How to Lose Elections Without the GOP Even Lifting a Finger.

[David Zephyr]

Let's see...how can the President and the Democratic Party defeat themselves without Karl Rove ever having to get out of bed for the entire month of October. Ah, come on, David Zephyr! Is such a thing possible?

Er...yes, it's possible. Now, I'm probably flying by the seat of my pants here, but here's just a few crazy scenarios where I could see the Democrats self-destructing right before the upcoming election without any "October Surprise" from the Republican Party:

1.) First, send a resounding message to the Senior Citizen base of the Democratic Party announcing that all Social Security recipients will not be getting any increase in their monthly checks next year whatsoever. And just for the hell of it all, make sure that you do this just three weeks before the election. And, don't stop there, but make certain that when you make the announcement that the dollar amount is exactly "zero", not even 0.05%. A big fat zero. Yes, that would go a long way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But the President and Democrats would not do anything like that. Or would they?

2.) Continue to rip the last vestige of tepid support from the Democratic Party's loyal GLBT community by directing the United States Justice Department to challenge the long, hard-fought GLBT judicial victories just recently won through due process. And don't do it just once, but twice with two landmark cases: the Constitutional right for marriage and the overturning of the unconstitutional Don't Ask, Don't Tell. And make sure you do so just two weeks before the election. Oh, and for good measure, have a senior White House Adviser refer to a dead teenager's sexual orientation as a "lifestyle choice". Yes, rub as much salt into that gaping wound as you possibly can and then tell GLBT Americans that "we still love ya." Of course, Democrats would never do such heartless things to a loyal voter base. Or would they?

3.) Offer exactly no plan whatsoever to provide a glimmer of hope for a better economic future for the millions of Americans unemployed, for the millions of Americans losing their homes, for the millions of Americans who are straddled with debt...other than repeating over and over that Democrats "are better than Bush". Yes, instead of hope, instead of optimism, instead of providing a credible road-map of hope to voters, just tell them that you "are better than Bush". Of course, Democrats know better than this? Or do they?

4.) Be sure to send the Latino voting base within the Democratic Party lots of mixed messages month after month before the election by announcing you will be sending more of the National Guard to our southwestern border, and be sure that you beat-around-the-bush and try-to-change the subject when discussing the 12 million undocumented humans in our country. But, surely dampening that potent Latino enthusiasm and voter turn-out in order to pander to racist tea-baggers would not be something Democrats would do? Or would they?

4.) Be sure to appear manic and absolutely desperate as you try to rally "the youth vote" at the very last minute by running from one college campus to the next. And make sure that your desperation has the air of an emergency when you speak to those young crowds. Of course, Democrats know better confidence breeds confidence. Or do they?

5.) And finally, by all means, never miss an opportunity insult your political, activist base for a solid 12 months prior to the election by cavelierly calling them names like "retarded" or "irrelevent" or "the professional left" and scold them that they are "whining" when they merely ask you to keep the promises you made. But the Democratic Party leadership know better than to do such idiotic things. Don't they?

Of course, there are many more ways that the President and the Democrats can set their own house on fire...without any matches or kerosene whatsoever from Fox News, or the military-industrial complex, or Karl Rove, or the Tea Party, or the entire Republican Party.

But, of course, we all know that the Democrats would never do anything as stupid as the things I've mentioned above. Don't we?

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Surely the Dems are making these blunders with the best of intentions

Or are they?

[DURHAM D]

2. 4A) Be sure not to call the President of Chili to discuss

the successful operation to remove the 33 miners so that when he reads of the list of international well-wishers the U.S. White House is not on it.

[Bigmack]

3. Soc Sec COLA is not determined by the Pres....

or Congress. It's a formula set by law.

Cost of living isn't up enough for a COLA.

Make sure people know that.

[glitch]

4. It won't be a defeat for this administration, they aren't up for re-election.

Their actions will most likely snatch a defeat for the Peoples' House, the only branch of federal government still attempting to work for us.

edit: and don't forget -establish a commission to study the "deficit" and fill it with loudmouth and belligerant longtime anti-social security hacks.

[vi5]

6. Exactly.....

They don't have to "lose" the election themselves, and the losses give them even more justification (not that they seem to care about justification, but still) to tack even farther right and to denounce and piss off more of their base (or at this point what used to be their base).

[David Zephyr]

8. gltich, I'd forgotten about the "Deficit Commission"

"fill it with loudmouth and belligerant longtime anti-social security hacks".

But, Democrats wouldn't do that would they?

[glitch]

9. No, I don't think Democrats would. New Democrats would though.

Just like New Democrats wouldn't prosecute war crimes or bring back Habeas Corpus but would appeal laws that have been repeatedly judged unconstitutional.

[David Zephyr]

16. If, and it's too late, there had been hearings on the War in Iraq and...

the Second Part of the 9/11 Commission, we'd have had the GOP on the defensive. Karl Rove would probably already be in prison with Scooter.

Believe me, if the GOP gets the House, they will control the committees and subpoena power and there will be hearings on everything...just as they have always done.

We missed so many opportunities. Yes, you are right about prosecuting the War and about Habeas Corpus, but here we are...

To paraphrase Don Rumsfeld, "We go to the election with the Democrats we have".

[glitch]

17. I believe our only chance is to swarm the elections with Democrats.

And Progressives where possible. Bring more and more to the fight until there is no choice but to clear out the corruption and return to the Constitution. I take "make me do it" very seriously.

We've got the numbers (pretty much all we've got at this point), we need to use them.

[jaxx]

5. To answer:

1. Nancy Pelosi has said they would vote to give seniors a $250 check just like they did this year.
2. The President wants the law repealed legally...by the congress.
3. The President has a $50b plan for infrastructure to get started asap....jobs.
4. The Democrats are trying to get an Immigration reform passed. (yes, you do have two #4's)
4. What do people do in campaign season? They campaign. It's how it's done.
5. And some people must criticize constantly and expect nothing to be said about it.

[Pab Sungenis]

7. And yet when I say these same things here

I get shot down for being "offensive."

What's "offensive" is how the Democratic Party in general, and the White House in particular, thinks they can treat us the way they have and still expect us to support them.

I'm sorry, but "the other guys are worse" isn't a valid reason to support a candidate any more.

[Mr Generic Other]

10. and they wouldn't do anything like alienating teachers,

who have worked hard to improve our communities and who have traditionally voted for democrats, by spewing anti-teacher rhetoric and blaming them for the problems created by economic disparity.

[bvar22]

11. Actively campaign FOR virulently Anti-LABOR,

Anti-Public Option Blue Dogs in Democratic Primaries when Pro-LABOR/Pro-Public Option "Democrats" are available.
Mock and Ridicule Organized LABOR for wasting their money by supporting Pro-LABOR candidates.

The White House wouldn't do that...or would they?
(That one is STILL burning in my gullet).

[littlewolf]

12. K & R

[jonnyblitz]

13. K &R. nt

[lise]

14. hmmm....

....they could also throw their support all in for the Republican in the race as Kennedy did today in FLA.

[David Zephyr]

15. Welcome to the DU, lise.

:hi: