Obama and Biden Try Scolding Voters to the Polls

[Better Believe It]

Obama and Biden Try Scolding Voters to the Polls
By Matthew Rothschild
Editor of The Progressive
September 28, 2009

Obama told Rolling Stone that it’s “inexcusable” and “irresponsible” for Democratic voters not to turn out in droves on Nov. 2. “Buck up,” he said.

And Biden said Democrats should “stop whining and get out there and look at the alternatives.”

But Democratic voters, and for that matter, progressive and independent voters, aren’t children who can be sent to their rooms without supper until Election Day.

They’re citizens. And many of them are disillusioned with the Obama Administration, and for good reason.

Official unemployment, after all, stands at 9.6 percent.

Real wages are down.

Foreclosures are rampant.

The banks got bailed out, and the CEOS on Wall Street got their big bonuses, but almost everyone else has gotten short shrift.

And you can’t create enthusiasm by lecturing people. You actually have to deliver for them.

Read the full article at:

http://www.progressive.org/wx092810.html

[bobbolink]

1. K&R!!

:hi:

thanks.

[Atman]

2. It's inexcusable.

They should be using fake Bin Laden tapes, phony "terror" alerts and homophobia to SCARE voters to the polls. After all, it worked out pretty well for the Bushies.

.

[AtomicKitten]

3. Good for them. I have no problem with them lighting a fire under voters.

That's their job as leaders of the party. Taking that personally is just nonsense.

[JuniperLea]

6. Yep... it's about time, I say...

And yep again... total nonsense. Ridiculous nonsense. Someone needs stronger meds nonsense.

[pintobean]

30. They're burning the voters?

[dflprincess]

59. Scolding people and implying they somehow owe you

is generally not the way to motivate anyone.

[SidDithers]

66. +1...nt

Sid

[treestar]

4. So you are trying to do the opposite

Never mind, we're still going to vote. Anyone who isn't deserves a good scolding.

[Better Believe It]

10. No. The fact is millions of ordinary working class people who don't

jump when Democratic Party leaders and progressive political activists demand it, will sit out this election. That normally happens anyway in a mid-term election.

What's different is that this time around millions who were inspired and hoped for a radical change in 2008 have been disappointed and are discouraged more than normal.

They don't think their vote has made a difference or can make a difference.

Just ask some unemployed or underemployed person a simple question and listen to their response. "Are you better off now than you were two years ago?"

If their answer is no, how do you inspire them? Telling those potential voters that they would have been even worse off had the Republicans gained control of Congress and the White House in 2008 just won't motivate them all to vote.

But go ahead and try using that "selling point". It's true, but it won't inspire people to vote nearly as much as actually improving the economy would have.

And if millions are still out of work and the attack on peoples living standards, social security and Medicare deepens over the next two years I can predict with certainty the outcome of the 2012 election.

It's not pretty.

[HughMoran]

12. 3 day old garbage - Obama is beyond this

Can you move on?

[USArmyParatrooper]

27. No. It will continue until the next Faux "outrage"

He will continue to scour the internet so he can spend 30 seconds posting someone else's negative opinion of Obama. When the next thing they find to be 'offended' about pops up that's what he will copy and paste something new.

[gateley]

14. They'll see how much their vote "doesn't count" if enough of them sit it out

and we have to see Speaker Boehner sitting next to Biden behind the President. :scared:

And these aren't "normal" times where things pretty much keep plodding along. We really have so much more at stake at this juncture.

If they sit this out, they'd better not come here bitching and moaning about not getting what they want. They think we don't get enough NOW? Just wait.

[Better Believe It]

21. Be careful about what you say to some unemployed person who doesn't vote in this election!

"If they sit this out, they'd better not come here bitching and moaning about not getting what they want."

Those millions of ordinary working people who are hurting in this Great Recession have never even heard of Democratic Underground.
So don't "worry" about them showing up on DU and complaining about their personal suffering.

However, if you happen to encounter a homeless, unemployed or working person on the street who has lost their home, don't attack them for "bitching and moaning about not getting what they want" like a job and health care.

They'll think you sound like a some rich conservative fat cat and might just pop you in the mouth!

It would be better for everyone if you showed some compassion and understanding instead.

[gateley]

23. I'm unemployed. I'm hurting. I have two life threatening conditions and have no

health care. I lost my home and all of my possessions - every last one. I subsist on Top Ramen (6 packs for a dollar) from the dollar store, and have worn the same pair of pants and shoes for going on 9 months. I lived in my car that I didn't have money to buy gas for until my brother and sister-in-law rescued me. And I could go on.

