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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
By nominating a man known as "Scalia-lite" for the Supreme Court, President George W. Bush may have picked a fight he is going to lose, unless the Democrats prove to be losers. The choice of Samuel A. Alito, a right wing stalwart, to replace the moderate Sandra Day O'Connor is at once, audaciously brazen, spit-in-the eye insulting, nakedly partisan and just plain dumb.
Bad News Bush has watched his poll numbers sink faster than New Orleans. Yet, he makes a choice of swagger, even as he staggers. With his legacy on the rocks, he chooses a right wing rock star that is going to exacerbate his problems and derail his agenda. One look at the political landscape, and it is fair to ask, what is Bush thinking?
Lewis Libby was indicted. Karl Rove is under investigation. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's R-Tenn. stock has fallen after and unseemly stock trade. And House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was fingerprinted.
Meanwhile, Iraq is a bloody quagmire. Middle East peace is unraveling into an endless cycle of violence, with a series of Palestinian terrorist bombings, followed by Israeli retaliation. Iran's citizens are burning American flags and their new president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he wanted to "wipe Israel off the map," at the very same time he is actively pursing nuclear weapons.
If that isn't enough, the artic is melting, which may be a good thing, I guess, because America's heating bills are expected to be unaffordable, leaving may working class Americans in the cold this winter. Fortunately, the homes we will be heating are smaller because housing in most major cities in unaffordable. It is no longer enough to win the lottery to buy a family home in New York, DC, Seattle, San Francisco or San Diego -- you now have to win the power ball.
This avalanche of bad news is the backdrop for Alito's confirmation battle. What is going to happen, I believe, is that the Democrats will be in a strong position to filibuster the nomination. The right will pressure a weakened Bill Frist to "go nuclear" with the GOP taking away the Democrats right to filibuster judicial nominees.
If the GOP goes down this nihilistic road, it will threaten their majority in the 2006 elections. They will, of course, try to portray the Democrats as obstructionist. But how can they make a credible case after the Democrats supported the Supreme Court nomination of conservative John Roberts, and a right wing cabal killed the nomination of Harriet Miers? The Democrats have the high ground in this fight, and if they lose the battle of public opinion, the party is in deep trouble.
The Democrats, especially Howard Dean and now Sen. Harry Reid, have done a good job of making the case that the Republicans are taking America in the wrong direction. It is now crucial for them to show why they are the party to lead us in the right direction.
There is the temptation to wait until we are closer to the 2006 midterm Elections before introducing a powerful, coherent strategy, but that would be a huge mistake. The time to do this is now, while the GOP is treading water. There is a leadership vacuum in America. Will the Democrats fill it?
Creating a popular agenda for the Democrats is never easy and has inherent challenges. The GOP can always throw their right wing followers red meat. If the Democrats try to throw red meat to the base, about a quarter will claim to be vegetarians. It really is herding cats.
Democratic leaders, on the eve of a potentially monumental war over the Supreme Court, should lock themselves in a room and emerge only when they have created a positive, easily understood message. They should steal a page from New Gingrich's "Contract With America", and call their document, a "Partnership with America." It should avoid divisive social issues, focus on ending GOP corruption, real homeland security and sensible solutions for middle class families.
Partnership with America
** Real Homeland Security: All ports, chemical plants and other key targets will be protected
** Restore fiscal sanity to the budget
** Energy independence within 10 years: The goal is to lower gas prices and get us out of the Middle East.
** Competence Over Cronyism for Appointments
** Sunshine over Secrecy in decision making
** Halliburton Rule: Bidding on all government contracts
** Real Healthcare Reform
** Repeal tax cuts for the wealthy to strengthen Social Security
** Raise the minimum wage
**Terri Schiavo Rule: Less intrusive government
Bush and the GOP are in the middle of a perfect storm. It is up to the Democrats to show that beyond the dark clouds, there is a party of light that will lead this nation.
12 Comments:
I will hold my breath on the democrats doing anything constructive. They've been pretty silent on a lot of issues, last not least ours. I see no change in them, business as usual. The majority don't want to go near same-sex marriage either, especially in an election year. We saw what happened with Kerry, nothing has been learned. I doubt if they'll accomplish much if they try to thwart Alito's nomination. They should have gone on the defensive right after Bush was elected last year. They didn't. Expect nothing from them, though I hope I'm wrong.
Brilliant as usual, the Democrats should listen to you, and they might actally get something done. Those of us out in the grassroots are fed up and frustrated. I like what Harry Reid just did and he should be praised. But they also need to clearly state what they stand for. Being against the repugnant Republicans is not enough to win. We have to convince people that we are better and have answers. It's the war of ideas, Stupid!
Wayne, you wrote, "But, to 'Bork' Alito, the Democrats must first unveil an easily understandable, positive agenda."
