digby (1/19/10) spotted a telling moment on the Ed Show (MSNBC, 1/19/10), when host Ed Schultz asked Politico‘s Mike Allen “what’s the next move for progressives” if the Democrat lost in the Massachusetts Senate race. Allen’s response:
I would remind you that when Republicans started to eat each other up, we talked about how it wasn’t very smart. I think a lot of people will make that point about Democrats as well.
digby’s rejoinder:
OK. Eight or nine months ago, the villagers were all saying that the Republicans were eating at each other and that it wasn’t very smart. And the Republicans told them to go to hell, Fox News started the tea party movement and the right-wing media in general launched what seemed like a lunatic campaign to demonize Barack Obama as a socialist. All that seems to be working pretty well for them at the moment, so Allen’s admonishment doesn’t make a lot of sense.
In fact, the only lesson to be learned is to not listen to anything the village media say. Ever. The Republicans learned that a long time ago. The Democrats need to learn it too.
We are witnessing the fall of the American Empire as the Coliseum mentality of the mob takes over, but rather than the Coliseum, we have FOX network and the entire mind-numbing media that requires more and more outrageous behavior to attract and hold attention. The Republicans have figured this out and are playing it to their advantage. Democrats haven’t a clue.
Democrats still believe they can be good little government bureaucrats referring to the Republicans who lie through their teeth as, “My good friend” and “esteemed colleague”. The President and Democrats talk about inheriting an economy on the verge of collapse, two wars, a broken health care system, environmental crisis denial without ever even referring to the Republicans as those who created these problems. Meanwhile, Republicans are accusing Democrats of nearly being the anti-christ. He who screams loudest in this environment is the one heard and remembered. Democrats are mumbling their way into obscurity.
We are in a terrible mess. Our fate is in the hands of Republicans who don’t know how to govern competently because they believe in their outrageous dogma and demagoguery and Democrats who believe government is nothing more than administrating bureaucracy and don’t know how to lead competently.
We desparately need election reform that gets special interest money out of elections, and allows for third party successes, but it isn’t going to happen because the Republicans and Democrats have made sure that door won’t ever open.
We increasingly are evidently the Corporate States of America, with only the Corporate Party and its two wings, the Republican right-wing and the Democratic not-so-right-wing.
I am so afraid that Obama, the “Hope” president is going to be the death of hope, as it becomes clear that this country is already too far gone, and that there is no hope.
People – Wake up. Stop believing this crap. Look to Europe. They have pretty well figured out a workable balance between enterprise, democracy, individual liberty and social responsibility. It is called Democratic Socialism.
I’m awake. I moved back to France with Pierre because of our health-care horror story. Miss my children and “grandkids” (4 dogs and 3 cats – all rescued from the cruel streets of San Antonio). I grew up in that ultra-conservative family. Do conservatives/Republicans ever ask themselves why, with few exceptions, that the racists, sexists and religious FUNDAMENTALISTS are in their corner?? / I am pessimistic about getting meaningful health care-reform unless we get meaningful CAMPAIGN REFORM. // Jean Clelland-Morin, your friendly, neighborhood, heathen lefty.