Do I sound like some rich conservative fat cat to you?

You know nothing about me or how compassionate I am to my fellow human beings, yet you assume, because my opinion isn't the same as yours, that I don't care. How perceptive of you.

If I sit this one out and we lose the House, then I would feel I had to share in the blame. If I do nothing to try to prevent that, I would not feel I had the right to bitch and moan.

Because of my circumstances I can't do much, but I CAN vote, and so can others in my situation.

It would be better for everyone if these people you are excusing from voting showed some compassion and understanding for the REST of us and did the one thing they can do - vote - to try to ensure it doesn't get worse for us AND themselves.

See ya.

[Better Believe It]

29. Punching a hole in a piece of paper isn't enough to change society.

So what will you say after the election to others in your condition and don't vote?

"It's your fault that your unemployed"

"It's your fault you had your home foreclosed."

"If you had just voted in 2010 for Democrats you'd now be working at a decent paying job and you'd still be in your home."

It seems to me that you're letting Wall Street, corporate America and politicians from both major political parties off the hook with that simplistic approach.

And you seem to suggest that the only thing the working class can do to defend their interests is to vote "to ensure it doesn't get worse for us AND themselves".

If all of the working class agreed with you on that we'd be in even deeper trouble!

It will take a whole lot more than punching a little hole in a piece of paper every few years to change society.

All I can do is encourage you to study and read about how mass movements were organized and how they brought about radical changes that improved the living conditions of ordinary working class people. That's how society has always been changed for the better in human history and American history. Organizing effective and powerful mass movements has always been the key to bringing about significant progressive changes.

I can suggest a few really informative and educational books on our real history to read if you'd like.

I hope that you and your relatives can find a way to participate in the March on Washington tomorrow. Perhaps there is a free union bus in your area you can hitch a ride on. Have you checked into that?

And perhaps there are some local organizations that are fighting for the interests of the unemployed and other victims of this Great Recession that you can join in your area. Have you checked around?

Go ahead and vote by all means. No one is telling you not to.

But, didn't you vote in 2008?

How did that go?

Are you better off now?

[gateley]

39. Are you SERIOUSLY asking me these questions?

So what will you say after the election to others in your condition and don't vote?

"It's your fault that your unemployed"

"It's your fault you had your home foreclosed."

"If you had just voted in 2010 for Democrats you'd now be working at a decent paying job and you'd still be in your home."

That's inane. Do I think it's my fault all this happened to me and other? Did I somehow give you that impression? I don't think so, it's just you seem to be on such a holier than thou trip that you continue to assume that if I express an opinion (and only one opinion out of many) that differs with yours than I'm wrong, or:

It seems to me that you're letting Wall Street, corporate America and politicians from both major political parties off the hook with that simplistic approach.

How am I letting them off the hook? Do you think I don't hold THEM responsible? Why on earth would you assume that?

And you seem to suggest that the only thing the working class can do to defend their interests is to vote "to ensure it doesn't get worse for us AND themselves".

Another absurd statement - you again are projecting what you WANT to think I mean, and again, you're wrong. It's ONE of the things we have in our power. I want my voice to be heard there, and in the phone calls I make and the doorbelling I do and in the editorials I submit to my local papers.

I'm lucky enough to be able to work some hours on Saturday, but would have attended the rally in Seattle with another DUer - she will still attend.

You know, you kind of remind me of the Republicans who are always decrying abortion but hope it will never actually become illegal because there would go one of their greatest politicking aces in the hole.

If poverty is addressed and REAL help is forthcoming, what soapbox will you be on then to prove you're superior to the rest of us?

You are one of the most condescending DUers I've had the chance to encounter.

See ya.

[saracat]

133. I am voting but NOT because of a scold. Many really decent folks who

were planning on voting were angered by this scolding, and some will stay home. It is inexcusable to express such contempt for those that elected them. Obvama and Biden are out of line. I will vote Democratic, I always have, but I am disgusted by those comments. The best way to GOTV would be to presenty a concrete plan for making things better and inform people of the GOP agenda to destroy education and Social Security.

[treestar]

25. Ridiculous. If they let Repukes run Congress because they don't

have a home and health care, they think they will get those things? That would be incredibly stupid. You're the one insulting people.

Such people would need not just a good scolding, but a good hiding. They'd be homeless and health care-less longer due to their own actions.

Who need to be "inspired" to god dammned vote? What kind of an asshole would such a person be? Let us all go to shit because they weren't entertained enough?

[Better Believe It]

32. So you think the working class is stupid. That does sound a bit elitist.

[treestar]

38. You're the one who thinks that.

You're the one who makes them out to be lazy jerks who would let the country go to hell just because they aren't "inspired" to do their basic civic duty.

