What could Obama have really done to save the midterms? Not much!

[KansasVoter]

I think the ONLY thing would have been fixing the economy. Maybe a much bigger stimulus plan! But lets face it. Obama has had 18 months to fix a 8 year issue. So who knows if a bigger fund would have helped much. Krugman says it would have.

As much as I am at times disappointed in Obama, lets face it. Being more liberal would not get him votes from the people throwing out the Dems in the midterms.

The GOP voters and independents and dems are not going to vote GOP in the midterms because they are mad about Obama not being liberal enough.

Obama won the 2008 election by 7% of the vote! In this stupid, reality TV obsessed country, 7% of the people are really easy to sway! So you lose just 7% of the people and you lose the midterms.

People are pissed about the economy, and they are so stupid as to think Obama should have fixed 8 years of problems in 18 months. You can't fix stupid.

Ending the wars sooner would make us DUers happy but I do not think it would have overrode the economy issue. And would not have saved any midterm dems from losing.

Repealing DADT would not have got the midterm candidates more votes.

Single Payer would have not saved the midterms.

The DU members are much smarter on the issues than the average american. Wde can't count on the rest of the country to actually use logic.

[babylonsister]

1. I didn't know they were already lost.

And people sure expect a lot from this guy; maybe those who are running need to depend on themselves and justly slam their opposition instead of expecting a savior.

:shrug:

[rurallib]

2. hard to fight when the opposition owns 95% of the media

and the media acts like a 24 hour a day Republican advertisement.

[TBF]

3. He's still got time to do the right thing -

I'm not holding my breath on that, but a good jobs program would make me very pleased (and would certainly propel me to the voting booth). People are hurting, and "jobless recovery" makes no sense to you when you are living on extended unemployment. He needs to cut the war funding and start thinking about saving people rather than killing them. Can't believe I'm writing this about a democrat - but it's true.

[RBInMaine]

35. We got a stimulus that created or saved around 3 million jobs. The CONGRESS would have to approve

the hundreds of billions more you want, and that will not happen. If the fucking ReSCUMlicans would stop blocking the small business loan bill that would help. NO ONE was going to recover 8 and a half million lost jobs in a year and a half. You have gotten more "PROGRESS" with Obama than we've seen since at least the Great Society if not the New Deal, PER MADDOW !

[TBF]

44. If that is true then we do have a message problem -

that sort of thing needs to be in the press, with examples. All people are hearing is this "jobless recovery" stuff. The unemployment rate is still very high along with folks who aren't even counted because they've stopped looking. I'd like to hear Obama talk about how we can get more people back to work.

[elleng]

4. 'Save?'

Surely not 'lost' at this point, unless 'we' give up. Don't know about Kansas, but surely not giving up elsewhere, and Prez Obama isn't giving anything up. Notice his travel schedule?

[quaker bill]

5. To quote Ari Fleischer

"You never roll out a new product in August". (Selling the invasion of Iraq, they wanted it to be the issue for November voting, and as I recall it, their timing worked pretty well. (for them not us))

September is just around the corner. Be a tad patient.

[onehandle]

6. Invade France.

It's our only hope.

[awoke_in_2003]

31. If we do...

we better steal their health care system (and wine :) )

[onehandle]

32. The wine first. A nice Château Margaux, please. Red. nt

[awoke_in_2003]

33. and let's not forget the croissants. nt

[quaker bill]

47. One does not need an invasion

The point is that one, as President, can choose to create the "issues environment" for an election. Generally this sort of project is initiated after Labor Day. Obviously for this election the "issues environment" chosen must relate to the economy and people's finances.

I think a good tax bill is in order, something that will benefit the vast majority substantially, but causes the republicans to fillibuster it. They have this booted up already, it is time to go to the mat with it, make republicans pull out all the stops to defend the wealthy, roll out the cots, make it run all night long. Collect all the videotape of them defending the right of the wealthy to a greater share of the wealth, then make campaign ads with it. Make them put up or shut up.

