Sticking together (Dems more united than repubs) Eleanor Clift

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6799311/site/newsweek/

In the same week CNN’s “Crossfire” went off the air, the sparring shifted to the Capitol with Democrats forcing a historic debate over the 2004 election returns. Compare that to four years ago, when every Democratic senator sat silently as members of the Congressional Black Caucus challenged the voting results. Without a single senator to vouch for them, the complaint went unheeded and Vice President Al Gore certified an election everybody knew was rife with irregularities.

California Sen. Barbara Boxer broke the logjam this time and forced the debate, defying conventional wisdom, which said the Democrats didn’t want to appear sore losers and it was time to move on. Boxer was the lone voice to decertify the election when the roll call was taken, but Democrats got two hours of debate in the Senate and House to vent their displeasure with the way the election was conducted. It wasn’t about John Kerry losing; it was about the voters in Ohio and not having enough voting machines, and making people wait in line for seven hours. 

"It wasn’t about John Kerry losing; it was about the voters in Ohio and not having enough voting machines, and making people wait in line for seven hours."

"You don’t have to believe in conspiracy theories to condemn what happened in Ohio."


It's so nice to read an article from someone in the MSM who understands that what happened in Ohio is bad for the whole country and just plain wrong.

of Ms. Boxer's action - while it SEEMED futile it was a HUGE STEP.

I couldn't believe what I was reading. I have a new found respect for her.
She is exactly right in that we are much more united than the Republicans. Does anyone really think that moderate Republicans whole heartedly back the right wing religious extremism? There were people who, before the election, said that if Bush won the Republican party would have a civil war. It is going to happen. We just need to be strong and united and watch them battle each other to the death.

That's the feeling I get from reading between the lines. I've hard and read too much of her over the past 5 years to think that she either "gets it" or has much in the way of ideological integrity.

I think she recognizes (mostly from a career standpoint) that the far right is going to be alienting a lot of people even- among their own ranks- and this puts her in a position of more or less moderation- and in so doing her voice will be in greater demand.