The fundamental pact between a political party and its supporters is that the two groups believe the same thing and pledge to work on it together. And the Democratic base feels that it has held to its side of the bargain. It elected a Democratic majority and a Democratic president. It swallowed tough compromises on the issues it cared about most. It swallowed concessions to politicians it didn't like and industry groups it loathed. But it persisted. Because these things are important. That's why those voters believe in them. That's why they're Democrats.Ezra Klein is a you'll-pardon-the-expression heterosexual and so he may be unfamiliar with the old homosexual adage: if you persist in swallowing, you'll never get off your knees.
-Ezra Klein
As a bit of more pertinent advice for our intrepid young commentari'ite, I offer this: when you come to understand that the fundamental pact is not between a political party and its supporters, but between the political parties and their supporters, all dis shit makes a lot more sense.
30 comments:
I thought the pact was between a political party and its owners.
has anyone mentioned to ezra that by the time you get from the first to the last sentence in that paragraph, A no longer equals A?
I thought Democrats where Democrats because they were Democrats? Clearly, Ezra is not a golfer.
The steamer of the day, by a large margins, comes from the cheeks of Matt Bai, NYT.
"Politics refreshes itself more frenetically now. If politicians and their parties are going to realign anything in a society that’s always shopping for the next thing, it will probably have to be their expectations."
"Nudgement Day"
too funny.
"It swallowed concessions to politicians it didn't like and industry groups it loathed. But it persisted. Because these things are important." Under the spreading chestnut tree, I sold you and you sold me.
Eeee!
Zeee!
Ra-Ra-RAH!
Ezra's team is the WINNING team!
Ezra's dream will make you cream!
EZ-ra... EZ-ra... EZ-RA-KLEIN!
It swallowed tough compromises on the issues it cared about most. It swallowed concessions to politicians it didn't like and industry groups it loathed. [vodka kicks in] But it persisted. [he stares at phantasms] Because [stares] Because [stares] these things are important!!! Fuck em. God damn it. That's why ... voters buh, believes in em. Thatch's why they're Demohhh God oh God [weeps]
this aggression will not stand man!
http://www.counterpunch.org/
Cockburn correctly characterizes Mass in the 3rd paragraph. Besides a few enclaves in and around the western part of Boston and everything west of the Quabbin the state a shithole full of angry white jocks, the "I got mine and fuck you crowd".
The characterization from out of touch liberals around the blogosphere that Teddy Kennedy was some sort of revered saint in the state is entirely untrue. He's hated by 50% of the population.
I'm baffled that not one commentator has picked up on the real reason Coakley lost and that is because the Patriots got bounced in the first round. If they had made it to the second round or the AFC championship the angry white vote would have been distracted by the NFL playoffs. Without the Patriots to distract people they turned their attention to the Senate race. The Brown town bounce all happened after the Ravens handed the Pats an ass whupping if I'm not mistaken.
Driving around and seeing the Browniacs it was obvious to me that they were mostly bored and angry Pats fans lacking an enemy in tights and shoulder pads.
The fundamental pact between a political party and its supporters is that the two groups believe the same thing and pledge to work on it together.
The guy has such a naive, junior-high-civics-class view of politics, I'm not sure it's even worth laughing at his expense. Or, maybe it would be funnier if most of the rest of the population didn't hold the exact same view. I mean, politics is complicated yo.
Nevertheless, in the interest of public mockery, my favorite themes among progressive friends on facebook:
1. It's all the media's fault for focusing on Coakley's gaffes -- I'm never watching the news or reading a newspaper again!
2. It's all the Democrats fault -- in fact, I hate those fooking Democrats so much I'm going to work even harder in the future to help get them elected!
3. All that matters now is passing ANY kind of health care reform, otherwise Dems will look weak. We can always fix it later into What We Really Want.
4. Something about Ted Kennedy rolling over in his grave (Booooo, try a little harder please!).
The only thing I'm certain unites my Dem-supporting friends: a devout, visceral hatred of Republicans. Everything else is rationalization.
I'm scoring this one as a win not only for Brown and all-out political confusion for MSM commentary, but what seems to be a growing analytical similarity between angry marxists and indifferent libertarians.
How can this not be fun? (Note: Assumes you're drunk already.)
if you persist in swallowing, you'll never get off your knees
practice makes perfect!
Ezra's going to end up like Rod Stewart, getting his stomach pumped and shit.
I'm curious to see if they can find a smoother/less obvious way to handle the next finance bailout this fall. That one will be tricky
There is no way that Ezra Klein is actually a heterosexual.
Mandy Marcotte gibbers:
"Blegh, no one is talking about giving up. Where did that idea come from? We’re just pointing out that the Democrats themselves are acting like babies. It’s not the bloggers that are."
Too funny.
(Maybe this belongs in the other thread, but it appears that people have moved on from it.)
if you persist in swallowing, you'll never get off your knees
..unless you are a midget. (ta da bing!).
...unless your partner stands on a box (badda boom!).
...unless it's your own. (ta da doh!).
Yes. The dems are in a tough spot. But your stuff will inspire, monswah!
--Donny
when you come to understand that the fundamental pact is not between a political party and its supporters, but between the political parties and their supporters
Bullseye. Yer politically-savvy Democrat sneers at the Teabaggers and the Kansans who so passionately rush to vote against their own self-interest just because their candidate mouths a few comforting words. Then yer same Democrat steps into the voting booth, and with great gusto and patriotic fervor, does precisely the same thing for exactly the same reason.
Independents in Mass broke that cycle yesterday, however stupid their ultimate choice was, and the Dems are at a total loss to explain it. Because it's hard to see the frame when you are part of the picture.
I haven't checked here in awhile, but I just knew IOZ would have some eyes-wide-open analysis posted about this event. Little did I expect this huge bonanza. Keep 'em coming, IOZ, I can't believe you're still giving out this stuff for free!
36 dicks!
cool series, bro
I'm so sophisticated and wise and ultra-cynical from my deep understanding of politics, meta-politics and 15th dimension chess playing with semiotics that I pierce through all veils of political chicanery and elections and therefore sit at home and never vote at all, smugly content with knowing nothing changes even while it always does.
Cause it takes a genius to see that the Democrats are fuckups. Yeah. Go team.
Yeah, man, no one should banter about shit unless it would take a genius to see that shit. A team of geniuses
Re: Soj
Say what you want about National Socialism...
calmer than you are, soj.
PS - if your last comment encapsulates what you think this is all about, the error does not lie with the not-you.
When an old knife-fighter like Barney Frank starts begging like a little bitch, even this old sports-fan knows that it's curtains for the blue team. Time to tend to our own gardens.
Sarah Palin still scares the shit out of me, though. Her and her ilk.
If left in peace, my preference would be to continue to enjoy my dissipated existence for as long as I can continue to squeeze endorphins out of it. When I look at Palin, though, I only see a hungry praying mantis, or a heap of radioactive cinders.
You think they won't try to take Pittsburgh?
Julian
I like the idea that voting is what causes change. I think I shall call this theory . . . intelligent design.
We're caught in a trap
I can't walk out
Because I love you too much baby
Why can't you see
What you're doing to me
When you don't believe a word I say?
We can't go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can't build our dreams
On suspicious minds
Skip to 1:51 for Ezra talking to the media:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96vAbtpakLg
they're already arming for the proggel revalooshun
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