We Must Become the Party of Boldness, Not Acquiescence

from HuffPost:




Howard Shanker
We Must Become the Party of Boldness, Not Acquiescence
Posted December 17, 2007 | 06:59 PM (EST)



Boldness. It is a word that has defined our history. This week alone marks the anniversaries of the landing at Plymouth Rock, the Wright brothers' first flight and the launch of the first manned mission to the moon. As Democrats, we are the party of bold measures such as the New Deal, the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift and Apollo project to reach the moon. More importantly, every single day as Americans we continue what is often called a "bold experiment in democracy" that many questioned whether it would last two decades let alone two centuries.

In the hallowed halls of Congress are many busts and tributes to men of courage and conviction who have played an essential part in this bold experiment. Sadly these lions of American history are unable to speak today to the cowering sheep of today's Congress.

Last November, the American people spoke loudly - they wanted change. Today, nearly seventy percent of Americans want us to begin withdrawing from Iraq, but time and time again the Democratic leadership has sheepishly caved in to a Lilliputian President whose approval rating is in the twenties.

Two centuries ago, our founding fathers drafted a charter of liberty to protect us from the abuses of King George. Two central elements of that charter are the separation of powers by which each branch is held accountable and the Bill of Rights which protects the sanctity of our homes from encroachment by warrantless searches and seizures and guarantees us due process under law.

Last month, however, the Senate confirmed an Attorney General nominee who believed that the charter of expediency trumped this charter of liberty. This week the Congress will vote on expanding the ability of another George to freely monitor our communications and granting immunity to the telecom companies that illegally handed over our personal data to this administration without a warrant. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-shanker/we-must-become-the-party-_b_77211.html