As we prepare for the next Congress, let's be clear

[LuckyTheDog]

We -- meaning Democrats -- have to be focused on three main goals:

1) Putting the brakes on the extreme agenda that the leaders in the GOP-controlled House will seek to pursue (tactically, that will include looking for ways to exploit the divisions between the Tea-hadists and the establishment Republicans).

2) Reelecting President Obama in 2012.

3) Re-taking the House and expanding our majority in the Senate in 2012.

Anybody have a problem with that?

[madokie]

1. Believe it or not

but I'm thinking number 2 may be a no go for me. I've been in support of this man since early on but I'm loosing faith in him. Generally when I do that to someone I never turn around and start liking them again.

[LuckyTheDog]

2. President Palin will thank you.

But your grandkids won't.

Anybody who isn't onboard with the idea of reelecting our Democratic president isn't thinking about the big picture.

[dbt]

22. The only people who can lose the coming election

are the Democrats. Don't be blaming the sold-out for electing Palin, eh?

[LynneSin]

9. Look my mentality is this. Go balls out for the primary

That's why we have them in the first place. But if I have to choose between Obama and anything that could enable a Republican win including voting for a liberal 3rd party or not voting - then I'd rather stick with Obama.

[LuckyTheDog]

14. That strategy never works

Indulging a primary fight against Obama is a recipe for defeat.

[LynneSin]

15. I'm not going to be the one that insists we vote for Obama or else

I am a firm believer in the primary system. Mind you my intentions are still behind Obama but I'm not going to tell any other democrat out there that they can't have a voice in the primaries.

[LuckyTheDog]

20. I am old enough...

... to remember how well that worked out for Ted Kennedy.

[LynneSin]

29. I am too thank you very much

:D

[LuckyTheDog]

31. As much as I wanted Kennedy to win then...

... I look back now and wonder if uniting behind Carter could have spared us 8 years of destructive Reaganism. I don't want to repeat the mistake we made in 1980.

[butterfly77]

17. I think by the time they...

get finished with all of their bullshit you will be FIRED UP!READY TO GO!!:dem:

[old mark]

3. OP, you are right - the republican controlled House will be a fucking circus,

except these particular clowns won't be very funny. I really don't want to see a GOP president, House and possibly even Senate get elected...we have been there before and we are still not even aware of all the damage they did to our country.

I expect very little good will be done till the '12 election, but we must have SOME hope that we can again have some say in our government after that time, and fighting against the Obama administration won't get us that - it WILL get us a GOP president, and probably a much worse one that ANY we have experienced...


mark

[MadHound]

4. Question for you,

If Obama has already caved to the 'Pugs extreme agenda while we controlled the Congress, what makes you think he won't now that the 'Pugs have the House?

[T Wolf]

5. I'm sure he will make some pretty speeches about how he "really" opposes what they are "making" him

do.

But those speeches will do nothing to regain the support he has lost by capitulating to them for the past two years.

And you are correct - it will only get worse between now and 2012.

In some ways, I hope the Mayans turn out to be correct. So, hold off on your Xmas shopping in two years.

[LuckyTheDog]

21. You start with an assumption...

... that I do not share.

[MadHound]

30. What, after this tax disaster, you still don't think that Obama caves?

:rofl:

Those rose colored glasses must be pretty colorful if you aren't seeing the reality that virtually everybody else is.

[LiberalEsto]

6. About #3

why bother?

[msongs]

7. remember above all we must be bipartisan at any cost nt

[kentuck]

8. Are you insane?

or living in a fantasy world??

[mmonk]

10. Is this a set up for tombstones and pizzas? Or creating strategies for 2012?

The last sentence is why I ask. I'm just going to try and improve the society I live in and elect progressives the best I can.

[rhett o rick]

12. My thoughts exactly. Is the OP asking for a decent debate or looking for a fight. nm

[LuckyTheDog]

18. As far as I am concerned...

... those three goals should be non-controversial.

This is Democratic Underground, not "Disgruntled Left Winger Underground."

