An Outsider has advice for Democrats

This is something from a blog called Empire Notes that I found worth passing along to my fellow Kossacks. It's titled simply enough Advice for the Democrats. I'll spare you most of the rantings of the author, as they'd only raise the blood pressure of the more partisan among us, and instead cut to the chase (please note, of course that this guy is not exactly a Democrat fan, and offers plenty of snarky commentary along with the advice):

First, your biggest problem is not that you will be labelled "obstructionist" (although you will) but that you will be crushed by a force that doesn't believe there should be any limits to its power. Thus, fighting back even when you're going to lose is important. Your fighting on Social Security has been a good thing and has already affected the Bush administration's expectations. I imagine that all but a few of you are far too gutless to fight back on the upcoming Iraq appropriations bill or to filibuster Gonzales, but find some things you'll go to the mat on even if you lose. Don't worry about getting a legislative agenda accomplished; the Bush administration never does as long as it can build the right wing.

Second, and most important, don't just play defense. It's important to go out and attack the Republicans. Again, I expect that most of you are too gutless and unprincipled to fight hard on substantive issues like withdrawal from Iraq or single-payer healthcare (even though it's something that most corporations would welcome). So, you should gun for a prominent Republican personally. It seems impossible in this climate to go after Bush or Cheney and pointless to go after an appointed member of the executive branch (except in cases, like Rumsfeld, where again it's impossible). So go after a prominent legislator on ethics charges -- maybe Tom Delay? Create a situation where the Republicans have to either openly sanction corruption or acquiesce in the elimination of one of their own. If this works, lather, rinse, repeat.

This isn't about social justice. Nobody expects much on that front any time soon -- nor have they expect much from you for some time now. It's just about your survival. Your current strategy of curling up in a ball and hoping the Republicans don't kick you just encourages them to kick you.

Taking out the bile, the basic gist is this: be more aggressive in tackling our issues, don't cave in when the Repubs accuse us of being "obstructionist", and attack the Republicans at their weakest points - by focusing on their more corrupt congress critters (such as DeLay) and by creating our own wedge issues (I like the idea of making them openly sanction corruption). In other words, act like a genuine opposition party!

The good news to me is that there are indeed signs of life lately. Our Senators and House Members need to show unified opposition consistently over these next few years. And of course kudos to those who clearly do "get it" such as Boxer.