[Valin]

It makes me ashamed of the Democratic Party that this seems to be the only moral process available to the party's leadership. I used to call myself a "Moynihan Democrat."

But now that he's dead, I'm reduced to calling myself a "Tony Blair Democrat."

That's because I cannot find a single leader in the Democratic Party who is capable of acting on the basis of what is right, rather than what will make our side win.

Come into the light..move to the light.

[powderhorn]

That's because I cannot find a single leader in the Democratic Party who is capable of acting on the basis of what is right, rather than what will make our side win.

I've read 5 or 6 of OSC's books. I think he's best described as an "ethicist," not a moralist or an idealogue. I'd like to see more of that kind of thinking on Free Repbublic.

Right now the Democratic Party has a serious problem: they are participating in the political struggle from a defensive position. They HAVE TO take more risks (ethical, moral, idealogical risks). On the other hand, the Republican Party can get away with taking far fewer risks. If the Dems try to play it safe and stay away from hot button issues they'll most certainly lose. If they go for the hot button issues--well, they'll probably still lose, but it's about the only chance they have.

I see both political machines as having little to do with ethics, morals or ideals. They do what it takes to get their guys elected. Individual politicians come in various stripes on both sides, but they each have to pay homage to their political machines. The Dems are walking on eggs--and breaking most of them as they go.

I do disagree with OSC on the idea that just the Dems tried to steal the election. It was a close election and it would be hard to determine who tried to steal the election the most. It just turned out that the the Reps had a slightly stronger machine.