[treestar]

24. You're insulting them

Saying if not 'inspired' they will sit on their asses and let Rs take over.

[USArmyParatrooper]

26. No? Let's see here...

Of the last 50 threads you started -

1: How many of them were bashing Democrats and/or Obama?

2: How many of them were complimentary of Democrats and/or Obama?

3: How many of them were bashing Republicans?

I'm guessing about 50, 0, and 0

[jgraz]

34. You may not realize this, but...

we don't have a rule here that people who post their own opinions are also required to post an equal number of your opinions.

You may want to suggest that to the admins. I wish you luck. :hi:

[USArmyParatrooper]

35. You may not realize this, but...

Fleas can jump 130 times higher than their own height. In human terms this is equal to a 6ft. person jumping 780 ft. into the air.

It's completely irrelevant to the conversation but it is a nifty fun fact. That being said, can you link anywhere I claimed there's a rule as you described?

[jgraz]

37. Here y'go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9237447&mesg_id=9237795

I assume you were just a bit confused, because the other interpretation is that you're accusing a fellow DUer of intentionally trying to cause Democrats to lose the elections. And we both know that's against the rules.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HughMoran]

42. .

[USArmyParatrooper]

46. Very interesting

I assume you were just a bit confused, because the other interpretation is that you're accusing a fellow DUer of intentionally trying to cause Democrats to lose the elections. And we both know that's against the rules.

That last part is true. But we also both know that your admitted assumption is based on a false dichotomy. The actual interpretation is that I believe he has an irrational hatred for President Obama.

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

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

[Skidmore]

88. So enjoy the Teabagger government you get out of this.

Don't want to hear you whine later.

[jgraz]

89. If the Democrats lose, it will be because they employed a losing political trategy

This is inarguable, it's almost a tautology.

Pointing out problems with their strategy will not cost us votes.

Attacking anyone who criticizes their strategy WILL cost us votes.



So enjoy the Teabagger government you get out of this. Don't want to hear you whine later.

[Skidmore]

93. That is some amazingly tortured gymnastics you just performed there.

Shooting yourself in the foot will make you run a faster mile. Yep, it will.

[Name removed]

95. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Marr]

115. That's such an excellent point, and I don't know why so many here don't get it.

I've tried to make the same point myself, less clearly, but most staunch defenders of the party's leadership just don't get it. Well, they get it, but only when it serves their position. If Dems pick up seats after performances like the ones we've watched over the last few years, they'll happily say that it proves the left's complaining is meaningless, or that center-right policy wins elections, or whatever. But as soon as it doesn't, oh, it's the fault of the voters.

You know on election day whether you employed a losing strategy or a winning strategy... because you either won, or you lost. You cannot blame voters for political losses.

[joeybee12]

5. I'm starting to think the "Professional Left" is not the actual target of these tantrums...

But actually the so-called swing voters, because they're trying to say, look, we're not liberal, we're independent, we're not beholden to them.

In any case, it's a dumb strategy.

[jgraz]

79. The real goal is to set up a scapegoat

Just like they blamed Kerry's loss on "young voters", they're going to blame this defeat on "leftists". God forbid they actually admit their political chess game failed.

[FSogol]

7. Bullshit.

I'm disillusioned with Obstructionist Republicans that would rather play politics than attempt anything and the media that would rather promote circuses than do their job.

The "don't show up and vote to show your displeasure" meme needs to stop.

[HughMoran]

8. Dumping 3 day old crap here that's not even accurate any more?

What a pile...

:eyes:

[DevonRex]

16. Typically so.

:hi:

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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

[HughMoran]

20. Stale? Try moldy.

:puke:

[Greyhound]

60. And yet you are compelled to reply with the same post multiple times in response...

:rofl:

[gateley]

9. I think it was a call to arms rather than a complaint. They've both said they

understand our frustration and anger and fears, but instead of JUST whining, we need to DO something to ensure we don't lose what we have gained thus far. That's my take, anyway. I think Obama and Biden respect the people of America too much to just regard us as petulant children and dismiss our concerns.

[VMI Dem]

11. We'll see how that works out.

[county worker]

13. Obama didn't cause those things and Congress needs to address the problems.

I'll admit I am not happy about the way things are going but I sure the hell am not going to stay home on election day no matter what Obama says to me!

I know that if I don't want the repubs back in control we have to vote in November for Dems and work now to support them.

It is my belief that if your feelings about Obama are a reason for you to not vote in Nov you deserve to get kicked in the ass by the Repubs.

