Progressives will continue to lose as long as we're negotiating with obstructionists

[Cant trust em]

We want good policy. They want to blow up the entire process. We're always going to prefer to get something than nothing, so we'll always give in.

It starts with kicking out the enablers calling themselves Blue Dogs.

[RKP5637]

1. Absolutely True!!! However, in some parts of the country, one could probably

not get elected if not a Blue Dog and that is unfortunate.

[Cant trust em]

4. To what extent are we just going to have to live with disappointment

in our public policy?

I wonder sometimes if this country is too big and diverse to get what progressives really want.

[RKP5637]

7. I've wondered the same. I've heard others say similar, that the country is just

too large and too infested with unreasonable conflicting special interests and agendas to even effectively govern itself. Hence, we seem to wallow back and forth and real progressiveness gets mushed into something else.

To me, what progressives say just makes good, logical and sound sense. I've been living with disappointment for years now.

I have a Blue Dog congressman, but he is a breath of fresh air compared to the alternatives.

I had hoped to see all of the democrats get on the same page and move forward with the majority, what has happened to date is far different than what I had envisioned.

The RW element of this country is insane and holds the country back so much.

Rachell Maddow is on now, she refreshes my spirits each day.

Maybe it will all workout under Obama, I still have my hopes.

[rwheeler31]

2. Agree

[rucky]

3. This is what they wanted.

We weren't even invited to the party.

They have absolutely no incentive to listen to the left, and we have plenty of incentives to comply.

[Cant trust em]

5. Yup. It's kind of important to note that the GOP wanted no legislation at all.

In their eyes, the system is perfect.

The fact that there will be a reform bill passed is a loss.

[FormerDittoHead]

6. Of course. Here's how that negotiating is working...

Democrats: we want guaranteed healthcare for children.

Republicans: we want to kill the children.

Democrats: Can we compromise because we need a 90-10 majority in our fucking broken system.

Of course, we accept that if Republicans want us to live in a banana republic, feudal dystopia, it only takes 51 votes, but that's the system we have. We'll do anything to help the kids, but I agree we need the near-unanimous vote to simply do the right thing rather than serve billionaires.

Republicans: OK, we'll compromise, we'll just injure the kids, say, take off one of their legs and blind them in the right eye. Of course, you don't get to actually give them healthcare, but THAT bill we'll let go through, of course, we won't vote for it, it will have YOUR name written all over it! Healthcare for children, line up for your amputations! Brought to you by the Democrats. Sure, we'll settle for that.

Democrats: OK, then, even though you will not have voted for it, even though it will be a terrible bill and we'll probably lose our majorities over it, we'll vote for it because that means we'll have done something, and it can always be improved, like how we came back and fixed NAFTA...

Republicans: You're really that fucking stupid?

Democrats: No, our voters are. Because when we tell them it's us or Sarah Palin, they'll be voting for us anyway... What choice do they have?

[RKP5637]

8. True and so sad! n/t