Happy New Year! Jan 2 Democratic Party Already Splitting

The 21st Century Democratic Party is NOT at all the same party as that of FDR, JFK, or even Bill Clinton. No, it’s something else, and burdened with almost complete, unchecked political power, finally laden with responsibility and accountability, ripped away from its preferred victimized position of opposition for opposition’s sake…the party is starting to rip itself apart. The last time this kind of infighting happened (not without coincidence) was the last time the Democratic Party was run by the far left, controlled Congress, and the Presidency.

Democratic unity starts to show cracks

Democrats head into 2009 with sky-high expectations but points of intra-party friction are already starting to show a month before President-elect Obama’s inauguration, forecasting bigger fights next year. Veteran Democrats say the party has become more split along parochial interests since Democrats last controlled majorities as large as they will in the 111th Congress. They say the growth of their majorities in Congress, which has ushered in a new cadre of lawmakers from conservative-leaning states and those with new views on old policy problems, has only made the Democratic caucuses less governable. “Because the Democratic caucus is itself diverse, reflecting many different points of view, it will be a challenge for the leadership to keep that coalition of interests together on the priorities established,” said former Democratic Sen. Richard Bryan (Nev.). “That will be a big challenge.”