Generally I view Josh Rogin pretty
favorably. While I frequently disagree with him--he is quite
conservative--he's also a guy who argues in good faith and
is worth a read.
This op-ed piece in The Washington Post
isn't among his best, The title suggests that the Blue Dog Dems will
have an important part to play in the upcoming Dem majority in the
House. Unfortunately, other than the vaguest of generalities, he
never really delineates what this "crucial role" actually
is.
The piece leaves more things unanswered
than answered. For example, the essay suggests that the progressive
wing of the party is pursuing issues and policies "outside the
mainstream". I wish he had told us what those are. $15 minimum
wage? Medicare for All? Affordable housing? Criminal justice reform?
Gun control? Jobs guarantee? These issues are basically the platform
that Ocasio-Cortez ran on. If Rogin and the Blue Dogs think these are not in the
mainstream of the Democratic Party, then they are the ones out of
touch.
It's also ironic that on the very day I
read Rogon's piece, I also read that a handful of Blue Dog Dems in
the House joined the Repubs in preventing a vote on
the disastrous war in Yemen. Is this the sort of "crucial role"
Rogin has in mind for these folks? This is what moving to the center
means? This is what compromise means?
No thanks.
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