Why I Hate Being a Democrat
Warning, adult language using terms that some may consider offensive follows.
This is the one thing I hate about my party.
"Near Panic."
That's the blaring headline of the second over at Mark "the Tool" Halperin's meta-narrative freakshow site.
Predictably, Halperin easily rounded up a bunch of stories featuring panic-stricken comments from panic-stricken unnamed Democratic party officials, panic-stricken unnamed large donors and explicitly named Democratic national office holders to back up his "Near Panic" narrative.
In another posting, I pointed out that the MSM are like the sheep in "So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish:" creatures that are forever being startled by things they've seen before. And, alas, so are far too many Democrats--in the rank and file, in our cadre of fat-cats who think their money makes their opinions better than yours, and, I'm ashamed to say, among far too many of our actual office holders.
At every bump in the polls, every post-convention surge however predictable, and even a negative news cycle, they all lose bladder control and faint. That's bad for us because it feeds one of the favored MSM narratives: "Oh, those silly, disorganized, squabbling Dems, har, har, har (subtext: what a bunch of limp-wristed pussies they are, not like those strong manly Republicans)."
We didn't used to be this way. When FDR was radically remaking the economy, subverting the isolationist Republicans and stamping out fascism, when Truman was eyeball to eyeball with Stalin, Douglas MacArthur and Thomas E. Dewey, and when JFK was taking us to the moon and playing the most dangerous game of poker in human history with Kruschev and Castro, we were not like this. When the rank and file of the party were getting their heads busted by Ford thugs, invading Normandy or getting on the freedom ride bus, we were not like this. Democrats were condemned as pinkos, damned for their internationalism, and derided for their intellectualism, but they were never accused of being panicky pussies, at least not by anybody who was listened to.
And now we are.
In fact, at the points that matter, it is still a completely bogus narrative. This year, the rank and file seems more willing to get a grip on its fears and avoid panicking than they've been in decades. This year, the people at the top of the ticket and a lot of the party's leading voices--Hillary and Bill included--are well-known as tough cookies.
Bogus though it may be, however, it survives because there are still people to feed it. And it will be deadly if it takes hold. We cannot win if we do not get at least a few percentage points of that segment of the electorate the voters who, for whatever reason, are essentially authoritarian in their outlook; toddlers with adult bodies who want to be taken care of and sleep safe and secure in their beds at night knowing mommy or daddy checked under the bed for monsters. They're not even close to a majority (yet. I hope.) But you'll always find them. Many of you know exactly the kind of people I'm talking about. They're not people of strong political convictions and all they really want is to put the government into the hands of some strong parent-figure so they don't have to think about it. Sometimes they want their mommy, sometimes they want daddy, most of the time either will do--but only as long as they don't get the impression that mommy or daddy are themselves as weak and fearful as they are.
Whatever they used to be, the Democrats as whole didn't used to be this way.
Then came the Reagan realignment and, throughout that period an awful lot of Democrats at every level got to be like a bunch of abused pets. Cowering and cringing at every gesture, constantly attempting to supplicate their abusers, running and hiding at every loud noise. And thus was a narrative born.
Well let me say, this time I am not mad at the commenters on blogs or at Democrats in the rank and file in general. This time, I am specifically angry at the continuing inability of far too many of our elected officials and our fatcat puffguts to grow a pair and tough out the bumps, especially the predicable bumps. And, especially, I have had quite enough of their instant instinct to run to share their panic-stricken whining with the fucking press. I mean, WTF? How panic-stricken stupid do you have to be not to know that that's only going to feed one of the the most toxic MSM narrative of all?
Well, you can't control the money people. Money and brains don't seem to go together after the first generation and money and political vision often seem to be mutually exclusive. But we can control the elected officials. Here's the key to that: living, as we do--for the time-being at any rate--in a democracy, many elected officials will be people who are only as courageous than the people who elect them.
Ultimately, that's one of the main reasons why I'm always on here shouting "cowboy up, dammit!" Most politicians will never be more courageous than the people who elect them. And the ones who can and will be more courageous than we are are need for us to at least have the courage to elect them and the character not to undercut them, even when we think we know better than they what needs to be done.
