The Plutocracy and the Idiocracy Meet

                                              You and I don't live here.


I believe that the Health Care Reform bill passed last year was a significant, important and long overdue reform.  I believe that - while it was too small - the stimulus staved off complete economic collapse.  I believe that we are disengaging responsibly from the clusterfuck we created in Iraq.  I believe saving the banking system and GM/Chrysler were necessary steps for the continued economic health of the country.

In short, I believe that we have seen some good policy decisions from the Democrats in the White House and Congress over the past two years.

I would not say excellent, because they never took up unemployment or mortgage cramdowns as a policy agenda.  On most civil rights issues, I would grade the White House out as a C- or D.

But overall, we have pursued decent policies and if the GOP had not fully committed itself to obstruction maybe we could have seen movement on other issues, such as unemployment or climate change.

But the Democrats absolutely SUCK at politics.  They are incredibly tone deaf and narrative blind.  They believe everything that Sean Hannity says about them on Fox and cowering from their own shadow, they confirm to voters that they are spineless wimps.

Right now there is a very simply issue before Congress.  The Bush Tax Cuts - which had an effect on American's fiscal discipline similar to the effect a shotgun has on a wedding cake - are set to expire on January 1st.  Given that we are in a deep and abiding recession, it does not make sense to allow those taxes to expire for people who are already pinched.

For one thing, keeping taxes low for people making under $250K a year will allow them to spend more, which will hopefully spur an ACTUAL recovery, not just a Wall Street mirage.

But the GOP demands that ALL the Bush Tax Cuts be extended.  Why?  Not fiscal discipline, as cutting taxes on the rich at a time when only the rich are doing well will only make the budget deficit bigger.  Not stimulating the economy, as people who are in the upper income brackets are more likely to invest their money than spend it.

So.....Why?  It's not a popular move, it's not a wise move.

The Democrats should be beating the GOP like a drum on this issue.  The lame duck Congress should shove an extension of the under $250K tax cuts through.  I believe this can be achieved by a reconciliation vote, but I'm not certain.  Then they should allow the GOP in January to propose cutting taxes for the rich.

And then beat the living shit out of them over that issue for the next two years.  Obama can veto it and the Democrats can call out the GOP as being a party owned and operated by the richest Americans.

When times are tough, populism is a powerful tool.  But the Democrats won't use it.

Why?

Part of it is that Obama himself is not a populist and isn't comfortable with that language.

Another part of the problem is that Democrats are just about as bought off by wealthy donors as the GOP.  It's not QUITE as bad, but you only need a few Evan Buyhs and Mary Landrieus to screw over the caucus.

But the larger part is that Democrats are just inept politically.  They can take a winning political issue that is popular and make it unpopular by the way they try and sell it.  Health care reform is full of good things for a lot of people.  But by losing the narrative thread, they allowed ideas like Death Panels and scary lies become plausible.

It's the Swift Boat Veterans all over again.  Kerry didn't lose because they were telling the truth, he lost because he allowed it to become part of the narrative.  Kerry is a phony war hero.

Franklin Roosevelt was a blue blooded knickbocker from Groton and Harvard.  Hardly cut from the mold of William Jennings Bryan.  Read this from 1936:

We have not come this far without a struggle and I assure you we cannot go further without a struggle.

For twelve years this Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to Government but the Government looked away. Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of the scourge! Nine crazy years at the ticker and three long years in the breadlines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent.

For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up.

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace--business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me--and I welcome their hatred.

Now imagine Obama or Harry Reid making that speech.

Neither can I.