Ray Malone's Commentary

The Democratic party base is in a mood not seen in my life time and perhaps not in the last 150 years. The majority of the Democratic base is angry with the Clinton, Gore, Kerry wing of the party. They are angry with the "New Democrats" other wise known as DINOs.

The Democrats see themselves as a spectrum of views and they are a spectrum.. a very divided spectrum. To much of the Democratic base the Clintons, Gore, and Kerry are "New Democrats". "New Democrat" is just another way of saying DINO or Republican lite.

After Carter lost his second term bid and after the Reagan/Bush-41 wins, the Democratic base came to understand that they could no longer attract a majority of voters. So in 1992,1996, 2000, and 2004 they went for what they called "New Democrats." They nominated moderates whom the base was told were the only Democratic candidates who could win.

The Democratic Base was lead to believe that only a DINO, renamed "New Democrat" could win. They were told that GORE DID WIN the 2000 election but that no good right wing Supreme Court stole the election for Bush. They were told that in 2004 Bush would be prevented from stealing and that Kerry would win. Howard Dean, they were told, was far to openly left to win the election. The Democrat base was told that they must get behind a man who could and would defeat the hated W. So they dropped Dean like a hot potato and went for Kerry... the man they believed was a sure winner.

But Kerry did not win. And this time the base did not believe that Bush stole the 2004 election. Kerry did worse than Gore and the base knew it. It really ticked the Democratic base off. They felt duped by the DINOs whom they believe are only interested in DINOism.

They have come to believe that unless a Perot is in the game that the "New Democrats" can't win. The bases believes that saying they must run one of the "New Democrats" is just a scam used by DINOs to get Democratic nominations. It is they believe what proven losers want to do. They want a real leftist that they like. They really believe that such a leftist can win.

Thus the Democratic base is ready for an openly leftist candidate. Since they are convinced that DINOs can't win, they have adopted the proposition that only a openly far left Democrat can win.. and they are prepared to nominate one. They are certain a true and open leftist can win. In any event the base is saying we would rather lose with one of our own than lose with a DINO.

It is a serious situation for the Democratic party. If as expected they nominate a true leftist who runs as a true leftists the Democrats will go down to a massive defeat. Much of the media and the party pros know that to be a fact.

Will the leftists, having taken control of the Party Machinery and having suffered a massive defeat in 2008, turn the party back over to the moderates, or will they stay in control until the party becomes a shadow of itself?

The next 6 or seven years will be critical for the Democratic party. Its angry factions may not find a way to stay united enough to remain a player in the national game.

Their is much made of the fact that the Democrats are no longer the party of ideas. The problem for them is there no idea on any subject except hatred of President Bush that would be accepted by a majority of the party.

The only conclusion is the Democrats are too divided to take any stand.

It is axiomatic... Parties with nothing to stand on always fall.