I'd much rather reform the Democratic Party than to start a whole new one -- there's a lot of structure that's needed in any large organization, and often it's better (and cheaper) to just do a major remodeling than to totally tear down and rebuild. But if the structure is filled with termites and dry rot, there may be no other choice than to tear it down and build anew.

IIRC, Bill O'Reilly and many of the talking heads predicted the dissolution of the liberal blogosphere if the Democrats regained control -- after all, what would we have to bitch about? Well, we've got the legislative branch, but there's still the executive and judicial to concern ourselves with. I'm especially worried about the judicial -- these folks are selected by the power elite and basically serve for life with no question, yet have a profound impact on the nation for years after those who appointed them have passed from the political scene. Maybe that's where we need to look in the future.

One more thing then I'll shut up -- I think the tussles that are going on in the liberal blogosphere are based a bit in too narrow a focus -- we need to set our sights wider. You quoted Jesus above -- the Bible also talks about empowering the people to go out and do the work of the Church. At the end of the post-Communion prayer in my church, we say, "Let us go out and do the work You have given us to do, with gladness and singleness of heart." Maybe we need a similar call to action...to do the work that we as progressives must do to transform our nation and our world. (I'm still trying to figure out what that work is for me -- perhaps after YearlyKos I'll have a better idea; I'm not going to bask in anyone's afterglow, but to help, to learn, and maybe even to teach...)

 

"Mr. Bush, you do not own this country!" -- Keith Olbermann, 1/2/07