The Democrats’ Delimma

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in….

Multiple, complex factors form a political reality in Massachusetts.  Offer any explanation and the odds are good you’re at least partly right.  Before we drink the tea bagger brew though, let’s agree the country hasn’t suddenly taken a sharp right turn.  Democrats reflexively steering that direction sew the seeds that come harvest will exact a greater political cost.  The view from my window:

Summers and Geitner lead a Wall Street approach to promised financial reform.  The insurance industry gains billions in the name of universal health care.  Gays and lesbians endure less than human status with hardly a whimper from our national leaders.

Barack Obama as candidate passionately packaged values that joined a complex mixture of 53% of those who voted a year ago.  Barack Obama as governor massages a largely out of sight process.  The occasional glimpse reveals Joe Lieberman’s personal political rant holds greater power than reform.  The loud resulting noise is the air stampeding away from our January 2009 enthusiasm.

Yes, governing is different from campaigning.  Yes, Democrats cover a much larger political continuum than do Republicans and intra party discipline is harder.  Yes, Americans are not policy wonks.  But the strong majority that emerged to elect Barack Obama expects a government that adheres to its values.  Stand for the people as you said you would and fight the good fight.  Campaign reformer morphing to pragmatic President does not enthuse.

Democrats gifted political control of Congress to Republicans in 1994 with two sorry years of unforced errors.  Please, please could we avoid déjà vu?

This time Massachusetts warns.  Get up off the floor Democrats.  Stand and deliver.