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To be a progressive, then, means to be a partisan—at least for now. The only way a progressive agenda can be enacted is if Democrats have both the presidency and a large enough majority in Congress to overcome Republican opposition. And achieving that kind of political preponderance will require leadership that makes opponents of the progressive agenda pay a political price for their obstructionism—leadership that, like FDR, welcomes the hatred of the groups trying to prevent us from making our society better.The quote above was taken from Dr. Krugman's book, The Conscious of a Liberal. It is simply the finest distillation I have yet read on what it means to be a liberal. If I were asked to name one political book that everyone should read, this is the one.
As for the substance of the quote, I think it's a lesson that many progressives have got to learn soon. We cannot move forward in the current political climate if everything will require bi-partisan support. In fact, in this day and age, bi-partisan tends to mean Democrats giving in to Republicans. Enough.
This November, we should win the Presidency, a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, and a large enough majority in the House to tell the Blue Dogs to kiss off. If we are going to dig ourselves out of the hole that Reagan and the Bushes dug for us ... if President Obama is going to live up to his promise, he and the Democratic congressional majority will need to shove the majority of the Republican party to the side and ram his plans through Congress.
Dr. Krugman has always had a good grasp on both the moral reasons for governing liberally as well as the political savvy required to bring this about. Hopefully, we will continue to heed his advice.
