I’m Not Ready To Make Nice
by digby
The Democratic Party today is assumed to be — well, it’s not assumed to be. The Democratic Party today is oriented around one thing — aside from its hatred of Bush — oriented around its anti-war position. The Democrat base is pure anti-war, and that’s why Lieberman is in trouble. It is such a powerful base or perceived to be by other Democrats, that Democrats like Hillary and others, John Kerry said, (paraphrasing) “If Lieberman loses, I’m not supporting him. I must support my party. My party stood behind me. I always be a Democrat,” and Hillary has pretty much said the same thing. Barbara Boxer however is in trouble, so-called.
There is a little tremor in Rush’s description of the “powerful” Democratic base (he realizes it and tries to amend his statement.)The opposition actually has him rattled for the first time in recent memory.
Unfortunately a good part of the Dem establishment is not just rattled but virtually hysterical. Ezra wrote this today:
I had it out the other night with a very pro-Lieberman writer who, it came clear to me, believed the entire concept of a primary challenge against Lieberman a simply illegitimate form of opposition. Lieberman, as a Democratic incumbent, had a claim on his party’s nomination and his Senate seat that couldn’t be challenged by a bunch of bloggers and a cable television executive named Ned. It was the impudence of the whole thing that so offended.
I’ve really been saddened, in fact, by how often, when I drill down into anti-Lamonter motivations, I find their ideological and electoral motivations mere sandrock obscuring a core rage at this affront to tradition and orderly succession. I didn’t believe this even a few months ago, but I’ve been forced to conclude that what scares folks about Lamont is that he represents an assault on privilege — Joe Lieberman’s, to be sure, but also theirs, no matter what sector of politics they currently represent.
Apparently these comfy Democratic insiders don’t mind the Republicans treating them like neutered farm animals — but I do. I take it personally when a propaganda industry makes millions spreading lies that liberals are terrorists or traitors. Yet the political establishment, including the media, doesn’t seem to think I should care about such things — even as I’ve seen my party and my country degraded and humiliated for years by this virulent strain of rightwing politics.
I was driving the other day and the announcer of the pop station I was listening to said that their most requested song was “I’m Not Ready To Make Nice” by the Dixie Chicks. I realized I had never closely listened to it before. As I drove alongside the Pacific Ocean with the windows open and the stereo blasting I think I finally understood — or admitted to myself — that much of this netroots and grassroots energy and emotional committment is coming from the simple fact that we’ve just reached the rope of our ends with these malignant Republican bullies and the people who would protect their privilege rather than stand up.
I think this song expresses how many of us feel after 20 years of a non-stop assault from the right — and the eager capitulation of those who find us a convenient strawman from whom they can distance themselves:
Forgive, sounds good.
Forget, I’m not sure I could.
They say time heals everything,
But I’m still waiting
I’m through, with doubt,
There’s nothing left for me to figure out,
I’ve paid a price, and I’ll keep paying
I’m not ready to make nice,
I’m not ready to back down,
I’m still mad as hell
And I don’t have time
To go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is
You think I should
I know you said
Why can’t you just get over it,
It turned my whole world around
and I kind of like it
I made my bed and I sleep like a baby,
With no regrets and I don’t mind saying,
It’s a sad sad story
That a mother will teach her daughter
that she ought to hate a perfect stranger.
And how in the world
Can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they’d write me a letter
Saying that I better
Shut up and sing
Or my life will be over
Forgive, sounds good.
Forget, I’m not sure I could.
They say time heals everything,
But I’m still waiting
Amen.
Did they think we were going to take their shit forever?
Don’t lose your nerve Democrats. I know you hate to be “unseemly” and loathe the idea that anyone will think you are “unreasonable.” I understand that having Rush say you are in thrall to the lunatic left fringe brings on a 60’s flashback that leaves you dripping in a cold sweat. But get a grip on your subconscious fear of being a feeling and breathing human being and recognize that this is a good and necessary thing for your country. (You might even come to “kinda like it” like those Dixie Chicks have.) You don’t have to be neutered farm animals anymore. If you’re ready to take it to them we’re here to get your backs.
In case anyone has forgotten just what it was that Natalie Maines said that caused people to send her death threats it was: “Just so you know, we’re ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas.” They are now virtually banned from country radio. Their CD was #1 on the Billboard charts for three weeks and is still selling briskly anyway.
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