| Here is why the Progressive Block strategy is one of the most exciting new developments for progressives in 2009:
1. It is a new strategy based upon conditions that only recently have appeared
The Progressive Block strategy has only become possible in the last six months. That is is even possible is a sign of real political progress in America. As mcjoan summarized on Sunday, in order for the Progressive Block strategy to work, you need all of the following conditions to me met, and that only happened in 2009:
- A Democrat in the White House, and Democratic majorities in both branches of Congress. (Achieved in November 2008) Lacking this condition, the working conservative majority, as expressed by Matt Stoller and Paul Rosenberg, will take over again.
- A piece or pieces of legislation that the Democratic leadership in Congress and the White House both consider absolute necessities to pass, either politically or structurally. (Good examples include health care and the Afghanistan-IMF supplemental.). Unless you are threatening something that the leadership highly values, they won't care about what progressives do.
- A clear, easily understood demand from the progressive grassroots that can be included in the must-pass legislation. The public option is a good example of this, whereas the percentage of emission allowances sold at auction in a cap and trade bill is not. Lacking such a clear line, the idea will be much more difficult to sell both to members of Congress and to progressive activists who will supply the pressure to help hold the Progressive Block in line.
- A Republican caucus that will reflexively vote almost unanimously against any must-pass Democratic legislation. It is increasingly obvious that this is the case for health care.
- Enough Democrats in Congress who, unless the demand is met, are willing to vote against the must-pass legislation so that they form a majority when combined with Republicans. This obviously requires lots of coordination and pressure with the progressive grassroots. It is also why this strategy is called the Progressive Block, rather than the Progressive Bloc.
- The final condition, which mcjoan did not mention, is a Democratic leadership, in either the White House or Congress, that is able to get conservative and centrist Democrats to fall in line with the progressive demand. As ineffective, or unwilling, as the White House and the Democratic Congressional leadership often appear to make right-wing Democrats fall in line, they have previously demonstrated an ability to do so on the legislative efforts they value most highly. Examples include the stimulus, the budget, and even the second $350 billion in bailout funds from the Senate back in January. When they really want the votes, they can get them.
In the specific case of health care, it also helps that the reconciliation process is still available, circumventing the filibuster.
2. It narrows our target range
Rather than needing to pressure 218 members of the House to hold a hard line, the Progressive Block strategy only requires 40-50 members of the House to hold a hard line. This allows for more narrowly targeted and concentrated activism. This will allow our activism to have more of an overall impact.
3. It gives us a more receptive audience
In this strategy, we are primarily calling and emailing more progressive members of Congress. This is a big step up from the often futile fight to convince Blue Dogs and conservodems to do the right thing. These members of Congress are our ideological cohorts, and might just listen to us.
4. It has already been proven effective by the Blue Dogs
Ever since Democrats retook Congress in 2007, the Blue Dogs have proven that this strategy works. By consistently threatening to throw their support with Republicans unless their demands are met, the Blue Dogs have won concessions on Iraq, FISA, the stimulus, EFCA, and much more. Further, rather than animosity, it has gotten them nothing but praise and coddling from the Democratic leadership.
5. It doesn't require outside approval
I am so tired of haring excuses from the Democratic leadership, futilely trying to encourage conservodems to do the right thing, waiting for advocacy groups to finally become more aggressive, and pretending that bipartisanship is getting us anywhere. Perhaps the best part about this strategy is that it doesn't require the approval of the Democratic leadership, the White House, the media, or the progressive advocacy infrastructure. Given current political conditions, it only requires the approval of the Progressive Block.
Now, moderate and corporate Dems can stop lecturing progressives about the vagaries of "political reality." This is because, through the Progressive Block, we are creating political reality, rather than merely suffering its effects.
6. It is being driven by new progressive forces
In addition to Representatives Raul Grijalva and Lynn Woolsey, who chair the Congressional Progressive Caucus, some of the principle architects of this strategy include Darcy Burner, Jane Hamsher, and Matt Stoller (who even suggested the idea last June). It didn't come from the Democratic leadership, and it didn't come from cautious advocacy groups. And none of it would be possible without the grassroots activists who make blogs possible through their donations, commentary, and readership. I love that. It was about time that the new and / or more aggressive progressive members of Congress, operatives, organizations and grassroots came upon a workable strategy of our own.
We are no longer just pawns and supplements in the legislative process. We are no longer just a bunch of lefties howling into the wilderness. We really are coming into our own. And I honestly believe that if enough activsts buy into this strategy and help build the Progressive Block, that we are going to get a public health insurance option as a result. |
