Nowhere left to go...

[Joe Fields]

Last night on Countdown, with Keith Olbermann, Keith asked MSNBC political analyst Lawrence O'Donnell a question concerning the left wing of the Democratic party and its dissatisfaction with the Dem leadership, in regard to their handling of their opposition to the Iraq war. He asked if the leadership could count on the liberal wing to fall in line, come November, 2008, if there was no movement on the war issue. Would there be anywhere else for them to go, since the Dem leadership seems to have caved in? O'Donnell's answer? There is nowhere left for the left wing of the Democratic party to go. The Dem leadership expects the liberal wing to fall in line, come the November elections.

And THERE'S the rub, ladies and gentlemen.

For decades now, our wing of the party has been completely ignored, after election time. It has been the same with African Americans. The Democratic leadership has counted on getting nine out of ten registered African Americans to vote Democratic, and then, when they have dutifully fulfilled their obligation, are treated like strangers. They as much tell the African American community, "Thank you very much. Now go away and don't bother us. We'll let you know when we need your support.

It's been the same with liberals, since the Vietnam War. We have carried the party's water. We have done their bidding. We have gotten little notice, in return. We spoke with loud and clear voices last November, but all we have received in return is lip service. While the party has gone about their business as usuall, we, the liberal wing of the party have been ignored, shunned.

O'Donnell is absolutely right. There really is nowhere for us to go. We saw what happened in 2000, when progressives left the party and voted Green. Third parties in this country just are not a viable political option. We know, however, that this party would be nowhere without African Americans and liberals, yet we get nothing in return for our loyalty and activism. And I am sick of it. Who does this party think does it's legwork? Moderates and centrists? Hell no. The heavy lifting of this party is done by people such as you and me. People who pay attention and care enough to donate time, effort and money to bring about party success. It certainly isn't moderates. And what is a moderate? Simply someone who hasn't paid attention an/ or who doesn't care. And let me tell you, after the Bush COUP in 2000, EVERYBODY should be paying attention. Everybody should care. We have, in very short order been led to war on a pack of lies, had the highest posts in every department of our government poisoned with cronyism, our treasury looted, incurred massive debt, had the wholesale exporting of good jobs, had our environmental laws eviscerated or completely ignored, secret energy policies put into place, civil liberies demolished, our right to dissent smothered, and many more grievous acts committed against our country by this administration, and yet still face the spectre of a very possible war with Iran. So, in the face of all of this, THERE SHOULD BE NO SUCH THING AS A MODERATE!!!

We, the liberal wing of the Democratic party, need to hijack our party for it's own good, as well as for the good of the country. We need to do to our party just what the Christian Coalition did to the Republican Party. The Dem leadership hasn't a clue. They are NOT working for us, or in the nation's best interests. We need to organize, from the grassroots on up, promote progressive candidates on local, state and national levels. We need to become more active. We need to become the kind of force that dictates that the rest of the party must listen to us. We gave them a clear mandate a year ago. They have ignored us, paying us lip service with phony baloney excuses. I am tired and fed up with it. In fact, I'm just plain tired. Many times this last year, I've thought about giving up completely. But I just cannot allow myself to do so. I'm 51 years old. I campaigned for Jimmy Carter, Michael Dukakis, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, and a number of Missouri congressional candidates over the years. Never have I been to a point where I have been so frustrated and disillusioned. Our party has left us, and we must hold them accountable. I'm so sick of feeling ignored and taken for granted.

I refuse to buy into their game anymore. While I believe there is a difference between the top Democratic primary candidates, and the Republican candidates, I have to say, as I have watched carefully, that with Hillary, Obama and Edwards and Richardson, it looks like it will be "business as usual, while we will continue to be ignored. We should NOT continue to give these people our money, time or effort, in order for them to maintain the status quo. That is just not acceptable.

And yes, I may get flamed some for this remark, but I feel it's kind of like, at this point, the difference between getting your house foreclosed on, or getting your house charmed right out from under you by smooth talking con men. Either way, you lose. Stoned to death? Or shot by firing squad? Either way, you lose. One way may be kinder than another, but really nothing much changes. Yes, of course I would much rather have a Democrat in the White House. But don't anyone here think that it won't continue to be "business as usual." It just won't be an all-out frontal assault on our liberties and beliefs.

I have hitched my wagon to Dennis Kucinich, and will work hard to get him nominated. I really believe that if people gave him a serious look and voted their conscience, he could draw the support necessary to win the whole shooting match. This is not a rant, with a veiled endorsement of Dennis Kucinich thrown in. This is simply one man's (one progressive man's) honest assessment of the candidates, and true belief that this party, this country needs someone committed to upholding the constitution, committed to the best interests of the people of this country, and committed to peace. Do no those qualities fit hand in glove with "progressive" values?

Labor unions became organized, holy roller fundies became organized, and we need to become better organized, so that we too, will be a force that our party can no longer ignore or take for granted.