Mark Belling: Left-Wing Infiltrator of Reactionary Right

I listened to Mark Belling for ten minutes yesterday as I drove around Madison between meetings. I admit it.

Here is what Belling said:

• He called for a purge within the Republican Party --those are his words, not mine.
• He estimated that the purge might involve twenty percent of all Republicans.

I wish him luck. If even five per cent of the Republicans are driven from the GOP, that will assure Democrats a solid working majority for another generation.

A word to the left: Go slow with the new Dems. They will need a period of adjustment to become comfortable with long-haired hippies and those who believe the literal words of the Constitution. Their exile from the Republican Party does not mean that they will be instantly comfortable with us. I suggest exposing them to Ed Schultz before they spend any time with Stephanie Miller.

A word to Mark Belling: Keep it up; you are doing a better job than I ever imagined in expanding the base of the Democratic Party.  But do try to stay under the radar. A few more broadcasts like yesterday and Rush Limbaugh might figure you are our tool and never allow you back on his show.

Comments

[Russ]

I just read this morning that under Democratic leadership the approval of Congress has fallen to 11%. The real question is where are independent voters and angry Republicans going to go. Are they going to vote for Democrats knowing the party is now controlled by the far left??? Or are the disgruntaled Republicans and independents going to pull the Republican party back it's core values established by our nations founding fathers. Since the Democrats have become socialists and the Republicans may in fact again get behind free market capitalism at least the voters will have clear choices.

[Eastcoaster]

Russ, the important question is "*why* is the public unhappy with Congress?"

The answer is "because they're not acting boldly enough to right the Bush administration's wrongs."

In my view the reality is that the Senate GOP has filibustered nearly every Dem proposal since January, effectively preventing the Dems from fulfilling their promises. While this may be good in the short term for the GOP, it will only mean that the public gets another 13 months of unimpeded Bush policies, leading even more voters to support their local Dems in November, 2008.

If the GOP gave in every now and then they would likely keep the Dems under 60 Senate seats. They don't see it that way, and maybe it's ok to give them 15 months of obstructionism for a fillibuster proof majority in January 2009 (particularly with a Dem in the White House, too).