Is it me: Democrats and their base vs Republicans and their base...

[HardWorkingDem]

Is it just me, or when in times of need, does there seem to be a practice of Democrats running from their loyal base and happily flogging their base, while Republicans, when in time of need, run to their base and rely upon their loyal base?

It makes me wonder if Democrats for some reason, are so willing to take their own loyal base for granted (that we'll always be there to vote for them), while Republicans don't.

Ideas?

[ixion]

1. I believe they take it for granted

given all the "Dems suck a little bit less than the GOP, so you have to vote for them" crap I see floating around.

[rucky]

2. Most voters are independent, now.

:shrug:

[noise]

3. The GOP base is manipulated

As Thomas Franks details in Whats the Matter with Kansas. Much of the GOP base votes against their best interests. Look at the teabaggers. Are they ok with paying insurance companies high premiums only to be denied coverage when they need it? Evidently they are grateful for this absurd system simply because it isn't socialism. Yet they have no problem with state sanctioned torture, indefinite detention, warrantless surveillance, etc.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. They're relying on the nose-holding abilities of the left. Which are diminishing rapidly.

The "not as bad" party is getting a no-sale from progressives.

[NJmaverick]

5. The difference is the Republicans have a loyal base and the Dems don't

[ChoppinBroccoli]

6. I Think It's Mostly A Result Of............

............the fact that the Republican base is a bunch of mindless followers who would cheer a bill to squash a burlap sack full of puppies into goo just as long as it was a Republican who proposed it (and the right-wing talking heads told them it was a good idea). However, since Democrats generally like to think about things, rather than act like brainless cheerleaders who do nothing more than shout, "Our team is the best!!!", you generally see dissatisfaction among the ranks of the Democrats.

If we were able to sit back and say, "Whatever you want to do is just hunky-dorey with me, Fearless Leader," the way the Republicans do, then we'd have the benefit of an eternally unified base as well. Just another "mistake" in planning by the Democrats, catering to the intellectuals. In addition to actually thinking for ourselves, there just plain aren't as many of us.

What's that famous quote? It was something to the effect of, if you count on the stupidity of the masses, you'll never be disappointed, or something like that.

[Warpy]

7. The DLC always took the base for granted

and, like all conservatives everywhere, saw themselves as leading the country instead of pleasing their constituents--the party base.

Until we have a sea change in party leadership, it will continue to be like this, the base sold out in favor of the mythical swing voter.

Dean tried for four years and managed to get Democrats elected in districts that had been solidly GOP for years, but the DLC seemed incapable of realizing just why his tactics worked.

So bend over, that's all we're going to be good for until the inside the beltway crowd either dies off or is ousted. My bet is that it will have to be the former.