Many national and local Democrats are pushing for Illinois Dems to redistrict mid decade and lamenting that we got Rahm Emanuel to head up the DCCC and now he’s not be allowed to play hardball like he should.
The larger question being missed is what’s the strategy? To look as bereft of ideals as the party in power? That’s a hell of a campaign slogan–they’re dirty so we had to get down in the dirt with them….
Or does the Party take a look at the problem and turn it into an issue that many can relate to and run with it?
The comparison of the current Congressional GOP to the Dems in Congress during the 1980s/early 1990s is a great comparison in that both had little to do with policy and more with personal power of the leaders.
DeLay is like a treasure trove of examples of the abuse of power and every time he gets hit, he uses organizational power to shield him.
It’s people like him that lead to a strong desire for term limits–people being angry about how anyplace could keep electing someone so corrupt and out of the mainstream of American values.
Term limits are a stupid idea that limits choices of whom you may vote arbitrarily. So instead of promising a ‘vote’ on term limits as the ‘Contract on America’ did, the Democrats should run on non-partisan redistricting similar to Iowa’s plan.
It’s a reform idea that would force the most complacent in Congress to have to defend their votes, it would make far fewer safe seats in Congress, and it resonates with all those people stuck in safe seats who hate that they can’t vote for someone who has a chance.
Most importantly, it changes the debate from one of insiders complaining about who slimed who, to one of a party of reform versus a party of corruption. The issue alone won’t deliver districts, but it is another step towards reframing the debate to a debate that benefits a party outside of power. Even better, it’s a good idea for American democracy.
The national Dems need to take the high ground and recast this debate into one that doesn’t focus on tit-for-tat insider fighting, but one that can create a message of reform for the Party to run under.
Many safe district Congressman will fight the idea, but they need to be persuaded with a heavy dose of party discipline. In case they haven’t noticed the House of Representatives has been in Republican control for 10 years and running the party as an incumbent protection racket isn’t helping to promote our values. It’s helping incumbent members and that isn’t one of our values.
Trying to argue it’s an argument over the high ground versus all out warfare misses that in all out political warfare, you need a compelling mesage to win. We can be as devious as they can isn’t the way to communicate such a message.
ArchPundit