Kaus: What's a Repudiation Without Recriminations?

Kaus notes that defeats have historically produced readjustments, and re-thinking. Parties have previously engaged in painful, but ultimately fruitful self-examination after losses.

Given the current Full Metal Cocoon of the left, is such a thing even possible for the Democratic Party any longer? Why engage in painful reassessment if you can just tune into Rachel Maddow and hear a parade of guests reassure you that it's just because Koch money bought the presidency, and just because your "communications" were off, and because you were just too kindhearted and sweet-natured to Republican opponents?

If repudiation is to be had at all, the Democrats prefer to blame the candidate personally for his tactical decisions and incompetence; they don't like examining the message.

I suppose that, leg tingles and all, they might do something like this with Obama; they already dislike him, and they'll hate him for his loss.

But while Obama certainly has a great many personal flaws one could point to as reasons for a loss, such an exercise would still avoid self-examination. After all, Obama wasn't on the ballot in Wisconsin. He rather famously had other "responsibilities" precluding him from even appearing in Wisconsin (namely, fundraisers just a helicopter ride away in Chicago and Minnesota).

There is much chatter that the right is too captive to its most vocal members. Has anyone in the media or Democratic Party (but I repeat myself) noticed that perhaps they are even more so?

And it's worse for them: The Tea Party is unpopular with the public. But merely unpopular.

What does the public believe about the Democratic Party's most strident members? What does the public believe about... Occupy, for example?

The Tea Party's policy prescriptions -- austerity, limited government -- are unpopular but conceivable.

How about Occupy's? If the media faithfully reported Occupy's stated agenda, how popular does the media imagine that would be?

I already know the answer-- because the media has refused to report on Occupy's actual membership, philosophy, and goals. So the media has tipped their hand regarding how warmly these facts would be received.

The very fact that they have refused to report this -- casting Occupy deliberately vaguely as merely a "reform" minded movement -- demonstrates that they understand the real truth of Occupy would be political poison.

Speaking of... LauraW suggests you read this Daily Kos post on Chicago teacher's 90% vote to strike, in order to get a 24% raise.

The typical arguments are offered in the comments. Like, teachers are the one salaried profession in the world expected to do some work while off the official clock.

But some people aren't having it.

posted by Ace at 03:04 PM

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