Comments on: The American Left Needs Discipline! http://www.thereisnoplan.com/2009/11/12/the-american-left-needs-discipline/ Risk-averse policymakers should not read this blog. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:59:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Karoli http://www.thereisnoplan.com/2009/11/12/the-american-left-needs-discipline/#comment-188 Karoli Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:11:47 +0000 http://www.thereisnoplan.com/?p=1057#comment-188 The only issue I take with this is the assumption that we have the base or any semblance of unified progressive thinking in the Democratic party. Democrats in office today are people who are not Republicans. In many cases, those Democrats call themselves Democrats because Republicans are not popular in their districts. A couple of months ago, North Dakota's Democratic caucus called Kent Conrad out on the carpet, reminding him that their party platform included universal single payer health insurance, and he was elected because they backed him and funded his campaign. It was a remarkable letter. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/06/north-dakota-dems-pass-re_n_311584.html It hasn't made a discernable difference that I can see, but of course, we're putting the rubber to the road now, so perhaps it will. I completely agree with you about party discipline, message discipline, etc. (though I wouldn't go as far as to support censure of candidates who deviate, a la South Carolina GOP) I firmly believe that we need to primary each and every elected representative who opposes health care reform. While we're at it, let's start working on the narrative. The left spends far too much time blustering over right wing idiocy instead of taking hold of the narrative and advancing it. If the press won't do it, we'll have to get out there and talk to folks one on one, till it starts to take hold. The only issue I take with this is the assumption that we have the base or any semblance of unified progressive thinking in the Democratic party. Democrats in office today are people who are not Republicans. In many cases, those Democrats call themselves Democrats because Republicans are not popular in their districts.

A couple of months ago, North Dakota’s Democratic caucus called Kent Conrad out on the carpet, reminding him that their party platform included universal single payer health insurance, and he was elected because they backed him and funded his campaign. It was a remarkable letter. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/06/north-dakota-dems-pass-re_n_311584.html

It hasn’t made a discernable difference that I can see, but of course, we’re putting the rubber to the road now, so perhaps it will.

I completely agree with you about party discipline, message discipline, etc. (though I wouldn’t go as far as to support censure of candidates who deviate, a la South Carolina GOP) I firmly believe that we need to primary each and every elected representative who opposes health care reform.

While we’re at it, let’s start working on the narrative. The left spends far too much time blustering over right wing idiocy instead of taking hold of the narrative and advancing it. If the press won’t do it, we’ll have to get out there and talk to folks one on one, till it starts to take hold.

]]> By: coolrebel http://www.thereisnoplan.com/2009/11/12/the-american-left-needs-discipline/#comment-187 coolrebel Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:29:13 +0000 http://www.thereisnoplan.com/?p=1057#comment-187 ancient history, edward. on this i agree with da prez. look forward not back. ancient history, edward. on this i agree with da prez. look forward not back.

]]> By: Edward Virtually http://www.thereisnoplan.com/2009/11/12/the-american-left-needs-discipline/#comment-186 Edward Virtually Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:32:19 +0000 http://www.thereisnoplan.com/?p=1057#comment-186 Nader deserves all the blame he gets. He knew he couldn't win, so he should have told his supporters to vote Democratic on election night in 2000. Those voters would have precluded Republican stealing of the election. So he is directly responsible for the ruinous eight years of Bush, and he and his supporters can deny it, but other progressives will continue to despise him because of it. Nader deserves all the blame he gets. He knew he couldn’t win, so he should have told his supporters to vote Democratic on election night in 2000. Those voters would have precluded Republican stealing of the election. So he is directly responsible for the ruinous eight years of Bush, and he and his supporters can deny it, but other progressives will continue to despise him because of it.

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