More on Democratic self-destruction

I've been thinking a little more about Digby's post after reading some of the comments attached to it. I hate to say this but I think Bill Clinton is partly to blame for the Democrat's problem. Remember his Sister Souljah moment? Remember tri-angulation? Bill Clinton made an art out of criticizing members of his own party when it was to his political advantage. There are rare moments when criticizing elements of your own party can have political benefit, but it takes someone with a really keen political instinct to recognize those moments. Even Clinton didn't always get it right (remember Lani Guinier?) However, his example was taken up by even less skilled Democrats. The result is a Democratic leadership dominated by people who often appear eager to take down their fellow Democrats.