The Space Between Influence and Self-Defeat

Posted on 08/28/2009 at 10:59 pm by Bob Cesca

Something struck me while watching Bill Maher tonight. Not because of anything Maher, Moyers or Jay-Z said specifically. It was just a thought that occurred to me while watching.

When Republicans are in power, liberals attack the Republicans with ferocity. When Democrats are in power, liberals attack Democrats with the same ferocity.

Honestly, I don’t know if this is good for the nation or good for liberalism or what. Seriously. As near as I can tell, attacking Democratic leaders from their left flank is a major aspect of the liberal/progressive style, especially since the Democratic Party now spans such a broad stretch of the ideological spectrum and many of our party leaders are still closer to the middle than they are to the left (the Republicans, on the other hand occupy a rapidly shrinking and crazy part of the spectrum).

So how do we adequately influence Democratic leadership to pay more attention to the left without blowing up the whole thing in the process — a chain reaction that has, in the past, contributed in some way to the rise of despotic Republican administrations (Examples: LBJ disillusionment leading to Nixon, Clinton disillusionment leading to Bush)?

I suspect there’s a sweet spot in the space between necessary influence and self-defeat that we haven’t quite locked onto yet. I hope we find it.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=65905268&ref=profile Mike H.

    Moyers was amazing. He really let it rip.

  • MrBrink

    In a word- Ideas.In the history of history, we’re just babes with tools and toys.Democracy our Tonkas. Justice our Cops and Robbers. Civility our Charades.The truth, and ferocious loyalty to it, will set us free.It may not happen this year or the next, but with a little help from the greatest communication and information tool ever known, a sense of community, and a little evolution, I firmly believe our best has yet to come.Republicans manufacture Democratic leader fatigue with lies and shoot-from-the-gut assessments and unrelenting dissemination. It’s a crumbling cynical veneer.It’s an information war, Bob. And the intellectual warriors like yourself can’t fall asleep in the foxhole. The tide is turning in favor of truth and fact and decency in the name of sustainability– the Progressives’ playgound.Welcome, motherfuckers!We may become weary. We may lose some faith and become even more disenchanted with the whole goddamed universe, but it’s worth the blood and tears to speak out and be heard to fight for what’s right. To openly and unabashedly challenge falsehoods, bigotry, and insidious treachery wherever and whenever they may arise. The fight for apolitical justice and this blessed planet that too many selfishly take for granite to ultimately live in a world with no wars, poverty, or discrimination is a fight worthy of constant participation.It’s a fight for ideas.We’re on the brink, and it’s high time we begin to get it right, and fight to keep it.

  • JackDanieL

    Amen!

  • http://nanotyrnns.blogspot.com/ Nanotyrannus

    Well said.

  • MrBrink

    Oh man.I just watched Bill Moyers on the Realtime replay, after I made that last comment, and the man has left me speechless.What’s extraordinary, and nearly beyond comprehenshion, is that there’s a significant slice of the population that considers him the enemy.

  • http://nowherethemiddle.blogspot.com/ Elizabeth

    Bob, this piece, Health Care Reform and the Democratic Party, by Lincoln Mitchell, speaks to your (and our) concerns here.

  • emsique

    Elizabeth, I thought that was one of the better articles about this whole circus. I especially liked this quote:”If the Democrats do not pass a meaningful health care bill, with a public option it will be hard to answer the question of what the purpose of the Democratic Party is.”Our two party system is much of the fault. The Democrats are really two parties, Progressive Democrats and Conservative Democrats. We could use another party for the poor Republicans who are not insane, too. If health care reform fails, it really would be time for the progressives to secede and start their own party.

  • http://mccracky.com Pants McCracky

    Call me crazy, but I don’t think attacking corrupt, weak Democrats is self-defeat. I think self-defeat is when progressives compromise their core values in supporting lousy Democratic leaders simply because we’re too afraid of Republicans.Right wingers don’t have the kind of problems we do, because the tendencies inherent in politics — greed, corruption, putting self-interest over good government — are precisely what they support. They don’t find themselves in conflict with their political leaders, because the natural flow of politics is in perfect concert with their own. It’s when you’re in opposition to those things that you end up fighting everyone going the opposite direction, including Republicans and Democrats.It’s the built-in handicap of being a progressive. And in fighting for the things we stand for — equality, fairness, a clean government that works for all citizens — we can be defeated, yes, but not by ourselves. If progressive activism leads to a Democratic defeat, is it our fault for not laying aside our principles to rally around corrupt leadership? Or is it the leadership that failed?I’m tired of progressives and progressive leaders constantly apologizing for our values and the things we stand for, as if they’re something to be ashamed of. I’m tired of all the hand-wringing over something as simple as insisting that the leaders we vote for and support with our money and energy actually do the things they promise us, and that they fight for their core constituents instead of hustling us over to the kiddie table once the election’s over.If Democrats don’t want us progressives undermining them, there’s a simple solution: stop being corrupt, amoral, spineless assholes. Unconditional love is for our spouses, children, and loved ones, not our politicians. Maybe if they started trying to actually earn our votes instead of feeling entitled to them, they’d win more elections.

  • indyinwc

    Regarding Moyers, I can’t watch Maher ’cause I don’t have HBO, but I did watch Bill Moyer’s journal on PBS. He had a great show called “Money Driven Medicine” last night and if you missed it, all his shows are available online at the PBS site. Must see TV!

  • Terri

    I’m with pants.Or, put another way:Lib Dems criticize, challenge, and test anyone or group who holds the power, be it D’s or R’s. We are cautious of the power and manipulation, no matter who holds it.Leadership always needs to be watched and called out. Always. Libs know this.The R’s are simpler — like the black and white thinking they possess — root for your team, criticize the other team. The R’s are more sheep like and obedient when their own team is running the joint.