Why high hopes are dangerous when considering a Kerry administration

[WilliamPitt]

You don't go from crud to glory in one election. You sure as hell don't recover from the last four years quickly. I don't care if Jesus H. Christ is the nominee, and the Buddha is his running mate.

This election, and the next four years, are triage. It is delusional to expect 'champions' who can win national elections in this grand 21st century. The game is rigged from hoot to holler, and has been for years. There's an old saying about radio that applies here: Politics is a long, shallow trench where the whores run free and good men die like dogs. I am *not* saying Kerry is a whore, but I *am* saying that true champions have trouble running the gauntlet as it is currently compromised.

Champions run for House and Senate seats in 2006...I'll get to that in a sec.

Do you think *any* progressive legislation is getting passed during Kerry's first two years? We ain't taking back the Congress in November, so Kerry will have Hastert, Frist and DeLay to work with. The Happy Fun Group, I like to call them. If God On High pointed Her Mighty Finger at these three assjacks and ordered them to pass universal health care and an omnibus education reform package, they'd have Her denounced as a French liberal elitist baby-killing swine who lied about Her service in the Great Angelic War.

You want champions? Do the entire country a great service and find one, and have him or her run for a House or Senate seat in 2006. Get John Kerry a congress, and you'll get him a second term. Get him a second term and a congress, and watch what happens. I, for one, can't wait.

But I'm gonna, because 2004 is about win first. High ideals and hopes for Kerry's first 100 days will certainly be met with deep disappointment. We win nothing with a Kerry victory but the blessed opportunity to start digging out from the storm we've been in for a thousand days.

2006.

On edit: Cheswick rightly states below that holding Kerry's feet to the fire from day one is the responsibility of all of us, regardless of congressional circumstances.

[kikiek]

1. I don't expect a quick recovery. I want to stop the destruction of

democracy. Unfortunately the offenders will just be out of office temporarily, and are training new evil doers. That battle won't be over anytime soon either if ever. New amoral people will emerge.

[amber dog democrat]

7. the battle will never be over.

and the PNAC/Norquist/corporate/fundies are going for scorched earth in their attempt to wrest the White House back under their control.
We have to be smarter and better than they are.

[Cheswick2.0]

2. preemptive excuses?

I intend to hold his feet to the fire from the time he takes office. I'll find my champions elsewhere but I do expect Kerry to act like a democrat.

[WilliamPitt]

4. As will I

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. Bingo!!! My dear friend PassingFair has just been elected to precinct

delegate and chairs the commission for the convention here in MI. As a Deaniac, she intends on holding him barefoot! :hi:

[Larkspur]

33. "Preemptive Excuses" is exactly how I see Will Pitt's post also

Getting an early jump on the excuses for why Kerry will flail, should he win the election, is a sure sign that Kerry supporters are worried that their guy won't live up to their hype.

[no name no slogan]

53. At this point, I'd be happy to return to Clinton levels

Bush is really that bad, IMHO. Does that make me ABB? Who cares anymore. I really don't like Kerry, especially the more he triangulates. But on the other hand, even Clinton looks pretty good right now, compared to BushCo.

I'll vote for Kerry. But I'll be the first one in line to hold his feet to the fire on progressive issues.

[Philostopher]

3. Well, while legislation is probably impossible right off ...

I saw an article in Harper's (I think -- may have been one of the other liberal rags, we get about four right now) that theorized Kerry could, as Clinton and Bush did, make some changes to some things he knew he couldn't affect outright with legislation with executive orders -- things like refunding international family planning programs. In fact, the article seemed to say what you're saying -- that executive orders were probably the only option Kerry would have on some of those things, especially since even if we get enough Dems in to tip one house or the other, it won't be enough to override dissent and would turn the attempts into major clusterf*cks for everybody involved.

What say you on that? Just curious -- the author made a good point about Bush and Clinton doing these things -- the funding for international family planning organizations was both refunded and again defunded through executive orders within the first 100 days of Clinton and Bush* respectively. Any feel for how he might behave?

(edited for clarification)

[WilliamPitt]

5. That which he can do without congress, he probably will do

The family planning organizations will get re-funded, if only because family planning advocates like NOW and NARAL have been such staunch (and strategically silent) allies to date.

