For Those Upset with My Bashing of the Democratic Party:

[Chasstev365]

THIS is why I am so angry.

In 1993, Bill Clinton came into office and stated that we needed to move on from Iran/Contra. No further investigations. Assuming the Speakership in 2006, Nancy Pelosi announced "Impeachment of Bush and Cheney is off the table." When taking office in 2009, President Obama stated that there would be no investigations of the Bush administration crimes and we needed to move on.

All this did was embolden the GOP to keep pushing the envelope because the Democrats have repeatedly have shown Republicans that they can get away with anything.

The GOP spent 50 million on a non-scandal with Beghazhi , but guess what? It worked in ruining Hillary Clinton's chances.

Politics is perception, especially to so many who really who no clue.

I am tired of the Democrats not raising the same kind of hell that that Republicans do to control public perception.

Thom Hartman said it best, "Democrats play checkers, while a Republicans play chess." Imagine if the whole Putin thing was on the other foot? What would Republicans do?

[BlueCaliDem]

1. Hartmann is WRONG. Democrats play chess while Republicans play checkers. That's our problem.

Our Party is too nuanced, too detail-oriented while Republican ram out one lie after another using popular buzzwords that a 6th grader can easily pickup. Republicans frame their message in easy-to-understand soundbites while Democrats are left having to challenge these lies. Couple that to a very complicit conservative U.S. Media, and it's a recipe for disaster for our country.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Isn't that odd - because our message CAN be so simple if we were

better organized and spoke in unison. With the explosion and bombardment of instant information, every adman in the country has had to rethink messaging. People can't read everything anymore or notice everything anymore- there's just too much. The Democratic Party must do that too.

And, we don't have to get in the dirt, we can still keep our values front and center. Because core values are different now. Long ago, Republicans and Democrats both agreed to help the poor, for example. It was just a matter of how. Now, they don't care. Amazingly too, they have been able to get away with acting like they care that premiums go up for the Obamacare participants. They don't, they don't give a shit.

Wish I had seen Democratic Party ads during the election. Perhaps since I am not in a swing state? Simple messages - Job growth graph ticking up, how we care about everyone being able to see a doctor and how they all voted against it.

[Skittles]

19. repukes all too often need to appeal to stupid people

Last edited Thu Dec 15, 2016, 10:21 PM - Edit history (1)

it's much harder to appeal to those with critical thinking skills

[BainsBane]

2. I agree with a lot of that

and the 2000 Recount was a prime example.

However, I'm not upset that the Democrats aren't all over the media on this issue. I'm more concerned that they get tough with hearings. I'm hopeful that Obama is working to expedite an investigation so we have findings before he leaves office.

I can't help notice, however, that one figure who has been all over the media is more concerned with attacking the Democratic Party than directing his ire at the GOP and the Russians. I consider that destructive.

[Bettie]

4. Who is going to convene these hearings?

Dems don't have the power to call them.

So, getting tough is a non-starter if there are no questions asked.

We need to take a page from their book: be all over the media with planned repeated talking points. They can be true, but the point is a consistent and firm message. That is how propaganda works and we can use it too. We need to.

[BainsBane]

9. Ryan and McConnell have said they will convene hearings

and the Democrats can hold hearings even if they aren't official senate proceedings.

I'm far less interesting in talking points that getting to what actually happened. That can't be done in cable news sound segments.
I understand that for many the entertainment aspect of politics is key. That isn't a priority for me.

You do realize that people can go on cable and talk about this ad nauseum and it doesn't amount to a thing. Think about Trump's pussy grabbing tape. That was blanketed over the media and didn't amount to anything in terms of keeping him from being president.

[Bettie]

11. Hearings that are for the express purpose of

convening, saying "nothing to see here" and then shutting down do nothing.

I have no hope that Dems will hold the line. I have no hope that I'll even see a real election again in my lifetime.

I'm just watching as my kids' future gets flushed.

But you're probably right, messaging does nothing for our side. We're not inclined to the level of hate that most people seem to hold inside them.

Though, I'm starting to feel that level of hate for the orange creature and his many enablers.

[BainsBane]

14. They will get their turn at questioning

And there are a handful of Republicans who do care about this.

[old guy]

16. Correct,

but the media would have to present the questions and try to get real answers, which they have shown no inclination to do.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. Who are you talking about in last paragraph? There is a ray of hope in

that there is still a handful of republicans who despise Trump and have the balls to stand up against him. In the past, they all stuck together like glue

[BainsBane]

10. Bernie Sanders

And yes, I am glad the Republicans have agreed to convene hearings.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. Bravo...You stated it all perfectly ! I think we are on the side of good

but we don't fight and we don't shout it from the rooftops.

[cwydro]

6. Your OP was alerted.

I served on the jury.

Your OP makes an excellent point.

I'm disappointed in our party too.

[BigDemVoter]

7. I am not disappointed with our party's message.

I am just disappointed with how we presented it and PRIMARILY with how we are fighting. We MUST learn how to fight the way they do; otherwise we'll be clobbered out of existence.

[fleur-de-lisa]

8. I agree. We have to be as ruthless

as they are.

[Sherman A1]

12. K&R

I completely agree. The Party went somewhere, as to where I have no real clue, but it is no longer near my positions. It is far better than the alternative, but I think we all can do far, far, far better than just being better than the GOP.

[Javaman]

15. the repukes don't play chess...

they just kick over the board and do what they want and the dems let them.

[n2doc]

17. And we have some in our party who just can't wait to work with the Traitor

Unlike back in 2009 when the repubs made a pact to not support anything Obama wanted. And pretty much kept to it, even when it might have served their interests.

[CrispyQ]

18. I'm as angry with the dems as I am with the republicans.

In this cartoon, Obama is just an icon for the entire party, which has been doing this for 35 years.