What do Jane Hamsher, (Firedoglake.com), Glenn Greenwald and Markos Moulitsas (Daily Kos) have in common? They are supporting the Accountability Now Political Action Committee, which has set out to recruit liberal Democratic candidates to run primary contests against seats currently held by so-called “moderate” Democrats – those who often support Republican policies and oddly, when stripped of party designation, seem like Republicans. Accountability Now is also supported by MoveOn.org.
Read more about it here.
Predictably, the Democratic leadership is not happy about this. Says Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee,
What I’ve been warning people very clearly is, beware of forming a circular firing squad. We people should be focusing their efforts on expanding the Democratic majority, and that should be their singular focus.
Asked what was the point of electing Democrats who support Republican policies, Van Hollen said “That’s the whole point. Both parties dislike liberals. Always have.”
OK, I made that up, but it is my suspicion. Here’s his eminence, Harry Reid:
It’s not helpful to me. It’s not helpful to the Democratic Caucus.
Asked why having more liberals in congress would not be helpful to the Democratic Caucus, Reid said “They interfere with my objectives. I have a job to do – I have to promote an agenda completely at odds with my supporters while at the same time having to appear to be in harmony with them. It’s hard enough without having to deal with real liberals.”
OK. I made that up too.
It’s a good thing they are doing. I’ve long said that liberals don’t get what they want because they are too easy. They cave to the Democrats like a the class nerd to the homecoming queen. If having Democrats in congress is important for its own sake, and not to advance an agenda, then the two-party system is a sham.
By the way, it is, pretty much.
Piece of Mindful 
Perhaps you thought we were joking, Mark. More and better Democrats. Folk have spent too many words on what Republicans have to do to take their party back. I have confidence that Democrats will take back theirs, if only because some of us (yourself included) are actually willing to think and work rather then just talk.
LikeLike