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Friday, March 21, 2008

The Dems on the Brink of Political Civil War

I believe that a confluence of events has the Democratic Party on the brink of political civil war. The long and never ending campaing combined with the bitterness of the personal nature of the campaign have combined with other forces that have stirred the pot. If the Democrats don't watch out they will eat their own, blow themselves up, and hand a huge victory to the Republican party when everyone expects the opposite. I see the up coming civil war being stoked by four factors: the grueling and personal nature of the primary, the battle between the DNC and Florida and Michigan, the media's love of Obama and their subsequent personal attacks on Hillary Clinton, and the left wing blogs stirring it all.

1) The Democratic Primary
Ever since the South Carolina primary, the Democratic race for President has stopped being about any issue and has become all about personal traits like: race, sex, experience, and integrity. The two sides have traded sometimes very personal shots at each other. It all started with Bill Shaheen saying this about Obama...

The Republicans are not going to give up without a fight ... and one of the things they're certainly going to jump on is his drug use. It'll be, 'When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone? There are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks. It's hard to overcome.

He was later let go but the bitterness had only gotten started. Later on, Samantha Power, an Obama advisor, referred to Hillary Clinton as a "monster", and she was removed (a recurring theme).

It culminated in a very bitter debate on CNN in January. Some of the highlights had Obama talking about his civil rights work while Clinton was a

corporate lawyer sitting on the board at Wal-Mart

Clinton countered

when you were practicing law and representing your contributor ... in his slum landlord business in inner city Chicago.

They traded jabs in what became an ugly brawl. Of course, more recently, Geraldine Ferraro uttered these now famous words...

If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a
woman [of any color], he would not be in this position. He happens to be very
lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.

There were other less famous comments by the likes of Ed Rendell. Just today, the Obama campaign released this memo

Senator Clinton’s newly released White House schedules—showing a lack of candor on her NAFTA Record, her role in passing FMLA, and her role in key foreign policy decisions—are just the latest in what has become a legacy of misleading voters. On issue after issue, Clinton says one thing while her record says another.

So, what is the result of the personal nature of the campaign? A full quarter of Clinton supporters would vote for McCain in a general election match if their candidate isn't chosen for instance. Keep in mind this campaign is long from over. It may go all the way to the convention, and it may ultimately depend on the presence of so called super delegates, party insiders. The issue of "electability" will be one that each will be using to sell themselves. This of course will include trashing their opponent.

2) The media's love affair with Obama and by extension their venom toward Hillary...

The best example is this comment by Chris Mathews about Hillary Clinton

I will never underestimate Hillary Clinton again. T]he reason she's a U.S.
senator, the reason she's a candidate for president, the reason she may be a
front-runner is her husband messed around.

The MSM hasn't merely fawned over Obama, but they have subsequently turned their venom on Hillary Clinton. MSNBC has been the most blatant. Here is what David Shuster said about Hillary a couple months back.

Chelsea Clinton was sort of being pimped out

The media attacks have come from everywhere against Hillary Clinton and some have even called it sexist. What all of this negative media attention toward Hillary has done is poison the water on a race that is itself plenty poisonous. The two candidates are doing a plenty good job of creating lots of bitterness on their own, and all the media is doing is adding some fire to an already lit flame.

3) Florida and Michigan

At this point, the Democratic party is running dangerously close to alienating their own voters in two rather large states. The whole thing is not only a mess but a complicated one. It all started when Florida and Michigan disregarded the DNC and moved up their primary prior to what the DNC insisted. This act turned into a political game of chicken between the two states and the DNC chair, Howard Dean. Neither side flinched and Dean decided that their delegations wouldn't be allowed to count toward the delegate count. Of course, this power play had one disastrous side effect, the disenfranchisement of millions of Democratic voters during one of the most hotly contested primaries ever. As it stands, there is no resolution. The worst case scenario is that delegations from the two states won't be seated at the convention. Other scenarios have the delegations seated but the delegates would be decided by means other than the will of the states Democratic voters.

If any of these scenarios is the case, it will cause an all out war between the National Party, the state party, and of course most importantly the voters of the two states. This internal political civil war will likely lead to losses for the Dems on all fronts in the two states. It goes without saying that this would be a total disaster for the Democrats.

4) The far left blogosphere's war against Hillary Clinton

It is unclear just how much power and influence the blogosphere holds, however it is clear that whatever shortfall that part of the blogosphere has in influence it more than makes up for in venom. Here is Kos proprietor Markos Moulitsas a couple days ago.

That's why she has earned my enmity and that of so many others. That's why she is bleeding super delegates. That's why she's even bleeding her own caucus delegates (remember, she lost a delegate in Iowa on Saturday). That's why Keith Olbermann finally broke his neutrality. That's why Nancy Pelosi essentially cast her lot with Obama. That's why Democrats outside of the Beltway are hoping for the unifying Obama at the top of the ticket, and not a Clinton so divisive, she is actually working to split her own party.

