Damn cowardly Democrats

[Vietnameravet]

EXCELLENT EDITORIAL BY NY TIMES ON DEMOCRATS.. (you really should read the entire thing)
A few years ago people in this very website were talking about the demise of the Republican party.,.now the Repubs are threatening to control both houses of Congress...Here is why...


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/22/opinion/alison-lundergan-grimes-kay-hagan-and-other-candidates-avoid-obama.html?ribbon-ad-idx=4&rref=opinion&module=Ribbon&version=context®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Opinion&pgtype=Blogs

The panicky Democratic flight away from President Obama — and from some of the party’s most important positions — is not a surprise. Mr. Obama remains highly unpopular among white voters, particularly in Southern states where candidates like Ms. Nunn, Ms. Grimes and several others are struggling to establish leads. But one of the reasons for his unpopularity is that nervous members of his own party have done a poor job of defending his policies over the nearly six years of his presidency, allowing a Republican narrative of failure to take hold.


Few voters know that the 2009 stimulus bill contributed heavily to the nation’s economic recovery, saving and creating 2.5 million jobs. Not a word of it is spoken on the campaign trail, where little credit is also given to the White House for months of promising economic news.

Similarly, the Affordable Care Act, one of the most far-reaching and beneficial laws to have been passed by Congress in years, gets little respect even among the Democratic candidates who voted for it. Though none support the Republican position of repeal, most talk about the need to “fix” the health law, as if it were a wreck alongside the road rather than a vehicle providing millions of people with health coverage.

(Snip)

By not standing firmly for their own policies, Democrats send a message to voters that the unending Republican criticism of the president is legitimate. There is much that is going right in this country, and there is still time for Democrats to say so.

[Fred Sanders]

1. Democrats are wasting the opportunities that Obama handed to them...fuck them all if they do not

see it.

Running away from the incredibly successful ACA and running away from the equally incredible recovery from deep recession, verge of economic ruin, thank you Republicans for that, is a criminal act of politics.

If Democrats running do not see the gifts handed to them by their remarkable leader, are they really liberals? Are they really intelligent enough to be called liberals?

[RKP5637]

2. Many democratic politicians are a bunch of wimps, gutless and spineless! n/t

[Fred Sanders]

3. Grimes losing in Kentucky because she refuses to say that Kynect IS Obamacare and Mitch wants

to shut it down, is breathtakingly spineless.

And being unable to say that of course I voted for the twice elected President and leader of my party...there is a word for that I can not find.

[bigdarryl]

4. She's only one point behind McConnell what are you talking about

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

19. You and I both know that she can't admit she voted for the black Kenyan in the White House

[Darb]

34. Agreed Fred, that was the worst bit of cowardice of this cycle.

Sad really, but the whole party is listening to charlatans claiming to be experts.

[noiretextatique]

8. i believe this has something to do with the southern strategy

and i don't know why they keep trying to attract people who are not going to vote for them. and the tepid support for Obama's successes is not going to energize potential new Democratic voters.

[Fred Sanders]

35. There are literally tens of millions of non voters you could appeal to, trying to get a few hayseeds

to vote for you while ignoring the mountain of Unlikely Voters is a strategy I do not understand.

[noiretextatique]

36. [phone]

turd way sucks ass.

[RBInMaine]

5. When too many "progressives" sit on their rear-ends and don't vote, what do you expect?

And please, save the lame excuses. Either VOTE, or quit the bitching. WAY too many "progressives" only vote in Presidential years. It is DISGUSTING and NOT the politicians' fault. Too often they are forced to run toward the electorate that will actually show up. Plus in some of these more rural places, the cultures and dynamics are different, especially in off year elections. They can't win just with far left progressives. They need moderates too. It has to be a big tent.

[freshwest]

6. They know who will be showing up at the polls. And it won't be the ones you can't count on to vote.

Simple arithmetic. Logic. Lost in all the hyperbole. Just another 'trash the Democrats who dare to live in the real world' media meme at work. The Koch brothers are right, a dollar does represent a vote now. The ones who repeat these memes in the media are paid handsomely, real people are discounted.

[noiretextatique]

10. and...real people KNOW they are discounted

now more than ever, many people i've spoken to KNOW their vote will change nothing, except perhaps keep another nut off the supreme court. that just isn't enough to motivate people. here in the bay area, rents have skyrocketed in the past few years, yet wages are stagnant. so people who are often making less money than they did 5 years ago are paying double the rent they paid 5 years ago.
it used to be that electing democrats really did help common people. and a lot of people just don't see that happening anymore. some people can continue to blame progressives for not voting all they choose, but perhaps the democrats need to refine their message to actually attract voters, per the article.

