An Opposition Party?

It's been awhile since the Democratic Party has been out of power in Washington, DC, but there doesn't seem to be a strong indication that they have embraced the idea of being the Opposition Party. That is a tough hump to get over. It took decades for Republicans toiling in the minority to reach the self-discovery phase that ultimately provided the ideological foundation for the Republican Revolution in 1994.

A true opposition movement is what is required to overturn a solid Republican majority in both houses of Congress. The internet culture embraces an anti-establishment, power-of-the-people philosophy that may be harnessed for political gain by a true opposition party intent on changing the way business is done in Washington. A few progressive organizations on the left understand this dynamic, and have been successful in attracting support (see MoveOn), though their support is not broad based. An intraparty struggle over the direction of the Democratic Party has left it listless and incoherent in its opposition. Rest assured, Republicans will use this to paint their opponents as obstructionists with no ideas or alternatives. Not a recipe for short term success.


Not Getting the Job Done