>Andy Stern...probably does think that if Kerry wins -- especially if Kerry
wins
>too easily, with no one in and out of the Democratic Party making any
>demands on him from the left -- the bargaining position of organized
>labor and other liberal interest groups vis-a-vis the Democratic
>Party elite would erode further, because an easy Kerry victory would
>strengthen the hands of top-dog Democrats who argue that moving the
>party to the right rather than to the left is the road to victory.
A fair interpretation of his comments, but he also believes that the bargaining power of labor vis-a-vis the rest of the political establishment OUTSIDE the Democratic Party will increase with Kerry's election, so labor will be a large net beneficiary of Kerry's election.
Anti-Democratic Party folks always concentrate on the fact that tactical alliances lower your maneuverability vis-a-vis your allies, but ignore the gains in strategic power versus shared opponents. Yes, complete independence gives you maximum flexibility to say what you want and do what you want, but it also can make you less effective do to lack of coordination with allies.
-- Nathan Newman