General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Do you support President Obama in regards to the recently disclosed NSA surveillance issue? [View all]Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)Party is an essential element in advancing progress - I don't see how continually sending a message to the Democratic Party leadership that they do not need to worry about the liberals and the progressives because they will be with them no matter what helps toward that end. When the Democratic Party adopted the New Deal - that development did not come from an atmosphere of unqualified support. The Democratic Party embraced the New Deal when they knew they had to embrace progressive policies in order to keep a major part of their constituency on board. Currently the Democratic Party leadership has been able to assume that they don't need to do anything progressive or worry about any policies no matter how reactionary - when it comes to keeping liberals and progressives on board. This "Democratic Party right or wrong" approach may in a limited sense help in the short term goal - but does it ultimately lead toward a more progressive Democratic Party and more progressive policies or even inhibit reactionary policies? I don't think so.