While there are so many gigantic, gaping wounds this country has suffered over the past six years (and going back ten years if you include the impeachment nonsense), two categories are paramount -- the disastrous foreign policy and military posture that the U.S. has taken, and the emasculation and damn near elimination of constitutionalism and the rule of law in this country. Universal health care, global warming, fiscal balance, balancing free trade with the effects on American workers -- these are all crucial issues. But if we cannot go back to a country that has complete and total faith in the constitution as the bedrock of our law, and if we cannot change gears in foreign policy from a doctrine that undercuts and destroys international institutions and preaches war to end all wars, then this country is lost, and all the other concerns are trivial.
So the question becomes -- what is the role of this small community, and the netroots in general, in forcing the overall conversation in this country to these major issues (and away from the horserace nonsense)? Furthermore, what are the ground rules for supporting a candidate in '08? [Now, granted, there's no one set of such rules that will end up with all of us agreeing 100%, or maybe even 80%, with everyone else on this site -- but it would be worthwhile to make our support contingent on some very bright lines.]
My point in the diary was trying to figure out how those of us that are frustrated and disappointed in what we see as nothing but another vapid horse-race for the Presidency starting up can actually force the conversation to these deeper issues. This conversation actually dovetails nicely with the brouhaha over what's happening with the rumors over Wes Clark at the major national netroots sites, dailykos and mydd.
My question is, are the 'netroots' just another Democratic Party fund-raising mechanism, with each of us picking our favorite Presidential choice -- or are we going to band together and leverage our potential numbers, skills, and power to impact the selection of leaders that will truly move the country in the direction we desire?
I have no doubt that any of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or John Edwards would make better President's than George W. Bush, and that, with a likely Democratic Congress after '08 as well, much better legislation and national policy will result as such. But we will be poorly served if we do not force these candidates to demonstrate their sincerity to the causes I talked about in this diary -- not just words, damn it, but actions with consequences. This horse race mentality leads to poor national choices.
My heart lies with Gen. Clark. I think the country needs his experience and wisdom, and his policy stances come the closest to matching my own in the major areas I have described. But the question for us Clarkies, and it ought to be a question for all, is -- what will you do if your favorite candidate either does not run or does not win? How will you still make or demand that your voice is heard?
While the Presidency is the most glamorous position, what we need to do is demand a better congress. We need more of the likes of Jim Webb, Jon Tester, Patrick Murphy, Joe Sestak, Tim Walz, Jerry McNerney, Carol Shea-Porter, etc. I am interested in trying to form a coalition of people, here in Virginia and then nationally, that want to form an on-going constituency with an on-going infrastructure (which may not necessarily be a part of the Democratic Party, though it will naturally align so) that demands and helps to get enacted the policies that we favor.
This 100% needs to start with the activists on this site and the remains of the volunteer force from the Webb campaign. We need to start there, and then figure out a way to build grassroots campaigns and advocacy groups in each of the 11 congressional districts in Virginia, and then encourage debate and interaction to identify the 11 best people to try and get elected in our names.
If done nationally, this micro-level version of the 50-state strategy can form the base of a grassroots machine that could ensure more leaders like Jim Webb, and maybe Wes Clark, can speak for us.
I'd be interested in hearing from the others here. I'd like to start soon. Respond to this diary, or email me at rdlafond [at] gmail [dot] com, if this sounds like something you'd be interested in.
Thanks.
For example, you might spend the next 10 days gathering support for the March on the Pentagon March 17 and join the march with all your friends. www.marchonpentagon.org Monitor which candidates are pushing back against Bush war policy.
Also, Webb has never stopped talking about the need to curtail out of control Executive power and bring back Constitutional checks and balances. Make it a project to promote Webb's just introduced bill requiring Congressional authorization for intervention in Iran and monitor which candidates support this legislation.
Then report your findings from time to time here and on other blogs. This will help to keep the big issues in focus and from being overshadowed by the personality hype. Best of luck.