I remember 1994 like it was yesterday. I had some ditto heads for friends and we debated a lot before the election. I remember going to them the day after the election and congratulating them and told them the reason they won was because so many Dems didn't bother to vote.

This election isn't about how you feel Obama is doing. It is about how many seats we retain in congress and if you don't vote for Dems in Nov you are helping us to lose seats, there just isn't any other way to see it.

Forget Obama and work to keep the Repubs from taking seats away from us. They have "Citizens United" on their side and I hope they don't have you on their side too!

I am not saying this to take part in a chicken fight or pissing contest so if you reply to me like that I won't reply to you.

[speppin]

15. Matthew Rothschild always does good work. thanks for the post.

[DCBob]

17. It will work for those who are not so arrogant as to think they are more knowledgeable than..

our President and VP.

[EFerrari]

48. Right. Voters are basically children that need to be led, anyway.

:sarcasm:

[Greyhound]

61. It will work for those so insecure that they assume that because someone is in "authority" they

know what they're doing.

[DCBob]

64. You dont need to be insecure to respect and trust our duly elected leadership.

Those who dont are either arrogant or fools or part of the opposition.

[WinkyDink]

74. No, but you DO have to have complete lack of historical knowledge.

[DCBob]

77. So no elected leader deserves respect because of bad things others have done in the past??

That's makes no sense whatsoever.

[jgraz]

84. You confuse respect with reverence.

It's not "disrespectful" to point out that President Obama's political strategy is about to lose us the House. That's just good ol' participatory democracy.

[DCBob]

91. You confuse constructive criticism with blatant bashing.

And when the times come to vote.. you have to put all that aside and vote for the good guys or you wont have the opportunity to criticize anymore.

[jgraz]

94. Oh really? Well, why don't you demonstrate the difference.

What would qualify as a DCBob-approved criticism of the Obama administration? Can you think of anything?

[DCBob]

103. Perhaps an analogy would help..

Its like a son or daughter complaining about not getting treated fairly, the parents discuss it with the child and work it out.. it may not be exactly what the child wants but thats the end of it. The child knows she or he is part of the family and the parents are the head of the family.

The other scenario is the son or daughter who incessantly complains and doesnt care what the parents have to say and threatens to run away if they dont get what they want.

Get the difference?

[jgraz]

108. Or perhaps you giving a specific example would help

Your analogy is just another reiteration of your previous assertions. Unless you can offer a concrete example, you're just repeating yourself.

Honestly, Bob, it's beginning to look like you're unable to think of a single criticism of Obama that would meet with your approval. That can't be it, can it?

[DCBob]

116. You refuse to even try to understand such a simple analogy.. I guess I shouldnt be surprised..

I have alot beefs with this admin... Iraq and Global Warming are the biggest.. but at the end of the day they are ones in charge.. we elected them to lead and make decisions based on a myriad of complex and conflicting inputs and issues. I still trust them... at least more than the alternative.

[jgraz]

118. So are you saying we can have "beefs" as long as we keep them to ourselves?

Electing someone to lead does not mean that you give up your right to comment -- especially when the person you elected to lead declines to do so.

[DCBob]

120. Beef away,, but at the end of day just remember who are the good guys..

That's all I have say on the matter... over and out.

[woo me with science]

125. Obama is not my daddy,

nor my principal, nor any authority figure.

He is my elected representative. He WORKS for me.

Sheesh. I seriously worry about the American people when so many of them start thinking this way. It's a very sick way to view your elected leaders.

[WinkyDink]

110. True. But I thought you were the one making the blanket statement about "our duly elected."

IIRC, and I do, Nixon was "duly elected."

[DCBob]

119. You misuderstood.. perhaps intentonally.

[Greyhound]

126. Since when? Just look at the numbers of Presidents that have earned our respect

by working for the people. 1 in 4 if you're generous, that's a 75% chance we get a dud, and the ratio is higher for the President than for "our" leaders at large.

"Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference." - FDR

[WinkyDink]

73. Did you hold this cockamamie concept from 2000-2008, HMMMM?

[DCBob]

76. Of course I didnt mean Republican leadership... I meant our party's leadership.. duh.

but perhaps for people with your mentality you cant/wont see the difference.

[Bluenorthwest]

87. I have read your posts against the Democrat Meek and in favor

of Recent Republican Chralie 'I loves Palin' Crist. Seems you have confused our leadership with theirs as well, as you keep claiming that Crist's win is 'ours'. It is not. He is not a Democrat.
I say defeat Crist, defeat Rubio, vote for Meek, the Democratic candidate.

