Reply #2: Unfortunately... [View All]

one leader won't cut it. The best of people would find it tough going in 2005 and beyond with the strength the Repugs have gained in both the House and the Senate.

We actually need a sea change in the thinking of nominal Democrats/liberals/progressives. Depending upon the boilerplate Democratic leadership of today is a sure-fire way to lose, again and again. These idiots think they're going to win by imitating the worst in our society. Democrats had forty years to implement genuine campaign finance reform and didn't--they just kept jockeying for position, and where did that get them when they've progressively alienated their base through both legislative votes and indifference?

One person won't do it. How many Dems running for office in 2006 and beyond will say and stick to, "I don't and won't take money from corporations and fat cats because they expect legislative favors for their contributions." When did you last hear that from any politician, regardless of stripes? If one person said that, he'd be discounted as a crank. If a thousand did, it would be harder to ignore. Find me a thousand of such people seeking national office and I'll think there might be some hope, and then only if the press bothered to give them time to air their views, which it won't.

Sounds terribly pessimistic, but a lone knight on a white horse won't cut it today. It will take a movement.

Cheers.