The Politics of Self
In yesterday's Boston Globe, Joan Vennochi finds fault with Russ Feingold for creating "a dilemma for Democrats":
Whipping up white-hot partisan frenzy wins adoration from lefty bloggers. But by the tenets of conventional political wisdom, it is a risky general election strategy.
This is the kind of reasoning that makes ordinary citizens disgusted with politics. Right and wrong don't matter. Breaking the law doesn't matter. All that matters is positioning yourself for the next election.
But if right and wrong don't matter to us anymore, what difference does it make who we elect?
Fatcat Politics posted a list of the Democratic senators who support Feingold's resolution to censure Bush (exactly two — Boxer and Harkin). Compare that to the list below it, the Democratic senators who supported the resolution to censure Clinton (22).
American politics is long on spin and election strategy, and woefully lacking in substance. Is it any wonder we stumble our way into illegal wars, leave 46 million Americans uninsured, allow corporations to ship American jobs overseas with no real penalties, ruin the environment, and pretend that money is not thoroughly corrupting the political process?
Comments
Yeah, ain't that somethin'? A guy can't even stand up for what he believes in. Standing up for what you believe in is now a 'stunt'. Christ on a bike...!
Posted by: Neil Shakespeare | March 20, 2006 11:42 AM
Yup, Neil, thats it right there.
Doing or saying anything is 'playing politics'...accountability is "causing divisiveness" etc. Yeah, we know the deal.
Good to see you- been so busy lately.
Posted by: Lily Branford | March 20, 2006 09:27 PM
Every liberal in America is still running scared; they are so used to being losers at this point. I will continue to ask "where are the democratic leaders?" Isn't there anyone out there? The hypocrisy is mind boggling.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 21, 2006 02:23 PM
I agree with Anonymous. Sweep away the old leadership and get some fresh blood in there, but that said I think Feingold's resolution is a distraction right now. In 6 months...maybe, but right now we need to focus on the mid-terms. Bush will never be swept from office without the House.
Posted by: Kvatch | March 21, 2006 04:41 PM
Did I hear someone say term limits?
Posted by: abi | March 21, 2006 07:18 PM
Pooh-pooh conventional political wisdom all you want, but the fact remains that the traditional formula of money+connections/vapidness = 2 straight presidential wins!
Censure THAT!
Posted by: Rex Kramer, Danger Seeker | March 22, 2006 09:59 PM