Meanwhile, Clinton and her shrinking band of paranoid holdouts wail and scream about all those evil people who have "turned" on Clinton and are no longer "honest power brokers" or "respectable voices" or whatnot, wearing blinders to reality, talking about silly little "strikes" when in reality, Clinton is planning a far more drastic, destructive and dehabilitating civil war.

People like me have two choices -- look the other way while Clinton attempts to ignite her civil war, or fight back now, before we cross that dangerous line. Honestly, it wasn't a difficult choice. And it's clear, looking at where the super delegates, most bloggers, and people like Olbermann are lining up, that the mainstream of the progressive movement is making the same choice.


It got so bad that Hillary's supporters are boycotting Kos. The left side of the blogosphere has never been much for decorum. It is as yet unclear, again, just how much influence they have beyond their own sphere. Still, what they are able to do is light the perverbial match to an already big flame. Their incendiary language only adds to the bitterness that is damaging enough on its own.

Conclusion: The Democrats are on the brink. The two campaigns are eating each other alive with supporters growing more and more hateful of the other side. The longer it goes the more difficult it will be to put all of this behind them when a candidate is chosen. This is formented by a vicious media and blogosphere and of course complicated by the fight between the national party and the states of Florida and Michigan. If things don't turn around soon, the Democrats will wind up eating their own and cause a total disaster for the party in November.

17 comments:

SnowWolf said...

Pass the Popcorn and let the games begin! (I love this...the best thing about being a Republican is you get to go against Democrats...*LOL*)

Papa Whiskey said...

You're forgetting the shape the economy's in. If we're in a full-blown recession by November, all bets will be off -- especially those against the Dems.

BTW, it's Samantha Power, not Susan.

mike volpe said...

As a friend of mine used to say

if if was a fifth we'd all be drunk

I did fix Samantha Power so thank you.

As to the economy, we will see. It depends on how McCain is able to frame it. If he is able to convince the public of the lunacy of raising taxes during a recession, then who knows. What is going on now is unprecedented economy or not. If the Dems keep going on their current course until the convention nothing will save them.

Anonymous said...

You have hit on some really good points about a Democratic civil war. I think the most important factor is that they are not a party, but a coalition of special interest groups. Each one wants to be in power and is willing to back stab the other to get there. The Democrats are turning inward with their tactics. The only hope for them is to solidify behind their hatred of the Republicans. It is still early to say they are done. Even with all the talk about Obama's racism and Clinton's pathalogical ambition it is hard to know if voters will remember that come November. Either way McCain is in a good position right now. If he plays his cards right and let's them devour each other he could be our next President.

Anonymous said...

If Obama gets the nomination I want the Republicans to win.

Anonymous said...

i completely agree that, if obama gets the nomination, i want mccain to win. i strongly and fervently want mccain to win.

as your article so accurately states, the democratic party is in a state of civil war. our purported leadership have caused this mess and will have to pay for their incompetence by losing their positions, which is a good thing. and four years of mccain is far better than four years of obama.

like millions of loyal democrats, i've never voted republican in my many, many years, but will do so this year if obama is nominated. in fact, i'm considering making the full leap from democrat to republican. my party has betrayed me one too many times.

Anonymous said...

"The only hope for them is to solidify behind their hatred of the Republicans."

Maybe Mr. Obama can get his preacher to help. He seems particularly adept at fomenting hate. You may even want to adopt a new slogan:

DEMOCRATS - The Party of Hate!

tominOH said...

As a lifelong Democrat I could never imagine voting for a Republican for President, until now. If the arrogant, unprepared Obama wins the nomination, my ballot will go to McCain.The media bias has me watching Fox these days to get a little fairness.

Anonymous said...

Clinton > McCain > Obama

It's STILL the economy stupid.

Anonymous said...

The racism that has always been prevelant but hidden in the dim party is tearing it apart, and it couldnt happen to a more deserving bunch.

Anonymous said...

I won't vote obama or mc insane

but i will how ever vote for Ralph Nadar and I have heard ALL the comments about nadar.....so please dont think repeating them here will in any way change my mind

I believe this may be Ralph Nadars year to win the WH. He does have the progressive ideals that attracted many to John Edwards platform that both Clinton and Obama have been using since the beginning.

And going independent may just end up being the trend and the new largest party as a result of Howard Deans incompetence and pride.

Unknown said...

