Sandinistas and Democrats

Reading the news today, I was struck by the parallel elections of the old Nicaraguan revolutionary, Daniel Ortega and the resurgent Democratic Party in the United States. Both have overcome the truth and reality of their leftist pasts and by running on new found moderation and faith have once again won the seats of power.

Daniel Ortega says that he is a changed man, no longer the revolutionary. The former guerrilla leader who seized power in 1979 and to this day lives in the homes which his Marxist Government confiscated from the rich, now promises attacks on poverty and will encourage the private investment needed to create jobs and not war. A reinstated Catholic, he is quoted as saying, "We thank God for this chance to build a Nicaragua in reconciliation by talking to each other and reaching consensus, even with our differences."

The people of Nicaragua, like the people of the United States have been asked to place their trust and confidence in parties who would prefer their past to be forgotten if not forgiven. Unfortunately for Ortega and the Democrats, the revisionists have not yet been able to whitewash their stained pasts nor thoroughly revise recent history. Even more unfortunate for the left of Central America and the USA is that we see, still visible in the background, their unsavory and thuggish associates. For Ortega it is:

Thousands of left-wing Sandinista supporters took to the streets to celebrate Ortega's triumph, setting off fireworks and waving black-and-red party flags.

Venezuela backed Ortega's campaign by sending cheap fertilizer and fuel to Sandinista-led groups. It is widely expected to now finance social programs in Nicaragua and some Ortega followers hope Chavez, rich with petrodollars, will help Nicaragua stand up to Washington.

"Whatever Chavez sends us helps us a lot and it makes us less scared because we know we are not alone, we have his support," said Miguel Mendoza, 45, who was orphaned at age 9 when his parents were killed by troops fighting against the Sandinista revolutionaries.

In America, Representative Nancy Pelosi, fresh from her recent makeover as the "Grandmother of five," vowed to "restore integrity, civility and honesty to Capitol Hill" and promised that Democrats will "work together in a bipartisan way for all Americans." As I read "Grandmother Pelosi's" reassurances, my mind goes back to the her recent "Anybody who's ever dealt with me knows not to mess with me" Time interview":

...Would your grandmother ever say, "If people are ripping your face off, you have to rip their face off" (Pelosi's approach to handling attacks from Republicans)? How about "If you take the knife off the table, it's not very frightening anymore" (her explanation for why she won't let voters forget George W. Bush's unpopular Social Security proposal from last year)?

Setting a standard her party will be judged on in elections two years from now, Nancy Pelosi promised: "Democrats intend to lead the most honest, the most open and the most ethical Congress in history."

For starters, they can clarify what they mean by statements like this one made by soon to be Speaker Pelosi. Will she deal with Iraq as the face ripping street fighter or the Grandmother?

“Nowhere did the American people make it more clear that we need a new direction than in Iraq,” she said, speaking to cheers. “We can not continue down this catastrophic path. So we say to the president, ‘Mr. President, we need a new direction in Iraq. Let us work together to find a solution to the war in Iraq.’”

The US public has been asked to believe that the Democratic Party, after having flirted with the "Move-on, Michael Moore, Cindy Sheehan left", has seen the error of it's ways and with a new found moderation, has come home to America.

Beyond the change in party power, the result signaled that the House was in for something of an ideological scramble. While the result was marked by the defeat of a procession of Republican moderates — from New Hampshire, Connecticut and Florida — the new class of Democrats include congressmen-elect who are considerably more moderate than many of their new brethren. In Indiana, Representative John Hostettler, a Republican, was defeated by Brad Ellsworth, a Democrat and sheriff who opposes abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

---

Grandmother Pelosi and the Democratic Party have portrayed themselves as repentant, chastised and changed; now Statesmen and no longer young, wild eyed revolutionaries. But unfortunately for them, we see some hard, rough looking people lurking quietly, smiling and laughing in the background and in the shadows and we ask ourselves, "If they've changed, why are they still hanging around with those old thugs? Their old war buddies: the Sandinistas, the Move-On Daily Chaos crowd, the John Podestas. And is that George Soros talking to John Kerry and Bill Clinton way back there?

Somethings not right. What's going on here?