Thank you, David Sirota!

For producing a specimen of my absolute favorite species of progressive article: the open advice letter to the Democrats.  Filled with imperatives, these missives instruct the Democrats about what they can, nay, must do in the future to fulfill their "progressive mandate":

Obama, be progressive!

Voters want you to go big and go liberal

Maximizing this opportunity relies on Democrats understanding...  Meeting expectations requires championing far-reaching -- even radical -- initiatives. ...  To meet the challenge, Democrats have to...  They must ...  They should also...  Democrats need to....

Yes, David, I'm sure they'll get right on all that stuff they have to, must, should, and need to do to keep you happy.

What's the difference between a progressive writer giving instructions to the Democrats, and an insane homeless guy screaming at invisible devil dogs on the street corner?  The homeless guy knows nobody cares what he says.

And the Democrats are absolutely right to ignore Sirota, and all the other advice-brandishing liberals out there as well.  Why?  Let's let Sirota explain it.  Here he is talking to Amy Goodman before the election about Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama:

DAVID SIROTA: My concern is that Barack Obama has taken somewhat differing positions on the war. He spoke out pretty forcefully against it when it was politically opportune, when he was running in a Democratic primary for the US Senate. And then, when he got to the Senate, he was basically silent on the war. ... And what disturbs me most is, is this idea that not only is Powell endorsing Obama—Obama can’t prevent that—but that Obama has responded by saying that Powell might play a key role in an Obama administration. And we should ask ourselves, what does that say about Barack Obama’s promises to end this war quickly? ... And I think this declaration by Obama that Powell is going to be a top adviser in the White House potentially previews an administration that continues to write out antiwar critics. ...

AMY GOODMAN: And, David Sirota, who will you be voting for?

DAVID SIROTA: I just cast my vote. I voted for Barack Obama.

David Sirota really needs to talk to Lawrence O'Donnell.

Comments

[Gnome Chomsky]

The homeless guy knows nobody cares what he says.

Oh, come on. The punch line obviously should have been that the invisible devil dogs are more likely to listen!

[KDelphi]

"Si se puede" is more literally tranlated as "Yes it can be done!". Hmmm maybe more peopel shouldve taken that into consideration.

[Quin]

One point for Gnome Chomsky.

[John Caruso]

Gnome: Nice one. The joke was actually in there first (when the dude was screaming at nothing at all)—I put in the devil dogs later for color.