Wiring the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy [Or: The on-going demise of the Dem Party] (NYT)

The NY Times Sunday Magazine ^ | July 25, 2004 | MATT BAI

[governsleastgovernsbest]

This article, unintentionally, reveals what's wrong with the Dems.

They are focused on the need to copy the Republicans and conservatives when it comes to money and organization. But there is virtually nothing in the article about any IDEAS that could change the debate in the Dems favor. They would prefer to talk in organizational terms because, deep down in side, I think they realize they have nothing to offer but higher taxes, soft socialism and moral ambiguity.

This article reminds me of the failed approach of Air America and the Al Franken crowd. They thought they could compete with Rush, O'Reilly et. al by raising some money. The didn't focus on the fact that their message wouldn't and didn't sell.

[GWB00]

I found this article very interesting and it humored me on this Sunday morning.

A couple of observations:

The goal, instead, is to find the equivalent of these 1960's political models for a faster-moving online world.

This line cracked me up. The whole premise of looking at the future of the Democratic Party was shattered by this statement. They are always looking back (i.e. the old playbook. This is why you see the party trying to make gay issues a civil rights issue.

Another comment I found funny was the view of the conservative movement ideas.

Their money spawned academic proposals, some of which, like privatized Social Security or missile defense, were so far beyond the mainstream of their time as to be considered ludicrous

This gives you a flavor of how the left views sensible ideas. Chile has had a very successful privatized social security system for years. Why would this idea ever be considered "ludicrous" in this country? As for missle defense, would you not do whatever is humanly possible to protect the country from nuclear destruction? Show me where that concept was ever an absurd idea. To make these people even look more like idiots, missle defense is in place today and working!

There were several reference made to the "right wing". Not once was the words "Left Wing" ever used. I realize this is to be expected, but I still find it funny.

Finally, money seemed to be the over riding theme to solving the Democrats/Lefts problems. This is no surprise being that they do this in every policy proposal.

Rush Limbaugh is a great example of how money does not insure success. He started his program on a shoestring and succeeded. It was his ideas and his presentation of the news that generated his success not millions of dollars in investment from NY or Silicon Valley venture capitalists. Where is Air America today??? This point should keep the left awake at night.

Overall, I think there is some optimism to be gained from this article, but also a wake up call for Conservatives to take our movement to the next level.

[GWB00]

OOps. I kind of feel like an idiot myself when I made the comment that not once did the article refer to the "Left Wing". It is in the title. However, I did not see it mentioned in the article. Perhaps my hypersensitivity.

[Molly Pitcher]

Did you see this???

[Jim Noble]

When measured in terms of electoral success, the growing imbalance between the parties is quantifiable. From the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 until the Republican takeover of 1994, Democrats never lost control of the House of Representatives for more than one election before regaining it, and that only happened twice. They have now failed to control the House in five straight elections. Similarly, for 46 of those years, Democrats ruled the Senate by a margin of at least 10 seats. In contrast, they have spent most of the last decade in the minority, and during that time they have never enjoyed a majority of more than a single vote.

The reasons that the People dispatched the Democrats in 1994 have not changed.

But the Peoples' belief in the Republicans as change agents was never solidified, and is now fading fast.

Deservedly.

We have never had a period when both major parties were exhausted and ready for replacement at the same time.

Until now.

The American Crisis, Part II.

[The Raven]

"....he said he was unable to name a single Democratic leader ...articulating a compelling new direction for the party."

Why a new direction? As long as I can remember they call Republicans stupid, tax the rich, increase government, and spew propaganda from their pores.

That approach will always work. With a lock on schools, the judiciary, and the media, they ain't gonna dissolve.

[The Raven]

>>By 2012, I don't think there will even be a "Dem Party" anymore.

THe ultra-liberal Scandinavia countries seem to all hit a stopping point. Probably when they've maximized pilfering the country's wealth, and not because they've run out of spending outlets.

They need some capitalism to pay for their socialism, but I can't see any of them going backwards (disassembling socialism).

Milton Friedman observed that economic freedom is a necessary part of general freedom, and it's too bad our Founding Fathers did not capture it in the Bill of Rights.

The Dems survive on the wealth produced by capitalism and it feeds their power. Looking back at Clinton's legacy - his major accomplishments - welfare reform, the economy, and NAFTA, were all surprises - since they were all Republican ideas (As for the economy - the Reagan leftovers helped, but Clinton was the first Dem to discard Keynes monetary policy and Newt's Congress kept him in check)

[CasearianDaoist]

Oh they will find something, trust me.