My understanding is that this is a community of partisans. It should be safe to assume everyone here wants to see the Democrats control Congress and the White House. If that isn't true, then we have a problem.

[rhett o rick]

33. We already have a problem. We need decent discussion not posts aimed at

baiting members into fighting. We all want to see Democrats control the Congress and the White House. It is not necessary to even state that. Your attitude comes thru crystal clear and I dont believe it is helpful. Continued denigrating the so-called left is helping the repukes and you claim that is not your goal.

If you want to have a decent discussion, I will be happy to oblige. If you want to fight, go away.

[LuckyTheDog]

35. What you call baiting...

...I call an attempt to cut to the chase. It should be easy to unite partisan Democrats around the idea that Democrats should win elections and the Republicans should lose.

If THOSE things are controversial here, then what CAN we agree on?

[Better Believe It]

11. How about stopping President Obama's bi-partisan collaboration with Republicans?

Let's put the breaks on that so we don't experience massive cuts in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs that benefit the people .... the people who aren't millionaires and billionaires that is.

The bi-partisan effort to cut government deficits on the backs of working people and the elderly must be defeated.

That should be a major political goal next year.

Are you with that?

If we're not successful, the Republicans will expand their majority in the House and retake formal control of the Senate and the White House in 2012 in a landslide.

The suggestion that Democrats will retake the House, win more Senate seats and re-elect Obama after approving such cuts will prove to be a delusional fantasy.

[TwilightGardener]

13. I have no problem with that. But today is Wailing And Gnashing Of Teeth Day.

So I guess it's just you and me, LOL.

[LuckyTheDog]

24. I guess

But this is a long-term game. Focusing too much on the short term is a mistake.

[blindpig]

16. Yeah, that worked so well the last time.

[Marr]

19. I've no interest in #2. And before you give me that lame line about "President Palin"...

Understand that the notion just doesn't frighten me so much. I mean, I've been told for two years that a minority party can not only block the majority's legislation, but shape the content of the legislation as well.

Is that suddenly not true again?

[LuckyTheDog]

23. As I mentioned above

This is Democratic Underground, not "Disgruntled Left Winger Underground."

My understanding is that this is a community of partisans. It should be safe to assume everyone here wants to see the Democrats control Congress and the White House. If that isn't true, then we have a problem.

[Marr]

25. It's also not "Obamaniacs Underground".

Barack Obama is not the Democratic Party, and I think he's actually damaging it's long term viability now.

It does the party no good to spend it's energy supporting a man who advances a conservative agenda. The country gets all the negative results of that agenda, and the Democratic Party gets the blame.

[LuckyTheDog]

28. OK, I get that

But if you think that launching a primary challenge against Obama would be a winning strategy (and I am not sure that's what you are suggesting, so forgive me if I seem to be putting words in your mouth), then I think you are wrong.

If you think electing a Republican in 2012 would work toward our long-term benefit (and I hope that is NOT what you are getting at), then I think you are really, really wrong and are advocating a dangerous strategy.

[Marr]

32. I'm not advocating either, personally.

Though I understand the desire for a primary challenger from the left, and would probably vote for such a person myself, I don't think they would have a chance. Our energies would be better spent pushing for seats in Congress, IMHO-- against Republicans and conservative Democrats alike.

[rucky]

26. This can go one of two ways:

We'll continue to pass watered-down legislation that leans even more rightward with a few bones here and there that leave us teetering on the brink.

or

We'll have an effective shut-down of the government.

I haven't yet decided which one would be better for Obama, the Dems and America.

[Erose999]

27. My goal is to stop the Republicans/right wingers from acheiving their goal of re-distributing my

income/wealth to the rich.

Right now, and for the forseeable future that means opposing President Obama and his conservative agenda, as well as other DLC members in the House and Senate.

New Dem = Republican

I think the last 2 weeks have shown us that.

[rhett o rick]

34. Let me be clear. If it is true that Pres Obama is allowing Bradly Manning to be tortured

I will not support him. Your lesser of evils will not apply. I will not support a torturer under any circumstances.