Michael Crowley, of The New Republic, a magazine that calls itself "liberal," points out Pelosi's "dilemma" of the great fissure in the Democratic Party between the lefties and the moderates and the many power struggles she will face. The whole article is presented in a hateful Drudge-type manner that implies she will not be able to do the job. It's infuriating.
After discussing how wonderfully Gingrich ran the Republican show in 1994, Crowley says:
Twelve years later, as Nancy Pelosi fashions her Democratic majority, she must surely envy the simplicity of the Republicans' 1994 creation myth. For one thing, as opposed to the Republican revolution--with its clearly sketched ideals of fiscal responsibility and term limits--there is no commonly agreed-upon story about how the Democrats came to power this fall. Progressives insist that their antiwar position inspired the passion of the electorate; moderates, including a crop of freshmen from the South and West, claim it was their middle-of-the-road social and economic views that led Democrats from the wilderness. And, unlike the Contract-toting newcomers of '94, who marched in devoted lockstep with their leader, Pelosi's troops--who include everyone from Barbara Lee, a Berkeley-based sponsor of a "Department of Peace," to Heath Shuler, a culturally conservative rural populist--have dueling agendas of their own.
The article gets more and more strident as it continues. Knock, knock, knock. Obstacle, obstacle, obstacle. Heckle, heckle, heckle. Not a sign of anything good. Not a peep of a compliment. Not a recognition that Democrats finally have a chance to change course in America.
Crowley tells us that Democrats with different points of view have been elected. So what? Regardless of what their specific views on specific issues are, they are all to the left of the Republicans still in power. This gives Pelosi a great tool for unification of the party. Some Democrats may digress occasionally from the party line, but it will be to their advantage to not do it often.
Pelosi has started in a great way with her 100 Hours Program, where she will introduce 6 pieces of legislation that ALL Democrats agree with - and lots of Republicans. After that, the Democrats, with the aid of Republicans, will consider legislation that the Republicans have not allowed to be discussed, legislation to help the common citizen and not only the rich and elite.
Instead of heckling, Crowley should be crowing. Instead of acting like a Republican who has lost an election, Crowley should be acting like a proud Democrat who has won. Instead of trying to tear Pelosi down and making her job harder, Crowley should build Pelosi up and discuss how she may be able to unite the various Democratic factions.
Crowley: It's easy to heckle. It's hard to give useful advice. If you want to be a useful liberal, help, don't hinder, Democrats.
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