Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Tom Paine Would be Proud: The Power of the Net

January 31

A BUZZFLASH EDITORIAL

We aren't interested in symbolic stands for democracy; we are only interested in winning back the Constitution.

However, the last minute robust effort to mount a filibuster only happened because of the growing power of the Internet patriotic movement. The Net has become the bulletin board for democracy and the gasoline that runs the engine of the Pro-Constitution movement that yearns to restore justice, honesty and peace to America.

BuzzFlash is proud of the integral role it played in getting the filibuster started and daily calling the Democrats on the carpet (the Republicans long ago became a hopeless anti-democracy, dishonest cause) for their timidity and choice of political comfort over principle.

But, the filibuster juggernaut was a true testament to the combined force of the progressive Internet community, with so many sites helping to advance the cause of keeping America from sinking back into monarchism.

Sam Alito represents the Federalist Society movement to restore King George to the throne, and a dimwitted one at that. They have advanced one step further with Monday's ignominious vote to stop the filibuster. The Net can take heart, however, that it planted a spine in the back of 24 Democrats and one Independent -- one quarter of the Senate and more than half of the caucus -- to vote to sustain the filibuster.

That is something to build upon as the grassroots activists reclaim the Democratic Party, or -- were that to fail -- start a new one.

The biggest thing that the entrenched Democrats are worried about is that the pro-Democracy Democrats will stop giving money to the old Guard Bush enabler Democrats. They still don't think that the progressives will mount successful primary challenges to Dems who sell out democracy (the right wing Republicans have been picking off moderates in just such a way for at least two decades), but Joe Lieberman is starting to break into a sweat. (And given his vote to end the filibuster on Monday, he should now really be worried.)

So, whenever you get the chance, let a Bush-lite elected official know that you won't be sending them a check -- and let the Senate and Congressional Campaign Committees know that you won't send them money, but will only send cash to Democratic candidates that you feel advance democracy and an agenda for the common good of the nation.

Hit them in the pocketbook and they will start paying attention -- rest assured.

So, BuzzFlash expresses its deepest thanks to our readers and to all the Internet sites, particularly the blogs, who put together such a valiant and bold team effort to launch the filibuster.

As long as there is still the freedom of the Net (which you can be sure the Busheviks are plotting to limit through allowing Internet providers to charge for posting websites), we will be around agitating like the founders of America.

Unlike so many in the Democratic caucus, we do not think democracy should be given away so cheaply to the forces of darkness. And we will continue working as part of a team effort on the Net to grow our power, until we can't be ignored.

They heard us on the filibuster -- and they are going to keep hearing us until the Democratic leadership starts seeing the Republicans as the people they need to do battle with, not the Democratic base.

And if they don't hear our roar, then they better get out of the way. Because the modern Republican Party is an example of what happens to the Old Guard when they don't listen to their impassioned base.

A BUZZFLASH EDITORIAL

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