re: #7 EiMitch

I don’t think this mid-term is a problem by itself. I think its just another sign amongst many of how complacent the democratic party has been for the past several years. The republican party had likewise been complacent up until the tea-party took over.

Don’t believe me? Then explain why democrats just resorted to nearly 100% mud-slinging instead of sticking their guns. As if you can compete with the crazies at motivating your base by demonizing your opponents. The re-election of Mr “I’ll break you like a boy if you ask me about my 20 indictments” Grimm perfectly illustrates how well that works.

The post-teabagger GOP’s agenda may be nuts, and they might not win every single battle. But they know what they’re doing. They’re motivated, or at least feigning motivation, to a degree that older career politicians can’t plausibly fake. And they’re willing to take big risks. (with our lives, mind you. But still…) In other words, they’re serious.

We need to counter them with a party thats also serious. And if you think today’s democrats are that party, then I’d like to sell you a solid gold bridge. I believe there needs to be somewhat-equivalent liberal movement to the tea party. Not necessarily an astroturf “grass-roots” campaign. But there does need to be a new wave. An out-with-the-old moment. A fresh crop of liberal politicians who are willing to take big risks during election seasons. And who aren’t trained to cringe and whimper the moment they’re accused of “socialism” or “class-warfare” or other antiquated emotionally-loaded phrases that predate the effing cold war.

I also hope that if such a movement were to happen, that they at least don’t deify the Clintons the way the teabaggers have deified Regan. But thats just me.

I agree with you that the Democrats could do better, but I think it’s less about needing an obvious revolution/a left wing version of the tea party, and more about needing to train the candidates we already have how to have a spine.

Also, I disagree with you that the Republican party is any less complacent after the tea party take over, if anything they’ve become more complacent devolving into level of gut based blind opposition that Grocho Marx summed up best…

Groucho Marx - I’m Against It

Your proposition may be good
But let’s have one thing understood
Whatever it is, I’m against it!
And even when you’ve changed it
Or condensed it
I’m against it!

This is a political party on its way out thrashing blindly in hatred at a world it no longer is offering any sort of productive discourse or service.

Democrats need to stick to their guns, they need to get out their vote, they need to stop running away from the President, but I think this can be achieved gradually over time rather than needing a purging of the old guard so to speak.