If the Republican party is so dangerous that they must be challenged at all costs,

[readmoreoften]

then why aren't we in the streets demanding that they be abolished as proto-fascist and anti-democratic? The idea that we should go any lengths to fight Republicans at the ballot box so that they never return to power--including moving the Democratic Party ever further to the right to represent Republican's supposed interests--clearly means that we see them as too dangerous to ever hold office. But what is it about them that's so dangerous? Clearly it can't be their positions. The Democratic Party seems to have zero problem adopting their anti-labor, anti-immigrant, anti-gay, pro-war policies to "pragmatically win" the "center right". So what is it? I think the Democratic Party is mostly opposed to the frighteningly irrational, violent, and vicious demeanor of the Republican Party--and not its actual politics it finds abhorrent. And a frighteningly irrational, violent, and vicious corporate party with anti-labor, anti-immigrant, anti-gay positions has a very real name: fascism.

But, the idea that we will keep the Republicans out of office forever through regular voting measures is ludicrous. It's a two party System. Eventually people will vote for Republicans. It's the nature of the structure of the system. It's like asking me to hold up the wall of a house that's collapsing--and doing it for the rest of my life. Basically, you can't just ask me to fight fascists for the rest of my life without giving me a real alternative.

I think (a) either the Democratic Party needs to become a Labor Party that truly wants to fight--- not just the tone, but the actual politics of-- the Republican Party or (b) we need an actual Labor Party. Then maybe the Republican Party can be ended for good and the "two parties" can be the Democrats and Labor. In that case, we will have moved this country back to the center. If not, it's very possible that we get a three party system with the Tea Party, the Republican Party, and the Democratic Party, with the Republicans controlling the Tea Party. Which is, right now, almost where we're at.

[sandnsea]

1. Well hmm, let me count the ways...

Lily Ledbetter?
Matthew Shepherd?
Student loan reform?
Tribal law enforcement reform?
Gay hospital visitation?
Federal gay benefits?
$100 billion to education?
Program to end homelessness?
Unemployment extensions?
$400 refundable tax credit?

I mean just how long do I have to go on to get you to see the idiocy of your statement?

[TheKentuckian]

2. What does rolling out an accomplishment list have to do with the post???

Are the Republicans an existential threat or merely political opposition?

[sandnsea]

3. Is any of this "center right"?

Would Republicans get any of this done, and if you want to say yes, then tell me why they didn't when they could have.

People around here are acting like 5 year olds who have everything they need, half of what they want, and are still stomping their feet in the corner because they wanted ice cream on their choclate cake, and mom is coming with the ice cream but just not fast enough.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Enthusiast]

6. I'm with TheKentuckian on this.

"callous, rockheaded, arrogant, and pretty fucking stupid but that's just me." And me.

[Hydra]

5. Right, because those people don't actually need the items mentioned

Like Equal Rights for gays, or a jobs program to get people back to work, or maybe some of the constitutional issues addressed.

Instead we need more killing halfway around the world. The people who want that get their "ice cream" easily enough.

[SunsetDreams]

7. Some of that list looks VERY Leftist

A Repub WOULD NOT do ANY GLBT legislation that you list. Federal Gay Benefits, Mathew Shepherd (Hate Crime), visiting hospital, or even the Lily Ledbetter law.

To say otherwise is baffling.

[bvar22]

13. That is an embarrassingly lite list considering that...

in 2008 the American People gate the Democratic Party:
*The White House

*A HUGE Majority in the House

*A filibuster proof MAJORITY in the Senate

*Most Importantly, a HUGE Popular MANDATE for "CHANGE",


and the BEST the Democrats can do is:
Lily Ledbetter?
Matthew Shepherd?
Student loan reform?
Tribal law enforcement reform?
Gay hospital visitation?
Federal gay benefits?
$100 billion to education?
Program to end homelessness?
Unemployment extensions?
$400 refundable tax credit?

THAT is EMBARRASSING. :blush:

[SunsetDreams]

8. "Eventually people will vote for Republicans"

Not me.

[chillspike]

9. My theory is power & control are like air

in politics. If the Republicans go without it long enough, they will suffocate and die.

And as for dems playing centrists, maybe there is a strategy to that. The less your opponent has on you to complain about, it will be harder for them to unseat you from power.

[SoxFan]

10. From the DU Forum Rules

"Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office."

"Do not post messages that are inflammatory, extreme, divisive, incoherent, or otherwise inappropriate. Do not engage in anti-social, disruptive, or trolling behavior"

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

11. The rules say that we can't be incoherent?!

Damn, that's half of what I post around here.

[NYC Liberal]

12. Wait. There are rules around here?!