Politics is a Team Sport
May 22nd, 2005 at 6:29 pm by Susie
One of the commenters is all pissed at Howard, saying he lied about the internet survey to Tubby Tim, flubbed the answer to a comment about Clinton’ s judicial nominees and generally done us wrong.
Here’s my reply:
You don’t get it. Because all I want Dean to do is what the Republicans have done so successfully: Jab his fingers in their eyes as often as possible, and fall to the floor screaming “foul� at the top of his voice when anyone says anything at all critical about us.You know, like professional wrestling. Because after all, that’s what it’s come down to. The Republicans understand that and rarely miss a trick.
Democrats like you seem to think this is about the “facts.� Explain to me again how facts are so effective in winning elections… Facts are for when we’re in power again and making policy. This is about the politics of show business.
I mean, think about it. Look at all the energy you just put into attacking and undercutting the – so far – popular and effective head of the DNC. You’d be hard pressed to find a Republican doing that. That’s why they’re in control – and we’re not.
This is my problem with the infuriating literal mindset of so many Democrats: “Hey ref, over here! You should have called a foul on our team!”
I mean, what the fuck is it with people? Do you want to win - or be ideologically pure? Until we win, it’s all theoretical.
I feel ya. These are the same people who keep assuring we get mealy-mouth stand for nothing sanitized brand canidates garunteed to piss off no one.
And inspire no one.
Susan,
You’re right, but it’s hard for some of us to really enjoy watching a sport when both sides get away with unlimited fouls, the referee is dead drunk and surrounded by half-dressed cheerleaders, the scorekeeper is placing side bets instead of keeping track of the game, and the athletes are too busy fingering their gold chains to bother playing at all.
All that doesn’t help us get into the old yay-team spirit.
I don’t get it? You Deaniacs are fond of spewing that jejune epithet at or about anyone with whom you disagree politically. “You don’t get it! They don’t get it!� This bit of schoolyard taunting suggests, of course, that the taunter DOES get it, whatever “it� might be.
Let me disabuse you of that lame notion. There is nothing about politics… NOTHING… that you “get� and I don’t.
What I do “get� is that I have no obligation to support Howard Dean, any more than you have an obligation to support the DLC. I honestly believe Dean is ruinous for the Democrats. I support the Party, and the DNC is NOT the Party. The DNC is a collection of state party officials to whom Dean promised paychecks if only they would vote for him as chairperson. All those DNC-paid jobs promised by Howie might well be called vote-buying.
I “get� that Dean has no successful experience in politics beyond Vermont, a state so liberal it is about to elect a Socialist to the Senate. I “get� that Dean’s run for president was a humiliating disaster, winning only the pity vote in his home state.
I “get� that Dean burned through $50 million, running lots of really shitty TV ads and handing out orange hats to his coneheads in Iowa.
I also “get� that his campaign collapsed in failure and recrimination, with factions splitting off and savagely blaming each other for the wreckage.
This is Howard Dean’s track record, and I don’t want ANY of it to befall my beloved Democratic Party.
Get it?
Yeah baby…..and the centerist DLC has got us??????
Oh thats right, nada….and I got yer conehead right here.
We Deaniacs worked our ass off for Kerry, and carried water even after our man got pummeled by the right, the press and the DLCers. Watching Kerry take crap from the swifties was humilating. Watching him equivicate himself like a gift to Karl Rove was unpleasent to say the least.
We tried your way and got bumpkis.
Time for you to be a team player now. What you want means diddly.
Get it? After we win back some control, we can have this disscussion again
And if Kerry gets nominated again, I will work for him again as uninspiring as he is.
We already know it wont be Dean because he said he wouldnt run. He took on the thankless task of organizing in all 50 states.
From’s plan was to contest 18 states and pocket the leftover $$$ for consulting fees.
And dont get me started on Mary Beth…….
Thems your people dude. And you have a problem with brother Howard?
What a freakin elitist
Politus is an idiot.
I am wondering if he is a dry drunk like I have heard Bush described. Years of boozing killed too many brain cells and left him with an angry, cranky disposition and not a great grasp of facts.
In my bookmarks I have him placed with the GOP. I also placed Orson Scott Card and Roger Simon there, a few decades ago both proud Democrats but now saluting and goose-stepping after Bush.