The Democratic Spine

Alexander Cockburn is one of my favorite columnists. He's out there. He doesn't mince words. I've been reading his stuff in The Nation for two years now as a subscriber [subscribe here!]. His latest "Beat the Devil" column titled Why There's No Strategy to End This War takes a look at the Dems response to things like censure, the war in Iraq and little strategies from the leadership like this gem:

As reported in the Washington Times, Reid's strategy memo advises: "Ensure that you have the proper U.S. and state flags at the event, and consider finding someone to sing the national anthem and lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the event."

Read: flags and songs make Dems strong Americans right?

Cockburn continues on listing the responses of some of the movers within the Democratic leadership to Sen. Russ Feingold's motion for censure.

Barack Obama of Illinois: "I haven't read it."

John Kerry of Massachusetts: "I really can't [comment] right now."

Hillary Clinton of New York rushed past reporters shaking her head, then trying to hide behind the 4'11" Barbara Mikulski.

Charles Schumer of New York, who would normally run over his grandmother to get to a microphone: "I'm not going to comment."

Chris Dodd of Connecticut: "Most of us feel at best it's premature. I don't think anyone can say with any certainty at this juncture that what happened [the NSA's eavesdropping] is illegal."

And let me add that Bob Casey, who is the anointed from the top "Democratic" Senate candidate here in PA agrees with Dodd as noted in jpol's diary. Progressive Dem Chuck Pennacchio [for whom I am volunteering many many hours a week] disagrees and stands with Sen. Feingold. As Sen. Pennacchio, he'd be on the floor with Sen. Feingold in support of his motion to censure.

The Cockburn essay is a good read. A good read if only to see your feelings on the printed page and not merely swirling around in your head. If you have problems accessing it via The Nation it's also here via Counter Punch.

Sometimes it seems to me like we're going to have to vote out the Dems that are there now and get in a new batch in order to remove the Republicans who are currently entrenched and festering within the three branches of government and the esteemed Fourth Estate still isn't pulling its weight. The Washington Post hiring and not firing the likes of Ben Domenech [he resigned, and WaPo basically washed their hands of it] is not helping matters either.