[Philostopher]

16. I found the article online --

It was in American Prospect. Hope the link works -- it would do everybody good to read it, because it addresses not only how the executive order is used, but how dangerous it can be to overuse it:

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewPrint&articleId=8140

It's dangerous to overuse it, of course, because any chief executive who can be seen to abuse it will be accused of being dictatorial.

[KoKo]

39. Good Grief....is "strategically silent" the way into the Kerry inner

sanctum? Please don't say this...

[amber dog democrat]

6. I have very low expectations - but change is vital.

My sense is having Kerry as the president would be like putting a chock behind
the wheel of a stalled vehicle on an inclined road.
Until we can move forward, we have to stop rolling downhill first.

The Chimp has to go - and he can take his junta with him.

As for Delay. He has some 'splaining to do regarding violation of Texas corporate funding of political campaigns.

Its a start.

[shraby]

9. Maybe Kerry can instruct his new

Attorney General to start doing some investigations into the last administration? We all know laws were broken. How about the torture? How about the Iran leak? How about the Plame leak? How about the medicare prescription drug arm-twisting and withholding info on the cost? There are more than that but it's a start.

[amber dog democrat]

13. I agree - this is why THIS election is so fraught with peril for Rethugs.

They lose their blanket of protections from accountability if the Big Chimp goes down. The deeds ye do, two by two, ye pays for one by one.
We can only hope.

[rkc3]

8. Why do we have to put Kerry's feet to the fire from day one after not ...

doing so for Not-So-Curious George?

Is it because we're too lazy? We were too tired after Gore's defeat? Or did the Bush admin give us such low expectations (even those were not met) from the start that even showing up sober was good enough for us?

[shraby]

10. You can't put shrub's feet to the fire

if no one in congress or the white house listens. With that bunch you might as well be running through the fog with your mouth open and expect nutrition from the moisture.

[WilliamPitt]

12. I'm not sure who the 'we' is you're referring to

but the activists on this forum, as well as the independent and alternative media, have been looping haymakers at this administration from the word go.

[rkc3]

22. Will, I agree, we do loop haymakers at him all the time.

But when will it come from the mainstream media?

Like they did to Clinton (portraying him as a bad man - you forget about the issues and only focus on the character), they have positioned activists and independent/alternative media as unpatriotic, un-American, liberals (in a bad sense), or worse - terrorist-supporting.

Our calls for justice are viewed as shrill cries from crazy left-wingers and not to be taken seriously.

It gets discouraging when you read what the Republicans have said and done and the media and a good number of Americans let them get away with it. I can only hope Tom Harkin's outrage yesterday is only the start of serious counter-attacks from this party. Otherwise, they'll continue to pound us.

[KoKo]

41. Kick

:kick:

[DinahMoeHum]

11. Getting Kerry in the WH may be a baby step, but it's a critical one.

The real work starts AFTER the election and inauguration.
eg. Democracy For America www.democracyforamerica.com


:kick:

[LizW]

14. Sigh.

Gotta love the lowering of expectations.

I understand the give and take of politics. Believe me, I've given. I was told I couldn't have the President I really wanted because Kerry was the only guy who could beat Bush. I said okay. I was told I must vote for Kerry because we have to protect the Supreme Court from Bush. I said sure. I was told I couldn't speak out against Kerry when I think he's making mistakes in the campaign, because we MUST win. I've been largely silent.

I think I've done my part so far. I've sent money. I've written letters to the editor. I've talked to friends and family and convinced them to vote for Kerry.

But dammit to hell, don't start telling me now that I shouldn't expect much out of Kerry when he gets elected until I do more for him.

When we put Kerry in office (and I truly believe that this election will be a near-landslide if it is not stolen by the Repugs) I want to see a PRESIDENT! I want to see the LEADER you all told me that Kerry is. I want to see him in Hastert's and DeLay's faces everyday using the mandate we give him to say, "Hey guys, this is the way it's going to be."

I don't expect miracles with regard to Iraq and the economy. I know it is going to take a long time to fix the damage Bushco has done. But I want to see Kerry leading from day 1.

I do not want to hear excuses.