Postscript: On the up-side, its not just us. For all the fretting of fretful Democrats, some Republicans are apparently fretting that McCain-Palin have peaked. The difference, however, is two-fold: first, when Republican appratchiks fret to the press, there's usually a good reason for it and, second, when they do so, it's just a story. It doesn't feed into a pre-existing media narrative. (Indeed, there don't seem to be any pre-existing negative media narratives about Republicans anymore.)
RE: Palin Peak
I think we're not the only ones who have been noticing that Palin keeps giving the same speech. I saw somewhere last night, an Obama spokesperson referring to "that speech she gives", but as we keep seeing snippets on the news and it's all recycled bits from the convention, I'm sure others are catching-on.
As for whether or not he's peaked, I posted last night that I think, when and if she ever goes out on her own, her crowds will likely dwarf McCain's for a while and we should point that out.
Plus, they scheduled the Charlie Gibson interview for the day that her son supposedly ships out to Iraq, so I suspect that they'll try to spoonfeed him airport footage and because she might even tear, it could get her a weekend's worth of sympathy.
(Good content - rec.)
September 10, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
The National Enquirer is reporting that Track Palin didn't join the Army for patriotic reasons but to avoid facing the music for "involvement in a local vandalism incident."
If this were Obama's son, CNN would have sent a special team up to AK to cover it already.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/okay-we-have-to-consider-the-s.php
September 11, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
The National Enquirer is reporting that Track Palin didn't exactly go into the Army for patriotic reasons; his parents wanted him gone after his "involvement in a local vandalism incident."
If this were Barack Obama's son, CNN would have already sent a special investigative team to AK.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/okay-we-have-to-consider-the-s.php
September 11, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Steve,
Thanks, for being a stabilizing voice. As you know, its been pretty rough here at TPM. McCain trolls, and Clinton concern trolls galore.
That comment by the GOP analyst is also interesting. Has Palin peaked? Seems clear that the GOP is trying to run-out the election clock without our really getting to know much about her. How irresponssible is that.
September 10, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rec'd despite the unfortunate use of the phrase "Cowboy up!" while my Yankees slide out of playoff contention. *sigh*
September 10, 2008 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a Reds fan, so please forgive my twenty-six games back for the zillionth season in a row and who cares about the Junior Circuit anway? schadenfreude.
September 10, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rec'd with gusto! Don't go anywhere-we need you!
September 10, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rec'd with gusto! Don't go anywhere-we need you!
September 10, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looking at the more recent state polls, I'd say dems are in awesome shape. Here, at the height of the Convention + Palin bounce, we've still got the lead in Michigan, Iowa, and Colorado, with only a minor downturn in New Mexico. This may be all we need, though Ohio, Virginia, and even Florida may well be in reach as the McMania subsides. What we're seeing is the top of the roller coaster, and the Republicans are right to be scared about the plunge.
September 10, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amusing analysis. Did you ever think you would hear "we're still up in Michigan?" How can Michigan be in play?
September 10, 2008 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Michigan's in play because of the Detroit suburbs. McCain's killing there, but Kerry split the 'burbs with Dubya in '04.
I suspect not a little of that may have to do with the flight from Detroit - and I wouldn't doubt if some of the municipal shenanigans in the Motor City might be rubbing off on Obama. (That ties in with my primary-election theory as to why Obama wouldn't visit Michigan.)
September 11, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looking at the more recent state polls, I'd say dems are in awesome shape. Here, at the height of the Convention + Palin bounce, we've still got the lead in Michigan, Iowa, and Colorado, with only a minor downturn in New Mexico. This may be all we need, though Ohio, Virginia, and even Florida may well be in reach as the McMania subsides. What we're seeing is the top of the roller coaster, and the Republicans are right to be scared about the plunge.
September 10, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounded so nice, he said it twice.
September 10, 2008 7:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. All these Emocrats who flip out every time something happens that suggests that victory might not be completely inevitable have started to really chap my ass.
September 10, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emocrats, that is one great phrase. You've enriched the language today pillsy.
September 10, 2008 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emocrats, that is one great phrase. You've enriched the language today pillsy.
September 10, 2008 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emocrats.
Mind if I use that?
September 10, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't invent it, but I'm glad to pass it on.
September 11, 2008 12:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Emocrats.
Mind if I use that?
