The Democratic Party- Wha' Happened?

The Gang That Couldn't Shot Straight

Published on December 14, 2003 By Larry Kuperman In Politics

I have been trying to get some enthusiasm for a Democratic candidate- any Democratic candidate. But I just can't find anything to be enthusiastic about.

I wanted to see Howard Dean's reaction to the capture of Saddam Huessein so I went to Dean's blog (http://blog.deanforamerica.com/) to check the response. To his credit, Dean did say "this is a great day for the Iraqi people, the US, and the international community" but then continued:

"This development provides an enormous opportunity to set a new course and take the American label off the war. We must do everything possible to bring the UN, NATO, and other members of the international community back into this effort.

"Now that the dictator is captured, we must also accelerate the transition from occupation to full Iraqi sovereignty."

Is he implying that we have held the world community back from participation? I don't remember that.

But more to the point this was NOT the headline story. The headline story was a about what Dean supports term an "attack ad" attributed to Kerry supporters. The ad can be viewed at http://38.113.97.196/websites/Health/images/flash/movie2.wmv and frankly, I don't see it as an attack. It says that this is a perilous time for America and that Dean lacks the needed experience in international politics to be a viable opponent against President Bush. I happen to agree with those statements, but regardless, I don't see it as an attack.

What I see is a party lacking in vision, lacking in new ideas. Where is a liberal Democrat that is offering real alternatives? Some things that I would like to see addressed:

Unemployment is too high today. We need to provide small to midsize businesses with meaningful tax breaks to get people back to work. Individual tax credits are nice, but I am not going to hire anyone with my tax refund.

Education is the number one way to increase employment. We need more skilled workers but they have to know how to do the job.

I would like to see the issue of accountablity for large corporations addressed. We can't have more Enrons and Worldcoms. Private investments drive our economy and people have to know that they are getting the facts.

Is there a solution possible for the Midde East? We seem to on the fence on this one. Hussein is bad, Bin Laden is bad, but you think Arafat has not been a supporter these dictators? He helped Iraq in the invasion of Kuwait. You think he is isn't an obstacle to peace? If we all agree that he is part of the problem, then don't half-step. Let Israel get rid of him. It is going to take a bold new vision to break the dead-lock. I don't know the answer on this, but then I'm not running for President.

There are many other issues,but I don't see Howard Dean or any other candidate addressing them. Just my thoughts.

Comments

Draginol

on Dec 14, 2003

The Democrats have, since Johnson, have really not been much of a factor in the sense of coming up with new things.

Their failure today is more the result that they got their way -- they got to implement their great society and other crackpot ideas and people came to see that it was a failure. Now they have nothing new. It's the same old "The government knows best" combined with a reflexive naivete about the real world.

stevendedalus

on Dec 14, 2003

It is not a question of the government knows best, rather it is that free-wheeling corporations are not exactly champions of the common good.

stevendedalus

on Dec 14, 2003

Larry, I empathize with your frustration concerning the Democrats. However, since Vietnam they have been walking on eggs to satisfy right of center because of the paranoia of their leftist actions on civil rights and their bias of giving the little people a fair shake. The enormous national tumor of greed and what's-in-for-me that prevails today is what makes it a failed party, alas.

Tech Cat

on Dec 14, 2003

To me the Democratic party is anti-Bush, ant-war, and anti-semitic.

Wahkonta Anathema

on Dec 15, 2003

That is a well written and thoughtful commentary. I listened to Kucinich at a recent 'debate' and heard him mention repeal of N.A.F.T.A. Whoa! Now that grabbed my attention BIG time. He might be worth a look. Remember, this was hardly a Democratic position when it was passed (while it passed something like 98-1-1No Vote, 79% of all Dem. voters and 81% of all Rep. voters opposed it) I agree that the field is missing a Liberal and it's bad when a Governor is seen as the most radical outside-the-beltway candidate to oppose a Republican.
Lately, I've been checking out a web site at: http://www.cafr1.com. This guy has hit on a major angle which can create a massive political party with money as its' motive force. You see Mr. Burien, Jr. has found out about a little known thing called the, Cumulative Annual Financial Report, which every Inc. from local School Districts to the State Government files each year. In them are literally trillions of dollars of embezzled tax dollars which have been invested by them and double-booked to hide them from us. For example he found a multi-billion dollar bottom-line for New Jersey in a water treatment fund account, which will be removed and placed under a different account next year. The pattern is National and IS the "them" which conspiracy theorists have sought after for so long. I see in this scam the M.O. of an international racket which could go to the hundreds of trillions owed to the worlds citizens and hidden using these criminal accounting paractices.
Just think of a political party of ALL Americans who want to not pay a Federal income tax but could rather get a dividend check if they join this group, or elect the right candidate? A candidate who will, in effect, pay them the equivalent of lottery checks to vote for him, think of it! for example, as of 1999, every man, woman, and child in New Jersey could have a check for $146,000.00 if they elect a candidate to open the books. You got to admit it's an intriguing idea. Please, don't take my word for it though, because Burien has the facts; fifteen years investigating a scam that has gone on for over 45 years. He has found literally thousands of reporters in various Government jobs, over the years, with higher salaries than they got in media, who may be being bribed to keep the story undercover. You just have to see his research to believe it; I can't do it justice here. It's at http://www.cafr1.com . Read the transcript and other writing he has done and it will take your sleep away as it begins to dawn on you what he has un-covered. Blog ON

castnorth

on Dec 15, 2003

I couldn't agree more with your dilema. Is it too much to ask for a candidate with the strength to take on corporations and terrorism! Not to mention a candidate that would do more for social programs and environment than our current one. It is a sad day when the motivation for a candidate relies upon the negativity of the incumbent rather than the positive changes possible through an engaging personality with a progessive moral agenda. I want to endorse my candidate because I believe in the message put forth, not because s/he may have the best chance to beat Bush. So far I think Clark leads in the latter and I am still seeing about the message.

Draginol

on Dec 15, 2003

The basic problem for Democrats is that they don't seem to be in favor of anything. They are the party of bitching.

Remember Mondale? What did he do? He just bitched bitched bitched. Americans don't like whiners of either party. They want people who have a positive message.

Tech Cat

on Dec 16, 2003

I agree about Democrats being whiners and bitching. It did not look good for me for Sore/Loserman to throw a fit in Florida and come up with conspiracy theories about the election being fixed in Florida. Sore/Loserman didn't ask for a statewide hand recount, but they asked for a partial hand recount. They only asked for hand recounts in heavily Democratic counties. They also got a bunch of people to whine and bitch about the ballot being too hard to read (you have to have a really low IQ not to be able to follow arrows) and their votes "not being counted". The Democratic Party created the whole miscount problem, and I fear they may try to use this tactic again. These actions are not good for democracy.

Larry Kuperman

on Dec 16, 2003

Yesterday, Time Magazine featured an article that echoed my sentiments about a lack of position in the Dean campaign. The Time article can be seen at http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101031222-561439,00.html

A quote from this article goes as follows: "the former Vermont Governor confronts a new and substantial challenge: having got this far by telling Democrats what he is against, he must start telling them what he is for. Dean needs to step up and define himself" or the Bush campaign will do it for him. I quite agree. At this point, with the stock market over 10,000 and with the capture of Saddam, the incumbent President is going to be hard to unseat. But thats not the only issue.

A strong showing by a Liberal candidate will raise serious issues that America needs to address. Economically and politically we are ready for a new direction. How do we create the job market that will be "hot" in 20 years? How do we assure that corporations are presenting stock holders with an honest picture? Now that we have won the battles in Iraq and Afganistan, how do we win the peace? Maybe the single greatest issue is what our on-going relationship will be with Russia? Politically and economically. Do we buy their oil, does the War Against Terror extend to Chechnya (meaning do we support them if they take action?) Or do we just hope that they stay out of our affairs and we stay out of theirs?

Well, thats my rant for the morning.

GemCityJoe

on Dec 16, 2003

Yet one more reason to re-elect the better of the two, G.W.
I am so sick of these tree hugging Democrats always whining about the United Nations too. If the United Nations is needed to keep the peace anywhere it is right here in America. Just have a look at how many homicides that we have here in our cities. The death toll in Iraq fades in comparison. Just have a look at my artical entitled, "U.S. HOMICIDES RIVAL WAR"S DEATH TOLL," for more stats on this fact.

Hillary Clinton was smart by waiting to make a run. She knew there was no chance to beat G.W. in '04 so she, I'm sure, will give it a shot in 2008. Lord help us all if she gets elected! Though I'm not that concerned. People are tired of her whining already. Wait until everyone gets another five years of it then let her run.

Neither party is really addressing any issues that are going to make a big difference in my life. Its every man for himself and it looks like thats the way it will be will into the future, no matter who gets in there. GCJ

OccultPizza

on Dec 21, 2003

I'm sorry but I just don't buy that. The education system for one is a lie. We don't need more educated workers shit we graduate hundreds of thousands of them a year. We need to find some way to stimulate the economy and create some real jobs instead of minimum wage jobs that help serve the rich. We need WW3 and belive me it's coming.

I vote for the politicians who want to legalize marijuana(mostly libertarians), although my party is young and weak it is gaining momentum at an astounding rate in the last few years which indicates to me that people are getting very sick of the government in every aspect of their daily lives as well as the lies in general. In the 70's hell everyone voted for Governor Brown too no avail and if you look at the track record between republican and democrats it apt to the NFL's NFC and AFC every 8-12yrs republican then for 4 maybe 8 years if lucky a democrat steps in. But intelligent people are realizing that democrats are just as bad as republicans. You can't even tell where anyone stands anymore "compassionate conservative?" what is next a "conservative liberal" ~laughs~ There is one Democrat who is advocating decriminalization but then so did Jimmy Carter and look what happened to him. Suddenly all his cabinet members started getting busted for cocaine ~chuckles~ but if he continues the foot the marijuana initiative I may vote democrat this election anything to get that monster Bush out of office.

OccultPizza

on Dec 21, 2003

Kucinich is the same democrat who advocate the decriminalization of marijuana ~winks~

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