability to have a cohesive message. Because they're really Republican at heart and act like trojans knocking down Democratic legislation.

This needs to be in the face of EVERY Democratic member of the House and Senate.

will be America's Party for two decades any more. Too many variables.

was in 1980 when Reagan won the Presidency for the Republicans. He struck a core Republican chord and that chord continues to resonate even today, and it reinvigorated the G.O.P. and created a generation of college students with an unusually large percentage who proudly identified as "Young Republicans".

At its root at its best, domestically the Reagan vision appealed to a concept of freedom that glorified the resourcefulness of the American people freed from unwanted and unneeded government intrusion in our lives. Abstractions can be powerful, but that pales beside what Democrats, at our best, can offer. Democrats offer significant freedom from fear on a personal level. We offer real door ways to opportunity for all Americans.

We offer concrete government initiatives that provide basic economic security in the face of gale wind forces that constantly buffet all of us. We sponsor a common sense safety net in America. Not a nanny state, but one in which (metaphorically speaking) speed limits are posted on city streets. We offer a concrete vision of societal justice that says people should not fear starving to death in the world's richest nation, should not fear losing their homes when they are willing to work or are unable to work due to forces beyond their control. Democrats stand for healing the sick regardless of one's current standing in life. Democrats stand for equality of opportunity, hence our commitment to public education.

Democrats have not boldly defined our values since the Viet Nam war derailed LBJ's Great Society. I am not claiming that America will ever become a one Party state if Democrats do so now, or that Republicans would not offer meaningful competition. Competition is as American as checks and balances, and every American political dynasty needs and will develop a check put upon it. But I do believe Democrats can strap ourselves into the drivers seat for a long time to come if we finally get health care for all Americans right.

And cynacism is no friend of the Democratic Party, let alone the nation.