Glenn Greenwald is a great blogger whose work I greatly admire and who runs Unclaimed Territory. Yesterday he asked if I did not find it ironic that I had criticized him for two days about his being critical of democrats. And in fact I don't. So I'll do it again.
Democrats will always criticize other Democrats - it's in our nature and it's a necessity for a healthy party. What I would like is for Glenn (and many others) to save his impassioned outrage for Republicans, and to try for civil disagreements with Democrats.
During the past week Glenn has expressed his fury at the lack of support Feingold has received from his fellow Democrats over his censure resolution. He includes Dems in "this morass of dishonesty and principle-free corruption that permeates every single component of our national political life" which Feingold disrupted. He uses words like "weak and spineless."
His passion threatens to overwhelm his logic. He sees no inconsistency in lauding Feingold for "the single most important and courageous act I can recall from a Senator in a long time," and painting those who don't jump on the bandwagon with him as abject cowards. And then he goes on to argue that attacking such a failed President takes no courage at all. Praise is offered for the two years of tenacious digging by politicians and journalists that enabled the Watergate robbery to bring down Richard Nixon. Yet Glenn heaps scorn on those who question Feingold's rush to the Constitutionally meaningless censure.
Glenn and his co-blogger Anonymous Liberal recognize the strength that Republicans have gained by speaking with one voice, "in "unison." But they defend Feingold's unilateral action. I agree that the proposed censure of Clinton in the Senate was ridiculous - but I don't share his moral outrage in calling his behavior inappropriate.
(Getting a blow job from an intern less than half your age would get you in trouble in most offices I've ever worked in.) Furthermore, trying to duck voting on the censure resolution now is not the same as voting against it.
I hope that it is clear that I am not trying to pick on Glenn; obviously a really bright, passionate guy. I do think such strong, almost over-the-top, criticism of Democrats does not help the cause. (OK, I'll make an exception for Lieberman) But Rep. Murtha, who had a far higher rating from the American Conservative Union(33) and Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum (31) than Sen Lieberman (17 and 8, respectively), was a real asset to the cause this year. The party is simply not strong enough right now to afford internecine battles. We have to take back the House before we should plan how to clean it.
And I hereby promise not to criticize Glenn again (on this issue), even though I agree with the N.Y Times editorial today, and I imagine Glenn didn't.
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