Democrats And Cannibals

The Wall Street Journal, on liberal and leftist Democratic bloggers vs. party moderates (hat tip: Notes From D.R.): "Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar is today fond of quoting a famous Lyndon Johnson line: 'You know the difference between cannibals and liberals? Cannibals only eat their enemies.' Mr. Cuellar would know, having found himself the main course on liberals' election menu just last year. A centrist Democrat who is pro-business, free-trade and strong on law enforcement, the congressman was designated an apostate by the left-wing Netroots crowd. They decamped to his district and bankrolled a liberal primary challenger.....If the liberal blogging phenomenon deserves to be known for anything, it is the strategy to intimidate or silence anyone who disagrees with its own out-of-the-mainstream views. That muzzling has been on full display in recent weeks as Mr. Moulitsas and fellow online speech police have launched a campaign against the centrist Democratic Leadership Council. DLC Chairman Harold Ford, Jr. was even thwacked last week for daring to speak to this editorial page (my sincere apologies, Mr. Ford)--the clear goal to discourage him from making such a free-speech mistake again. Yet a lively midweek chat with Mr. Cuellar suggests that this campaign of threats isn't necessarily having the intended effect....'They win when they intimidate people,' says Mr. Cuellar. 'I've taken everything they've thrown, plus their kitchen sink, and I still stand proud as a moderate-conservative Democrat.' He says his triumph over blogger fire has only strengthened his conviction that his party will only win elections if it continues to be a 'big tent' open to all views."

The piece continues: "Despite all the blogger bravado that they now run the show, Mr. Cuellar's experience has been more the norm than the exception. The press may adore them, but the Netroots simply haven't notched many concrete victories. 'Every time I see [Sen.] Joe Lieberman in the hall, we like to say 'we're still here, aren't we?'' says Mr. Cuellar, a spunky tone in his voice. California's Jane Harman, reviled as a 'warmonger,' last year whipped antiwar activist Marcy Winograd in a primary, 62%-38%. Ellen Tauscher, who heads the New Democrat Coalition in Congress, was savaged by left-wing blogs for her votes authorizing Iraq and free trade, and in particular for her warning to her party not to 'go off the left cliff.' She walked away from her re-election with 66% of the vote. Mr. Cuellar goes so far as to argue that instead of cowing Democratic moderates, the left-wing attacks have united them. More middle-of-the-roaders now believe that if the bloggers were to win a high-profile primary, it would only energize them to go after others. "

My response: Whatever happened to diversity LOL? The fact remains that the only reason why Democrats took over Congress last year was because of gains that they made in formerly Republican districts by moderate Democrats. Since before I was born (I'm 36 years old), the only Democrat to be elected and re-elected president followed the DLC model. Alienate the center and us independent swing voters, and the Democrats will not win next year's presidential election. If I wanted to live in a socialist society, I'd move to Venezuela or any number of African countries.