Wayne, I'm afraid this is asking too much. A case in point: the short but noisy reign of Harry Reid over the phony secret "intelligence" session, avoided the fundamental collaboration of Democrats with Republicans in the lead-up to imperialist war. Reid voted for the blank check to Bush. And along with most Senate Democrats, has called for more US troops, not withdrawal from Iraq.
Add to the mix Hillary's back pedaling on abortion rights, and the support of many Democrats to antilabor legislation. Not to mention that to my knowledge only one Senator, Barbara Boxer, has endorsed marriage equality for same-sexers.
The 2004 Kerry campaign utterly failed to counter the clearly stated Bush message with one of its own. Instead, it was a muddle down the middle, alienating gays, Blacks, women, working people.
Democrats have opted out of the struggle for a better life for most Americans, and indeed it was only direct action pressure from marginalized sectors that won former gains. This pressure is needed now for the rights' fight to advance.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/03/2005 11:28 AM
Hey Besen, You better shape up. You could care less about the demoncratic agenda, you just want to put people in government that will give gays extra rights. Why do you have this fetish about constantly discussing your sexuality and gay issues? It is ridiculous. And you attack upon the iconic Alito is nothing more than a fear that you won't get to marry. but marriage is for hererosexuals because that is what nature tells us is right and moral. You should be happy that, althouh alito is hostile to women, gays, minorities and the elderly, he is not a hard-core conservative. You need to get on with your life or seek immediate in-patient psychiatric treatment.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/03/2005 1:04 PM
If the Democratic party wants to regain its status as the majority party (a constant dream of mine that I hope happens sooner rather than later), they must become more moderate on two important issues.
The first is abortion. The party's support of partial-birth abortion should be rethought. It is an extremist position that is hurting us badly amongst a certain type of voter who would normally be very open to the idea of voting our way yet who becomes completely alientated by this position.
There are a number of pro-life democrats in the party, myself included, who must be accomodated in the party if the party is to grow. Bob Casey, Jr., our hope to unseat the psychologically unstable Rick Santorum, is one of them. In this case, our party's embrace of Casey's pro-life position may well enable him to defeat Sen. Santorum, and what a happy day that will be. Why not do this on a national level?
Secondly, taxes. In 1984, Walter Mondale promised that he would raise taxes if elected. Mr. Mondale wouldn't have won the presidency no matter what he had said, but democrats failed to learn an important lesson from the gaffe. Taxes in America are incredibly burdensome. Merely because someone is wealthy doesn't mean that government should have the right to come in and take such large portions of their income.
When you factor in state taxes, city taxes, sales taxes, and other miscelaneous fees, some people are paying up to 75% of their income to the state. This is completely unacceptable.
The sad fact is that some people are "born with an aluminum spoon in their mouths". For whatever reason, due to lack of intelligence, inability, lack of ambition or the idea that society "owes" them something, certain Americans will never rise out of poverty and economic illiteracy. Government has a role to play (think healthcare), but it can only do so much. Burdening the country's value producers is not the answer.
Republicans are repeatedly told that they must broaden their party and become more inclusive. That advice would do the Democratic party well, too. The notion of the "big tent" isn't just for conservatives anymore.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/03/2005 1:07 PM
Kevin Gettmann - Calif Hey, Ivan, What are you doing on a gay website?...you closet queen! No self respecting straight guy would be caught dead on this site, so I'm probably not too far off. Not to mention you clearly "Bush lover" mentality makes you look even more stupid. Take a look at the polls...even Republicans are jumping off your idiot President's sinking ship. Don't you read the new or watch TV? Thanks for the humor....some straight people can be reallly dumb, and us gay people are really not amused by your rude attempt at logic.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/03/2005 1:35 PM
Hey Kevin, You better watch your step. You and "Besen" really seem anti-gay because all you do is point out how nasty people are to homosexuals and how you feel that there exists "discrimination." there is no discrimination, though, because gays are allowed to have relationships, work, travel freely and get some health care. So what is the problem? I really get offended when "besen" blasted Alito, who is an icon to the right and a firm believer in the Way. He has never done anything to hurt gays and george bush has never tried to harm gays. I think you and "besen" are creating an imaginary world of self-hate to get attention. But that is wrong because you make religious conservatives seem like bad people when they are not. now that is logic.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/03/2005 2:26 PM
Ivan, I totally agree!! finally someone points out the truth! also kevin, gays are allowed to rent AND OWN property! there is no discrimination!
posted by Anonymous, at
11/03/2005 2:36 PM
Hey Tessie, Do me a favor and shut the fuck up. Your dumb hick comments take away from my accurate statements and make me look bad. Stick to logical reasoning, oh, wait, you have none, so go back to your trailer park and eat some devil dogs.
posted by Anonymous, at
11/03/2005 2:41 PM
Ivan: ROTFLMAO. You and Tessie should hit the road - you guys make a great comedy team!