[summer]

I'm too tired to think about it more deeply but it's just darn funny when you know the way these guys function in real life.

I know what you mean -- however, I think some of these guys have actually split from the Dem Party. But, the Dem Party continues to put on a brave face, and knowingly turn a blind eye, not yet ready to acknowledge those defections.

Thanks for your post. This writer, Matt Bai, has written some good articles about politics for the NYT.

[summer]

PS I read your profile page. My sincerest sympathies to you, for those you lost on 9-11.

[prairiebreeze]

bump later read

[mo]

All the Dims need to do ...is enforce the country's borders, support concealed carry aboard planes, support private management of one's retirement goals and objectives, create a flexible public/private health care system easy for an individual and a provider to segue in and out of as it meets/does'nt meet their needs, abolish the sixteenth ammendment and use a tariffs system to provide federal funding, and re-establish the Senate as it was meant to function as elected by their state's legislaures......its easy enough if they really WANT to lead....they PREFER to control.

[summer]

Thanks for posting the entire article. It took time and it is appreciated.

My pleasure. Thanks for your kind words.

You might be correct about what binds liberals together, but I also see this trend, repeatedly: there is a complete lack of ability or interest by Dem Leaders in identifying those in their own party who have something to offer; so, they ignore talent and the talented people eventually realize they can actually go somewhere else.

That's why the Dems have no "farm team" of candidates in FL. They do not nurture talent at all.
It's like treating people as if they were garbage, while the other side is constantly recognizing these treasures the liberals have thrown away. One side disgards; one side recovers what has been abandoned.

I don't know if that came out the way I meant it, but it is based on my own observation, which is also mentioned in that article -- that people are always leaving the Dem Party. The movement is not that people are fleeing the GOP - it is the Dem Party they flee.

[summer]

These nations have progressed through this sequence:

upchuck, I think the historical sequence you cite may be changing due to technology. The sequence will not now end in bondage, thanks to the net.

[summer]

Good article too.

Thanks, Fenris6. I appreciate your entire post.

I am always amazed how many former Dems I meet on this forum. :)

[summer]

(But, maybe I shouldn't be!)

[summer]

...while shielding the foibles of the standard bearer from public scrutiny.

Yes, I hear you on all that.

BTW, speaking of "foibles" of the Dem Party -- have you read the current issue of TIME magazine? They have an article about this recent indictment in NJ of a major Dem donor, named Kushner, who was being investigated for wrongdoing in campaign financing of I believe Dem gov McGreevy. So, to intimidate witnesses, Kushner hired prostitutes, lured witnesses, videotaped encounters, and is now being accused of obstructing justice. One of the videotaped prostitute encounters was with a hooker and his brother-in-law, and Kushner is alleged to have mailed that videotape to his own sister, who was cooperating with investigators.

When you read articles like this, it just makes "public service" seem like the last profession you would ever want to get into.

[summer]

Also, woofer, thanks for your comments here. :)

[summer]

the real meaning of this article is that the Rats now see that they need to reinvest billion in their disinformation machine

Yeah, but you have to wonder - why does it take them so long to do anything? Why is Air America only in existence (barely) now? Why are Dem forums so far behind a forum like this one in terms of functionality? Why did Jon Podestra only recently form the first Dem "think tank"? Where have Dems been for the past few decades or so? And, why does all the money they seem to be able to raise appear to fly out the window?

They are not organizers. They are bumblers in terms of building long term foundations. Short term criminal acts seem to be a speciality, but long term acts to appeal to a moral electorate is not yet part of the plan. That's part of the reason, IMO.

[summer]

Re your post #17 - Yes, you're right about the lack of ideas from their side. And, the article does expressly point that out.

I also noticed one Dem person quoted in the article was genuine enough to admit the following about conservatives:

''What you need to understand about me is that I try to be respectful and objective about this,'' Stein went on. ''Not only is it a legitimate exercise in democracy, but I think they [the conservatives] came up with some extraordinary ideas.''

His comment rang true to me with respect to the best conservative leaders, even though it is a comment the typical Dem leader hates to make -- because that comment acknowledges that while core beliefs are part of the conservatives, the best of them are, in fact, very innovative.

Dem leaders have lost that claim over time due to the way they are structured and their lack of ideas. But conservatives can legitimately make that claim now.

And, that claim is a very potent magnet that attracts swing and independent voters, IMO.