Some
so-called "progressives" are so eager to criticize Obama and the
Democrats that you gotta wonder whether some of them aren't, in fact,
conservative moles whose real purpose is to incite division and confusion
on the Left.
As Perry Logan pointed out here, "There is, first of all, the uncomfortable fact that nobody hates Democrats more than progressives do." and "Most of today's progressives would never hurt a Republican, but will do anything to hurt their fellow Democrats." I think that this is an overstatement, but it's damn near correct. How on earth can someone think the Democrats are worse than the Republicans? Gore and Kerry are worse than Bush & Cheney?!!!! There's no comparison.
Yet over half the respondents to Poll: Are the Democrats as bad as the Republicans? thought that the Democrats are as bad as or worse than the Republicans.
As I've said: I agree that many Dems are corrupt, but there are a lot of really good Democrats, and the Republicans are so much worse.
Suppose you're being held hostage by a crazed maniac who gives you two options. Option 1 is that he'll cut off your right little finger. Option 2 is that he'll cut off your right arm and your left leg. Both options are evils. The non-evil option (being let free) is not available with significant probability. You should choose the lesser of two evils, shouldn't you? That's a good analogy for the 2000 election.
"Please, please, Lord, give me the lesser of two evils!"
However, I agree that many Democrats are corrupt and the Dems in Congress need to be pushed leftwards. The best way to do that ISN'T to treat the Democratic Party as the enemy.
But wait! Are my comments inciting acrimony and division on the Left?
I raise this issue because I figure it's silly to put our heads in the sand and pretend that the divisions on the Left don't exist. I'd like the divisions on the Left to end. How is it possible?
Perhaps a new Progressive Party will emerge.
But if the Dems don't deliver on significant health care reform and on holding Bush Administration leaders accountable for criminal behavior, I might be ready to abandon them. Still, I wouldn't condemn them all: there are some really good Dems.
As Perry Logan pointed out here, "There is, first of all, the uncomfortable fact that nobody hates Democrats more than progressives do." and "Most of today's progressives would never hurt a Republican, but will do anything to hurt their fellow Democrats." I think that this is an overstatement, but it's damn near correct. How on earth can someone think the Democrats are worse than the Republicans? Gore and Kerry are worse than Bush & Cheney?!!!! There's no comparison.
Yet over half the respondents to Poll: Are the Democrats as bad as the Republicans? thought that the Democrats are as bad as or worse than the Republicans.
Suppose you're being held hostage by a crazed maniac who gives you two options. Option 1 is that he'll cut off your right little finger. Option 2 is that he'll cut off your right arm and your left leg. Both options are evils. The non-evil option (being let free) is not available with significant probability. You should choose the lesser of two evils, shouldn't you? That's a good analogy for the 2000 election.
"Please, please, Lord, give me the lesser of two evils!"
However, I agree that many Democrats are corrupt and the Dems in Congress need to be pushed leftwards. The best way to do that ISN'T to treat the Democratic Party as the enemy.
But wait! Are my comments inciting acrimony and division on the Left?
I raise this issue because I figure it's silly to put our heads in the sand and pretend that the divisions on the Left don't exist. I'd like the divisions on the Left to end. How is it possible?
Perhaps a new Progressive Party will emerge.
But if the Dems don't deliver on significant health care reform and on holding Bush Administration leaders accountable for criminal behavior, I might be ready to abandon them. Still, I wouldn't condemn them all: there are some really good Dems.