[unfrigginreal]

29. Excellent!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[shivaji]

43. Does Kerry's past voting record show he has a backbone?

My guess is Kerry wins by 50 electoral votes, but then
will give in and compromise with the repug congress on
most issues. And don't expect any real progrssive judges
getting approved by the repugs for SCOTUS.

Get ready for grid-lock, big time.

[Old and In the Way]

15. The magnitude of Kerry's victory will play an important role

in his 1st 2 years, if we don't get a majority in the Senate/House. If he win's by a few hundred votes, you know the Republicans will make his life miserable. If he wins in a landslide, Republicans will need to respect the will of the people.

Regardless, Kerry will provide us 1 immediate dividend....control of the SCOTUS nominations.

[cmd]

17. Think Supreme Court

This is the most critical element of taking back our country. If Kerry gets nothing done in four years, he will at least have stopped Bush from naming another ultra-conservative justice. That alone will be worth it.

Knowing what Kerry will have to work with keeps my expectations realistic. Kerry is the one who must hold our feet to the fire. We can't let him down once he gets in office. Will is right; we need to retake congress.

[JI7]

18. NO

[kentuck]

19. Are you absolutely sure we're not taking back the House ?

If Kerry wins by a good margin, I could see us winning both the House and Senate...It is important to have both by next census...so we can "fix" the Republican gerrymandering of the last few years. :)

[WilliamPitt]

20. This time around

it is a preponderance of Democrats who have to defend their seats. This doesn't lend itself to a circumstance where we can make gains.

[Warren DeMontague]

21. I'm all in favor of holding his feet to the fire. However:

First off, re; "Lowering Expectations". I don't know about any of you, but for me just not having Bush, Ashcroft, Cheney et al. in the White House will be like someone took the anvil off my toe. Someone stopped smacking me in the head with a hammer. The dentist stopped drilling, the dog stopped barking, the eedjit in the car next to me stopped blasting that crappy, thumping music. I fully intend to spend at least four or five days not thinking about politics at all, if Kerry wins.

Secondly, please- let's not forget the lessons of 1993-4. The 1992 election was a very special time for me. It was a magical year. And after that, we had the White House. We had the Senate, and we had the House of Representatives. For two whole years. And the party, essentially, fell apart. Clinton allowed the GOP to define him on a bunch of non-issues early on, and didn't really recover until he had Newt Gingrich in the Speaker's role as a foil. Congress from 93-94, if I remember right, seemed much more interested in bickering over petty differences than in getting anything done. Everyone was so wedded to their own little chunk of ideological real estate, their pet issues and whatnot, that cohesive action just didn't happen. We blew the best chance for meaningful health care reform in a generation because we let the insurance companies hoodwink the public with the 60 Million dollar "Harry & Louise" Ad campaign.. and without any effective response, the opportunity passed. (10 years later, we can see the results clearly, with some 40-odd Million Uninsured)

My point? Hell, yeah, lets hold Kerry's feet to the fire. But he deserves a chance to do things his own way, and the party ought to try to stay unified behind him once he becomes (please) President. Do I expect that miraculously every single little pet issue I have will be addressed within the first 5 minutes of a Kerry administration? Not even close. Many of the things I believe most strongly in generally won't be touched with a 10 foot pole by the national party, not this decade at least.. And I know for many of you, it's the same. But one thing the GOP has managed to do this past 4 years is stay focused on Bush.. I mean, he's obviously, dangerously incompetent, but for the most part they've still remained remarkably loyal to the guy. We've got a candidate who should be a helluva lot easier to rally around once he's in the White House. Personally, I really hope that we learn from what I see as the mistakes of the past enough to do so.

[KoKo]

46. kick

:kick:

[Blue_Roses]

23. Oh, God

how true!! I was just talking about this very issue this morning with a friend of mine. The "climax" is a win in November, but it's downhill for a while after that--at least until we get more Democrats in the house and senate!

I know there will be much bitching and complaining about Kerry not doing this or that when he gets in office, so this is this first rule of thumb to remember when hosting high expectations from a Kerry administration: don't. I have no doubt Kerry will do everything in his power to see many changes implemented, but we will have MANY angry repubs who do nothing but whine and bitch about ELECTED Democratic Presidents.

[Larkspur]

34. By kerry fanatics sold people with the "Kerry is the Liberal Savior"

and utopia is with a kerry admin and that's why we have to blindly support him, hell and high water. Those who drank the kerry kool-aid will have one heck of a hangover after Nov. 2.

[Blue_Roses]

36. I don't think Kerry is the "liberal savior"

just a man who tries very hard to do what is right by the American people. I have no doubt he will make a fine President and no, I don't drink kool-aide.

[DrFunkenstein]

24. Health Care And Energy Reform Will Take Awhile To Organize

Don't expect it during Kerry's first year, but I expect the groundwork to be firmly laid by the end of his first term.

[depakid]

25. I think we have a right to expect Executive action

at the federal agencies- which CANNOT be blocked by Congress, absent a veto proof majority. That means major reforms from the FCC to reign in the media and at the FDA to reign in PhRMa, among other things. He can also overturn every single executive order that the current pResident has in place- just as Dean promised to do.

That's not very much to ask and well within his power.

I hope it doesn't come down to it, but I think the probability is that if Kerry governs like Clinton and sells us out repeatedly, then he'll end up a one-termer. The Greens will run a stronger candidate in 2008 and Kerry will end up losing to the likes of McCain.

[realFedUp]

26. Triage.....a medical term I think...

calls for a Dr. doesn't it? Just FYI, a lot of
us are being good soldiers in this election. We
gave quite a bit in money and time to our candidate
and turned around to do the same for K&E. If this
election is more of a rout than people think, it
will be because more people want Bush out. I hope Kerry
realizes that he won't have a mandate to lean to
the middle right. I'm not calling for a division
right now, but just realize that we know we're
sucking it up to get Bush out. And we won't be silent
forever.

[sandnsea]

27. We have to keep fighting

If we recognize that we're in this for the long haul and that it's about more than elections, then we can have an effect and important changes faster. We have to keep making noise and calling out the right. Americans ARE NOT a bunch of religious radical extremists. We have to provide the noise machine for respectful social policies and fair and rational economic policies. Look at what they're doing at the convention, hiding Robertson, Falwell and Graham. Even THEY know religious extremism isn't where America is at.

[GumboYaYa]

30. Don't give up Congress so fast.

Not that it takes away from your point. even if we get Congress in 2004, there is a shit pile of mess to clean up after Bush that will make progress slow for the next four years.

Nevertheless, there is going to be massive Dem turnout in Nov. Let's shoot for getting Congress back this term That means finding a local campaign and getting involved now.

[borat sagdiyev]

31. you aren't going to hold his feet to the fire

History says so.
Republicans will start the attack machine from day one and then its defend Kerry mode for Democrats.

[ulysses]

40. yup.

[KoKo]

52. kick

:kick:

[THUNDER HANDS]

32. holding his feet to the fire?

If he wins, we should kiss his feet, not put it to the fire. He needs support both to get to the White House and to actually DO something once he's there.

If he can beat Bush and Rove and the VRWC, then he's a hero 1,000x over in my book and has ample leeway to pursue whatever objectives he thinks will get him a second term.

There are three things I expect in a John Kerry presidency.

1. That he appoint pro-choice Supreme Court justices.
2. That he find a way out of Iraq as soon as possible without increasing troop levels there.
3. That he doesn't take any crap from the GOP, or left-wing supporters who think HE owes THEM.

HE doesn't owe us anything. We owe HIM our lives and our future.

I'll be bellying up with a jar of aloe and a heating pad for Mr. Kerry's feet - all the rest of you can grab your Bic lighters and go roast mini marshmallows.

[Larkspur]

35. Guess the kerry fanatics forgot to put the warning label on the

kerry kool-aid they sold -- Warning drinking this beverage produces hangover starting Nov. 3, 2004.

What a joke this is!!

I'll be laughing at all the kerry fanatics tripping over their tongue as they try to make excuses for their nuance hero.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Feanorcurufinwe]

37. We've got to fight to take Congress.

It's too soon to give up that fight.

