Tuesday, May 23, 2006
AN APPEAL TO ALL CONNECTICUT DEMOCRATS
In the piece posted here yesterday are four items that Democrats have every right to require of a Democratic candidate. You don't have to accept all four items, you don't have to limit yourself to those four. But you, on your own, without official approval, have every right to make your candidates pledge their loyalty to Democrats. In pubic, on the record, before the nomination is decided. Joe Lieberman has given you ample reason to wonder where he is headed.
Please ask Joe Lieberman to make a binding promise to you, as Democratic voters, that he will not stab you in the back. Make him put it on the record. If her refuses to make a binding pledge of his loyalty, you will know he has other plans. And ask his opponent to do the same so Joe can't whine about being singled out and change the subject.
Democrats in other states should feel free to ask their candidates too.
In the piece posted here yesterday are four items that Democrats have every right to require of a Democratic candidate. You don't have to accept all four items, you don't have to limit yourself to those four. But you, on your own, without official approval, have every right to make your candidates pledge their loyalty to Democrats. In pubic, on the record, before the nomination is decided. Joe Lieberman has given you ample reason to wonder where he is headed.
Please ask Joe Lieberman to make a binding promise to you, as Democratic voters, that he will not stab you in the back. Make him put it on the record. If her refuses to make a binding pledge of his loyalty, you will know he has other plans. And ask his opponent to do the same so Joe can't whine about being singled out and change the subject.
Democrats in other states should feel free to ask their candidates too.
Comments:
<< Home
I think that's a great suggestion! One of the great problems the Dems have is how to craft a consistent platform from what is essentially a coalition party. In a more parliamentary government, we'd have numerous liberal and progressive parties (and the Dems would actually probably be in the center, considering who runs it lately).
Having said that, I think a better way is to craft a code of conduct such as you suggested. That gives the Dems the consistent upper hand in issues of fairness and ethics. I would add a fifth as well: that Dems are required to maintain the strictest of ethical standards or resign. Also, they should be required to pursue such malfeasance in others (Repubs) regardless of political expediency. Some short term pain in this area could lead to long term gain.
Great post!
Having said that, I think a better way is to craft a code of conduct such as you suggested. That gives the Dems the consistent upper hand in issues of fairness and ethics. I would add a fifth as well: that Dems are required to maintain the strictest of ethical standards or resign. Also, they should be required to pursue such malfeasance in others (Repubs) regardless of political expediency. Some short term pain in this area could lead to long term gain.
Great post!
I would add a fifth as well: that Dems are required to maintain the strictest of ethical standards or resign. Also, they should be required to pursue such malfeasance in others (Repubs) regardless of political expediency. Some short term pain in this area could lead to long term gain. - Samurai Sam
I, for one, second this idea.
And, since all politics is local (at the very least, most people don't deal with the feds much ... whatever beefs they have with "gummint", which the GOP takes advantage of in its "anti-big-gummint" rhetoric, largely deal with state and local governments), we need to start by rooting out corruption and streamlining silly laws (e.g. no buying liquor before noon on Sundays as well as rediculously low statutory speed limits designed to allow local governments to have speed traps) at the local level.
Sure, in many places, the blood-bath will mainly be composed of Democratic blood, but if we can be the party that delivers safe and sane government where it counts for everyday people, maybe they will trust us more with the federal government and moreover be willing to trust more the idea that government can function as something other than the trough for big-business that the Republicans have turned it into.
We Dems., with our ideas, have an inherently uphill battle as we, unlike Republicans, need to show we can run a clean government in order for people to believe our side. So let's show people we can run clean governments at the level of government that actually angers people and turns them against our party as the party of "big-gummint" and maybe we can do more than just win a few elections -- maybe we can restore the New Deal idea of government actually being part of the solution rather than the problem.
But it does start with our cleaning house ... and it must start locally.
Post a Comment
I, for one, second this idea.
And, since all politics is local (at the very least, most people don't deal with the feds much ... whatever beefs they have with "gummint", which the GOP takes advantage of in its "anti-big-gummint" rhetoric, largely deal with state and local governments), we need to start by rooting out corruption and streamlining silly laws (e.g. no buying liquor before noon on Sundays as well as rediculously low statutory speed limits designed to allow local governments to have speed traps) at the local level.
Sure, in many places, the blood-bath will mainly be composed of Democratic blood, but if we can be the party that delivers safe and sane government where it counts for everyday people, maybe they will trust us more with the federal government and moreover be willing to trust more the idea that government can function as something other than the trough for big-business that the Republicans have turned it into.
We Dems., with our ideas, have an inherently uphill battle as we, unlike Republicans, need to show we can run a clean government in order for people to believe our side. So let's show people we can run clean governments at the level of government that actually angers people and turns them against our party as the party of "big-gummint" and maybe we can do more than just win a few elections -- maybe we can restore the New Deal idea of government actually being part of the solution rather than the problem.
But it does start with our cleaning house ... and it must start locally.
<< Home
