The Republicans: Post-Mortem Soul Searching

post from DemConWatch on 05 November 2008 09:15:00 AM. © DemConWatch

As many of us stand here, tired beyond tired, gleeful, ready to start work on governing, we may want to consider the GOP.

As reported earlier, there will be a meeting in Northern Virginia tomorrow so that the power bases can discuss where the party needs to head.

Remember, the minority party can choose to work with the majority, or they can choose to endeavor to be obstructionist. (If you haven't read Federalist Paper #10, by James Madison, now would be a good time.) Remember, a LOT of elected Republicans ran ads pointing out their ties to President-elect Obama. They may want to work with the administration, and not against it.

But those are the elected officials, and while they are elected, they are not "the party". "The Party" is the people who provide the money, write the platform, and commit to what the party will represent.

What are their options? Their current Senate leader is Mitch McConnell, who won a squeaker. And in the House, we have John Boehner, who may not survive in a leadership role, after losing two cycles in a row. Bush is the titular head of the party, since McCain lost. A new RNC chair will soon be chosen, and with him/her a whole crop of state and local operatives. Not to mention the pundits that lean right, the moneyed backers, the rank-and-file members and voters. And potentially, the Church.

So, how now brown cow? Here are the factions, in no particular order:

The Evangelical Right, which wants the party to move further right on SOCIAL issues, and doesn't care about much else.

The Co-Opted Base, aka the "old" Republicans, who are socially moderate (or don't care at all because they don't believe that the government should legislate social issues) which wants smaller government, fewer regulations, and less taxes.

The Realists, the group which believes that politics is not only philosophy, but also a career choice, and will want to do what is necessary to stay employed. This group includes the people who are willing to reach towards the center to the end of moving the country forward. This groups somewhat overlaps with:

The Right Intellectuals, including people like Karl Rove and Newt Gingrich. These folks want to be back in power on philosophical grounds as well as employment grounds, and can see a path to working with the Democrats to the end of recapturing the huge swatch of black America, Hispanic America, and intellectual America from whom they are now completely removed.

They will determine whether the GOP turns centrist in terms of economy, or right in terms of old-guard economic policy; whether they decide to let Church doctrine dictate social policy, or whether it moderates; and whether the neo-cons have a place at the table, or whether they will be ostracized.

We don't know how the negotiations will go, nor who will be willing to splinter and walk away.

From these discussions will arise the new Republican leadership. They will show themselves in who their leaders are in the House and Senate, how they advertise, how they use the MSM, as well as whether they are able to rebuild their party. It is possible that the Bush Republicans may evaporate, replaced with something else.

One of the major decisions will be the role of the Church in the party. Yes, I know about the separation of Church and State idea. The GOP does not. They used the churches to great advantage in 2000 and 2004 in their GOTV efforts. They have pandered shamelessly to the Evangelical right since the days of Reagan while simultaneously mocking them behind closed doors. Rick Warren didn't get national air time with President-elect Obama and McCain because of his looks.

The Democratic Party is a big tent, and will need to find a way to integrate the centrists and the left, and the far left. How far centrist are we willing to go to work with the GOP to the end of reaching national goals? I don't know the answer to that question, but I know that the Democratic Party, MY party, stands for freedom and inclusion, for the rights of ALL, and will not kowtow to a minority party dedicated to repression, exclusion, and a restriction of human and civil rights. And the people determining the future of the GOP know that also.

It will all be interesting to watch.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.demconwatchblog.com/2008/11/republicans-post-mortem-soul-searching.htm
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Restoring Americas Leadership in International
Global Warming Negotiations

post from THE ENVIRONMENTALIST on 05 November 2008 09:15:00 AM. © THE ENVIRONMENTALIST

by Jake SchmidtWe now have a new leader in the US that understands global warming and recognizes that it requires leadership both at home and abroad. Addressing this challenge (and opportunity) will be a key task of both President-elect Barack Obama (and[...]

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ing-americas-leadership-in.html

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Dancing in the Streets

post from Daily Kos on 05 November 2008 09:12:59 AM. © Daily Kos

CNN:

Obama win sparks celebrations outside White House

(CNN) -- As tens of thousands of people cheered Barack Obama's presidential victory at his home base in Chicago, Illinois, others were celebrating near his future house.

