Realpolitik

[MadHound]

The Democrats and the Obama have a problem, namely they are finding that their base is not enthused, not energetic, and not willing to fight for them.

Normally, in real world politics, this would provoke a time honored solution, namely catering to your base. Throw them a big, juicy, red meat issue in order to keep them in the fold. FDR did this, Truman did this, various Republican presidents have done this.

But not this time. Rather than earning the support of the base, of the left, Obama has decided to berate them instead, throwing out insults, scolding them like small children.

From a purely political POV, this is, at best, an interesting move. In reality, it is utterly stupid. You don't go out and attack the ones who brought you to the dance, it's that simple. I don't know, though I have my suspicions, who is advising the president on this matter, but whoever it is needs to be fired and publicly flogged.

This sort of tactic simply isn't going to work. Insulting people who are already dissatisfied with you is not going to help their opinion of you and those you represent.

Thus, if the Dems lose this fall, the blame doesn't lie with the base, with the left. The blame lies squarely with this administration and the Dems, both for their words, their insults, their attitude and for the complete refusal to deal in the real world politics of using rewards in order to attract support. It is that simple. It is Poli Sci 101.

[ProSense]

1. "Thus, if the Dems lose this fall, the blame doesn't lie with the base, with the left. "

You get to say "I told you so" and rejoice.

[MadHound]

2. Rejoice in what?

Do you think that I'm actually cheering for this administration to fail? If so, you have severely misjudged my character and my motives.

I don't want failure from this administration, and neither does the left in general. Why the hell do you think that we came out in strong support of them in '08? Because we wanted real change damnit, we wanted people and a party in Washington that would ease the burdens that we are all currently dealing with.

There is no rejoicing here, there is no glee. There is only disappointment, spread like a pawl of darkness over our souls as once again we are led down the garden path by our so called leaders, only to find that the promised "change" wasn't a promise for us, but for those who already have more than plenty.

I won't be rejoicing, more than likely I will shrug my shoulders in despair as I continue to look for a teaching job in an era where teachers and public education is under attack by this administration.

[ProSense]

3. "Do you think that I'm actually cheering for this administration to fail?" No,

you've already declared thathe's a failure. May I remind you:

Preventing a Great Depression? Really? With unemployment numbers running at around sixteen percent, consumer confidence down, rising poverty, and a host of other economic indicators, I would hesitate to say that Obama has done much if any good on the economic front.

Obama was elected to end the wars, which despite the semantics about "non-combat" troops, are still raging. People are still fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, with expansion into Yemen and Pakistan. That's a hell of job of managing there.

Historic health care legislation that didn't include the vastly popular public option, and that delivered the middle and working class to the tender mercies of the insurance industry on a mandated platter.

Investment in R&D equals more tax cuts and tax credits, the most ineffective forms of economic stimulus.

And if you factored in for inflation, you'll find that Obama's investment in infrastructure is no where close to Ike's, much less FDR's. And in these times, with our infrastructure crumbling and people out of work, what we need is much more like FDR's programs.

Do you really want to get into Race to the Top funds, and the part they're playing in Obama's ongoing war on public education.

But he's keeping promises, right? Like the promise to end DADT. Or that promise not to sign a HCR bill that didn't include a public option. Mmm-hmm, good job keeping those promises.

Sorry, but while Obama can talk a good line, he seems utterly incapable of walking said line. It's that simple.

[MadHound]

4. Ooo, you can cut and paste, good for you, but to what point

You admit you don't think I will be rejoicing in Democratic failure this fall, that's nice that you take me at my word on that. But you don't seem to get the rest of my point, namely that it is time for the Obama administration and the Democrats to engage in realpolitik, namely giving the left reasons to vote for them this fall, rather than trying to browbeat and bully them into line.

[ProSense]

5. They've given you

many reasons. Of you can't find a reason among them to vote, that's on you.

[MadHound]

6. Ahh, more blue links of death

Leading to more bullshit and blather, but little of substance. I notice that the public option isn't on there, a big promise he failed to keep. What about repealing DADT? And let's not even get into the attacks on teachers and public education.

You trot out dross like it was gold and expect everybody to be the same sort of blind sucker you are. Sorry, but that just doesn't fly.

[ProSense]

8. Hmmm?

"Leading to more bullshit and blather, but little of substance. I notice that the public option isn't on there, a big promise he failed to keep. What about repealing DADT? And let's not even get into the attacks on teachers and public education."

I know, he's only fulfilled 150 of his 400 promises. Slacker.

[Poll_Blind]

7. Cenk:"Go out there and fight for change and people will actually vote for you!"

From this rant, FWIW.

You're correct. This was a bad move. Scratch that, this was a terrible move, a terrible game plan.

PB

[MadHound]

9. You've got to wonder who is advising him to follow this this strategy

Because it is blowing up in their faces.

[MadHound]

10. kick for the evening crew n/t

[bvar22]

11. Thursday morning kick.

I refuse to believe the Party Leadership is this stupid.
There simply MUST be another agenda.


"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone