archived: 30 Jan - 5 Feb, 2005 Back Next
LEUTISHA STILLS
“North Carolina Democrats”
Junkie: Ms. Stills is a frequent contributor to TPJ and hails from San Francisco. She is publisher of the website: GET RID OF THE DLC. Ms. Stills is responding to an article in TPJ last week explaining how Democrats in the North Carolina State House, even with narrow majority control of that chamber, fashioned a bipartisan leadership arrangement with moderate Republicans thereby isolating the radical Republicans in the State House. The article may be found at this hyperlink: -- Isolating Radical Republicans
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I like the blueprint of how North Carolina Democrats control the state Legislature, and how Republicans are working with them through the concept of "power-sharing". The reason I believe it works in North Carolina is that no one wants to be labeled "radical" unless it's an important, core value issue, both to the elected official and their constituency. This is also good strategy for Democrats in Congress to adopt - when they exposed Newt Gingrich's extremism back in 1996, the Democrats were rewarded with the gain of seats by the voters. A similar outcome is feasible for the 2006 mid-year elections.
I think it is without doubt that most of America would like to see both parties work in harmonious fashion; we get turned off when it becomes bitterly partisan - a development that George Bush approves of very highly, otherwise he wouldn't continue to nominate the controversially incompetent to Cabinet positions where they are responsible for the Nation's security, Foreign Policy and Laws of the land.
I think this is what the DLC would ideally like to have - but they are so drunk on the corporate Kool-Aid to the point they believe that "Imitation" of the Republicans is the sincerest form of flattery to get them to play nice. Like a substance abuser, a DLC member has to hit rock bottom and acknowledge their powerlessness over the Republicans in order to stop trying to be like them and get back to the core values of the Democratic Party. Until they "bottom out", we who are true Democrats must treat them like any other substance abuser; we need to quit being their enablers and allow them to fall flat on their collective horses' rear end.
I am printing out a copy of your article and passing it out to at the next "Democratic Meetup" party as well as to all members of the Congressional Black and Latino Caucuses, as well as copies to Senator Barbara Boxer, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (although Reid and Boxer demonstrated some backbone, Pelosi's worrying us in California with her endorsement of known DLC-er Tim Roemer as the next DNC chair...)
JUNKIE
“There Is A Reason We Are Democrats”
TPJ’s mantra since its inception is “There Is A Reason We Are Democrats.” Another example comes from the Ohio legislature.
Legislation that would restrict what university professors could say in their classrooms was introduced yesterday in Ohio.
Judging from reactions in other states where similar bills have been considered, controversy won’t be far behind.
Marion Sen. Larry A. Mumper’s "academic bill of rights for higher education" would prohibit instructors at public or private universities from "persistently" discussing controversial issues in class or from using their classes to push political, ideological, religious or anti-religious views.
Senate Bill 24 also would prohibit professors from discriminating against students based on their beliefs and keep universities from hiring, firing, promoting or giving tenure to instructors based on their beliefs.
Mumper, a Republican, said many professors undermine the values of their students because "80 percent or so of them (professors) are Democrats, liberals or socialists or card-carrying Communists" who attempt to indoctrinate students.
"These are young minds that haven’t had a chance to form their own opinions," Mumper said. "Our colleges and universities are still filled with some of the ’60s and ’70s profs that were the anti-American group. They’ve gotten control of how to give people tenure and so the colleges continue to move in this direction." -- Columbus Dispatch
The Ohio legislation comes directly from David Horowitz, a conservative commentator, who has started Students for Academic Freedom.
SAF has an Academic Bill of Rights and a Student Bill of Rights. They deserve a few minutes of readers time to understand the fermenting anti intellectualism that is being advocated for institutions of higher learning.
There Is A Reason We Are Democrats.
Last Update: 03/23/2006