The Townsend Times could use a progressive columnist, but lacking that, we have the boneheaded rantings of
Geoff Woolacott. It's hard to know where to start when the whole thing is just flat out wrong, but this passage is particularly boneheaded:
And that is where it can be said that the Democratic leadership doesn't get it. Though we may sit ensconced in one of the bluest of blue states, the basic Democratic message since Clinton left office is considerably out of step with the majority of the country. Furthermore, when it is abundantly clear that Democrats need to moderate their message, particularly on social issues, to appeal to heartland America, they install Howard Dean as their mouthpiece who regularly mocks the very people to whom Democrats need to appeal. Giving Howard Dean a microphone to help solve the Democrats' image problem is like throwing gasoline on a brush fire to try to put it out.
By the time I finished reading the column, my ears were burning, and my hands started typing. When all was said and done, I had about 300 words that I sent off to Letters to the Editor:
Regarding Geoff Woolacott's column of July 15, 2005 (Democratic Decay) I would say that Democrats and all good people of conscience have more than enough reason to be up in arms with the GOP agenda. How often do you think the Bush Administration can lie to the American people before we say enough is enough?
This administration has lied to us about their reasons for going to war, has cynically used the September 11th tragedy to get reelected and now that it appears that top level officials have lied about their involvement with the outing of a CIA Operative, Bush has backpedaled on his promise to remove those responsible from his administration. We're just not buying it anymore, and if poll numbers are any indication, there are lots of other folks that aren't buying the lies and deception anymore either.
Democrats are concerned about President Bush's potential choices for appointment to the Supreme Court, and rightly so based upon his track record of submitting candidates based on political motives (John Bolton, anyone?) and not what is in the best interest of our country. Democrats want a Justice appointed whose views are more aligned with the mainstream, like Justice O'Connor, who, don't forget, was appointed by President Reagan.
President Bush should not appoint someone only to satisfy the radical right wing of the GOP. The Supreme Court should not be used for political payback. If President Bush insists on nominating a candidate outside the mainstream, he should expect pushback from Democrats.
Howard Dean must be doing something right, if conservatives are willing to waste so much time smearing him. So far he has broken fundraising records and has signed up hundreds of new DNC volunteers in states that are more red, than blue. He is helping to rebuild our party and inspire people by communicating our democratic values of social justice and fiscal responsibility. You might know this if you took the time to actually research what is really going on in the Democratic Party and not just waste our time, not to mention newspaper space regurgitating GOP talking points.
Signed, Me.
It would be nice if Nashoba Publishers could include a more progressive columinst. I'm not holding my breath. However, I did just get an email from the editor that they will be printing my letter in this Friday's newspaper. Go figure.
UPDATE: 7/22/05 - Well, well, well...
Here's my LTE. The link will only last for 14 days - so read it fast!
