Our Democratic Future

If you're conscious and a Democrat, you're battling either within, or without, or both. We have some really important issues rending the party faithful and there is much blood on the floor. I think that floor is going to get slippery and nasty beyond our wildest imaginings.

Three big struggles divide the party and create schizophrenic Democrats:

1. What is the role of Superdelegates? Should they support the 'popular vote' (whatever that means) or should they ensure a viable candidate based using their long-standing political experience as a factor in decision-making?
2. Is Hillary creating or sustaining an internal civil war? Should she drop out now to save us from ourselves?
3. Is Obama a viable candidate for the GE or a vanity candidate for Democrats? Will he really capture enough Americans to win the White House?

Here are my thoughts:

1. Superdelegates: They were put in place to provide balance when a primary candidate won the nomination with an agenda that appealed emotionally to Democrats (especially the far left) but that risked yielding a losing ticket in the General. In other words, it was instituted to provide pragmatic political balance to unbridled fervor. Yes, that feels anti-democratic (small 'd'). On the other hand, there is something to be said about balancing the Democrat's historical ability to shoot themselves in the foot when activists -- especially anti-war activist -- rule the primaries.
2. Hillary's persistence as a candidate: Let her stay. We may yet need her, even if we don't prefer her. More on that in a moment.
3. Obama's GE prospects: He's becoming a liability, at least for any Democrats who have their eyes open. Most Obama supporters travel in a closed social network, self-reinforcing and liberal. They dismiss the hullabaloo over BHO's association with unsavory people like Rezko and Rev. Wright. They are delusional. If Obama gets the nom, I do not believe he can win. He was NOT vetted and his rhetoric swept all those touchy-feely types totally off their feet. The rest of the country is going to open their eyes and ears come September and completely reject this man. If you think Kerry's swiftboating was inflammatory, you just have no idea what's ahead.

Obama may have more elected delegates right now and Hillary may not be able to capture sufficient numbers to outpace him. But as the furor over Obama's judgement grows -- and recall that this man repeatedly touts his superior judgement -- the Superdelegates may yet discover why they exist -- to save the party from itself. If they look clear-eyed at the GE prospects and less at the emotional fervor of a bunch of 20-somethings, they may wake up and stand up. Maybe they'll pick a dark horse who hasn't even run in the primaries (Al Gore anyone?). Or maybe they will be glad to have Hillary available and the deeply commited individuals who support her candidacy. Maybe.

This much is becoming obvious, the Democrats are risking a loss...perhaps a devastating one.. in the General Election. The leading candidate, the one who has disturbed many of us with his emotional appeals and shaky policies, may be about to burst into flames. Here we are, in March of a crucial election year, tethered to a guy who can be easily accused of supporting un-American and racially biased religious views, whose wife doesn't demonstrate much pride in her country, who is an elitist, and who has won primarily by leveraging the African-American vote and the support of extremely left-liberal academics and intellectuals. This is not a 'mainstream' candidacy, despite the rhetoric.

If he wins, we're gonna lose our ass. And we will deserve it.