At least 1,000 people gathered on Washington's Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House late Tuesday night, shouting "Obama! Obama!" and "Yes we can!" Uniformed Secret Service officers were overheard, saying they'd never seen anything like it.

In Boston, Massachusetts, thousands of people -- many of them college students -- hit the streets to celebrate the election of the country's 44th president. The sound of car horns could be heard across the city, CNN affiliate WCVB reported.

Boston police said the celebrations were peaceful, but they closed some streets to control the crowds, WCVB reported.

In Chicago's Grant Park, where police estimated at least 200,000 had gathered to hear Obama claim victory, the crowd erupted in cheers and screams after news organizations projected him the winner.

AP:

From Harlem, to the avenue in Atlanta where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was born, to Oakland, Calif., Americans black and white celebrated Barack Obama's election with tears, the honking of horns, screams of joy, arms lifted skyward — and memories of civil rights struggles past.

Seattle Times:

In Seattle, crowds of thousands of people spilled into the streets near the Pike Place Market and on Capitol Hill Wednesday night to celebrate the election of Barack Obama.

Detroit Free Press:

They streamed into the streets of downtown Detroit -- black, white, Asian, Indian and Arab -- all Americans who were proud to celebrate president-elect Barack Obama and the new America he represents.

Black power fists were thrown in the air, large American flags were waved, people danced in the streets, drivers honked their car horns, men stood on cars playing bongo drums and the gleeful shouts of "OBAMA" could literally be heard from miles away.

Lebanon (PA) Daily News:

For the second time in a week, Philadelphia had an impromptu celebration.

Six days after crowding streets to celebrate the Phillies' World Series victory, thousands of Philadelphians marched downtown on Tuesday night to celebrate Barack Obama's victory over John McCain.

A multiracial crowd of all ages came from all directions and converged at City Hall shortly after Obama was declared the winner. Under a light rain, thousands of people jumped up and down, cheered and danced in the streets while car stereos blared music.

Newsday:

Celebration is spilling into the streets of Newark as New Jersey's largest city rejoices in Barack Obama's momentous election to the White House.

People spilled into the streets late Tuesday night, as car horns honked and cheers could be heard for blocks as the Democrat was declared the winner.

Louisville, KY Courier-Journal:

After the presidential race was called for Democrat Barack Obama at 11 p.m., motorists driving on Broadway in downtown Louisville honked their horns and yelled "Obama!" out the windows.

People gathered along the stretch of Broadway between 26th and 27th streets, cheering, dancing and waving campaign signs.

Ann Arbor (MI) News:

Sometime around 11:30 Tuesday night, the cheers could be heard reverberating across downtown Ann Arbor, steadily growing louder and louder.

An impromptu parade that started on the University of Michigan Central Campus wound along downtown streets as hundreds of students - joined by passersby and others who spilled out of bars - joyously celebrated the election of America's first black president.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje, who was at an election party at Arbor Brewing Co. on Washington Street, celebrating his own victory for a fifth 2-year term. "You could hear them coming and then half the bar went outside and followed along."

San Jose Mercury News:

Two hours later, downtown Santa Cruz was seized by a spectacle of mass celebration as hundreds of Obama supporters poured out from the sidewalks, high-fiving with hands extended from honking cars cruising by, hugging strangers and weeping like they must have done on V-E Day.

The cars, most of them fully occupied, snaked down Pacific Avenue in an impromptu recession, though the white-hot center of the celebration was at Pacific and Walnut. A tattooed and shirtless young man, his entire torso leaning out of the passenger side of a white Toyota spoke for the crowd when he screamed, "God bless America, and God bless Barack Obama."

Getting the idea? There's more, but you already knew that.

It's a great day for Democrats and Republicans alike. For Democrats, Barack Obama was elected President. For Republicans, there was finally dancing in the streets and Americans greeted as liberators.

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/aBd61Rr2NZQ/654035

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A Song For Today

post from The Liberal Doomsayer on 05 November 2008 09:08:00 AM. © The Liberal Doomsayer

I've had this on my mind all morning - "Heavenly Day" by Patty Griffin.

