jawfish

Hapless Democrats, Clinging to their Seats.
john posted in politics & culture on May 17th, 2006

Why can’t the Democrats capitalize on the failures of the Republican administration? The President’s polls are reaching new lows, and Congress is unpopular and distrusted.

Why haven’t the Democrats taken a strong stand? Why have they no plan?

The Onion, America’s Finest News Source or so they say, has a report on the issue: Democrats Vow Not To Give Up Hopelessness

The Onion

WASHINGTON, DC—In a press conference on the steps of the Capitol Monday, Congressional Democrats announced that, despite the scandals plaguing the Republican Party and widespread calls for change in Washington, their party will remain true to its hopeless direction.

“We are entirely capable of bungling this opportunity to regain control of the House and Senate and the trust of the American people,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said to scattered applause. “It will take some doing, but we’re in this for the long and pointless haul.”

The Onion is funny, but Democratic voters I know are appalled by the lack of spine shown by the elected members of the party. What gives?

Jawfish has a theory:

If you accept the political wonks’ contention that almost all incumbents will be re-elected every time at the national level, and if you agree that every politician is primarily concerned with keeping her job, and statesmanship is secondary, then I think we have an answer.

A Congressman or Senator will be re-elected if they do nothing, and especially if they alienate the fewest independent voters. So they have no incentive to take a risk and speak out. Moreover, they know the Republican media machine will turn its full attack on them if they do, and their colleagues will fade into the woodwork rather than stand with them. And their meanest fear is that an iconoclastic Democrat will lose the lobbyists’ money too.

So now we have a lose-lose situation in Iraq, dangerous tension with the Arab world, the beginnings of the petroleum squeeze and of global climate change, and Washington is paralyzed on both sides of the aisle.

Throwing the bums out is a tempting start, but in favor of whom? If the only alternative is a Republican or one of the un-electables, how do you vote as a Democrat?

Without statemanship, how will Democrats take back Congress? Many like their own representatives, I do, but feel the party is rudderless.

If this theory is correct, long-term reform will be required. Including incentives for good government and punishment for self-aggrandizement would be dandy. Having a few more citizens who read a newspaper and trouble to vote wouldn’t hurt, and having a few more newspapers that actually write thoughtful stories about the important issues, would also help.

Or, you can wait for the pendulumn of public favor to swing back while the Neo-cons scuttle our ship.