Hillary is unfit to be President of the USA
I am an African America Female who left America with my three children in l986 to live and work overseas. I am an educator and support the military families whose duty stations are at Ramstein Air Force Base, Kaiserslautern, and Landstuhl, Germany. My specific location is where the Landstuhl Regional Medical Hospital is located. This hospital receives the injured GIs, as well as fatalities from Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations throughout Europe and the designated war zones. On a daily basis, I witness approximately 3-4 Red Cross busses with injured GIs from the war. On a weekly basis, I witness several hearses with dead bodies that are brought to the mortuary. I live and work in an environment where young children are left behind, because their parents are deployed to the war zones. I work in an environment where all that I see are Americans wearing military uniforms. In fact, at one time my son was in the Air Force and was assigned to combat duty in the Dessert Storm War. On some days, the site of the injured GIs, the sad young children whose parents are deployed, the absence or presence of my three adult children in the states, and the strict checkpoints at all bases throughout Europe, causes me to have severe waves of sadness and despair. To me, Hillary Clinton is a large contributor of the war. She used poor judgment and voted for the war. Hillary can be with her daughter, at any time. The military people who are deployed cannot be with their children and loved ones. I cannot be with my children and family support system in the states. To me, Hillary is unfit to be the President of the United States. She disguises herself like a star, shining with fake promises. How could any American citizen vote for a leader who uses Gestapo practices against an outstanding, brilliant minority person who is admired, respected by not only a large majority of people in the United States, but by people and others throughout the world. To me, Hillary's negative tactics against Obama shows signs of racism. She has no regards for his image, as a minority person, nor does she has any regards for the millions of minority citizens and others who support him. I spend at least several hours per day reading the blogs online. Many of them show hundreds of negative statements against Hillary and her potential leadership. If Hillary is elected to be the Democratic Presidential nominee, rest assures she will not get the African/Black Americans support. The Republicans will win again and with the votes of the African/Black Americans. If Hillary is given the choice to be the Democratic Presidential Nominee, the African/Black Americans will probably break away from the Democratic Party and support the Independent Party instead. To me, Hillary is a thief, a liar, and a con artist. She is a disgrace and an embarrassment to our country and government. To me, Bill Clinton is a manipulator and a whore with no respect to the rights of vulnerable women. He abused his position as president of the United States to advantage his sexual desires. He abused his position as president of the United States to gain wealth. Both Bill Clinton and Hillary claim they have supported the African/Black Americans. This may be true. The only support that I have seen evidence of is the drug epidemic in the predominately black neighborhoods and communities. The other support that they have given to the African/Black Americans are with the prison system. Acts of genocide continue to occur against African/Black Americans. Please Mr. & Mrs. Clinton states your experience and support to stop the drugs in the African/Black American neighborhoods. Please Mr. & Mrs. Clinton, take a visit to the prison and you will see our husbands, sons, daughters and loved ones caged up like animals, while you lie about the support you have given us. The Clinton should never enter the White House again, nor should they ever consider being leaders of our country. Hillary would sell her own Soul! And yours!!, to become President. All shown in her actions, and lies.



Someone who wishes Hillary would go away IMMEDIATELY! Since she believes the people of Ohio loves her so much, she should go to be with them. You folks in Pennsylvania, take Hillary and contamidate your beautiful state with her poisonous lies and conceit.




Landstuhl, Germany

The Heartbeat of the Injured GIs from Iraq and Afghanistan

Thanks to Hillary's vote for the war

mike volpe said...

Deborah,

I don't much care who you vote for, though I have a better shot of scoring a date with Carmen Electra this weekend than Ralph Nadar has of being President.

That said, it only coarsens the debate when you make derogatory language out of anyone's name. Whether you agree with John McCain or not, he deserves your respect, or at least, he deserves not to be insulted the way you did.

mike volpe said...

Zape,

far be it for me to defend Hillary Clinton, however when she is attacked using nothing but rhetoric and innuendo, then I must object. I am not sure what you are upset with. I assume you are anti war. I do believe there are many people more responsible for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq than Hillary Clinton. Yet, your ire is directed solely at her.

You accuse her of racism but offer no examples or evidence. It is taking political correctness to an obscene level to proclaim that any negative attack on Obama is racist. That is borderline slanderous. You go onto apparently attack her for too many African Americans being in jail. With all due respect, that is nonsense. The African Americans that committed crimes are the ones responsible for being in jail not Hillary Clinton.

Your comment is typical of what has happened with the debate in our society. There is nothing but negativity and cynicism. You offer no alternatives or solutions. You just proclaim that war is terrible and Hillary is then responsible. Let me let you in on a secret. War has always been horrible. Iraq and Afghanistan are no exceptions. We are fighting a war on terror. If you have no alternative for the way it is being waged, you have no credibility in judging it.

Anonymous said...

I think it's shameful that the Democrats refuse to embrace their own policies.
It's quite obvious that Obama has a darker skin tone than Clinton, he's running even more than equal to her -
Affirmative Action dictates that he be named the nominee.
You can't have one set of rules for everyone else and a different set of rules for yourselves.
- Tongue in Cheek

Anonymous said...

Actually - if you think about it...

Even if Clinton was ahead with 60% of the delegates and the popular vote -

Affirmative action would dictate that Obama would be named the Democratic party's nominee.

Smacks to me of the liberals in NYC and their Republican mayors...

What's up with the double standard here?

Anonymous said...

First off: Zape do you copy and paste that same rant to every website you go to? I've seen it more then once now. Too funny!

Secondly, I WAS a supporter of Mr. Obama...for him to win VA he needed all the votes he can get... HOWEVER, my self along with a big professional group I mediate here in VA; today gave a max primary contribution to Hillary and we are giving our max general election contribution to McCain for November. A lot of you can gloss over the underlying tone from that man but we have decided we WILL NOT and I'm sure we wont be alone now! A life long Democrat, I really don't care about the Democratic Party anymore!