I think 2 things are becoming clearer to ‘mainstream’ Dem politicians.
First, opposition to the war in this country may merely reflect opposition to losing. There has always been a fringe anti-war movement, but large scale opposition shouldn’t be read as being part of that. A plausible interpretation of the polling data is that the country supports doing the job that was set out, even if that wasn’t all that well-defined. The American people hate losing. The smartest of the Dems realize that calling for abrupt withdrawal will feel like calling for defeat, and will hand the Democratic party a defeat in turn.
Second, the ‘netroots’ notwithstanding, the Dems have a small majority, not a mandate. Stupidity and corruption can only go on for so long before incumbants will be swept out, and I think that that was done quite convincingly. However, the current group of elected officials was merely deemed less objectionable than what was already there. It seems to me that even an emphatic “NO!” to one side is not evidence of anything with respect to the other.
Moderate Democrats are already grumbling about not being led off the ‘left cliff’. They recognize that to cement power, they’ll have to not do what the last set of bums did to get thrown out.
But the ‘roots demand more, and if not placated, promise to turn ugly. But if they are placated, they could cost Dems the White House.
It promises to be entertaining, in any case. Both major parties are so ideologically constipated that the whole process may collapse in a heap, leaving a third party candidate viable. Whether to feel cheered or despressed, I can’t tell.
