There is a new creature cowering in the shadows of American politics. It is as much of a threat to our future as the Neocons. In fact, they share the same affliction. You see them every day and fall under their spell without even knowing it has been cast. It is the Rovian Democrat, genus: Recognitionicon Species: Egoisticous; recently evolved/devolved into Rodem, named for its tendency to behave in a Karl Rove-like manner when it comes to elections and winning at any cost to anyone.
The Rodem is a crafty creature, more cunning than an average rat in its ability to survive, often with uncanny political instincts. They can hide their true nature for years; some for decades. They are masters of camouflage. It must be stressed that the Rodem is, in reality, not a Democrat. It is more of a cancer on the Democratic Party. It can adapt to the political atmosphere of any region. It is a virus that spreads through a lack of power. Members of the Republican Party caught it in the early 90s and devolved into the Neocons. Now the power vacuum has moved to the left and so has the Rodem.
The Rodem is a parasite at best. It sustains its life by sucking the negative attitudes of its geographical location and, mimicking cancer, can actually accelerate the negative attitudes of their surroundings. They attach themselves to a political party that is completely out of power and begin to infect the party with hate and distrust.
It is the infection caused by the Rodem that creates the major problem of a Rodem outbreak. Since the Rodem survives on negative political attitudes, it must do all it can to foster these attitudes and try to spread them throughout the nation. The Rodem outbreak was contained to Texas before 1992, but it broke out and seized power. It got a president impeached and devalued the office and the concept of impeachment in the process. The problem is that it did too well. It became the power and weakened. Lucky for the Rodem, the Florida 2000 election offered it a chance to spread into a new party and begin anew.
Article comments
1 - Dave Nalle
I'm not sure I see a difference between your 'Rodem' and the creature most of us are more familiar with under the name 'Politician'.
Plus most of the examples you list are Republicans, not Democrats.
Dave
2 - kanrei
Hi Dave,
The reason most of my examples are Republicans is because, like I said, it was the Neocon. It is a recent infestation within the DNC that still can be stopped. ONly a few of them are infected.
THe difference between a Rodem and a politician is that the politician still places position above party. They are still out there, but the freakshows get more press so they go largely unknown.
3 - Dave Nalle
Odd, and here I thought the Neocons were a recent infestation in the GOP which it caught from the Democrats.
Dave
4 - kanrei
They did Dave. It moves back and forth. It is what made the Whigs become Republicans.
Here is part of above:It is a virus that spreads through a lack of power. Members of the Republican Party caught it in the early 90s and devolved into the Neocons. Now the power vacuum has moved to the left and so has the Rodem.
5 - Dave Nalle
Now that's a believable argument. So the only way to purge this problem is to be utterly and eternally in power politically? Hmmm...that sounds iffy.
Dave
6 - kanrei
Or to never let one part get full power. The best way to cure them and destroy this virus is to have a third party option. If one party has full power, then the Rodem is happy. One party with full power means another party has none. That is a breeding ground for the Rodem.
7 - Dave Nalle
What you describe in #6 is the situation which created the Whigs, of course. Whigs being exactly what your 'rodem' is. In fact, the adjective Whiggish could be applied to a lot of the behavior we see from politicians today. In a three party system the third party which always comes in last is even MORE motivated to totally sacrifice principle in order to gain power and the party in power becomes even more mercenary to hold onto that power when it faces two challengers. The real solution is no political parties or at least 5 which control 10% of the vote or more.
Dave
8 - kanrei
Nice solution.
I have only discovered the pattern. I have no cure yet. A few ideas, but am always open to others. This Lieberman thing showed me that the DNC is further along than I had first thought. They are working on the moderate voices first.
The Neocons almost took over the RNC, but they were fought back. I only hope there are enough uninfected left in the DNC. Where is General Clarke?
9 - kanrei
Besides, even if a third party did get infected with the Rodem, which would probably become the the NeoInd or something, we would still have an infection free option.
10 - Dave Nalle
General Clarke is the definition of your 'rodem'.
Based on my recent delving into the blogosphere and Air America and the Lamont victory, the new philosophy of the Democrats appears to be that the crazier the stuff you say is and the more you lie and pander, the more support you get.
Dave
11 - kanrei
I did not see that in Clarke. I thought he had some honor.
I am mostly upset with those who represent their party and forgot the state they came from. Kennedy is Frist to me.
The Democrats are trying to be like the Republicans because they see the RNC gets elected. Either you are a biblethumping rightie or a freakies anti-war over anything else leftie. Most of us are very in the middle.