A 12 Step Program for the Democratic Party
Let the recriminations and Monday morning quarterbacking begin! The Democratic party was clobbered. It was beaten into the pulp. It was ground into the electoral dust, leaving DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe to pretty much weep like a little girl to the press. The Democratic Party had a new asshole ripped for them by the American electorate, and it hurts – as it should.As any follower of any 12 Step Program knows, the first step is realizing that there is a problem. It is hard for the Democratic leadership to hide from this election. Losing the Senate – not just by a seat but by 3. The Republicans increasing their lead in the House by 5. All this when jobs are getting harder to come by, the consumer is swimming in debt and pretty much tapped out, and deflation looms on the horizon. Japan knows all about the latter – it’s been stuck in a deflationary spiral for 10 years and shows no signs of getting out of it. 10 years ago “It’s the economy stupid” was the mantra of Clinton and the hungry and mean Democrats that surrounded him. Why was the mantra ignored this time?
It’s a point that is easily raised by a member of the Democratic rank and file, but evidently not by the leadership. The average Suburban Democratic voter could have written a better play book than the them. Too bad that there are fewer of these around today since most have gravitated towards the Republican party.
So what are the Democrats to do? Here is a simple 12 Step Program that may not lead them back into power, but it will stop their slow spiral into irrelevancy.
1. Americans like a strong military. Ditch the pacifism. It may work in the circles of the elite, but they don’t serve in the military anyway – unlike many traditional and New Democrat voters. Find the hawk wing of the party and trot them out. Let them stand up to Chickenhawks in the Republican Party, and beat them at their own game. Why are we worried about Saddam today when GHB had a chance at him 11 years ago and passed it up?
2. Roe V. Wade should NOT be any kind of litmus test to belong in the party. The Republicans have done well in the suburbs by ditching their litmus test (those against); it’s time to ditch yours. As a parent, I have to sign to have my daughter receive a prescription of pennicillin; I should have to do the same for her to have an abortion. You also need to recognize that the vast majority of Americans – even those that are so-called “pro-choice” do not LIKE abortion. This issue has completely taken over the women’s movement, marginalizing it in the process. Don’t let the same happen to you.
3. Which brings up the issue of women. It’s a new century; stop fighting old battles. There is no women’s movement worthy of the name anymore, just like there is no Black Consciousness. Today women are just as varied as men in their opinions and backgrounds. They therefore vote accordingly. Stop pretending that they don’t.
4. Being poor is not permanent. For the vast majority of poor it is a temporary status that occurs when misfortune strikes. Stop acting like there is no social mobility in this country. This is not France for chrissakes! Help people get back on their feet when things go wrong, but don’t encourage them to stay on the dole. And never forget that there is no nobility in poverty.
5. Recognize that with freedom comes responsibility. The former without the latter encourages licentiousness and decreases the freedom of those that do indeed act responsibly. Build government programs accordingly. If farmers want subsidies, they should be told how to spend the money and manage their farms. If someone receives welfare, they should have to work for it after a short period. Money should come with strings – just like the allowances I give my kids. The strings are not meant to control their spending – they are meant to show them the value of independence.
6. Low taxes trump increased services. Remember this. If my taxes get so low that my trash stops being picked up, I won’t mind when they are raised a few bucks: but I had better damn well have my cans picked up regularly. Otherwise I know how to spend my money better than politicians do, so they should keep less of it.
7. Carter sucked, and anything that stinks of him sucks too. Bringing out Mondale in Minnesota? What the fuck was that about? Sure, remind voters of Inflation… Hostage crisis. Lines at gas stations. Contrary to what the liberal media has spun about him, he ain’t no Gandhi – though America was sure poor while he was president.
8. Clinton was a Democratic genius, but he energizes the Republican right-wing as much as the Democratic left-wing – meaning that trotting him out is usually a wash and will only work in solidly Democratic areas to get out the vote. If he pokes his head anywhere in the Midwest or South, he will damage the party’s chances for at least two elections.
9. Democrats will not win by bringing out the vote. Dems win by snatching the center from the Republicans. For every black voter you pull from the city, the Republicans will pull two soccer-moms or office park dads, and they won’t have to work hard for it.
10. Nancy Pelosi is death to the party. Her address alone – San Francisco – will incite Republicans and scare away the center-right. She deserves Number 2 status at best within the party, but the Number one slot should be a center-right leader.
11. Convince Al Gore to write books and work the lecture circuit. He smells of Bob Dole – decent vice-president but perennial loser for the top job.
12. Finally, develop a hunger for power and let it show. Make people see that you want to be in power and will do everything it takes – including developing sensible policies – to regain it. As Kissinger (may he be damned for all eternity) said, power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. Make the electorate want you by doing anything for it.
Contrariwise, being out of power sucks. People don’t listen to you; they don’t respect you and worse yet, you get all the bad seats at the Washington area dining spots. Do not try to avoid the pain of being impotent. Feel it completely. Tattoo the word “loser” on your forehead with your eyes and don’t forget it. Let your illusions fall to the floor and realize to the very core of your being that people don’t like you anymore, and it is up to you to change it. Take it one day at a time, and perhaps by the time New Hampshire rolls around you will be hungry enough to take the Republicans on head – to – head and give them a serious ass-kicking that will make even Dick Cheney feel it in his “undisclosed location”.
