tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post6277175803778927898..comments2023-09-25T04:26:51.568-06:00Comments on The Barefoot Bum: Andrew Levine and the lesser of two evilsLarry Hamelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-42330202056403466112007-05-04T12:07:00.000-06:002007-05-04T12:07:00.000-06:00One of the things I dislike about Democrats...shou...<I>One of the things I dislike about Democrats...</I><BR/><BR/>should read<BR/><BR/>One of the things I dislike about <B>the Democratic party apparatus...</B>Larry Hamelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-7745809082590663332007-05-04T12:06:00.000-06:002007-05-04T12:06:00.000-06:00One of the things I dislike about Democrats is the...One of the things I dislike about Democrats is their abandonment of principle for temporary political gain. The Republicans have, I think, realized the long-term negatives of this sort of strategy: They're willing to lose one election today rather than compromise their principles—such as they are—and lose a dozen elections tomorrow.<BR/><BR/>Clintonism is such a juggernaught precisely because, having compromised liberal, progressive principles, the Democratic party has nothing to return to.Larry Hamelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-41423381697929155132007-05-04T11:09:00.000-06:002007-05-04T11:09:00.000-06:00The main problem with Clintonism is that it was an...The main problem with Clintonism is that it was an appropriate electoral response for the Democrats in the 1990s, when political and social skepticism of the safety net, lack of fear, and a bullish confidence in the economy were all high. It was tack center for the Democrats or lose to moderate Republicans. Thus, Clintonism, with its corporate-friendly image, welfare reform, and social-values friendly (that is, until ol' Bill got caught with the zipper down) message became an electoral success story. With the loss of the social values message, Clintonism made "compassionate conservatism" palatable to the majority of the electorate.<BR/><BR/>Now, the political tides have shifted. Americans are a-skeared of the Big Bad Islamofascistiterrorabs, but, from a liberal point of view, the polity is ripe for the picking: increased social tolerance, insecurity about the economy, and a return to support for the safety net. Unfortunately, Clintonism turned out to be such a juggernaut within the Democratic Party, and its message is so palatable to the corporations that fund elections these days, that we can't get rid of it.James F. Elliotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747033407956667363noreply@blogger.com