That essay prompted over five-hundred replies, by far the largest response I have received to any of my previous 135 internet essays. Yet these individuals, united in their opposition to Bush, Inc., were bitterly divided over the question of the "real" causes of the 9/11 attacks. Many of the CT advocates regarded me as a "tool" of the Busheviks, while a few even suggested that I was a "disinformation agent." Yet virtually all of these critics were, like myself, steadfast and determined opponents of the Bush regime and its policies. Numerous websites are devoted exclusively to conspiracy theories and to a debunking of the official view, staffed by resourceful and energetic advocates of their theories - individuals whose talents will thus be unfortunately lost to the urgent business of ousting the GOP Congress in November and restoring the White House to the Democrats in 2008.
Numerous disputes among the Democrats and Progressives are openly argued with more heat and passion than disputes with the regressive Republicans. First of all, and most significantly, is the animosity between the "Washington DC Democrats" and the rank and file Democratic voters beyond the Beltway. The DC Democrats, it seems, are much more concerned about keeping peace within the non-partisan Washington High Society than they are about responding to the concerns and serving the interests of their constituencies outside The DC Beltway. The paradigm examples of the DC Democrats are Hillary Clinton, Joseph Lieberman and Nancy Pelosi ("let's all get along and hear no more of this 'impeachment' talk"). This helps explains why, however low the ratings of Bush and the GOP, the Democrats seem not to fare much better.
Then there is the tension between the centrist ("GOP-lite") Democratic Leadership Conference and the Progressive Democrats of America - Howard Dean's liberal "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party."
Next is the ongoing competition among traditional Democratic interest groups. Most environmentalists share the concerns of the peace group and endorse the aspirations of the poor and minorities, and, conversely, most peace activists and civil rights advocates are concerned about the environment. The dispute arises over priorities, and the resulting competition over scarce resources: resources such as cash contributions, legislative agendas, media attention, etc.
Finally, as noted above, many progressives demand total agenda agreement and ideological purity among their allies before facing outward and taking on "the enemy." And because many of these internal disputes are interminable, the GOP and the regressive right often get a free pass.
And yet, the divisions among the Democrats are trivial compared with the issues that should be ripping apart the Republican coalition. This GOP alliance includes: Christian theocrats and libertarian atheists; small government, fiscal conservatives and the "borrow and spend" corporate raiders of the federal Treasury, the traditional isolationists and the neo-con imperialists; the greedy corporate owners and management and the "follow-along" cultural conservatives that they employ and exploit; the anti-government libertarians vs. the "unitary executive" proto-fascists.
At long last, this unhealthy and unnatural GOP alliance appears to be breaking up due to its internal contradictions and not, in any significant degree, because of attacks from the Democrats or from a critical media.
The DC Democrats, who should now be vigorously facilitating this break up, appear to be content to be spectators. Meanwhile, as they anticipate their fully anticipated Congressional takeover, the Democrats make hypothetical committee assignments and plan their legislative agenda, paying scant attention to the prerequisite task of winning the election or addressing that little problem of election fraud that deprived them of their victories in the past three elections.
"Good God!, why should they mock poor fellows thus," said Shakespeare's King Henry before the Battle of Agincourt. "The man that once did sell the lion's skin while the beast lived, was killed with hunting him."
This is no time for complacency or for petty intramural squabbles.
Instead, the Democrats, and all others who are fed-up with Republican greed, corruption, lawlessness, and international bullying, must unite and keep their eyes on the prize: the overthrow of Bushism.
The Democrats should now be making alliances with the disaffected Right: libertarians, Christians (emphasizing the forgotten moral teachings of the Sermon on the Mount), and the "lost Democrats" of labor and the middle class who had defected earlier to Ronald Reagan.
This opposition must no longer oppose knives with bare knuckles. We all know now that the GOP fights dirty. No need to descend to their level, but it is imperative that the Democrats fight hard and fight smart. Expose the dirty tactics and turn them against the GOP. "Frame" the issues and mobilize the language into an effective weapon. Coordinate the attacks. Take the offensive and never yield it.