September 10, 2008 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
What exactly is an emocrat? I know the "D" is missing from Democrat, but I am missing what an "emocrat" means.
September 11, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am getting conflicting messages from your post.
First, Democrats should "weather the storm" suggesting passiveness, waiting out something that is out of their control
And second that Democrats should "man up" and demonstrate courage, suggesting that they should take the initiative on whatever.
With the sex ed ad, the next 48 hours are critical. Republicans love that swiftboating shit, and that's exactly what that was. It was brilliant political strategy by the McCain campaign to roll out the October surprise right after the convention to keep the momentum.
Forget depending on the Clintons for anything, they're going to sit back and watch what Obama does with this.
If he doesn't do something now, there will be political truth to the accusation that Obama wanted kindergartners to learn about sex ed
I am not a HRC troll, but I am about to have some serious buyer's remorse if Obama doesn't do something fast to counter that ad.
I just don't think the calm detachment he's shown up to now will do it, but I could be wrong. I sure hope Obama knows what he's doing
September 10, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I said was that when things get a little tough, our self-important money people, our prima-donna consultants sitting on the bench and, most especially, our elected officials should STFU and not go running to the press to complain about how terribly the campaign is fucking up by not listening to their own brilliant stategy for victory which, they are sure, is the one, the only, the exclusive path to victory.
As for us in the rank and file, we need to at least consider that maybe the people at the top are playing a deeper game than just trading bitchslaps in 1,440 news cycle per day Internet time. What they are doing is not always going to be pleasing or soothing to us ADHD instant gratification seekers. This is chess, not tic-tac-toe, a full night of poker, not War (the card game, not the killing people and destroying things game). This is twelve rounds of boxing, not a one minute scuffle in the locker room.
September 10, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's flub with the texting of his vp announcement that got leaked to the press... that was a hint to me that Obama wasn't completely in control of his campaign like he wanted us to believe
He needs to drop what he's doing and answer this sex charge
September 11, 2008 4:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
That was a flub? Jesus, you have a low threshhold for "flubs." The Obama campaign did a masterful job keeping the VP pick under wraps--they couldn't help it that the press was staking out houses like it was some kind of standoff, and they couldn't avoid sending Secret Service et al to the new VP candidate. Overall, however, the Obama campaign has been better than any other campaign ever at controlling leaks.
I really loathe amateurs who think they know more than proven pros. It's like some beer-bellied fifty-year old guy sitting in his La-Z-Boy and lecturing Tom Brady about how he should run his offense.
September 11, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
The media was alerted about Biden because the Secret Service was dispatched to his house; please read up on stuff BEFORE posting nonsense, which you think makes you seem informed.
September 11, 2008 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not seeing calm detachment from Obama. I see intensity right now - and I agree with it. But we all have to help. Not by panicking, but by volunteering, by laughing at "Lipstick on Pig" and help make it a defining joke at McCain's expense. This is not just up to a few people in the Obama campaign - it is up to all of us. If you feel angry - do something! Give money, go phone bank or best of all - go canvas in a swing state. It will make you feel great!
September 10, 2008 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just repeat Obama's answer to Dave Letterman:
That is even better - McCain is the pig and Palin the lipstick. Love it.
September 11, 2008 6:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Obama can NOT win for losing. IF he keeps his cool, which he does, the fools like Jealous Joe Scarborough, claim he unemotional and disconnected to the White people, because they are definitely NOT speaking for the Black community. IF he gets angry with all the lies, smear and slander, they will dub him the angry Black man. He can NOT win this one, OK!
September 11, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know the traumas that Dems have been thru, which is why they act this way. Not only Bushx2, but also JFK and RFK. Hope has been dashed, elections have been stolen.
But I still get irritated by the fortune-telling / second guessing / handwringing that goes on.
How many freaking articles can they have on HuffPo, not decrying McCain or hitting him hard, but with crap like "Obama's lost his way", or even worse, the "Holy shit, it's over!" crap. (paraphrasing)
Even if you thought so -- and I think you are wrong btw -- please shut up! We don't need people creating negative momentum, due to the perils of bandwagon effect and the MSM sharks sniffing blood.
Why, oh why, can't the doom and gloom wait until Nov. 5??? Also, same goes for "Democrats sold out, that's why they suck" type crap I see at Kos and Salon. Again, piss all over the Dems on Nov. 5. Until then, please please please STFU!!!!!
