Building a coalition

My friends on the left, we are at war and I'm not talking about Iraq. Right here where we live we are at war with the Theocon Republicans who threaten the very fabric that makes this country great. So what to do? We need to build a coalition; we have all learned what happens when you go to war without a real coalition. Through my relationship with Jazz at Running Scared I have learned that I have a lot in common with the "old" Republicans. Jazz has a good post here you should read.

As hopeless as it sounds, this is a time for moderates to step up to the plate and find the power of the fulcrum on the teeter totter that divides the nation. There are a number of liberals out there who are advocating a "scorched earth" policy of resistance against the new, but slight, theocon majority. These outnumbered liberals are going to need allies to achieve any significant progress. The right wing is clearly poised to try to move a bulldozer into the political landscape and drive it so far to the right that it won't be able to shift back for a generation.

There are still member of congress, particularly in the Senate, who are of a clearly moderate bent. They are vastly outnumbered, and often forced to bend a knee to Rove and the theocon hawks. But on issues that matter, they can be called upon to stand up. They count among their numbers Olympia Snowe, Lincoln Chaffee, and Arlen Spectre, along with others. When a seriously threatening right wing move comes into play, I would urge the liberal Democrats to reach out to these moderates, and offer them their support in exchange for a critical vote.

In such ways, progress towards moderation could still be made. You may not be able to get a radically liberal judge appointed to the Supremes, but you could stop a card carrying member of Operation Rescue from donning the robes, and settle on a moderate constitutional constructionist. While some of the more regressive, homophobic states will certainly pass anti-gay amendments to their constitutions, you can call on moderates to prevent the passage of a national constitution that endorses fear, bigotry and homophobia. You may have to compromise on other issue that are distasteful to the far left in exchange for such concessions, but that is the fate of the minority party. And make no mistake, the Democrats are the minority party now in all ways that matter. This is the time for moderate Republicans to use the leverage they hold in the middle to their advantage. Failure to do so will make the theocratic dreams of Mr. Pastore a reality before we even get to the mid-term elections.

While we might not agree on everything we certainly agree on enough to make a coalition possible. Think about it.