It was good to see the President point out the idiocy of Blanche Lincoln’s logic on where the Democratic agenda should be. This is the more feisty president I wanted, but probably shouldn’t have expected.
But there is a broader story there about how politics has been redefined by the Conservative movement and its media and religious allies. Even good solid progressives in a city like San Francisco by into the idea of needing to play on the field that the Republicans have built. This despite (still) huge advantages in majority positions in both houses of Congress. The Democrats seem to not realize that part of the political process needs to be rebuilding that field.
This is something that is fascinating me more and more lately. I’ve been having quick back forth conversations about it with Dave Caploe about this and have been reading his lectures and articles in the New York Times recently. I’m going to continue down this road where it leads me intellectually, and politically share that experience here on this blog. Hint: the radical left is for all intent a myth created by the right. As I asked the other day, name me that last major progressive legislation passed through into law in this country. Anything since Johnson?
So along with exploring my middle aged need to ascribe understanding to my own life experiences, I will also write more about why we have a nation have ended up where we are and why. I’m just a simple fundraiser and executive, but we can all learn. Heck, I didn’t learn to speak Spanish until I was nearly 50 years old.
And Mr. President, more of this please.