Seriously, if you are ever tempted to write big screed about how you are calling it quits and never giving another dime and this campaign is crap -- STFU for two months!!!
The only thing we need for the next two months are: 1) attacks, videos, new memes, new research, fact checking, and so on 2) constructive criticism meant to right the ship and possibly a little 3) cheerleading, humor, and mockery of the GOP's historic levels of sleaze and idiocy.
My advice is to take all the anger, frustration and shove it at the media and McCain. Get in their faces. Send them angry emails. Even better, phone them and tell them off. And most of all, get out and volunteer. Oct 5-6 is the registration deadline in many states. Rockthevote.com has the state by state. We need better voters if we're gonna beat the 2004 electorate.
September 10, 2008 6:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Keep it up with the reality checks!!
We in WV are Cowboy up!!! The polls here are actually tightening. If it can happen here, the tide can turn anywhere.
http://www.wsaz.com/political/headlines/28118604.html
September 10, 2008 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rec'd. On the whole, I think my fellow Dem's aren't doing too badly this time around.
DKos is great to read at moments like this. You can always rely on them to have a few diaries that are basically like getting chewed out by your sergeant.
"Quit yer whining, you sad excuse for a radical activist!! My six-yr old daughter has more guts than you do, and she's a vegan Buddhist! Donate, phonebank, or get out of the goddam way."
September 10, 2008 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
NCSteve, let me just say: I'm so glad you're here. This was needed. I feel the exact same way. I don't really have much to add, but I'm right there with you. Keep it up; don't ever stop fighting the good fight.
September 10, 2008 7:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have a friend that called me last Sunday to announce that "Obama has just lost the race because of something he said - just LOST IT". That was because of the "my muslim faith" garble.
Today she called to tell me that Obama was going to lose because she just talked to her stockbroker and he thought "Palin was great" and T. Friedman wrote that Obama has gone cold and Joe Biden was awful on TV. I told her that I keep going back to no matter what Obama did wrong according to her he still beat Clinton. I also told her to man the phones, go register people, time is a wasting.
I really appreciate what you wrote Steve, Thanks.
September 10, 2008 7:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have a friend that called me last Sunday to announce that "Obama has just lost the race because of something he said - just LOST IT". That was because of the "my muslim faith" garble.
Today she called to tell me that Obama was going to lose because she just talked to her stockbroker and he thought "Palin was great" and T. Friedman wrote that Obama has gone cold and Joe Biden was awful on TV. I told her that I keep going back to no matter what Obama did wrong according to her he still beat Clinton. I also told her to man the phones, go register people, time is a wasting.
I really appreciate what you wrote Steve, Thanks.
September 10, 2008 7:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice one Steve- highly rec'd.
One phrase jumped out at me:
This is contrast with Republican fat cats who know for a fact that their money makes their opinion better than ours.
September 10, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
In fairness, most of our fat-cats have at least a piece--and sometimes more--of their hearts in the right place. Their fat-cats, on the other hand, don't really have opinions as much as an overweening sense of entitlement and a willingness to do anything necessary to keep the their troughs slopped and the path between it and their favorite wallow clear of obstales.
Oops, those aren't cats I just described, are they?
September 11, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am so with you on this.
I was so pissed when I read some article on huffpost called "why Obama Lost blah, blah...etc.
He was totally trying to lay full responsibility for the election on Senator Obama and his campaign. As if candidate lose elections and 'we' don't have any responsibility.
Get real poeple. We have a chance to bring some balance back to our country and if 'we' don't fight for it, 'we' could lose. But we CAN fight for it and WE have a great chance of winning here so let's go all out!!
September 10, 2008 9:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great post, NCSteve. Freaking out is just a waste of energy.
September 10, 2008 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bravo!
I admit to been a little queasy over the last several days but yesterday I sent Obama '08 one hundred dollars, the largest donation I have sent so far and which is a financial stretch for me. I almost instantly felt calm and hopeful. Don't be powerless, do what is in your power to do and Be Not Afraid.
