One last thought regarding the mid-term elections

[PBS Poll-435]

(Until Labor Day, of course. :blush:)


So the Progressive wing of the Democratic Party is considering ceding the 2010 mid-term elections because they don't think that the Democrats have done enough to fulfill a promised legislative agenda.

Here is my problem with that...


435 House Members are up for election this year. We will probably retain 220-225. No big whoop. We will win back 30 seats in 2012.

1/3rd of the Senate is up this year. The Republicans should be playing defense this year in Senatorial elections. They have the majority of seats up for grabs this year.

By ceding to the Republicans, we keep the Class III mix the same or actually make it worse more inequitable. (I know, LeMieux, Bennett, Bond, Gregg, Murkowski, & Voinovich are not returning...)


Why give them 6 years in Washington because of temporary disappointment? :shrug:

[stray cat]

1. We gave bush 8 years -maybe people are incapable of learning

[tnlefty]

21. 'We' gave Dimson** 8 yrs...

not me I never voted for the SOB.

[kentuck]

2. I would guess that a higher percentage of the "Progressive wing"..

will vote in the next election than moderates or DLCers or any wing of the Party.

That is not the problem.

The problem is that the "Progressive wing" is needed to GOTV for the rest of the Party. The moderates and Blue Dogs are not capable of firing up those voters that need to get to the polls. The "professional left" will vote but they simply will not work to get others to the polls.

[PBS Poll-435]

3. Why bother at all, then?If you know that your vote matters, and that your neighbor's vote is crucial

And you aren't willing to fight for it to sustaining large Democratic majorities in Congress, then why bother it all?

[kentuck]

6. You have to prove yourself worthy of the vote and the work...

It does not come automatic.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. I may bitch and moan,,but I AM VOTING.....and certainly not for repukes or conservatives..or

any other group that represents their ideas. It is Dem or Liberal or Progressive....or here in NYC..maybe even Green.

[gophates]

5. The worst, most corrupt and arrogant Dem is miles better than the best Puke

Vote Dem. Every post, every election. No one wins if you decide to stay home. If you don't vote, that's voting for the Pukes.

[kentuck]

8. There comes a time....

When you have to take a stand.

Are you for savng the Social Security system or do you want to cut the program?

Are you for continuing the war or for ending the war?

Are you for ending the Bush taxcuts or are you for extending them?

If you are against all those issues, why should you get my vote??

[EFerrari]

7. I must have missed the memo that the democratic wing of the Democratic Party is standing down.

But it must be true because I read it in posts like these every day at DU. :shrug:

[PBS Poll-435]

11. Must have missed the memo in the myriad of Catfood Commission /Afghan /Rahm! /Geithner!

/Progressives Only /Rahm! /FDL stuff that seems to clog the tubes.

[EFerrari]

12. You forgot Honduras, shilling for Big Oil and attacking teachers,

and renewing the embargo on Cuba as a Labor Day bonus.

But that's still not a strike.

[kentuck]

13. Don't criticize them?

Even if they deserve criticism?

And criticism = not voting ??

How are you supposed to change your Party if you cannot speak up when you think they are wrong?

[PBS Poll-435]

14. Didn't say criticism was not warranted, but "constructive criticism" is probably the better way

This is "our" team, after all.

"Obama, at the Bohemian Grove, wants to end Social Security NOW!" is probably not the best course of criticism. :sarcasm:

[kentuck]

16. Did someone actually say that?

Or is that an exaggeration?

I don't see that as a common viewpoint although it would be nice to know where he stands. Surely we cannot surmise where he stands by the appointments he made to the "Commission"?

Should we say nothing? Let the cards fall where they may? If they have a "D' by their name, they must be OK for the rest of us?

[PBS Poll-435]

19. In all honesty, from the insane things posted here for the last year....

Pretty much spot-on.

[EFerrari]

20. Speaking of constructive criticism.

lol

"Do as I say, not as I do."

[PBS Poll-435]

22. All I want is realistic criticism from non-dubious sources. That makes for a debate

Not the usual unproved, mental masturbation trash-talk from the usual suspects.

[kentuck]

23. What would you consider "realistic criticism"??

It's difficult to know where the boundaries are when it comes to free speech...

[PBS Poll-435]

24. Free speech? This is not du.gov.

:eyes:



Well-sourced articles/opinion pieces that reflect reality. Too much to ask? :(

[kentuck]

25. Can you give one example of "realistic criticism"?

From an article that reflects "reality"?

[EFerrari]

26. Like claiming that progressives aren't going to vote?

:shrug:

[PBS Poll-435]

29. Just go to "you know where" close your eyes. Scroll the screen. Click a link

Bam!


:nuke:

[EFerrari]

31. Weren't you just talking about sourcing?

Come on. You're my favorite PBS poll and we've been friends a long time. Don't take us there. lol :)

[PBS Poll-435]

32. Well Played!

:D

[UTUSN]

9. K&R #1 n/t

[Ramulux]

10. Personally

I am scared as fuck of the coming election. Because of this, I literally bring up voting around every person I talk to and meet. Its gotten to the point where my friends tell me to shut up about it. The fact that somehow people are thinking about putting the repubs back in power has effected me to the point where I have to stop and make sure every person I know hasn't gone crazy and is thinking of voting republican. Everyone needs to be talking to their neighbors and coworkers about showing up this November, bring them the registration forms if you have to.

If all of us dont start spreading awareness within our own communities we dont stand a chance. Everyone needs to do some volunteer work for Organizing for America, sign up on the website and check and see where the closest meet up is. If you cant justify spending an hour or two doing some phone-banking once or twice, you dont really care about this election. Its so easy and is going to make the difference this November.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/ofavolunteer?source=www_navbar

[unkachuck]

15. be specific....

....if I agree to strongly support and vote Dem in November, what's in it for little old progressive -->'ME'<--?

....when I've been told what I believe in doesn't matter and what I care most passionately about is irrelevant....and, they won't even repent or apologize for fucking little old progressive -->'ME'<--.

[EFerrari]

17. I wanna see your drug test results, fella.

[PBS Poll-435]

18. The majority of what you want done vs. the majority of what you don't want done

That is our system. Take it or leave it.

[EFerrari]

28. Why should unk take or leave it? This isn't Communist China.

[PBS Poll-435]

30. Most primaries are over. We know what is at stake. And it is either option 1 or option 2

That is the way that it works here.

[Ramulux]

27. I think you are misunderstanding

how our political system works. We have a choice between extremely incremental progress and rapid backsliding. I think the choice is obvious.

[Touchdown]

33. It's not about promises not fulfilled for me.

It's about the browbeating of DUers, telling me that I am sitting it out, who also say they're knocking on doors, but still post on DU from Starbucks, and never really bother asking me if I am in fact, sitting it out.

And if I am, it's none of the BOG's fucking business! But you're different, PBS!;)

[PBS Poll-435]

34. Thanks, TD!

My point of the OP was that the consequences of "hurt feelings" last far beyond the 2 years normally normally associated, in error, with mid-term elections. I don't want Angle & Paul all the way til 2016.


:hi:

[Scurrilous]

35. K & R

:thumbsup: