Wednesday, November 08, 2006
  Celebrating the Democratic Win, We Hope...
So the Democrats have swept into a significant majority in the House of Representatives, and while we won’t know if they have an actual majority or not in the Senate, they have at least tied it up. Not to mention the 28 governorships that now are in Democratic hands.

Majorly great news!!

But only if the Democrats don’t blow it. For the past six years, there has been far too much rubberstamping. Whether it was fear of being labeled soft on terror, or lack of imagination about how else to tackle the problems posed by Al-Qaeda and its sympathizers, many Democrats could hardly be distinguished from Republicans when it comes to foreign policy.

It should be obvious that the American populace has voted for change – big time – in Iraq and in the way we are conducting ourselves in the war on terror. If the Democrats do not deliver, they will be in for an election fiasco not so different than the one the Republicans are coping with today.

Even if they are not successful (after all they don’t have enough votes to override a Presidential veto unless a good number of Republicans defect), Democrats need to be visible and aggressive in pushing for change.

In that vein, here are some items the Dems need to demonstrate leadership on:

1) We need a steady and resolute call to get our troops out of Iraq as soon as humanely possible.

2) Repeal of the Military Commissions Act

3) Define and Narrow the scope of Executive Powers during a state of war, and define and narrow the concept of war – President Bush has defined “the war on terror” as a real war with a resulting increase in autonomy and power for the President. We need clarify that there can be no real war on a tactic. Enemies will come and go; some will use terror as one weapon in their arsenal as has always been the case; you can’t fight a war of weapons against a tactic – at least not a war with a beginning, and end, and a clear goal – eradicate terror? How can you assure no one will ever use that tactic ever again, you can’t, so we’re going to be at war, with all the expanded Presidential powers, forever?? The War on Terror should legitimately have been declared a war on Al-Qaeda and its supporters, and the Executive’s power, even in a time of war, need to be limited by the Constitution and American law.

4) Don’t forget the economy. We need to see Democrats making some bold, progressive plans that would lead to a redistribution of wealth, so that the radical imbalance of wealth and power in this country evens out again.

5) Don’t forget the environment – Most Americans do care about the environment, and the potential for runaway greenhouse problems, devastation of ocean stocks, issues in clean water, etc, etc, etc.

6) Close Guantanamo, or at least put a ton of pressure on the Pentagon to close it. And while you’re at it, end the extraordinary rendition program and revisit the Patriot Act to get rid of the most egregious civil rights infringements

7) Healthcare for the poor and seniors

8) Boost social security

9) Do something about education funding so that we no longer have an uneven and unjust educational system where the suburban schools are funded at much higher levels than urban or rural schools. Change funding requirements from the focus on test scores and have pushed our educational system into test teaching. Reaffirm the need for and properness of affirmative action. Bolster the college financial aid system that Bush gutted, so that college is not increasingly the province of the rich.

10) Take the lead from Progressive spiritual people as to how to articulate the fact that Republicans do NOT own family values or religiosity, that progressives find inspiration in their faith for liberal positions and that deeply held Democratic values such as a high minimum wage ARE family values – when families don’t have to scrimp and save, when the economic pressure relaxes there are fewer divorces, kids have better lives, etc.

I could go on and on, but I think it’s pretty clear what I’m getting at. I was sorely disappointed that Kerry did not hammer home key Democratic values and positions. If he had, he probably would have won. The unwillingness to take a strong stand for traditional Democratic values was deadly, and if Democrats do the same now, it will be even more fatal come 2008.

Politics
 
Comments:
This states exactly what needs to be done! This is one of the best and sharpest analysis of what comes next that I have heard. Hope they're up to it.
 
the problem with kerry is that like george bush he too is a member of bohemian grove
 
Post a Comment



<< Home

My Photo
Name:
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Progressive Muslim, feminist, mom, writer, mystic, lover of the universe and Doug Schmidt, cellist, theologian and imam.


What I'm reading now



Cane River
An interesting exploration of the gradual whiting of a family through slavery to modern days.

To see an archive of all the books I've read (well the ones I've read and review since I started the blog) with comments, please click here

Causes Worth Supporting

This is just a short list -- a few of my favorites.

English Language Islamic Fiction. We need more of it. Lots more.
Pay a Teacher's Salary in Afghanistan. The Hunger site actually has a lot of worthwhile programs. You can find them all here .
Muslims for Progressive Values. My organization. We can always use donations, of time or money!
Human Rights Campaign for the glbt community
National Religious Campaign Against Torture
The ACLU I'm a card carrying member. Hope you'll become one too.
MoveOn.org. The organization that has done the most, as far as I can tell, to pull the countries progressive side together.
Network of Spiritual Progressives. Working to reclaim religion and morality for the religious left.

Blogs Worth Reading

Wanda Campbell also known as Nochipa A very gifted poet and a gentle, compassionate soul. Nochipa and I are on the same page on sooooo many things
Writeous Sister Aminah Hernandez, she's got some excellent latino pieces and always has good writing info on her blog.
Sister Scorpion aka Leila Montour - Leila is a fount of energy, quirky humor, and bad attitude. She's also a talented poet.
Muhajabah Very interesting commentary here. I don't always agree with her, but her pieces are always thought-provoking.
Georgie Dowdell Georgie is a great writer and a good friend.
Louise Marley Another great writer. I think Louise is one of the best sf writers exploring faith themes.
Ink in My Coffee Devon Ellington (who has numerous aliases) who is also the editor of Circadian Poems. A truly inspiring woman with a seemingly endless supply of energy.
Ethnically Incorrect With a name like that, isn't a given I'm going to enjoy this writer?
Freedom from the Mundane Colin Galbraith, another excellent writer, from Scotland.
The Scruffy Dog Review This is a new e-zine with an ecclectic mix of fiction, poetry, and non-fic, some really enjoyable pieces here.
Ramblings of a Suburban Soccer Mom Lara, another gentle soul, very thoughtful.
Circadian Poems A journal of poetry, new stuff up all the time.
Ye Olde Inkwell Michelle writes romance and is one of my writing buddies.
Muhammad Michael Knight The original punk Muslim writer. Like him or love him, Mike is always coming up with the unexpected.

Recent Posts
Archives

October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
July 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
February 2013
March 2013
April 2013
July 2013


Categories