I'll let the facts speak for themselves.
1. Demonized Democratic members of Congress who did not agree with them 100%
http://thehill.com/...
http://thehill.com/...
If you begin negotiations with a death threat, things tend to go downhill from there.
2. Started boycotts of the DNC and OFA
http://www.politico.com/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Thus weakening both groups right in the middle of one of the biggest fights of our generation.
3. Initially drew a line in the sand and rejected all compromises offered ...
http://politics.theatlantic.com/...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Then, when the reality of Senate math belatedly became apparent, supported the less-progressive-than-the-trigger opt-out
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...
This effectively weakened the President in the middle of negotiations (yes the same negotiations that many here say he played no part in), and signaled to moderates that there was no wiggle room, so they killed the whole thing.
4. Accused the President of "selling out" daily
http://rawstory.com/...
http://www.tikkun.org/...
5. Used "unnamed sources" to create mistrust of the White House and dishearten the base.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/...
http://business-news.thestreet.com/...
Thus creating a circular firing squad which led to an atmosphere where every compromise was viewed as a way to "trick" the base.
6. Threatened to primary the President if they don’t get their way.
http://www.healthnewsreview.org/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...
See point 1 - Negotiations based on death threats.
7. Blamed the President when they didn’t get their way.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
http://www.heraldtribune.com/...
8. Criticize the President for being too "bipartisan"...
Yet forgetting that the we don’t have 60 Democrats in the Senate – so who else is the President supposed to negotiate with?
What’s So Hot About Snowe? Obama’s pointless Bipartisanship.
http://www.newsweek.com/...
Obama’s Wasted Efforts at Bipartisanship
http://thinkprogress.org/...
So now that the Independent Joe Lieberman and the Democrat Ben Nelson has raked us over the coals, do ya’ll feel better? Did it go down smoother because it wasn’t a Republican that done it?
9. Turning one of the largest legislative victories of our generation into a defeat in last ditch effort to save face and prove that they weren’t wrong after all.
I guess that last point speaks for itself.
UPDATE: I have to go pick up my kids! :)
I'll check back in when I get home - thanks for all the feedback!