I'll see your gay marriage and raise you a stem cell research...

[jocapo]

The Dems yin to Repubs yang.  As bad as we all think the
Repubs are for using gay marriage and abortion I think the
Dems use of the "stem cell research"
"issue" is as bad or worse.  Don't get me wrong, I'm
all for it and hope it passes...but is this the issue that the
dems have latched on to as their political line in the sand?!?
 GIVE ME A BREAK.  The repubs look for issues that divide and
inflame which is reprehensible but the Dems look for issues
that are safe and don't make waves like "the patients
bill of rights" or "prescription drug
coverage"...retch!!!

Where are the leaders in the democratic party?  Who will stand
up and speak truth to power and be willing to fall on the
battlefield of ideas for what's right?

We've got Newt and the neocons ringing the bell for war and
the dems big issue is embryonic stem cell research?!?

[uppityperson]

1. Dems have latched on to stem cell as line in the sand?

hm.

Are you saying Dems should look for issues that hurt people rather than help them? Not sure what you are saying here.

[Carla in Ca]

3. I'm not sure either

Reducing the importance of saving lives to an 'issue' seems insincere. My guess, since he used a poker metaphor, is that he is holding a straight.

[pepperbear]

2. my friend, that is an interesting spin....n/t

[radfringe]

4. stem cell is the Repub wedge issue of the week

gay marriage, flag burning and stem cell issues are the Repubs issues. The repubs know they did not have a chance to pass any meaningful legislation but brought them up anyways in order to st the stage for the summer/fall campaigns

think of it like a movie trailer - big and splashy, designed to intice voters to turnout

midterm elections usually have a poor voter turnout and it usually favors the incumbent party. However, in this year's elections we see the left angry and the repub's numbers are in the toilet. The repubs need issues to get their supporters to the polls - hence the rollout of wedge issues

The dems, as a minority power in the senate/house, have no power to set the legislation agenda. the agenda is set by the majority party - at the moment it's the repubs

As the minority party, the dems can only respond, they can offer amendments - but with the rubberstampers running things - the amendments mostly fail

specific to stem cell: The repubs are placing a higher value on a clump of frozen cells (destined for the medical wastecan) over the millions of people who could benefit today (and in the future) from the research. In otherwords, it's better to trash the cells than to save/improve lives.