How Democrats Might Blow It By Robert Parry

[Demeter]

Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_robert_p_061024_how_democrats_might_.htm


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October 24, 2006

How Democrats Might Blow It

By Robert Parry

As Democrats go through their biennial rite of premature victory celebrations, they are inviting defeat again by obsessing on polls about how many congressional seats are "in play" rather than on explaining to the American people what a Republican victory on Nov. 7 would mean to the nation.



Considering everything that's at stake, many Democrats appear to be devoting way too much energy to their anticipation of victory – and to an obsession with polls about which seats are "in play" – rather than in sealing the deal with the voters.

Democrats also seem to be hoping for victory by default as Republicans sink under the weight of chaos in Iraq and corruption scandals on Capitol Hill.

Granted, some Democrats have issued cautionary warnings against over-confidence and many remember their premature celebrations in 2004 when the early exit polls showed Sen. John Kerry winning the White House. Opinion polls two weeks before an election mean even less, especially given the GOP's reputation for hardball election tactics.

But there is a troubling sense of déjà vu as Democrats let Republicans raise alarms on the Right about the dangers of a Democratic victory, while Democrats let up on their warnings to liberals, independents and even constitutional conservatives about what a Republican victory would foreshadow.





Authors Website: http://www.consortiumnews.com

Authors Bio: Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek. His latest book, Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq, can be ordered at secrecyandprivilege.com. It's also available at Amazon.com, as is his 1999 book, Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & 'Project Truth.'


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[Kolesar]

1. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2467136&mesg_id=2468186

[DRoseDARs]

3. It's a dupe if it's in the same forum. I've seen plenty "dupe" threads posted...

...sted in two or three forums. Wider audience I guess.

[bananas]

4. Absolutely correct - NOT A DUPE

apparently BO doesn't want this discussed.

[Kolesar]

6. Ok, not DUPE, just lame, incendiary and irresponsible

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2467136&mesg_id=2468186

[emulatorloo]

2. every dem speech I hear talks about the consequences of repug rule

and half the dem ads I see link the repug opponent to the "Bush Agenda" -- loss of jobs, Iraq, desires to destroy social security, refusal to raise the minimum wage, big giveaways to corporations, etc.

[C_U_L8R]

5. Be party of the great wave

we have to overwhelm them to rise above all the dirty tricks they will pull...
and frankly just to beat their formidable Get Out The Vote ground game.
It's up to all of us to help our team.... get everyone you know to vote.

We can beat em... if we try.