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Just because some Coloradans don't understand that they need universal health care to keep them from personal bankruptcy, doesn't mean they're not being represented. Progressives need to be the vanguard of this movement, winning hearts and minds along the way.
Back off!
Though I agree that traditional news organizations, and the DC Villagers, certainly fall prey to a skewed notion of the nation's ideological leanings.
The problem with respect to the expectations of Udall and Bennet by Sirota and others is that it's not rooted in the reality that Colorado is NOT a center-left state despite the recent statewide wins by largely moderate Democrats with a few notable exceptions, like Sen. Morgan Carroll and Rep. John Kefalas.
So the nut of the question is: what does one hope to accomplish with critical remarks? Catharsis is great but is that really what the critics are aiming for?
We need to start developing a longer memory for how our legislators comport themselves, and calling them out on the way they respond to their constituents is exactly what we need to be doing. Bennet has no track record with us, aside from the fact that he lied to the Manual High School parents' organization when he promised he would not close it. The DPS teachers' union doesn't feel good about him, either. This is the track record we have for him. It's not good.
As the Bible says, it's by our deeds that we're known. We have to tally up what Bennet actually does, or doesn't, do. You should not criticize that effort. It's not responsible journalism.
We progressives are not insisting that these senators state their positions clearly on social issues like gay rights or pro-birth that are the bedrock of right-wing ideology; rather, we insist that they state their positions on the issues that affect all Americans across the board. This includes collective bargaining rights for workers, education, health care, and so on.
Though I agree that traditional news organizations, and the DC Villagers, certainly fall prey to a skewed notion of the nation's ideological leanings.
The problem with respect to the expectations of Udall and Bennet by Sirota and others is that it's not rooted in the reality that Colorado is NOT a center-left state despite the recent statewide wins by largely moderate Democrats with a few notable exceptions, like Sen. Morgan Carroll and Rep. John Kefalas.
The problem is that taking cheap potshots at politicians isn't getting the job done of working to enact health care reform, extend cram down protections for homeowners facing foreclosure, etc.
While Sen. Bennet is still a bit of an ideological mystery, Sen. Udall's record is quite well known. His House voting record has always been in the middle of the pack. Why would that change moving into the much more staid Senate?
Bellyaching on a blog or on the radio isn't going to change that fact. If some progressives are unhappy with his positions, then find a more ideologically-superior candidate to run and give Udall (and Bennet) a primary challenge. Otherwise, this is all kind of a silly tempest in a teapot.
The problem is, Democrats for too long have taken minorities, progressives, free thinkers and liberals for granted. "What are they going to do? Vote Republican?" Well that's exactly what I will do when Ritter, Bennett and Udall come up for re- election next time. For the first time in my life, and this will disgust me, but I will ...I will contribute to and vote for their Republican challenger. We must send a message to the party "leaders". Once they are out of office, hopefully the Dems will nominate REAL DEMOCRATS next time around. If it takes four or six years of Republicans to clean the slate...so be it! RITTER MUST GO...UDALL MUST GO...BENNETT MUST GO. Join me in this effort...it is time to purge the Party!
I talk to Udall and Bennet's staff (and the entire Colorado congressional delegation) quite frequently. I ask everyone of them tough questions that the folks back home want to know and deserve to know. Politicos don't always like that approach (well... they never do) but they respect my need to ask and get answers.
That's not to say it's acceptable for the media or electorate to capitulate to the darker angels of political life that pushes elected officials to obfuscate their positions, pander to the base or demagogue on controversial issues.
But calling politicians out publicly or calling them names, as Sirota and other progressive bloggers have done and continue to do is, in my view, unproductive, at best, and damaging to the progressive point of view, at worst.
Calling for party purges and demanding litmus tests has gotten the conservatives into the out-of-power pickle they find themselves in these days. Do progressives really want to follow that losing strategy?
STFU? Nope, I'm not saying that at all. But screaming into the wind (or typing oneself into a frenzy) doesn't accomplish anything. There are other options. And that's what I'm interested in exploring with TCI readers.
Hmm...but TCI is interested in "facts." Yes, what a Very Serious Publication to be spending movement progressive money building media infrastructure aimed at telling progressive voters to not demand accountability from their elected representatives. Seems so Very Serious.
A tip: Spend more resources on David O. Williams' real reporting on real issues, and less resources on fact-free bloviating like this post that merely reprints an Atlantic.com dispatch from Washington, D.C. If you are so interested in the Very Serious Reporting you say you are, you'd see the gravity of that suggestion.
No, seriously, quit getting your panties in a bunch over the smallest bullshit.
I may lean way left on human rights, women's issues, health care, war, not so far left on others..
And then there are the moderate Republicans who vote for moderate Democrats. Udall and Bennet have a diverse constituency. The 31% liberal voters are not enough for them to win an election.
Lest the far left gets too arrogant...I'm starting to notice a bit of the same smug "you're wrong and we're right and we'll tell you what's best for you" as the Gops gave us for 8 years.
2008 was an unusual and wonderful election in Colorado. Thanks to all the left! But don't forget, the Bush administration was so bad, and the McCain/Palin ticket was so bad, Rin Tin Tin could have run for a state or local office under the Democrat label and won.
Frankly David, I'd say that TCI has much more quality in one blog post then you have in your entire "nationally syndicated column." Maybe you should try actually reading what Ms. Norris wrote, rather than frothing at the mouth like you did when you called for the head of Timothy Gienther while proposing no solutions of your own.