[noiretextatique]

9. where's your data on these claims?

do you have any, or is this the usual DLC/Third Way blame game to cover for their crappy center-right message? if Democrats wants my vote, they sure as hell had better earn it. and "we aren't as bad as them" is not cutting it, and hasn't since clinton implemented the brilliant idea to co-opt right-leaning positions. but in reality: what choice do i have? it's either the D, who is at least human, or the R. and as a progressive, i can tell you i would never, and have never voted for a republicon.

[Vietnameravet]

13. oh we are "far left" ???

Not at all moderate in your opinion? Just what do you mean by the comment that we are "far left?"

[Vietnameravet]

16. so you favor political pandering?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

20. We got a good amount of bitching here on DU and other so-called progressive social media

sites after 2010.

And I swear, I DO NOT understand this twisted logic and never will:

People didn't vote in high enough numbers in 2010,

Republicans gain power in Congress and in 3/4 of all state legislatures,

The president is therefore forced to make tough, often bad and/or unpopular decisions or if not, the government closes, people are hurt even more. (It's like making the best choice among all bad options.)

So then Democrats/liberals get angry at the president.

Why are they angry at the president? It makes so sense. They didn't come out to vote and therefore don't hold Republicans responsible for all the shit Republicans did to this economy and getting us embroiled in these wars.

And yet, by failing to vote in strong or large enough numbers, the Republicans gain control. But you mad at the president and Democrats and not at those who did this to you and your family--the Republican Party?

MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE TO ME AND NEVER WILL!!!

Do we realize that if the Republicans win this year, they would have done absolutely NOTHING to have earned political office? They've passed no bills of substance. They've taken loads of vacation. They've shut down the government. All they've done is obstruct and blocked bills. That's all they've done. And yet, they'll be rewarded for it.

When Democrats controlled both chambers, over 400 pieces of legislation was passed. Legislation of substance.

But because we didn't get everything we wanted WHEN we wanted it, and Obama is "a disappointment" we sat our asses at home in 2010 while the Republicans were galvanized. They've done absolutely NOTHING!!!! Remember that! Nothing! And yet, they'll be rewarded for it.

[Doctor_J]

25. He made those tough, bad and unpopular deals and decisions BEFORE 2010

that's why the party got trounced in 2010.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

26. *HE* didn't make those decisions *ALONE*. Congress passes the laws.

How many times do you need this simple Civics lesson, my friend?

Harry Reid never exercised the nuclear option, remember? (Of course not. It's easier and simpler for you to just blame one man.)

[Doctor_J]

28. Your previous post said he was forced into rightist policies by the 2010 election

this is untrue, as demonstrated by the fact that he embraced Republicans and their agenda before 2010. Try to discuss one point at a time. And yes, Reid and Pelosi are to blame also.

Also, your civics lesson seems not to have included a lesson on the veto

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

29. I've always maintained that Obama was never a liberal. You and I have

gone down this road many times. Don't take me there because you already know this story. Don't act like this is the first time we have discussed this, either, because you and I both know that to be untrue.

And don't act as if the Democratic Party is a monolith because we've both had discussions about the good man you have in your avatar and all the Blue Dog Democrats who joined with Republicans--yes, before 2010--to block many of the liberal/progressive proposals, among them the universal health care proposal and the public option. And, it is idiotic for you to really believe that after 2 1/2 years of blood, sweat and tears of working on a health care reform law that the president would veto that bill. Come on, my friend, exercise some political nuance.

Look, we'll never agree because even though you and I are both liberals, you don't agree with me because you think all Democrats should be like the fine Senator from Vermont, and so do I. But you and I both know that that's not how the world works and that's not the ideological prototype of the average American. I truly wish it were but it isn't. And until we can work towards that common goal, we are stuck with what we have.

My goal is to get rid of the last remaining Blue Dogs we have, which will require a bit more pain. I think we will succeed this year, as we did in 2010 and 2012. But it simply doesn't make any sense to be furious at the president when you know that he is forced to work with conservative Democrats AND Republicans and has had that job since he first got into office.

Even when he DID have a majority in both chambers--for a very short period of time--he still faced resistance from the more conservative wing of the party. You should know that if you know what Bernie Sanders has had to face throughout his entire career. For you to be angry at Obama would be the same as being angry at Bernie for voting for those bills in the end. I mean, he DID vote for them, right? He voted for the stimulus package. He voted for the compromise bill. He voted for health care reform. All those things you're mad at Obama for, Bernie Sanders voted for them. Why? Because Bernie understands how government words. He exercises political nuance. He understands that sometimes you have to vote for shit that you don't necessarily support because not voting for the shit may end up hurt MORE people in the end.