September 10, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, Steve! I think we need to do whatever we can on our end and have trust in our guy to be doing the best he can on his end. I am totally convinced that I want to be able to vote for someone I respect. And I do respect Obama. Greatly! For that very reason, I do not want him to morph into someone who would do anything, say anything to get elected. Of course he needs to speak out and I think he is hugely creative in finding ways to do that without being underhanded and dirty.
Thanks again. I respect Obama. And I respect you!
September 10, 2008 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like to savor the irony when the handwringers demand that Obama show some spine.
September 10, 2008 11:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Savor the irony? F*ck that.
I like the smell of victory in the morning.
That & the sound a good blog makes when it takes a man's life.
September 11, 2008 1:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
But soft enough for a woman?
September 11, 2008 4:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
It doesn't matter whose counting the numbers in these polls...it is who is counting the ballots. Is anyone following the voting machine audits to make sure they are working correctly? How about the dispersion of those said machines? How about the election commissioners in Ohio, Florida and the like?
It doesn't matter who votes if we don't make sure they are all appropriately counted.
September 11, 2008 1:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Steve, dude, this isn't just us freaking out for no reason. I really can't take any more of this. I can't take another 4 years. I can't take Sarah Palin as vice president. I really don't think the country will survive. The weight of the world is on our shoulders and our fellow citizens continue to actively support the worst elements our national psyche. This is insanity.
September 11, 2008 8:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for that post NC Steve, and thanks for that link. I think there is nothing that rings more true than the final part of the article about Psycho freaky angry Grampa Munster losing it. He will. It's just a matter of time.
"...7. Will Mount McCain erupt?
When Democratic operatives were gaming out a race against McCain earlier this year, one thing seemed certain to work in their favor: At some point, McCain would blow a gasket and undo months of political anger management.
A lot of Democrats still think it will happen, citing high-profile McCain blow-ups like his May 2007 tussle with Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn and noting that McCain seems to get more irascible when he’s fatigued.
“The anger issue raises questions about his age – and when you get right down to it, that’s Obama’s greatest weapon against him,” said a Democratic consultant."
September 11, 2008 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
I got fed up the other day with a friend of mine who's been emailing me Tom Friedman and Richard Cohen garbage about "what Obama needs to do". I wrote him back and told him:
I really don't have time for armchair polemics about how to win. Get in the game Jean. I don't know any indies who jump on board with the party or candidate whose supporters are all panicky handwringers. We're gonna win this year if we act like we deserve to win instead of whining about every bump in the polls. Christ if you can't stand up for who and what you believe in why should anybody else believe in it or him too?
Steve I think there's a lot of voters Duncan Black ably described this way:
But I think he gets that business about "actual policies are unlikely to impact them directly very much" all wrong.
Since in office the Bush Administration has bailed out the airlines, is about to bail out the auto industry, and is in the process of propping up the entire financial system. This country is in deep, deep trouble on any number of fronts.
September 11, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Amen! If these Dem "strategists," donors, and electeds feel nervous, they should talk about it with their dog or take a walk or something instead of blabbing to the nearest reporter. They need to shut up and show a little backbone!
September 11, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why freak out???
Think about it:
"Maverick" (tm) POW John McCain, media darling, backed by all of the powerful corporate and lobbying interests and the current government, is definitely NOT beating an academic, liberal one-term Senator who is black and has a foreign-sounding name??? It's a virtual tie, after the HateFest in St. Paul and the GOP bounce???
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/why-we-will-win.php
September 11, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
NC Steve:
A-Fucking-MEN!!!!!!!
Well put!
I get so sick and tired of so-called Dem insiders undercutting us like this FOR YEARS, simply to curry favor with media types.
As I have always stated, I assume that most Repubs are assholes, but on a personal level, I know more Dems who are assholes.
September 11, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually these "panic" headlines may be good because they encourage cocky guys like McCain to be overconfident. Behind the panic, I'd say Sarah Palin has fired up our base as much as theirs. I don't know about you, but I sent Obama a check this week. The best way to avoid that panicky feeling is to DO something. If you have a car, call your local Democratic party and volunteer to transport poor and/or elderly voters in your area to the polls on election day. You can also "walk the precinct" -- going door-to-door in heavily Democratic neighborhoods to remind people to vote and make sure they know exactly where their polling place is. I've done that in three elections, and it is an enormously gratifying experience.
September 11, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink