Can somebody tell me why this election is even close?

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

15 races within 5 points. Tea Party Soviet Republican apparatchiks in waiting in Delaware, Kentucky, Arizona, California, Alaska.
I'm seeing Sarah Palin so much that she's Probably on some network's fall schedule.

Now wait a minute. These are the type of policies that got is here in the first place. And now they want another chance to wreck the country the rocks of a bizzaro-world Ayn Rand ego trip.
Let's not forget who these people are. These people are ready retreat behind the gated community walls fueled by a Hungary for war and dominion. These are the people who want to turn your faith into a blunt weapon.
These people wants big government for themselves and they need it.

The issue here is, we aren't calling this thing out.
We aren't slugging it out.

Yes, we know President Obama hasn't done everything we've wanted, but we who term ourselves "progressive" also have to look in a mirror. We have to keep pushing beyond the vote an push for the service agreement sale.
To his credit, the President has been busting his can, and I respect the man. He is tying to build frameworks for long scale changes that are for far beyond after he leaves office in 2017. Our job is to keep pushing him toward building and strengthening those frameworks.

Remember, our adversaries believe in pre-existing conditions.

"Living in a low-income area is a pre-existing condition, sonar aren't funding your schools."
"You live where it's snows. That's a pre-existing condition. So we can't fix that road."
"Sorry, but your union wage is a pre-existing condition, so we've decided to move our jobs to Indonesia."
"You are not in the top 1% of total incomes. That is pre-existing condition. You won't get the tax break I deserve."
"You are non-white, non-western people in a desert sitting on our oil. That's a pre-existing condition. We have reserved the right kill you and take what we want."

These people are a threat to our nation and our planet. This shouldn't even be close.

[zipplewrath]

1. Actually, it's worse than that

"Yes, we know President Obama hasn't done everything we've wanted, but we who term ourselves "progressive" also have to look in a mirror."

It's not just that he hasn't done what we've wanted, he has actively worked to obstruct us. They have worked to keep all activity emminating from within the White House. They put OFA directly in line with the DNC. They've worked with the conservative democrats, even campaigning for them. They have discouraged and obstructed outside organizations from advertising against conservative democrats. They have courted the moderate GOP vote, all the while openly complained about the progressive/left/liberals.

The never found a place for Howard Dean, they brought in Rahm, Larry, and Timmy. They stuck Rick Warren on the Dias. We practically had to mount a campaign to get Ms. Warren in. They've left Lieberman completely alone, but flew to Dennis' district to campaign for HCR. And now they want to bring in the Insurance Industry lobbyiest that worked for Baccus writing the public option out of HCR and put her in charge of health care regulation.

Progressives are working hard, and several of their organizations are spending alot of money, in some cases opposing candidates supported by the administration. The independents that this administration courts so heavily however, are flowing like water back to the GOP. And the administration wants to blame progressives for that.

[LibDemAlways]

2. The corporate media has done everything it can to legitimize these bozos.

That's for starters. Makes the people who don't pay attention to politics (there are millions) think they are an actual alternative instead of candidates for the psych ward.

Second, you are correct in saying that the current admin. has been slow to implement the changes they campaigned on. Plus it has become fashionable in the WH inner circle to openly diss the left - not a great strategy if you need them at the voting booth in November.

It shouldn't be close, but given the corporate media's determination to install Repukes in office and the perception that the administration hasn't worked diligently enough on behalf of the little guy, the ingredients are brewing for some nasty shit in November. I, too, hope that common sense will ultimately prevail.

[Bitwit1234]

7. AND done everything they can to try to get them elected.

[killbotfactory]

3. The election is close because the economy sucks

And republicans have obstructed every effort to fix it because they gain nothing politically if things improve. People in general (even people who actively follow politics like in this place) don't understand our shitty system of government, which allows Senators representing less than 20% of the population to stall legislation and create gridlock, and the blame tends to go to all those currently elected whether they deserve it or not.

[earthside]

4. Jeebus! That makes me mad!

"... we who term ourselves "progressive" also have to look in a mirror."

Holy cow!

Almost from the beginning of his presidency, progressives have begged, pleaded, cajoled, lobbied, petitioned, and screamed for the President and the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate to take a stand and fight. Fight for a cause, for a principle and go down fighting even if we lost.

From the health insurance reform public option to today's retreat on the Bush tax cuts, the President and the U.S. Senate Democrats (and to a mush lesser extent the House) have been so risk averse that they have shown themselves to be nearly impotent.

And, that is why this election is close or may be a bloodbath -- voters wanted change and all they saw out of Washington was Democrats playing the usual kind of horse-trading politics.

Whether you like it or not, most Americans vote from their gut, not from their heads, not on specific stands on specific issues. President Obama and the Democratic majorities looked like nothing was so important to them that they were willing to figuratively shed any of their own blood. People who will not fight for themselves are not going to be trusted to fight for others.

Progressives wanted those fights -- but we got "bipartisanship" and accommodation with the filibustering Repuglicans instead. (Reid should have used the 'nuclear option' and killed the filibuster last year.)

Yup, that's why this election is close ... don't blame the progressives!

[COLGATE4]

6. And they wonder just why there's an enthusiasm gap.

[ClarkUSA]

11. FYI, the enthusiasm gap has been closing since Pres. Obama has been campaigning.

See my reply: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=453941&mesg_id=454047

The party in power (in this case, Democrats hit the trifecta: WH, Senate, and House) always suffers from an enthusiasm gap in off-year elections. This year is no different. However, according to recent polls from Gallup and PPP, this gap has closed noticeably since President Obama has started campaigning and using his bully pulpit to make the case for Democrats. In fact, Gallup's latest generic ballot poll had Democrats closing a nine point gap to pull even with Republicans.

I still think we'll lose seats, though, but one month is an eternity in politics and the GOP has peaked. One month before the Iowa caucuses Senator Barack Obama was thought to be a probable third-place. The rest is history.

If you haven't done so already, please consider GOTV in your area. Just click on my sig.

[phantom power]

5. Perhaps it would be less close if the Dems differentiated themselves more from GOP policies.

Fight for actually *different* policies.

Like, Medicare For All

Get a Dem party-line yes-vote on DADT.

or, Hold A Vote on Sunsetting Tax Cuts For The Rich, and Actually Vote Yes

Generically, be more willing to make the GOP fillibuster. Actually fillibuster, not implicitly threaten to.

:shrug:

[ejpoeta]

8. or at the very least stood up to the republicans.

tell people WHY the healthcare law is important and that the republicans voted against it.

[ClarkUSA]

10. Actually, that's not true, otherwise Barbara Boxer and Russ Feingold would not be in trouble...

... and Jerry Brown would be way ahead of Meg Whitman.

See my reply: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=453941&mesg_id=454047

[ClarkUSA]

9. Read your history. The party in the WH nearly always loses seats in off-year elections.

There have been only two exceptions to this general rule. Given the bad economy, the "throw the bums out" effect is going to be exaggerated, especially since there are more Democratic incumbents than Republican ones up for re-election.

However, it is important to note that President Obama is still more popular than Reagan or Clinton at this same point in their presidencies but Congress' approval ratings have been skating at historic lows.

If you haven't done so already, please consider GOTV in your area. Just click on my sig.

[geek tragedy]

12. Because the Democrats in Congress are collectively the biggest

bunch of wussy-ass morons you'll ever see.