Like I said, it's like making the best choice among many shitty choices. None of the alternatives are good, but there's one option that's the best among all the shitty ones; or the one that will do the least harm.

As a political scientist, one of the first lessons I was taught is that change doesn't occur overnight. Living here in D.C. and now working in government--having worked in a state legislature, on The Hill and now in the bureaucracy, that reality has hit me in the head. I used to be idealistic and now I'm just reeling at how things really operate. Things do NOT happen overnight. Change is very incremental. It occurs in piecemeal fashion. The problem with us Democrats--a problem that Republicans do not have--is that we expected Obama to snap his fingers and cure the economy in two years. We expected him not to work with moderate, conservative Democrats/Republicans. Worst, we didn't realize that Republicans were deliberately going to sabotage the economy.

Sitting here in the agency where I work, we worked hours upon hours, often staying through 9:00, 10:00 at night on fiscal year budgets to submit to OMB. We'd then turn on C-SPAN or one of the political commentary shows--even MSNBC and listen to Republicans lie about how Obama hadn't submitted a fiscal year budget--all the while we're sitting here crying over the numbers. We'd be preparing the budget a year ahead of time. We'd submitted a budget proposal from the previous year and Congress would be sitting on it, lying through their teeth that the president submitted nothing.

Then, to come here to DU and see liberals believe Republican lies. That's what hurts the most because it'd be government workers--civil servants--working our asses off for the American people while members of Congress take long breaks and vacations--all while calling us lazy.

I will never turn my back on this president, Doctor_J. You can say what you want. But this man has worked too hard. Do I agree with everything he has done? Hell no! Am I angry at him for some of the shit he has done. Absolutely! I'm especially angry that he hasn't stood up to the Republicans and will not call their lies out to their faces! He will not get angry with them no matter what. None of us understands this. Morale is low at all the federal agencies. We work hard. And guess what? Should Republicans take Congress, they will surely shut us down again. Take that to the bank! And still, this president is a good man. A naïve, sometimes stupid man. But a brilliant man. A good man. Incredibly hard working who works us incredibly hard and tried to do right by the American people.

You can say what you want. I don't care. But I stick to my guns because I know how hard I work. And I know how hard this administration has worked. And those Democrats who turned their backs on the president? As far as I'm concerned, I hope they all lose. I really do. May they all lose.

[Doctor_J]

24. DINO's Creed - "Make Every Thread A Hippy-Punching Thread!"

they're a small fraction of the party, so they don't need to be served!

They can swing elections all by themselves!

Which day of the week is it?

When you speak of liberals in those terms, stop bitching when they don't vote

[world wide wally]

7. I am ashamed to say that in Colorado, every Democratic candidate (Udall) makes sure to mention that

he opposes Obama.
This after Obama carried the state twice.
Good move, idiot.

[Vietnameravet]

14. He needs to lose!

He is asking voters to get excited about voting for a candidate that says he opposes the party leader the man they elected as President??? Is he crazy! I hope he loses!

[savalez]

17. Really? What's the

rationale behind that? Trying to get some RW votes?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

21. Like I said, these people road on the president's coattails. This year the president has once again

become the "black Kenyan occupying the White House".

Udall will lose. And all those cowardly Democrats--Kagan, Landrieu, Grimes, Pryor--all of them will lose. And guess what? I don't feel sorry for them at all. If they won't stand up for what they believe, then I won't stand up for them.

Oh, and by the way, Kagan, Landrieau, and Pryor in particular rub me the wrong way. These were among the senators that I called for weeks, begging them to support a public option.

See, what frustrates me about Democrats the most is that we blame folk who don't deserve the blame. We sit here blaming Obama for not including a public option, when it was people like Kagan et al. who were such cowards and were never, ever going to support a public option. It didn't matter how often we activists called. It didn't matter how often we pleaded with them. They were never going to budge on this issue.

And Democrats here and elsewhere are angry at Obama because he took socialized health care off the table. I see why he did it. These cowards in the Senate--and many of those Blue Dogs in the House--were NEVER accepting any public option!

So now they are running for their lives. I won't be too sad if they all lose. Maybe we should work on rebuilding the Democratic Party, which will change anyway as people become more progressive. It's time to move towards a New Progressive Guard. It'll eventually happen. Maybe we need to suffer a bit more pain before than can happen. These Blue Dogs may just have to be defeated until the hearts and minds of the people in those states change due to the natural shift in cohort brought about by population change, migration, etc.

[world wide wally]

22. I agree with everything you said, but I do want to point oue one thing...

They only lose an election, it is the rest of us who lose a country.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

23. I agree, but I'm tired of these people being ungrateful and just thinking of their own fate.

It's wrong. Unfair. Yes, I understand how politics work and that they're in a bind. And I'm sure that the president understands that they're in a bind. He's a good, gracious guy. But's it's still very wrong.

[4dsc]

11. Damn Centrists

Sorry but I don't support the centrist in our party at this time.

[Vietnameravet]

15. Right!

If we dont have the balls to fight for what we believe how can we attract others or get them to fight?

[Vietnameravet]

12. nice

I have to say i am pleasantly surprised at the favorable response to this post... in the past i have been attacked and in one case my post attacking cowardly Democrats was submitted to jury claiming it was "hateful and divisive.(fortunately i had a good lawyer and was aquited..

Remember when Howard Dean slammed "spineless Democrats?" We need more like him who are willing to take temporary defeat for long term victory. The establishment needs to be as fearful of us as the establishment Repubs are of the tea party!

And speaking of those gutless Democrats..remember when Clarance Thomas and Antonin Scalia were nominated to the Supreme Court ..how the Democrat establishment complained but failed to filibuster and fight and thus we have a crackpot right wing supreme court that will screw us at every opportunity..Chickens come home to roost... Bush vs Gore

and would it not be justice if the Republicans win the Senate and kill the filibuster? So much for the crap about not ending it when we had the majority so as not to set a precedent for them...

and i remember when i and others like me were attacked for criticizing Obama for not being more aggressive in that first debate.. i was told that I was 'undermining the Democrats and suppressing the vote!" Some even said Obama cannot be aggressive because that would create fear of an "angry black man!" But i and others were right..

These establishment cowards take our vote for granted and that has got to cease! Let them know we intend no compromise with the hard core righties and if they dont agree then we will let them go down to defeat..

We need to be strong and decisive,,think of this,,,imagine two candidates trying to motivate voters..

One says "Obamacare is a threat to our nation! It's socialism and communism and your mother and parents will be left to die because of this Kenyan born Muslim in the White House who has no American values and is angry at America! If elected i will root it up, tree and roots"

The other says. "Well i know he is the leader of my party but i hope i can fix the problems with his flawed program. Now lets all be friends"


Which do you think will win?

I say again, a few short years ago it was said on this very site..the Republicans are finished..they are Dinosaurs headed for extinction"

Now they threaten to control both houses and will try to impeach the President..or at least destroy the Democrats chances in 2016..Why is that? Because cowardly Democrats are running from the President in order to appease the right wing!

Now We think we have a lock on the Presidency for 2016...Ya sure!

Fight like Roosevelt! None of this "reaching out" and "building bridges" crap!

I think i better end it here...

[Reter]

18. It's normal to run from an unpopular President it poltics

Both sides do it. In 2006 and 2008, pukes ran from Bush in record levels. Democrats did it in the 90's too.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

27. Bush has reasons to be unpopular. There is no reason for President Obama to be unpopular

He has a positive record to run on. Republicans never have positive ANYTHING to run on.

That's the difference.

Don't give me the "both parties are the same" bullshit meme!

They are NOT the same.

This president has a very long record of economic, social and political accomplishments. These cowardly Democrats have deliberately chosen not to run on those accomplishments. I

I can understand 2010 because Democrats could not explain a complicated health care law in simple terms; we were still coming out of the recession and recovering from a housing crisis; and we were still in Iraq at the time.

But you cannot tell me that the Democrats have nothing to run on.

I will call your bullshit in a hot second.

There is no fucking excuse for these coward-ass Democrats to run away from this president.

They all deserve to lose. Every single fucking one of them.

They will get ZERO dollars from me. Not one red cent!

FUCK 'EM! ALL OF THEM!

[greatauntoftriplets]

31. Sorry, but you are spamming this message.

Please join in the discussion, then post this -- once -- as an OP. Thanks.

[MatthewStLouis]

32. I hate the way so many democratic candidates try to be repub-lite instead of standing firm.

We have the higher ground. Stop hiding and start defending! Don't shy away from the president and all this nebulous "unpopularity". Why is he "unpopular"? Because the even more unpopular congress won't pass any progressive or -gasp- liberal legislation that will actually benefit the common good?

Tell people what we are (the party that believes in the little guy, in fairness, in actually helping families, in workers rights, in individuals rights), tell them why things aren't getting much better (the obstructionist GOP), and yell it from the rooftops!

It's not that hard. What have we got to lose!

[Darb]

33. We got cowards in Congress and purists on DU

The cowards couldn't pour piss out of a boot with the instructions on the heel.

The purists, well, they just discourage, discourage, discourage.

Sanders/Kucinich 2016!!! Who's with me? We can get it done, I know it. Those non-voters and apathetic "liberals" will come out of the woodwork. It'll be a landslide! Watch out Koch Brothers, we got Jeb's number.