I hope they fight against a middle class tax cut because the rich aren't getting a slice. If so, then we need to get all the precious moments on tape.

Alternately, they cave, and we simply get good policy into law. It is a win - win.

[Clovis Sangrail]

7. disagree

I think you're correct that just being "more liberal" wouldn't have helped ... unless that "more liberal" was matched by action.
I strongly believe that if Obama had forcefully pushed through a far "more liberal" healtchcare policy earlier it would have, by now, proven to be far more popular than the initial complaining.
Instead we were given a watered down compromise with no immediate visible benefit.

There are a number of other cases where a *more liberal bent (and accompanying backbone) would have helped the Democratic party.

ie: Had they pushed through a massive WPA style project last year by now it would not only be paying dividends in improved infrastructure but many of the unemployed who are taking out their frustrations on Obama would be singing his praises because they have jobs.

[Steely_Dan]

15. YES! A WPA Program

I (as well as others) have been calling for this type of program for months...

Had some effort been made towards this idea with the proper framing of the arguments, I believe that the RW would have little to complain about.

-P

[Clovis Sangrail]

24. I'm honestly surprised this hasn't gotten more traction

build a civilian corps that works on needed infrastructure projects (roads, bldgs, etc)
We could be building a renewable energy infrastructure which would boost recovery when it comes around

(and I don't think just giving out money to hire contractors is the same thing)

[Steely_Dan]

25. Agreed

How do we make this happen?

[Go2Peace]

27. Leadership?

[Go2Peace]

26. +1

I entirely disagree with this OP. The administration and Democratic leadership have simply not made a good case and if we loose seats it will be because the centrist approach was taken when what was really needed was leadership to lead by taking strong stands for what we really need to get us out of our problems.

The population will understand, if they really think that the Democrats have a strong plan. And if they forcefully made the case people would come around, but they have not taken that approach yet.

[liberal N proud]

8. The midterms are not lost YET

[vi5]

9. Look it's fairly simple math....

Republicans: Nothing he did, at all, anywhere ever would have won 1 single republican vote for any democratic candidate. At all. Completely lost cause.

Democrats: He could have generated more good feelings down ticket in general among the more liberal and progressives among us by not necessarily simply being "more liberal" but by having listened to those who were right about what was going on and what was needed both in terms of Healthcare and Financial reform (Krugman being one example but by no means the only one), INSTEAD of listening to and stocking his staff with far more conservative, Wall Street loyal supply side oriented people who had already been proven indisputably wrong at every turn. In short, while he wasn't "worse than Bush" or even "as bad as Bush", he turned a lot of people off by simply doubling down on Bush policies both in terms of the military and financial and economic areas.

Independents: That leaves the independents, which are always a crap shoot, but for whom he would have had a better shot at motivating for democrats if he had adopted the policies of the people who were right (ie. the more liberal demand siders) rather than the people who were wrong. Then the independents might have seen some more results and been at least persuadable.

So now, he's not going to get the republicans to vote democratic, he's not going to get the independents to vote democratic, and he's engendered soft support among liberals.

[USA_1]

10. Correction

President Obama could easily have ended the recession in one night. All he needed to do was to call in the trillions sheltered overseas by declaring all such capital Federal property. He has this authority just as President Roosevelt had when he called in all gold. The money would have ended the recession, paid the Republican created deficit, and financed the rebuilding of the infrastructure.

Not only would Obama have saved the midterm elections, the successes brought on by reform would have entrenched the Democrats for the next decade at the very least. All he needs to do is to make the choice and to proceed with the real changes he promised. It is all a matter of choice.

[nevergiveup]

11. Wow! You should be president.

[USA_1]

53. Thanx

[Rosa Luxemburg]

49. trying to get the offshore money back is proving very difficult

easier said than done

[USA_1]

54. It Would Take Some Time But ...

... it would be far better than doing nothing. Raising taxes on the middle class wouldn't work. Raising taxes on the wealthy would only cause them to employ the Glen Becks and Fox network types who will manufacture a pro wealthy elite consensus. Therefore, the smart thing to do is to federalize the sheltered overseas capital and call it in. This will end the mess created by Republicans.

