The GOP has a firing-squad too, but theirs is focused on the most recently exposed Official Infidel, rather than forming a circular pattern. Worth copying what works.

Spooky.

Here here! This is why I particularly distain the Naderites — they felt politics was about speeches in hockey arenas and glomming onto the Greens, who at least have worked for decades to get a small toehold in various places. For a guy who once organized on grassroots level, Nader too was incredibly half-assed about it when he decided to torpedo the Gore campaign.

And that goes for a bulk of the goo-goos in the Democratic party too — who palpably fear old fashioned retail politics (of which I really think the Internet is part), while decrying money in politics without noticing that grassroots fundraising is a good, empowering thing.

The so-called liberal media will make sure that all those “shrill” people will be used to make the whole Dem. party look bad.

The Right has an answer for that, too. Where did the phrase “liberal media” come from?

We need to make a clear distinction between primary politics and gen. election politics. The far right was able to take control of the GOP and win elections because, in terms of primary politics, they were ruthless (and in terms of party discipline ruthless as well — so the party had a focused message for general elections). OTOH, many of the most focused partisan GOoPers, when it comes to general elections will hold their noses and vote GOP, if only to have GOoPers in the courts … you don’t see the GOP version of Naderites actually defecting in the generals, even if there is always the threat.

Of course, no lefty will be able to pull of a Norquist or Club for Growth. The so-called liberal media will make sure that all those “shrill” people will be used to make the whole Dem. party look bad. Remember all the fuss about Dem. 527s? You had media types all over “527s yanking the Dems. to the left” and nobody ever mentioned Club for Growth.

I disagree.

I respect you right to dissent … and your decision to dissent responsibly!

FISA’s not my bag. Nothing against it, but I’m more of a labor-liberal kind of guy — raise the minimum wage, restore the right to join unions, a path to citizenship for immigrants, health care for all, that kind of thing. To which I do give money and time (altho you’re right, I should give more. So should we all.)

The point is just that preemptive surrender is a particularly bad strategy. Maybe we can take the Dems back from the “grownups,” maybe we can’t. But we definitely can’t unless we try.