Musical chairs...

A mandrill seems to flash a rude gesture towards photographer Mark Rogers at the San Francisco zoo. However, the animal suffers from arthritis and is unable to lower his middle finger [MARK ROGERS / CATERS]

Musical chairs… pretty much what today is…

I had no idea there was a formal think tank called The Third Way… at least as of the last 5 years.  “The Third Way” just seemed to be one more Quisling, Vichy, collaborationist, pro-Republican strain of the Democratic party (which is not to say there is anything else!)… but apparently it, or dregs of it, have formally formed, I guess in the wake of the DLC frittering.

Or whatever it is the DLC does, did… etc.  ”Fritter” is as good a word as any other…

“The party is about to come to a major fork in the road,” said Jonathan Cowan, Third Way’s president. “A left turn at this juncture is a turn toward permanent minority status.”

Kinda borrring.  Just take that fork and stick it IN the party.

Familiar…

Third Way is helped by a few key relationships. Kessler [Jim Kessler, a TW co-founder] was a longtime senior aide to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who could become majority leader if Harry Reid loses in Nevada. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who could become minority leader if Republicans take over the House, is one of many strong sympathizers. The senators they helped in 2006 and 2008 will still be around.

“We’re going to have to look at what we did wrong and figure out where we lost our way with independents and swing voters,” said an aide to a senior congressional Democrat. “Third Way — that is their wheelhouse.”

All so surprising.  I am so surprised.  Aren’t you?

While it’s not what it once was, the DLC hasn’t disappeared. They won’t disclose their budget, except to say they employ 15 people (including part-time fellows). Bruce Reed, who succeeded From as leader of the DLC before taking a leave of absence to become executive director of the president’s fiscal commission, will return in December.

“They have talented people, there’s no doubt about that, but I don’t think there’s a replacement really for original policy work,” DLC President Ed Gresser said of Third Way. “I think they do some, but what I see of their work is sort of political memos, ‘Here’s how you should talk about such and such an issue.’ Those are valuable, but they’re not setting an agenda.”

Brookings’ William Galston and Harvard’s Elaine Kamarck wrote the seminal studies that helped launch the DLC. Third Way is now paying the duo to complete a study about what moderates believe and what they want from Democrats. Both praise Third Way for filling a niche that’s otherwise unfilled.

I think they should just hollow out the Democratic party, vacate, vamoose and and join the strong father party. Not some mincing minuet like now, but officially. Come out of the closet.  Get it over with.  Salute in public.

Frankly, that is what happened in San Francisco, in a convoluted way….  When I was a child, it was a Republican city.  Racist, reactionary mayor, of Greek descent.  As the City careened toward the 70s, the Republicans just became Democrats.  And the City became a Democratic machine town.

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