The solution is there. Obama's failure to do so will only mean a Republican victory in November and thereafter. The choice is his.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

55. the government is actually doing this

however it may need a prod - call your congressmen

[USA_1]

56. The Govt Is Only Probing For Amounts & Whether the Shelters Are Legal

The government has done NOTHING to confiscate these monies as it should do.

[Ozymanithrax]

12. Went to a wedding last night and woke up in December?

It may turn out that the one thing Obama could have done he did, watch the crazy tea party to their thing.

[Andy823]

13. What will help democrats win

Is doing what is right in congress. The democrats need to come back to work and start pushing bills that will help the average citizens, not the rich. Make the republicans vote "against" keeping tax cuts for the average american, and letting the tax cuts for the rich lapse! Make them stand up on the floor and say why they will only vote to help the rich! Make them vote defend themselves and keep on making the defend their views till election day! Put the heat on them and bring up all the things they have said and done that show just how it really is they are trying to help.

Those running for office can still win if they an show the people what the republicans are really all about, and what they were like when they "did" have control. If people and see the truth, and have to decide between going back to the way it was with Bush, which is what the republicans want to do, then it's a choice between the same old right wing BS, or taking a chance on getting something done, even if they aren't happy with congress, they need to realize what they will be in for if republicans do get control of the house, and realize that it would be at least two more years of nothing getting done.

Hard core right wingers will never vote for a democrat, but independents will, and many republicans who are upset about what the right has been doing, and what they did to get us in this mess, might vote for a democrat, or they might just stay home and not vote at all. The right has the crazies all worked up, but they need more than their vote to win. Many of the crazies will write in names of tea party candidates, and many will not vote for the candidate if they are not "far enough right"!

Republicans have alienated the Spanish voters, the Muslims voters, many unemployed who are mad about them not voting to extend benefits, and if democrats get out the point that republicans want to privatize SS and medicare they can get a lot of the elderly votes. There is still a good chance for democrats to keep control of congress, they just need to get out and go on the attack and keep on the attack. Don't let the republicans control the talking points, make the republicans defend themselves, it an be done!

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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

[Steely_Dan]

16. Sad....

but nevertheless true.

Beyond that...had the bold steps been taken...doing the right thing would have ensured that Dems would dominate the national political scene for our children.

-P

[jillan]

17. Is it November 3rd already? My how time flies!

If you are worried - get involved. Make phone calls for the Dems running in your area. Do data entry, put up signs - because what we really need to do from now until November is get the dems out to vote.

[PopSixSquish]

18. My Calendar Says That it's August 29th

But apparently I shouldn't of had that second glass of wine at dinner last night. Looks like I fell asleep and missed two months...

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Being more liberal would get him support from liberals

And liberals work on campaigns.

Yesterday was an OFA canvassing day. How many liberals didn't participate?

He can't keep alienating his base. He needs them during an election year.

[denimgirly]

22. How about just being Left instead of Center-Right.

That would be a start

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. Yes that would be a great start

[RBInMaine]

37. He is the president of an ENTIRE nation, not just a fringe. Reality time.

[bkozumplik]

43. maybe pres of whole nation

but he gets votes from only part of the nation. The rest vote for repubs. Figure that out, and get back to us about why we are losing seats in the election.

Its logic like yours that leaves people like the DLCers scratching their heads when they lose elections.

[Skittles]

48. CORRECT

[depakid]

20. Making sure his administration stopped gratuitously insulting the base would have been a good start

That assumes of course that the administration actually wants to retain Congress- which is not an assumption I'm prepared to make.

[denimgirly]

21. He Could have FOUGHT for the People and Not Big Banks and Special Interests

That's #1.

