The Boxer Rebellion...

Given those facts and given that the Democrats hold neither the White House nor either chamber of Congress, the only power the Democrats have is their power to state the facts clearly and withhold the legitimacy they alone can impart through providing bipartisan cover.

Joshua Micah Marshall, Talking Points Memo

Politics has changed.  And I think Barbara Boxer is starting to get it.

I'm pleased with Senator Boxer.  She is one of my representatives, and I have voted for as often as possible in my lifetime.  I'm less than completely happy with the more senior but more ambiguous Senator Feinstein, although I have also voted for her since I have preferred her to any of her electoral competitors.  But Boxer, unlike her most of her Democratic cohorts, appears to have found the only workable approach to double-oh politics.

During the past several decades, the environment where the modern Democrat evolved, no single party controlled all the levers of power.  We had Republican presidents with a Democratic Congress, or Democratic presidents with a Republican congress, and the third and fourth estates were reasonably neutral.  The eighties Democrat takes a cautious and well-considered approach.  The nineties Democrat still believes that diplomacy, backed by the threat of legislative or executive force, can lead to imperfect but still reasonable policy compromises.  But the environment in Washington has changed.  With a radical conservative in the White House, solid majorities in both houses of Congress, a sympathetic bias in the Supreme Court, and a cowed or controlled media, the GOP has an effective lock over the legislative process.  Nonetheless last century's Democrats are still operating as if diplomacy will work.  It won't, at least not on the Hill.  For the new asymmetric nature of the conflict in this new decade, a different kind of strategy is needed.  We need to evolve double-oh Democrats.

Like the cold-war operatives of the same name, double-oh Democrats would think fast and react quickly, identifying and rapidly exploiting small weaknesses in their opponent's position.  They would attack without hesitation or remorse, fearlessly belay any argument with overwhelming rhetorical force, then pause only briefly to make cutting quips over a fallen legislator or slain pundit.  They would take offense at bad policy and the ferocity of their words would match their outrage.  They would call a lie a lie.  They would move smoothly through the halls of power, quietly gathering intelligence on GOP plans, making alliances when necessary but being willing to abandon them for the greater good.  They would never give the opposition cover or succor, and would expect none in return.  And they would tell the truth -- the ugly and rude truth -- about the enemy.

This kind of Democrat can be made.  Boxer is start in the right direction, a bold but uncertain mutation in the Democratic genome.  What's required is that we, her constituents and Democratic voters everywhere, voice our support.  Not necessarily because we think that any particular action made a real difference this time, but to send a signal through the whole Democratic ecosystem that we support these kinds of actions.  These are strategies we'll vote for.  Those who adopt these strategies will have our support.  Votes and dollars are what it's about.  If more Democrats see that stepping out, defending what is right even if they get laughed at, makes the voters at home happy, more will do it.  On the other hand if her colleagues see that her actions harmed her more than helped, the spark will be quenched.

- jack*

Comments

[loyopp]

Right on. If you're overpowered, you have to cover up and wait until your opponent lets her guard down, then swing hard for the nose. Basic boxing.

[The Liberal Avenger]

Jack, I'm interested in what you think are practical, actionable acts of support that we non-constituents can do without simply spinning our wheels. (I do realize that nearly all of what I do is a form of wheel-spinning or "barking at the moon," as I prefer to call it...)

[CGD]

Jack:
I appreciate your post. You are right on. Sending Boxer the message that this small Blogging community heard her seems worthwhile. I watched and listened to her go after Rice with great pride and [finally] hope. After reading your post, I intend to let her know it.

[jack*]

Well, that's the $64,000 question, isn't it LA? Part of it is looking for opportunities. The unexpected appearance of vertabrae in genus democratus boxerii is a prime one.

The next big one will be the 2006 elections. It's not too early to start looking for candidates to challenge Republicans and DINOs in the House. The anti-war message is going to be very important for their chances, a stand which will be strong for double-oh Democrats.

[loyopp]

Don't forget your local races. The marginal effect of your concerted effort is much, much higher there ...

[jack*]

Senator Boxer has a petition she is using to back up her arguments against confirmation of Dr Rice. Signing it would be another practical action to show we support Democrats with spines.

http://ga4.org/campaign/ricehearings/dugdxn2rji7jb6

[Auguste]

Don't forget to think big!

[thebizofknowledge]

I stumbled across your blog while I was doing some online research. It's amazing how differently people look at the same issue. However, I think you make some excellent points here, especially about stepping up to the plate.