I just don't frigging 'get it'....

[PCIntern]

In my district, Lower Merion Twp., PA, we have a Rethug named Jim Gerlach who is an absolute zero...he's not a constituent services guy, he's not an impressive speaker, and AFAIK, he hasn't really done crap for my district - and he's almost never ever in the news.

So of course, there's no Democratic Campaign against him to speak of, even though we have had Democratic Reps as recently as Joe Hoeffel and Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky. Hoeffel quit to run for another office - which was ridiculous on its face, he had zero chance so of course he gave up his seat - and Marjorie, whose family I knew well, allowed herself to be pilloried as the final vote for the 'disastrous' Clinton budget, which turned out great for the economy, but bad for her. She didn't een answer the charges or mount an offensive to counteract the hateful Rethug morans who acted as though she had personally bankrupted the known Universe.

Anyway, the point is, I suppose, that this Gerlach is eminiently beatable, BUT when I approach DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE people, including a freaking FAMILY MEMBER WHO'S A WELL-
KNOWN PROGRESSIVE, they tell me, "We can't win so we're not bothering..." It's just unbelievable.

I believe that we belong to a party of wimps, assholes, and losers. If this is the attitude, then I suppose that the 'inevitable' Presidential ticket of Palin/O'Donnell will be 'unstoppable'. Fuck.

[napi21]

1. We have the same problem here in Ga. I used to live in Pa.

(Pittsburgh) and I jst wasn't used toany area not running a candidate for at least botop parties, but in the South, it's not true. I will say that a few years ago the Dems ran a candidate fr State House seat and she spoke at a Dem. Committee meeting that I attended. OH GOD! What a failure! I'm no public speaker, but I coul have done better than she did without any prep! I can't believe there are NO DEMS in this area. It's quite lrge and a decent size population but for some reason, the capable ones are simply not willing to run.

[DJ13]

2. Im becoming a firm believer that the GOP lives only because the Dems wont fight

None of their policies are a winning message, but the Democratic party seems unbelievably hell bent on allowing the GOP to remain as a viable second party with seats they shouldnt win.

[democracy1st]

4. thats why texas is republican they give it to them without a fight,no get out the vote etc.

[Techn0Girl]

10. Maybe they're two halves of the same coin?

[lob1]

3. I wonder if this would be happening if Dr. Dean

still ran things and implemented his 50 state strategy?

[eridani]

9. +1000 n/t

[elleng]

5. Similar, in my newly adopted district in MD, essentially no Dem 'face.'

Marjorie 'allowed herself to be pilloried?'

[whathehell]

6. Effing A.....Did you tell them what you told us?

That is depressing...Philly (northeast) is my home town.

[opihimoimoi]

7. Cheer up,,,the GOPers have revealed their selfishness and ineptness

enough peeps are starting to see through the GOP FOG FULL OF EMPTY CRAP

[PCIntern]

11. U better be right...

'cause it's gonnna be a hard 2+ years if you're wrong...

[opihimoimoi]

13. We have no choice but to go all out with Paul of the Revere Clan

[Denninmi]

8. Looking at the big picture, I don't get it, either.

Not just the specific circumstances of not running a candidate in a district, or not supporting a candidate in a challenging district, but the entire thing. Why does our party always seem to wimp out of the fight. We should be doing everything the Rethugs do, and doing it 10 times bigger. Congress should have immediately launched investigations into all kinds of Republican misdoings, from the Iraq war to the political shenanigans of Alberto Gonzales, and especially the whole economic meltdown, the second they were sworn in Jan 2009. Instead, we got "bipartisanship" thrown back in our faces. Obama should have used the goodwill he had in Jan 2009 and come in with massive proposals to overhaul virtually every major thing a la the 100 days of FDR. He should have taken bold and decisive steps and done what Bush did and said "stop me" to those who didn't like it. The airwaves should be filled with OUR propaganda day in and day out, not the right wing propaganda that is non-stop.

I wish someone in this party would grow a pair.

Would it be "right" to sink to their level? Probably not. Would it work. Probably. To the victor goes the spoils, and no one likes a wimp.

[tblue37]

12. Because our politics are largely Kabuki theater. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. Verily.

[AwakeAtLast]

14. Mike Pence in Indiana fits your description

I have wanted to post something like this about him many times but didn't know how to word it. You did it nicely!

I am guessing that people in my area think Pence has too much of a national presence to beat him. I don't think so - we just need someone to run a good campaign against him!

[PCIntern]

15. I can only imagine...

recall that the Republlicans went after Daschle hammer and tongs and got rid of him...we almost NEVER have that fortitude.

[European Socialist]

16. Why would any sane person run?

Who wants their past gone through with a fine tooth comb? Not someone who can make that kind of money without all the anguish.

[Daren]

17. Manan Trivedi

PCIntern - I would ask you to check out Manan Trivedi. He is one of the Orange to Blue and Red to Blue candidates.

[PCIntern]

18. I'm well aware of him...

he's very bright and capable...but no one gives a damn...

[Bluenorthwest]

19. Anyone claiming they know the future is full of shit

And that 'we can't win' or 'he can't win' routine is the basis for all the spinelessness and for the betrayal of Democratic candidates such as Meek in favor of Republican Reject Party candidate Crist. They claim they know the future. They know what is and is not possible, what will and will not happen. They have powers of prognostication that tell them always to run away, cower, do not so much as bother to try...
And of course, it is all delusion.