[KoKo]

38. Message Removed by poster

[KoKo]

42. A good reminder for those of us on the Left who didn't support Iraq

Invasion and are hoping for more recognition from the Party but not finding it. We shouldn't expect recognition and must move on to where we can make a difference as many of us are doing with the new "Progressive Movement." Thanks... it was a good "kick in the butt reminder" and sometimes it's needed...:-)'s

[jonnyblitz]

44. none here.

not even low hope, just ABB.

[Strawman]

45. I won't be unfurling a "Mission Accomplished" banner

if Kerry wins, but it's a damn important battle. If we can stop the backsliding at least then we can start to think about making progress possible. I do think the setbacks will be easier to deal with without getting discouraged if I don't feel like Kerry is some protean political character who doesn't seem to fight hard enough for progressive values. That being said, I don't expect him to undertake political suicide missions for my satisfaction. I expect him to be as progressive as I can reasonably expect a viable President to be.

I'm just starting to get involved politically. Like too many people, although I have always had strong opinions, I have been a passive observer to political events. I am definitely not in my comfort zone doing things like door knocking or other important grassroots work. But I can see that it's not magic how the other side has risen to power. A lot of right wing evangelicals worked their asses off in their communities and the politicians I loathe stand on their shoulders. I suspect John Kerry is more liberal than he is willing to let on just as I suspect Bill Clinton was. The more people like me that come out of the woodwork and commit to a long term effort, the more cover we give politicians like these to be a little more bold in their liberalism.

So I have no illusions. I don't expect John Kerry to do everything overnight or even in 4 years and he certainly can't do what needs to be done by fiat other than some Executive Orders and reversals of Bush's orders. I know the Republicans will spin their obstructionism as Kerry's failure and some people will buy it. I think it is inherently more difficult for progressives to deliver than it is for Republicans and I am trying to keep that in mind. It is easier to roll back taxes or to abolish regaulations and create a corporate controlled society than it is to find effective solutions to inequality. Tearing things down is easy. Economically it will take at least a generation of progress to try to reverse the stagnant incomes of 80% of households over the last 30 years and I don't think we should declare victory until there is real structural change to improve that in some meaningful way. Where I live in Detroit, we are at ground zero. We need to create good paying jobs and at the same time we need to give the 47% of Detroiters who are functionally illiterate the skills to qualify for those good jobs. Nobody can finish that job in 4-8 years, but what I expect is some momentum in the right direction and some visible progress and improvement in people's quality of life. There will always be setbacks and resistance from elites who benefit from the status quo. It is easier to affirm ignorance than it is to educate and enlighten people. I don't like disappointments, but I think fighting for progressive values is a good fight, and I am ready to try.

[KoKo]

47. I've been involved and we need to work hard to get Bush out....but some

of Kerry's comments have disturbed the "Anti-Iraq Invasion" and folks on the Left like me...I think Will's post was a needed "reality check" for people who are very "idealistic" like me...

And, I think your post is so interesting in that you haven't been political, necessarily before, but are now..and I figure there are many folks here who are working their butts off for Kerry and sometimes they don't understand why some of us ask so many questions...

[hippiegranny]

51. way to testify, pse517

I, for one, am extemely happy that articulate, intelligent people such as yourself are "crawling out of the woodwork" to get involved in what promises to be a major clean-up effort! Thank you for a brilliant post.

[adolf batwing]

48. what about h clinton in 2008?

shouldn't that be an important consideration?

[neoSattva]

49. This is not a one shot deal....

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance - and we've been content and asleep for quite a while. That's why Dean morphed Dean for America into Democracy for America. From their website http://www.democracyforamerica.com/about.php -

"DFA has a long-term goal that looks past November 2004. This organization will rebuild the Democratic Party from the bottom up—it will take time, but we must start building a base now for the future."

Getting rid of Bush is absolutly necessary, and no where near enough. But it is what we have to focus on - and work on - right now.

[ScreamingMeemie]

50. Bottom up...inside out..We can and we will take back our country.

I am tired of having a defeatist attitude towards these things. :hi:

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

54. actually its going to be back to gridlock

You can be sure the GOP wont support a thing he does or proposes.

[hatrack]

55. First, stop the arterial bleeding

Then go for secondary sources of hemorrhage, and then after that we can start worrying about the cosmetic effects of the scar tissue and how best to handle them.