I want Coakely to win, but even if she does, I want the Democratic Party to ask itself why this was

[saracat]

even close.

Pres.Obama sailed to victory because he tapped into what the public wanted to hear. Since them, on both a local and national level our politicians have gone tone deaf.

I do not live in Mass. I am unsure about their specific state issues, but many must be the same as those facing the rest of the states, and it "seems" that many of our base, as well as those outside it, do not feel they are being listened to.

it isn't just about health care but it is about everything and the message of our party has been ambivalent by choice. Ambivalence doesn't win elections.

We need to go back to our platform and fight for it. We need to stand for something.This is not the fault of the voters. This is not the fault of our "special interest groups", the unions who fought for what they have earned, women who want to protect their rights, GLBT who want to be given those rights to which they are entitled, peace makers who want to end war and all who want to claim at least the effort they were promised. It is the fault of those who crafted the message. Democrats need to go back to being Democrats again and they need to go back to supporting the reason the American public elected them.

We did not elect them to compromise to the point they gave away our principles in order to achieve a faux bipartisanship.We elected them to represent the interests of the people.

[DJ13]

1. K&R!

[WeDidIt]

2. I think there will be a turn regardless.

If Coakley loses, it'll be a turn to the right because the liberal base couldn't be counted on.

If Coakley wins it'll be a turn to the left because, despite being horribly angered, the liberal base barely pulled it out and it'll be a huge wake up call.

Either way, there will be a turn.

[saracat]

6. The "liberal base" can hardly be blamed for the actions of the Democratic Party.

You seem to be arguing the turn could be in either direction. My biggest fear is that there will be no "turn' at all and the lessons will not be learned.

[WeDidIt]

16. I'm arguing from historical reactions

Those are generally the historical reactions of the party mechanism over elections like this.

[saracat]

17. But you are arguing both directions.which do you think is more likely?

[WeDidIt]

21. IT depends on who wins tonight. n/t

[highplainsdem]

8. Whatever happens in today's election, there will NOT be a turn to the right if the WH knows how to

read polls.

The polls have all shown that HCR is much more popular with all voters, including Dems, as a generic idea, than the actual current plan for an individual mandate with no public option is. The current version of the HCR bill polls very badly with both Dems and independents.

I believe the more populist note Obama sounded while stumping for Coakley is the direction they're most likely to take. But it can't be populist rhetoric only -- it has to be backed up with actions.

I honestly don't know what they're going to do with this current HCR mess. The analysis by Robert Kuttner that I posted showed just how they did almost everything possible wrong, each step of the way. In effect they built themselves a legislative bridge to nowhere, since it can't win over conservatives and disappoints liberals. The White House thinks they can sell it. I'm skeptical of that, since I've seen no signs that the bill becomes more popular as people hear more about it.

But however bad that fiasco is, however long we're stuck with it -- and the Republicans can't wait to run against that mess of a bill -- the White House still has to find other ways to reassure voters that they're intending to deliver on more promises. And this time with populist actions to match the rhetoric.

[Jester Messiah]

3. Crap candidates.

See also: Creigh Deeds.

[saracat]

15. But the question must be asked"WHY" ? And again, just as the why this is close

the ones that must answer this are those that pick the candidates!

[BeyondGeography]

4. Good person, crap candidate...forget listening to people, she wouldn't even shake their hands

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2010/01/19/how-coakley-blew-it-in-massachusetts-.aspx

[ThomWV]

5. Not a chance. If we win the Party's memory will be about 3 news-cycles long.

[T Wolf]

7. Platform. What is a platform? A holdover from an earlier time when a party would list their

objectives and values so that there was a sense of unity.

Now, it is an exercise in bullshit. Ignored as soon (or before) an election is over.

[amborin]

27. and therein is the problem; voters perceived Obama ran on a progressive

platform; while his actual record did not support this perception, he made enough promises during his campaign to entice voters into believing they were voting for progressive change

instead, we saw payouts of all sorts to the corporate elites, and very little flowing in the direction of ordinary working Americans

right now, we're hearing populist rhetoric from Obama, such as scolding Wall Street, for example; but this is so far only empty posturing and charades, for public and media consumption and with very little real substance. The banking reform legislation, for example, is so full of loopholes as to be spineless.

So, until Obama starts walking his populist talk, more and more Americans are going to become disillusioned and resentful. And vote with their feet, so to speak.

[Common Sense Party]

28. Voters saw what they wanted to see in him.

Progressives saw him as a progressive.

Centrists saw him as a centrist moderate.

Conservatives saw him as a socialist.

Same candidate.

[YOY]

9. Right there with you 100%.

But apparently I just got blamed for a loss already...funny really.

[mmonk]

10. Me too on both accounts. Washington has its own bubble

and maybe this will be a prick of it. When it pops, maybe they will listen.

[Tesha]

24. You'd think with all the pricks already in Washington the bubble would have been burst...

years ago.

But sadly, no.

Tesha

[TexasObserver]

11. Recommend. And agree with the OP.

If the president continues to believe that the downturn of success by Democrats in elections is unconnected to his equivocations and abandonment of things dear to his voters, he's going to see more elected Democrats in trouble. He's got to get his head in the game and stop believing his own press releases.

[highplainsdem]

12. K&R

[wisteria]

13. I agree, n/t

[OHdem10]

14. Poor Communications from WH and Congress.. Both need to jerk

a knot in their Communications Depts.

Back in the summer when the TeaBaggers were in a fit demanding
Town Halls. This is not about Teabaggers so do not start
yipping at me yet.

The fact there were people angry enough to take to the street should
have made a smart politician antennae go up. Where
were the Communications types from Congress? WH?? Even if they
thought these were Republicans, they should have considered
the big influence "mob psychology" could have on Democratic
Rank and File and especially Independents. It is as they
dismissed the Teabaggers. Thereby, left the a vacuum (big enough
to drive a Mack Truck through) permitted the Republicans to
completely describe and DEFINE the Health Care Plan. When you
leave information out there this long, the Public Believes IT.
It is H---trying to tell them they have been misinformed
after they believe in mind that Obama want's socialized
Medicine.

There is enough blame to go around. Some soul searching
in Communications Depts is in order.+






all
through the fall big enough

[blogslut]

18. Sorry

I don't believe you.

[Lord Helmet]

22. this is fly paper

the op is poaching DU'ers to another website where she is a moderator

[blogslut]

26. The one with the tree?

Yeah. I'm familiar.

[anonymous171]

19. "Ambivalence doesn't win elections"

Right on. :thumbsup: :kick:

[derby378]

20. I'm nominating you for DUer of the Day

:applause:

[saracat]

31. thank you. I appreciate the compliment!

[branders seine]

23. the central lie of the American political system is that you win

by governing in the "center" (which is now so far right that almost no actual Americans are there)

[depakid]

25. People and the party reps are already making their rationalizations and finding their scapegoats

Hopefully, at least the Obama camp is having a reality check.

[ibegurpard]

29. good post

I agree :thumbsup:

[flvegan]

30. Given enough time, EVERYone gets sick of being lied to.