The Dark Blue Vs. The Light Blue

Things are becoming a bit strange in the United States of Canada. With the 2006 elections coming up and the Democratic Party desperate for any kind of pick up, you would think they would be fully formed on the attack against Jesusland: gas prices are up, people are getting frustrated with the War in Iraq, and Republicans are getting lapse and corrupt (or more corrupt than your average politician). Instead, we are seeing the beginnings of a major civil war.

On Monday, Markos Zuniga, operator of the left wing site Daily Kos, announced a new initiative where he would take on and destroy the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). For those of you not familiar with them, the DLC a center-left group that tries to push the party more towards the mainstream middle of the road voters. They are most famous for launching Bill Clinton up to national prominence, from which he was able to win the presidency. Most of the prominent members are mid-western and southern politicians such as Evan Bayh and Mark Warner. Hillary Clinton has recently been cozying up to them as well as an attempt to move her image more to the political center. Kos’ complaint is that the DLC is moving more to the right and might as well be Republican for all he’s concerned. So, in his mind at least, this is a purification of the party during the lean times so that the Democrats will be unified for the 2006 elections.

On the surface, this might seem like the amusing rantings of one person, but the danger for Democrats is quite real. Kos has announced that the formal unveiling of the war will begin on Labor Day and he has apparently kept quite mum about the tactics and methods. The danger is who is backing him. Kos almost certainly wouldn’t have been so outspoken about this unless he had the backing of organizations like MoveOn.org and the like. That means he has money behind him and money will summon named people. It could even attract DNC chairman Howard Dean, whom, I imagine, doesn’t like seeing a second group that might challenge his position of power.

Whatever the plan, I don’t expect Kos to win the war. He has come up short on most of his escapades before and the DLC is well financed. But the attack will probably result in the loss of money combating each side while the Republicans just sit back and wait to see who emerges from the fray.

The only good things that may come out of this is that one side may become so disgusted with each other that they leave the Democratic Party and form a new party. That might allow the centrist factions to take over and form a legitimate middle of the road party that would appeal to people like me.

The other good thing is that the site Little Green Footballs has been posting photoshoped images of Kos’ head on Dr. Evil’s body with various amusing quotes. Quite funny actually.