McCain-Feingold Destroyed the Democratic Party
Back before McCain-Feingold became law, politicians of all political stripes said that the system needed cleaning up and that McCain-Feingold was the only way to do that. So enough people caved on protecting everyone’s First Amendment rights and thus BCRA became the law of the land.
So now let’s look at how ‘cleaning up the system’ has destroyed what was left of the Left. Before, George Soros could write checks to the DNC. After, he simply created his own political ‘party’ by starting a 527 organization. Before, the semi-pros at the DNC could moderate the tone of the commercials that got created. After, the lunatics congregated and created shrill, nonsensical advertisements.
Now I won’t tell you that the Democratic Party was doing ok before BCRA passed. It definitely wasn’t. It was running on tired ideas from 25+ yrs. ago. That isn’t the way to attract new voters and build your base. But at least they could help the moderates in the party remain a viable part of the debate.
Enter ACT and MoveOn.org, which filled the DNC’s role, and you suddenly had the shrill wing of the party dictating terms of what message would or wouldn’t be tolerated. Proof of this is the statement that characterized Dean’s ascencion to DNC Chair that “We bought this party. It’s ours’.”
If the DNC had remained a viable force, do you think that they’d be attempting this filibuster? Not a snowball’s prayer in hell would the DNC permit it. It’s also worth noting that Dean wouldn’t have gotten the chairmanship had it not been for the extremist 527’s. Absent Dean’s scattergun and scatterbrain approach to politics, it wouldn’t be as easy for Republicans to marginalize Democrats.
That’s why, as partisans, we should rejoice in McCain-Feingold. It’s also why, as US citizens, we should lament the loss of moderation inside the Democratic Party and the destruction of our First Amendment rights.
Frankly, I can’t wait for the Roberts Court to demolish BCRA. It can’t come soon enough.
Cross-post at LetFreedomRing
January 29th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
[...] California Conservative has a good analysis of what has happened to a once proud and effective political entity: “McCain-Feingold Destroyed the Democratic Party” [...]
January 29th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
What you said is true and is the gift that keeps on giving. However, the moderate dems need to take a stand instead of following like simple minded sheep. Until they do, we conservatives can rejoice. Let us also pray the voters of Mass. and the northeast continue electing the likes of The Swimmer and JFK [Kerry]. And of course our thanks to the stupidity of the MSM for reporting the garbage!
January 29th, 2006 at 4:01 pm
The Mass. crowd needs to realize that mainstream America believes that qualified nominees deserve a fair up or down vote. Until they do, they will just take others in their party down with them.
January 29th, 2006 at 8:08 pm
Yes, if the Republicans can keep from screwing up and losing the advantage, let the Democrats drive off the cliff. When JFKerry and Teddy post at Kos, which has some of the most bizarre and extremist leftist postings I have ever read, it alarms me and it should alarm the Democratic Party. Kos has turned into an anarchist website. Anyone who dares to suggest a more centrist or heaven forbid, conservative position, are immediately burned at the stake. Pretty amazing. What’s more, Huffington Post has turned into a left wing zoo as well.
January 30th, 2006 at 10:22 am
They’re not going to keep that advantage if they continue to screw up the budget in such new and profoundly disturbing ways.
January 30th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
For once Matthew and I agree - the elephants won’t hold serve in Congress or the WH unless they start walking their talk re: the budget.
I suspect that’s where we disagree. I see the budget as them spending my money. I suspect he sees me as allowed to spend what the guv’mint allows me to keep.
January 30th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
actually, no, but you do seem pretty good at making sweeping assumptions (albeit incorrect ones) about what other people think and making no attempt to verify your assumptions before launching off into some diatribe.
January 30th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Hardly a diatribe. You may wish to get out your Funk & Wagnell and figure out the definition.
I base my assumption of your budget views on past posts that seem to wish more power for a central nanny government and less power for those who finance it. If wrong, I apologize, but I find it difficult to believe you a fiscal conservative given many of your other posts that seem contrary to the general thought process of fiscal conservatives.
And please don’t ask me to point out which posts. That’s such an old game.