The Wacky World of Andy Warner

There's nothing more fun than spinning in your own little world. There so much wrong with what Andy writes today it's hard to know where to start with his piece "The Losing Democratic Mentality.

I suppose the first place to start is by pointing out that Andy isn't in fact a Democrat, but a green - so his criticisms need to be seen in that light.

"Staff" at BSB is a confusing figure. When I first started reading him he was mercilessly criticizing party leadership for supporting Sherrod Brown as opposed to the more colorful Paul Hackett. Here we find him at the throats of mayors who are questioning the out of touch party leadership, the same way he did in his rebellious months, in order to look after the needs of those who put them into office.

This is in response to this post Big City Mayors In LaLaLand. I suppose Andy would be confused if he didn't realize that these Mayors are part of the leadership too - just a part he apparently identifies with more. But Andy likes to build straw men

What is the Democratic Party? Can anyone answer this question any more? Howard Dean himself has struggled through this answer sitting in the hot seat at the Jon Stewart show. It was my understanding that the Democratic Party is the party who looks out for minorities, blue collar workers, labor unions, peace, small businesses, the environment, social justice, and of course, democracy. Though I, as well as anyone who is paying attention, would admit that the party has abandoned these ideas and left fledgling parties and Ralph Nader behind to fight the battle on their own.

It's easy to make a straw man list and not provide anything to back it up. Somehow it's all left to the Greens to ride to the rescue - you know that party that has had zero legislative achievements in its entire history of existence has somehow helped more people than the Democratic Party. I seem to recall that the last time the Democrats had any legislative power the economy boomed, surpluses abounded and millions of people were lifted out of poverty. We might have had more of that had it not been for Ralph Nader in 2000 - who we can thank for the Iraq war, tax cuts for the rich, increasing influence of the religious right...Let's not tell Andy though.

"Staff," who like many Democrats seems more concerned with electability then principle, wants the party to worry less about those who live such lavish lives in the city and instead start looking after the defenseless citizens who reside in the suburbs

Here's the thing Andy doesn't understand, and I expect that from Greens. You have to win elections in order to govern and apply your principles. Otherwise you're just like the Green party - all talk and no action. I know winning elections is a foreign concept to Greens and maybe Andy won't understand this.

What concessions shall the party make?

The word Andy really needs to understand is compromise, not concession. In order to win elections you have to attract more people than you repel - again hard for a Green to understand, but still true. In Ohio that means having to appeal to big city folks as well as rural and suburban dwellers. A quick glance at recent election results should inform even the most ardent Green that there aren't enough voters in the cities anymore - in fact many cities are shrinking.

While attacking Strickland for not being a flaming liberal he conveniently doesn't mention that the Ohio Democratic Party have such people as Kucinich, Kaptur, Brown, Coleman, Jackson, and of course Tubbs Jones. He simply singles out one person with whom he doesn't agree or like - yet can't seem to find a reason why.

The rest of his article is drivel and pap with nothing to support his accusations. He just throws his crap at the wall hoping it will stick - and it's possibly stinky enough that some might, but that after all is all the Green party has ever been able to do.

And that is the wacky world of Andy Warner - maybe we will be treated to this article as a repost too ?