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Welcome to the Desert of the Real

post from Docudharma - Front Page on 05 November 2008 09:06:17 AM. © Docudharma - Front Page

Writer Slavoj Zizek described "the desert of the real" as the place where there are no illusions, no alibis, and no more comforting emotions. For all Americans - but especially for those of us who gave our hearts and our time to getting Barack Obama[...]

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Al Franken Not Conceding

post from Taylor Marsh on 05 November 2008 09:04:39 AM. © Taylor Marsh

BY TAYLOR MARSH AP rescinds its call for Coleman.Recount. Franken:[...]There is reason to believe that the recount could change the vote tallies significantly.Our office and the Obama[...]

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The Promised Land

post from Docudharma - Front Page on 05 November 2008 09:01:37 AM. © Docudharma - Front Page

I'm a cynical bastard, but I cried tonight.I cried listening to a political speech, a speech given by a Chicago politician. I cried standing in a noisy bar in front of a big screen TV with a bunch of other people who were crying, too, a lot of them.I[...]

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Yes. We. Did.A Big Fat Slob

I expected it. For months, I've been sparking bar argument and encouraging GOTV workers with confident assertions of an electoral landslide for Barack Obama. When Pennsylvania was called for Barack, I opened the champagne, assuring the room that it was[...]

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From Oklahoma City

post from AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth on 05 November 2008 09:00:00 AM. © AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth

A reader writes:

I was over the moon last night, but I am startled at how depressed I feel today. I am sunburned from holding an Obama sign with other supporters at a street corner yesterday, and I spent the day before making calls at the Obama Oklahoma City campaign office. Kerry didn't even bother to have one, so it felt great not to be counted out. It felt nice to think that the "50 state strategy" actually did include Oklahoma.

I am so incredibly sad that my state voted even less (barely; 34 vs 35%) for Obama than for Kerry. I am also disgusted that Jim Roth lost his corporation commission seat, which can only have been because he is gay.

I feel left behind.

There are lots of us like me in Oklahoma. Apparently, 34% of my state is similar to me. It is hard not to feel alone with the results here, though.

When the dust settles, I would love it for there to be some sort of "Oklahoma Project." I don't see how we are going to get any bluer without outside help. Can't someone with money make us a social experiment?

I feel like I have to keep living the Bush years by virtue of living here, and yet I'm a 4th generation Oklahoman and I don't want to leave. I don't want to give over the place I love to the radical right. It's how we all felt about the United States for the last 8 years, but it has been that way for my entire life here in Oklahoma, and there is no end in sight, even though the rest of the country has moved on. Our state legislature became even more Republican last night, and the moderate Republicans, like Mickey Edwards, no longer live here.

We need help.

We, the "good guys" here in Oklahoma, feel like missionaries in a hostile world. It is hard not to want to give up. Please be thinking of us.

Thanks.

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Americablog/~3/443542894/from-oklahoma-city.html

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Confidential to Wingnuttians: We realize you
haven't heard the news, but REAL Americans believe that "all men are created equal"

[Click to enlarge]

by Ken

I'm still pretty steamed about a lot that happened in the course of the presidential campaign, but I suppose today isn't the day to dwell on it. Let's enjoy it a little.

Okay, so maybe we'll dwell just a little. And blame Tom Toles for bringing it up.

I didn't think I could be much more offended than I was by the McCranky campaign's invention of a distinction between "real Americans" and presumably some other, "unreal" kind, including the stupefying lie that only its presumed "real Americans" work for a living. How stupid and dishonest can you be? (Well, apparently, if you're the Princess Sarah, there's no cap on either category. You were born to have contempt for actual knowledge and to lie your fool head off.) But then there was that McCrankyite wingnut who proclaimed that freedom isn't an American value, that it's more a French thing, whereas we go in for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

These people pretend to be the "real" Americans, and they don't even know our single most stirring and as well as most defining declaration, the Declaration of Independence? Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are of course "among" the rights (not the rights but among the "unalienable rights" with which we are endowed by our Creator in consequence of the "self-evident" truth "that all men are created equal."

There is no more inherently American value, and any wingnut doodyhead who doesn't know it might want to consider shutting the fuck up about what it means to be an American.

I'm just saying. (Okay, I've got that off my chest.)
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