[RBInMaine]

36. Yawn.

[dionysus]

39. RAHR!!

:eyes:

[LittleBlue]

52. Exactly

There are simply too many accounts of him cozying up to banks for people to trust him.

[golfguru]

28. Create more jobs!

That one single item overshadows everything else.

The crappy HCR bill is the next worst thing. It has
more people upset than happy.

[IndianaGreen]

29. Jumping the gun a little bit, aren't we?

With a lot of hard work, I know we can return Rep. Andre Carson back to Congress next year. Local GOP has its own problems regarding poor governance and corruption in the Mayor and Public Safety offices. Very competitive races for city council and state legislature seats. I am optimistic!

Evan Bayh's Senate seat is already lost to GOP, and Bayh shares a good chunk of the blame for that!

[hollowdweller]

30. What they need to do

Is to start defining what is at stake with the election.

I do not feel like it is too late. I do feel that the president or most elected dems have done enough using of the facts to discredit, deregualtion, supply side economics, and the myth that booming markets will lift all boats.

I am seeing SOME pointing out of GOP hypocracy over tax breaks and the deficit issue which is encouraging.

I have not really heard any questioning of how a deficit is hurting our economy at this point since interest rates are low, most of the things traditionally said that happens when deficits are large are not happening right now.

I have not really see the dems start to make voters aware of 1) how gov't investment helps the economy and 2) How much the voters personally benefit from programs.

I don't think it's too late and the GOP is helping by electing a bunch of whacky candidates saying whackey things.

[RBInMaine]

34. "Could"? No one has voted yet. No need to doom in gloom. But yes, it is ALWAYS about the economy.

And yes, they wanted him to fix 8 years of shit in less than two. It is a dumbed down society, sadly. However, if Dems turn out and our party bashes the living shit out of the PUKES as the RADICAL TEA SCUM that they are, we will hold the majorities.

[dionysus]

38. good post, but we might not lose many seats. i hope

[Proud Liberal Dem]

40. Good OP but all may not be lost yet

NEWSWEEK Poll: Democrats May Not Be Headed for Midterm Bloodbath

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/27/newsweek-poll-democrats-may-not-be-headed-for-midterm-bloodbath.html

The GOP is busy measuring the drapes and discussing the wave of investigations they intend to conduct should they gain the majority in both houses. Anything less than a "bloodbath" is going to inevitably be seen as a failure. I believe that President Obama and the Democratic Party will make sure it is IMHO.

[jeanpalmer]

41. Oh boy where do you start

End the wars. Then he could have kept the independents.

Don't mess with healthcare if you're not going to do anything significcant.

Don't look like you're siding with offshore drillers every day.

Go on the offensive for unemployment benefits, don't wait til the economy looks like it's going in the toilet.

Act like you care more for working people instead of the banks.

Don't attack teachers and unions.

That's just for starters.

[jeanpalmer]

42. How about this

Call one goddam corporation that's sending jobs overseas and say "please don't do it."

Act like you care, at least.

[craigmatic]

45. He could've talked about his accomplishments more and painted the repubs as trying to stop the

recovery. Not this lame ass party of no narrative. Obama could've gotten out there and blamed this mess on the republicans (it's the truth)and made the public believe it. The midterm results aren't inevitable. He should at least try to fight back instead he's in the white house while these republicans control the narrative on the news. They're killing us everyday in the newscycle and Obama is content to let the bully pulpit stand silent. It's all very ironic considering how great Obama's speaking ability is.

[704wipes]

46. We can't count on the rest of country to pay attention

until after Labor Day... Hopefully the chess game is set to start about Sept 10.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

50. Obama has the power to submerge and drown the Republicans

all he needs to do is say the word!

[HughMoran]

51. No, you can't fix stupid

The electorate in this country is unfixable - at least in the near term.

[Awsi Dooger]

57. He could have lost to McCain

If in power, either side was going to be buckled in this economic climate