[DCBob]

90. You again.. are you a stalker?

[Bluenorthwest]

99. Of course, the personal insult and arch implication

Just pointing out that you are here foisting yourself off as ultimate Democrat, but you are also promoting Crist over Meek. Meek is the Democratic candidate and Crist is a former Republican. We Democrats have a candidate. You back another candidate.
To tell others how to be a Democrat, you should at least be a constant Democratic voter. This is a public discussion board. You commented, and I replied. That is how it works. No need for your snippy editorials toward me. It is just ironic the level of language you use toward others when you support some Democrats but oppose others. I'm not a 'moderate centrist' or whatever. I'm a Democrat. Crist is not. Facts are facts.
You have your candidates, some are Democrats, some are not. I support Democrats only. And I would never, ever vote for a recent Republican, or anyone to the right. I'd also never promote that others vote against the Democrat and for another. That is a choice you make. Learn to live with it, this is a public place. Consistency is important.

[DCBob]

101. Not an insult, just an observation.. you have done this repeatedly.. this thread is not about Crist.

I have no interest in discussing the Crist/Meek/Rubio issue anymore.. its nauseating.

[Bluenorthwest]

111. Just odd to see anyone taking issue with another Democrat's

way of being a Democrat when that person does not even support all the Democrats in this very cycle. My comment was not so much about Crist, but the inconsistency of your tactics. Absolutely. You have much gumption, I'll give you that. I will also gladly never address you again, craning my neck that far to the right is painful anyway. If your argument is like mine, that we need to vote for Democrats, then you need to vote for Democrats. Consistently. Otherwise it is not a position but a pretense. I only vote for Democrats, and I always vote. I also criticize those policies I do not agree with. Learn to live with it. If I were a politician, I'd rather hear criticism and get votes than hear love songs and get even one less vote for my Party.
In the end, it is about the vote, not the look on your face when you cast that vote. Good luck, and vote Demcoratic!

[DCBob]

117. Odd you seem to have some obsession with me.

BTW, I am totally for the Democratic Party... the alternative is unthinkable. Eight horrific years of Bush/Cheney convinced me of that.

[WinkyDink]

112. Perhaps people with your writing skills cannot express the difference when they post.

[DCBob]

121. Perhaps the blinders they have on affects their understanding.

[PassingFair]

102. Is that you, Brittney?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPEV6twzxmE

Wow!

[DCBob]

104. Is that you Mister Ed?

[PassingFair]

107. Oh, you got me!

Good one!

:eyes:

[mmonk]

18. Well it certainly is a creative approach.

[Marr]

22. In that Rolling Stone interview, it was clear that Obama understood from the very beginning

that the Republicans would not give a single inch on anything, and that their entire strategy was to obstruct.

The "chess player" used that fact to walk liberal legislation over to the right-- exactly where he wanted it-- by saying he had to "compromise". The Public Option drama was the perfect example of that cynical, deceptive strategy at work. The fact that they're now essentially saying, "how dare you not support us! Sarah Palin! Sarah Palin!" is almost funny.

[bvar22]

28. Posting something from "The Progressive" ???

Can't have THAT on DU.
Unrec!

[BzaDem]

31. You want to know what will really encourage you? 2 or more years of a Republican controlled Congress

If you think the Democrats aren't up to your standards, you just wait. Eventually, you will come back -- its simply a matter of time and how much political pain you can inflict upon yourself before you inevitably capitulate.

[Better Believe It]

33. When did the Republicans loose "control" of Congress?

They seem to have as much power now with their "obstructionism" that isn't being fought by Democrats as they had in 2004!

[JuniperLea]

45. How convenient...

that you have this meme to fall back on when you grow tired of the meme in your OP.

[BzaDem]

49. My point is that you will quickly discover the difference between Republican and Democratic control

should the Republicans take power. The fact that you don't recognize the difference indicates a problem with your basic comprehension of reality -- it does not indicate a problem with Democrats.

It is amazing how there are people who think their inability to see a difference somehow indicates a problem with Democrats, rather than with themselves.

[jgraz]

86. Good thing we're attacking anyone who points out flaws in the Dems' strategy

That'll help. :eyes:

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

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

[Better Believe It]

43. So the Progressive and its editor are right-wing anti-Democratic haters. I didn't know that.

Thanks for the info.

Do you think we should ban anything that appears in the Progressive from being posted on DU?

[jgraz]

80. Obviously, we need to ban anything that doesn't effusively praise Obama

And it looks like a lot of posters on this thread agree with me on this.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kratos12]

44. A big fat unrec here

And here are my bullet pointed reasons.