And of course, fire the defeated generals -- Bob Shrum, James Carville, Paul Begala, Donna Brazile, John Kerry - and install some new faces with fresh ideas.
Expose the election racket, demand fair and verifiable elections. And do it now. Time is of the essence.
Above all, we must unite! Put aside intramural differences, form alliances with former adversaries, focus on common concerns and aims. Let's take back our government, then we can duke out our differences, as fellow citizens in a restored republic under the rule of law.
Keep your eyes on the prize!
Numerous disputes among the Democrats and Progressives are openly argued with more heat and passion than disputes with the regressive Republicans. First of all, and most significantly, is the animosity between the "Washington DC Democrats" and the rank and file Democratic voters beyond the Beltway. The DC Democrats, it seems, are much more concerned about keeping peace within the non-partisan Washington High Society than they are about responding to the concerns and serving the interests of their constituencies outside The DC Beltway. The paradigm examples of the DC Democrats are Hillary Clinton, Joseph Lieberman and Nancy Pelosi ("let's all get along and hear no more of this 'impeachment' talk"). This helps explains why, however low the ratings of Bush and the GOP, the Democrats seem not to fare much better.
Then there is the tension between the centrist ("GOP-lite") Democratic Leadership Conference and the Progressive Democrats of America - Howard Dean's liberal "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party."
Next is the ongoing competition among traditional Democratic interest groups. Most environmentalists share the concerns of the peace group and endorse the aspirations of the poor and minorities, and, conversely, most peace activists and civil rights advocates are concerned about the environment. The dispute arises over priorities, and the resulting competition over scarce resources: resources such as cash contributions, legislative agendas, media attention, etc.
And yet, the divisions among the Democrats are trivial compared with the issues that should be ripping apart the Republican coalition. This GOP alliance includes: Christian theocrats and libertarian atheists; small government, fiscal conservatives and the "borrow and spend" corporate raiders of the federal Treasury, the traditional isolationists and the neo-con imperialists; the greedy corporate owners and management and the "follow-along" cultural conservatives that they employ and exploit; the anti-government libertarians vs. the "unitary executive" proto-fascists.
At long last, this unhealthy and unnatural GOP alliance appears to be breaking up due to its internal contradictions and not, in any significant degree, because of attacks from the Democrats or from a critical media.
The DC Democrats, who should now be vigorously facilitating this break up, appear to be content to be spectators. Meanwhile, as they anticipate their fully anticipated Congressional takeover, the Democrats make hypothetical committee assignments and plan their legislative agenda, paying scant attention to the prerequisite task of winning the election or addressing that little problem of election fraud that deprived them of their victories in the past three elections.
"Good God!, why should they mock poor fellows thus," said Shakespeare's King Henry before the Battle of Agincourt. "The man that once did sell the lion's skin while the beast lived, was killed with hunting him."
This is no time for complacency or for petty intramural squabbles.
Instead, the Democrats, and all others who are fed-up with Republican greed, corruption, lawlessness, and international bullying, must unite and keep their eyes on the prize: the overthrow of Bushism.
The Democrats should now be making alliances with the disaffected Right: libertarians, Christians (emphasizing the forgotten moral teachings of the Sermon on the Mount), and the "lost Democrats" of labor and the middle class who had defected earlier to Ronald Reagan.
This opposition must no longer oppose knives with bare knuckles. We all know now that the GOP fights dirty. No need to descend to their level, but it is imperative that the Democrats fight hard and fight smart. Expose the dirty tactics and turn them against the GOP. "Frame" the issues and mobilize the language into an effective weapon. Coordinate the attacks. Take the offensive and never yield it.
And of course, fire the defeated generals -- Bob Shrum, James Carville, Paul Begala, Donna Brazile, John Kerry - and install some new faces with fresh ideas.
Expose the election racket, demand fair and verifiable elections. And do it now. Time is of the essence.
Above all, we must unite! Put aside intramural differences, form alliances with former adversaries, focus on common concerns and aims. Let's take back our government, then we can duke out our differences, as fellow citizens in a restored republic under the rule of law.
Keep your eyes on the prize!
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