Hi DNC, Not feeling too good today, are you? Sort of a political hangover this morning? I'll bet you're wondering how the Republicans made such inroads and did so well yesterday? The answer is that YOU have sent a mixed message to the people who voted for and supported YOUR candidates!
During YOUR feel good campaigns of 2008, the word change was bandied around everywhere. Many campaign promises were made and one by one, the legislative fulfillment of each one was diluted by a dysfunctional Party, burdened with fifth columnist Blue Dogs and and futile attempts at bipartisanship.
The truth of the matter is that real change hasn't taken place in the past year and three quarters, just the appearance of change. We had the promise of health care reform but got reform in name only, with most of the major parts of the bill starting in 2014. That gave the Republicans plenty of opportunity to spread rumors about health care reform. We had empty rhetoric about jobs going overseas, but NO substantive legislation to stop it. Unions are major supporters of the Party, but no Employee Free Choice Act. That allowed the corporate backed Tea Party to pretend to be populist and get a following.
The bank bailouts that Bush started and YOUR administration continued gave the impression that it cares about big money interests and ignores the little guy. Setting up a bipartisan deficit commission was a nice touch that was sure to scare America's seniors into voting Republican. Translation, the losses at the polls were partially self inflicted.
Your most ardent, core supporters, progressives and unions are somewhat to the left of center, yet many of your people seem to be centrists or even mini Republicans. With the newly elected Republican majority in Congress, I have the feeling that your people will make more futile attempts at "can we get along" bipartisanship. That would be a serious mistake on your part because if you can get along with the Republicans, you will probably be at cross purposes with the interests of working people.
The corporate backed Tea Party seems to have done wonders for the Republicans as their candidates have been incorporated into the fold. You can expect to see a a truly populist pro labor, pro middle class party spring up out of nowhere that will keep you honest and may challenge your candidates in 2012.
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