A. The author spends time blaming Obama for things that all progressives know are the fault of Bushco, i.e. unemployment, foreclosures, wage stagnation these things are the result of failed Bush era policies that Obama had the thankless job of trying to reverse.

B. The author, by purposely ignoring the fact that bushco are at the heart of these problems attempts to do what the Repukes are currently doing, blaming Obama while offering no real solutions themselves.

C. the author ignores the administrations accomplishments, accomplishments that lay the groundwork for additional progressive reform as the years go by. This is not a small point and it's totally ignored by an author who's only goal seems to bash.

D. Characterizing Obama and biden's comments as "scolding" is in itself an attempt by the author to evoke an emotional response instead of rationally assessing their accomplishments and contrasting them with the very real possibility of the right wing once again grabbing the reigns of power.

Finally, I'm all for liberals, progressives, Dems holding our elected official's feet to the fire when they fall short of our expectations, but that must be weighed against the alternative. Punishing Obama for not being liberal enough simply results in government falling into the hands of people who won't be liberal at all.

Thus the unrec.

[MineralMan]

47. Unrecced for distorting what President Obama has been saying

during this campaign, and for yet another uncommented attack on the President.

[JuniperLea]

50. I'm not sure why this hideous tripe is left standing...

This ridiculousness needs locked.

[MineralMan]

52. All I can do is comment and unrec. I should probably

ignore, but I can't stop reading all of these baseless and uninformed attacks from the self-described left.

The primaries are over. The candidates are in place. This is not the time to attack Democrats, but to support the best choices we actually have available to us. Anything else is tantamount to encouraging people to elect Republicans, as far as I can see. President Obama IS the President. He's not running for anything at all right now. But there are 435 congressional seats up for election and a bunch of Senate seats. That is the current battle. Attacking President Obama serves no purpose whatsoever in this election. I find it disgusting and counterproductive. If the Republicans take control of either house of Congress, I will know exactly who participated in aiding that end.

[JuniperLea]

55. It's hard to ignore sometimes...

It's frustrating because we don't have a lot of choices, and we need to support the most logical choices we do have. It's not like we have to walk lock-step... but we should be united when our choices narrow. Primary elections are for hair pulling, spitting, and fighting it out. Once that is done, we need to back the candidate who won. If we don't, and we resort to this... whatever the hell it is... we only help those who fight against us. Sad to see.

[Fumesucker]

51. K&R, thanks for posting..

[dionysus]

53. Better Believe It Once Again Campaigns Againt Democrats

[JuniperLea]

56. Apparently so...

Tiring, at best.

[jgraz]

81. dionysus Once Again Hurls Personal Insults

Seriously, just try posting a little substance. Would that be so hard?

[depakid]

54. Sirota published a similar piece today

The Real Democratic Whiners:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/10/01-3

Bit of a different take:

...this campaign season is defined neither by unreasonable petulance, as the White House asserts, nor by justifiable rage against the plutocratic machine. Instead, the moment is all about the more muted despondence expressed by that recent CNBC town hall speaker – the one who told the president that voters are "exhausted" and "deeply disappointed" in his administration.

The desperation is understandable. The Iraq war continues, and the Afghanistan war is intensifying. The Wall Street "reform" bill has been exposed as a sham, with the Associated Press reporting that banks are already planning to exploit the new rules for even more profits. Meanwhile, Obama aides admit that the new health care legislation coddles the industries it purports to regulate.

"During the campaign we fought against insurance companies," White House adviser David Axelrod said about the Obama-crafted bill. "(But) after the deals with insurance companies, the deals with Pharma – all these people are supposedly our friends."

As Axelrod's comment implies, this is not "real change" or "yes we can" – it's the demoralizing status quo of "no we won't." And few disappointments better underscore that reality than the recent non-debate over the Bush tax cuts.

Since those tax reductions were enacted, Democrats have – rightly – criticized them as ineffective economic policy that unduly expands the national debt. The data support the allegations: The Bush tax-cut years were "one of the weakest eight-year spans for the U.S. economy in decades," according to The Washington Post, and the tax cuts are the single largest factor in the deficit, according to the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Americans understand these facts, as evidenced by polls showing majority support for eliminating the specific tax cuts that benefit the wealthy. In fact, when considering both public opinion and Democrats' previous criticism of Bush's tax policy, it's clear that opposition to the Bush tax cuts was a primary reason voters elected Democrats in the first place.

And yet, this week, the White House and Democratic congressional leaders announced they are postponing any legislation that might permanently modify the Bush tax cuts.

[Better Believe It]

57. Sirota. Yet another leftist whiner who fails to appreciate all that Obama has done to us.

Under the bus with him .... or is it off with his head?

[BzaDem]

58. Your title is actually very accurate.

Of course, that irony would pass you by, but whatever.

Leftist? Check (though not a bad thing).
Whiner? Check.

Fails to appreciate what Obama has done? Check.

[jgraz]

75. It's accurate for some, but only since January 2009

Before that, Sirota - writing the exact same things about the exact same policies -- was a Democratic hero.

[flyarm]

85. +++ so were so many others that now have residence under a bus! eom

[jillan]

62. Fine - then I hope you all are happy with Speaker Boner and Senate Leader McConnell. I hope you are

happy when your asthma keeps you from getting healthcare. And may you celebrate when social security is privatized, and your grandma is making tuna sandwiches out of cat food. Enjoy unemployment numbers in the double digits - and please becareful when you drive across that bridge, because the money to fix it will be used to fund those tax cuts for the top 2%. And won't it be fun to watch Obama be investigated all the time? Yes, oh yes, I can hardly wait.

Sorry - I'm with Biden on this one!

[flyarm]

71. No Dem I know would be happy with that, but it seems the leaders of the party want exactly that ,

when they themselves continually demoralize the base!

It is like we are all supposed to enjoy being the battered woman!

Ever talk to a Battered woman?? and why she stays and stays and stays..because she thinks the guy will change. She thinks he will eventually show her love...or she is just downright scared to leave.

And the batterer usually crys and professes after beating the shit out of the woman, that he really really does love her..he just doesn't know what came over him..and then it is wash, rinse and repeat, wash, rinse and repeat.

Eventually some battered women lose their fear, and fight for their self esteem and self worth and finally have had enough and they leave.

Many women stay in these relationships for a very long time, and yet other women walk away the first time.The ones with good sense of self worth and self esteem are the ones who leave, generally the first time.

I used to volunteer at a Battered womens home, and I could never understand when I was younger why some of these women stay and stay and stay.

Now as I am older, I do understand better.


And what I am feeling today as a Democrat..makes me feel sick to my stomach.

I feel like I have been beaten by the dems and repukes alike...my country is falling apart..people are suffering everywhere..each of the two parties points fingers at each other, and yet they go along with each other and they both dish out fear equally..they beat the shit out of you .. with words and their deeds..then they tell you they love you ..as they bully you..then they say they need you, then the next day they say they don't need you..and then the tears begin.. and they pretend the tears are real..they promise they will never beat you again..

Until the next time.

But it feels so much worse when the one you have loved, keeps beating your head in! Then rubs shit into the wounds!

Then we wake up from that nightmare, after putting up with it year in and year out..year in year out..wash, rinse, repeat.

I will no longer take this shit from either of them! This is my country..they work for me! I will no longer put up with their shit.. They better damn well grow the fuck up, and act like leaders or they will be the ones left behind!

They will no longer have me as their punching bag!

This is when the abuse ends for me, I have waited 40 years for them to stop this cycle of abuse.

I now know..it is me who must stop their abuse.

[TexasObserver]

63. It's the worst campaign tactic I've ever seen a Democrat use.

It reminds me of parents who constantly berate their child and think it will motivate the child to do better.

Encouragement is a key to getting cooperation.

[PassingFair]

96. Agree 100%.

:hi:

It actually has TWO effects:

The scolding and sneering BOTH
horrifies the "independents" and
"leaners" who don't "owe" anybody
their votes...

AND

Alienates and demoralizes the BASE,
who are NOT giving money or volunteering like they
did in the last mid-term, under the
LEADERSHIP and hard work of Howard Dean.

He didn't ridicule and belittle people,
he worked to inspire them.



http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-november-8-2006/howard-dean

[jgraz]

98. Howard Dean? He crazy

At least that's what the teevee tells me.

[jonnyblitz]

65. K & R. nt

[DemocraticPilgrim]

67. Don't have to be enthusiastic to vote, just have to vote and those inspired bring the rest along...

As long as folks drive the unenthusiastic to the precincts with maybe a free lunch as an incentive to go we should make it OK in November. Maybe folks can hire a free bus to take university students to the polls there and back, whatever works we turn up we win.

[flyarm]

113. excuse me..NO One HAS TO VOTE ..That is where the dems have really fucked up with this tactic!

and the sooner the NEW DEMOOCRATS realize that..they may ..and I say may..come back to the Base who has been loyal to them.

We don't want a pony or some exotic Chess game..we want them to do what is right ..by our constitution, by our values and our principles!

