On Being Progressive or Liberal and Cutting Off Your Nose

Trust me on this, I'm left of left - I was opposed to both Iraq Wars and the Afghanistan invasion, opposed to Torture, U.S. Imperialism and meddling abroad. I've been for single payer healthcare for eons, for financial regulation that would protect us from the ultra-capitalists, for protecting the environment, for recycling, for gay marriage, and still in favor of Motherhood and Apple Pie, for whatever that is worth.

Yes; I was full of awe, inspiration and hope, when Obama was elected. Yes; I am frustrated that we have been able to accomplish so *relatively* little in comparison to the great leaps I naively (even though I'm fifty-eight years old) visualized when he took the oath of office. Yes; I'm discouraged that the country is so intransigently polarized and the Congress is so obstructed by ideologue partisans on the Republican side, who so obviously feel they have no obligation to the greater good.

To all those so similarly frustrated who feel so betrayed that they want to scrap the entire healthcare bill and 'start over,' and 'throw the bums out,' next year... I feel your pain and betrayal.

BUT. Let's not be totally naive.

It might feel good to throw out everything - the bathwater, the tub and even the baby and his or her toys - even the entire wing of the house, why not - but where would we really be, were we to do that, except right back where the Republicans want us, and where they have had us ever since they began controlling the dialogue in 1996?

Let us not lose sight of where we are and what it took to get here: the election of Obama, and so many Democrats (even the Blue Dogs) took an unprecedented groundswell of discontent (thank you, GWB!!!).

The reason that we have not made more progress is not because of the lack of attempted follow through by those we elected; the reason that we have not made more progress is that we didn't elect enough of the right people!!!

As a result - the Republicans and the Blue Dogs are still able to control the debate and the margins of what any legislation can offer.

It will be absolute folly, if, as a result of not getting a *liberal* enough healthcare bill, or not getting an immediate and total withdrawal from Afghanistan, or a prompt overturning of 'Don't ask, Don't tell,' we opt to un-elect those we so recently fought so hard to elect, as retribution.

If we give up now, and take our anger out on the Democrats, then we can give up any hope of continuing the surge of change that has begun with Obama's momentous election. Because if one considers thoughtfully for a moment, we are in a far, far better world than we were a year ago: No, Dorothy, we are NOT in Texas, anymore!

Now is the time, not to blame Obama and the Democrats; NOW is the time to fully lay blame where blame belongs: on the Party of 'No,' the Republican Obstructionistas. What we should do now, is gear up for the 2010 election, eleven months hence, and try to re-elect as many Democrats as we are able, and then, elect even more. Let's keep the momentum growing!