In this site, and many others, the strong progressive element has been pretty clear about their opinion of Reid and Pelosi and their leadership.
What’s the effect of this criticism?
Well, it’s pretty much a disaster. The criticism of Reid and Pelosi is EXACTLY what the RNC is interested in.
On the right, the RNC criticizes Reid and Pelosi for bad policies and trying to get progressive things done.
On the left, activists criticize Reid and Pelosi for ineffectiveness.
The public considers both forms of criticism to be equivalent. At this point, the Democratic Congress has a crappy reputation. This means that the Republican effort to take the House back, in particular, has been greatly aided.
To the public, criticism is criticism. The nuance is lost. There is no nuance in the criticism.
So, the question is: What is the value of the criticism of Reid and Pelosi? As many know, my attitude has always been that little or nothing would get accomplished. That we have stopped many bad Republican programs is enough for me.
- We cannot stop the war with Bush in the White House, sitting in the Bully Pulpit. Any votes against the war will be lied about, and converted into votes against the troops.
- Taxes cannot be raised with the veto in the White House.
Now it is the New Year. It is time to stop criticism of Pelosi and Reid, FULLY SUPPORT them, and work to increase the House and Senate majorities.
We can be sure of one thing: The low congressional approval rating will feature in campaigns in the summer and fall. Our progressive criticism of Congress will be used to restore Republican majorities. Those opposed to Republican majorities will cease criticism and support what can be done.