Sales brings them back for more.
Delivering value is a constant chore.
Stop selling what customers want,
and you will lose your store.
If you don't like thinking about politics as a business, think about politics as a relationship.
What does it take to get kissed when you are on a date? If it's a first date and you are still wooing them, it takes a fair amount of effort. If you've already been dating and they like you, it's almost effortless. If you have already dated them and they are disappointed, you need to be a miracle worker.
Like most people, I like to get kissed. Especially when I'm getting screwed. Everyone knows progressives are getting screwed right now, so my question is, "Where's our kiss?"
Don't mistake this for a pity party. I didn't expect a pony. I didn't ask for a pony. I don't want a pony. I've got no place to keep a pony. My expectations were a lot more mundane.
I expected someone who would leave the dance with the folks that brought him. Imagine my surprise when I learned we didn't get invited to the dance. Apparently, we were just there to drive them. I guess they expect us to sit out in the parking lot and be happy we didn't get wet when they told us that was rain falling on us.
Don't expect me to be sympathetic to their complaints when they find themselves walking home. Threatening to turn tricks for cab fare won't move me either. We had a deal. Progressives delivered on our part of the bargain. The folks we hired didn't. Right now, they are overdrawn at this bank. Their verbal assurances aren't worth the paper they are printed on. That's a real problem. Trust me, you don't want to have to deal with collection calls from the Army of the Jaded.
Call me crazy, but I believe the rich already have a party of their own. They don't need a second one. The folks we hired to represent us agree. The problem is we define parties as Republican vs. Democratic. They define parties as Incumbent vs. Challenger. Members of the Incumbent Party, by and large, seem to be happy belonging to the party of the rich no matter what it costs. If they can't find a home in one of the major political parties, they'll create their own and call themselves "independent" senators. Unfortunately, we define "independent" as someone who isn't beholden to corporate special interests. They define "independent" as someone who isn't beholden to voters.
When the Senate Majority Leader can boldly claim "I don't work for the president" a week before the guy even takes office, don't point at me and say I'm undercutting Obama's agenda.
When Dean, the architect of the Democratic victory, got sidelined, I voiced my opinion, but didn't demand purity or even pay backs. I'm not the guy who said bring Bob Shrum back.
When Reich got sidelined in favor of people like Summers and Geithner, I shook my head but figured professionals were being chosen based on skill sets. Does Larry Summers really have to hire a former Enron lobbyist? I'm not the guy who said keep the payments to AIG secret.
When single payer was taken off the table, I lobbied my reps for a "robust public option" by phone, and email. I'm not the guy who said give Baucus months to screw over the president.
When Holder decided to slow walk the war crimes investigations, I didn't raise a stink. I'm in no rush to see a flawed prosecution resulting in criminals walking. I'm not the guy who said we should continue extraordinary renditions.
When lobbyists started showing up in appointed positions, I didn't demand slavish devotion to ideals. I recognize their are different types of lobbyists. William Corr is not the same as William Lynn. But I'm not the guy who put a top Raytheon executive in as the number two guy at the Pentagon.
When the president decided he would risk letting the dreams launched in the snows of New Hampshire perish in the snows of Afghanistan, I understood he made this decision for reasons I don't agree with due to pressures he can't ignore. But I'm not the guy who said to sacrifice our security by letting people insecure about their own sexuality decide who is fit to serve.
When the president chose a mainstream justice to fill the bench, I didn't blanch. My expectation is he would continue to protect the rights of women. I am not the guy who sold out women's rights in a failed attempt to pass watered down health care.
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