[SidDithers]

69. Unrec...

Sid

[NorthCarolina]

70. What is most telling is that they are in a position of having to shame folks into voting.

Too bad they didn't actually deliver, or at least attempt to fight for, the Progressive campaign promises for things such as a public option, and end to NAFTA, DADT and DOMA. Had they done so, the GOP wouldn't have an icecubes chance in hell of gaining anything. The Dems current situation isn't voter anger as much as it is voter disillusionment and disappointment.

[WinkyDink]

72. It's not a winning strategy; nobody likes to be lectured or hectored.

[Cal33]

78. Whether you approve of their "scolding" or not, the FACT REMAINS:

that the Obama Administration has done a lot for the American people in spite of the
tremendous efforts put up by the right-wingers to block Obama's efforts and bring his
administration to a standstill.

Even if you consider Obama the lesser of two evils, are you proposing to resolve the
situation by voting for THE GREATER OF TWO EVILS? That is suicidal for our nation!

Voting for the lesser of evils at least will prolong the nation's life -- and where
there is life, there is hope.

[jgraz]

82. Who on this thread is advocating voting for Republicans

Better Believe It is trying to KEEP THE DEMOCRATS FROM LOSING. Pointing out that their political strategy sucks is not going to cost us votes.

What's going to cost us votes is attacking anyone who notices that the emperor has no clothes.

[Cal33]

105. You are right, Obama has made mistakes, and there's nothing wrong

with pointing them out. It has decreased now, but in the past there
were people who were angry enough and sounded as though they were
going to sit out the elections in November. To me, not voting is
a help to the Neocons.

[jgraz]

109. It's not the people on this board who will be sitting out the elections

Most of us are volunteering for and donating to progressive candidates and causes all around the country. All of us will be voting in November.

The people we have to worry about are the first-time voters, the youth voters and the middle-of-the-roaders who were drawn in by Obama's message of change and are now tired of waiting. They're the ones who are going to sit this election out.

[Cal33]

106. You are right, Obama has made mistakes, and there's nothing wrong

with pointing them out. It has decreased now, but in the past there
were people who were angry enough and sounded as though they were
going to sit out the elections in November. To me, not voting is
a help to the Neocons.

[Mefistofeles]

83. Very good piece

recommended.

[jgraz]

92. You know the best part of this thread?

The number of people scolding us for noticing that we're being scolded.

:eyes:

[PassingFair]

97. LOL

Here's how a REAL get out the vote
professional looks and sounds:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-november-8-2006/howard-dean

[JohnnyLib2]

100. Heh!

Kind of like spanking a kid for crying when you spank him?

[gulliver]

114. Obama is 100% right.

Voting is a responsibility in a Democratic system, not just a privilege. It's crucial for the country that the Bush Republican yahoos not be returned to power. Anyone who doesn't vote against them lets their country down and should be ashamed.

[jgraz]

122. How can you be about to lose the House and be 100% right?

If you lose politically, you've employed a losing political strategy. Simple.

[gulliver]

123. That's not how I define right.

Nor should anyone. The people are responsible for themselves in a democracy. If the Dems lose the House because of low Dem voter turnout, it is the Dems who didn't turn out who would be wrong.

[jgraz]

124. Ok, lemme see if I follow this

1. People are responsible for themselves

2. Dems lose the House

3. Somehow it's not the Dems' fault


:shrug:

[Touchdown]

127. He's my President. He works for me. He doesn't tell me what to do.

He needs to give me a reason to do what he wants me to do. I have no problem voting for Diana DeGette. She's a TRUE liberal. So this fight really isn't mine this time around.

K&R

[Lorien]

128. Obama WANTS a GOP house and Senate as political cover, and he'll blame US if

he gets either.That's been the plan all along; why else would they ditch the simple 51 vote majority rule on House votes? Foil their plans; give them even bigger majorities in both houses so that they'll have a tougher time passing their pro-corporate, anti-everything Progressive agenda, even WITH their weak 60 vote rule.

[Cal33]

131. I can't help but feel that too many of the Democratic leadership

are simply afraid of their adversaries. Reasons for their fears? They alone know.

[Name removed]

132. Deleted message

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

[Dinger]

129. K & R

Yeah, talk big now. What a stupid strategy. Shocked will be an understatement if this actually helps get true liberal progressives to the polls and they vote for people that treat them like shit.

[mvd]

130. They are right about one thing

The alternative is unthinkable. But the way to say it is with enthusiasm and not scolding. I would point to what has gotten done (and even if it's not up to my liking, things have gotten done) and say the party will give you more if you vote. I'm someone who does not even need to be told to vote for Democrats in the midterms, but not everyone is like me.

[saracat]

134. I agree!