Dems in disarray for today ...

Another day, another article reporting that that the newcomers in the Dem Congressional caucus are making some other pols nervous.

The great threat? These newbies might break a terrible taboo.

Nothing, though, puts the unity of the Democratic caucus at risk as much as a recent pledge from Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib to primary other members of Congress. ...

This -- trying forcefully to bring colleagues into line with progressive policies -- is what President Obama at the height of his powers in 2008 refused to do. Sailing into office with a popular movement at his back (anyone remember Organizing For Obama?) the new president refused to turn activists loose on members of his own party who stood in the way of progressive policies on health care, climate change, and labor rights.

Obama began his term forgetting that his power derived from aroused people. He flunked the politics of his situation. Many bad things followed, including demobilized people, the 2010 wipe out in state elections, and collapse of local Democratic Party organizations.

Can contemporary Democratic leaders learn to tolerate creative intra-party friction that keeps people engaged? The lesson of the moment is that when more people get mobilized, more of them then vote. When more people vote, progressive advocates win. I fear efforts to reimpose a stable "politics as usual," more than I fear continued ferment. Insurrectionists better not be assholes, but so far, that's not what is happening.