The slightly verbose Mr. Newberry has put up a charmingly romantic response to a new and bold declaration by a group of unabashed liberals, and the short version is, “we’re liberal, we’re angry, and we’re going to save Constitutional Democracy whether our conservative detractors like it or not!”

The comments there are also endearingly typical of the disorganization and disunity of the left, in which I find myself agreeing with ‘both’ kinds of posters- talk is cheap, but this kind of talk is great. It’s got me thinking about the future, and what progressives should be doing.

Previously, I bowed in Boo’s direction for his heartening analysis of what a Democratic Congress might look like, and the short version is, based on seniority, it could be pretty damn progressive. Which would be only fair, given the nature of the responses to this post on the churlish spendthrift Bayh, and his unwillingness to share his financial resources at this critical time. Bayh is tellingly typical of what’s wrong with the Democratic party, and also provides us with a clear path should a majority be ours.

Simply put, it’s time for a Purge. It’s time to take a page from the Republican playbook, and wise up to a simple truth. There is nothing wrong with being angry, demanding complete party unity, and punishing those who are mealy mouthed and who stray from the Official Party line. In fact, that’s what works. Look at how "maverick" McCain has been brought to heel. Look at how Rove puts the kibosh on any Republican who doesn't show the proper love or stay on message, especially when the going is rough. Christ, look at how the Preznit is actually showing support for the men who covered for a pedophile. Folks, that is how "unity" is defined, and that's why they are so hard to get out of power. It's time for progressives to learn to show the same teeth.

I don't believe much in the SCLM, and I don't believe that the consultant class understands a goddamn thing about "message" and strategy. So fuck the polls that say people who are proudly progressive are on the "fringe." Last time I checked, the "fringe" on the other side of the aisle was in control of all three branches of government. And they didn't get there by being "polite" and compromising with centrists.

People won't vote for a pale imitation of the other side when they can vote for the real thing. People don't respect those who let their enemies bitch-slap them around and then ask for more, while apologizing for being in the way of the swinging hand. People don't respond to mushy, meaningless designed-to-offend-no-one "messages," they respond to bold declarations and decisive action.. Even when those actions and statements are flat out wrong.

The Republican party has been wrong, has lied, has cheated and misrepresented practically everything and everyone and everything they've done for the last six years. It is only because of their massive incompetence, greed and hypocrisy that Americans are finally beginning to reject them. (Ok, the media plays a huge role in this too.) But the more important question is why? Why have so many accepted shit and called it gold for so long?

(Yes, I'm going to scare you now) Unity and strength. Of message, of action, of party, of goals. The Republicans have shown it, and it's worked. Now it's our turn. The politics of moderation are dead.

Being firmly on one end of the political spectrum is your goddess-given right as an American, and it's time, well past time, for the Democratic party to be peopled with, lead by, and accountable to actual Democrats. The hour is here, your anger is righteous, let us strike while the iron is hot. Bloggers, voters, readers and plain old people must bring this message to the DLC types who would further drive this party into oblivion and irrelevancy. They do it because all they care about is keeping their cushy little gigs in the Beltway. Fuck that. If I've learned one thing in the misery of the last six years, it's that one needn't be smart, competent, honest or moral to succeed in American politics. That so many progressive actually are all these things and more works in their favor. The only thing they haven't been (and I don't necessarily mean you, gentle reader) is loud.

Now is the time for that to change.