Why do they keep doing this!? WHY!? WHY!? WHY!?
I'm sick and tired of this crap. Democrats are bringing slaps and tickles to a gun fight, while the GOP has assembled an army of barbarians and miscreants. And they wonder why Dems get pummeled at the polls when the majority of the public supports their agenda.
I generally detest the idea of party politics. But since membership in the GOP has become an ideological litmus test/suicide pact, the only rational response is an aggressive and unified opposition.
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During the Bush administration, the GOP used everything short of clubs to ram their legislative agenda through Congress. Delay and Boehner were twisting arm and giving out bribes, using every single dirty trick to get what they wanted, regardless of how the public felt about their agenda (most were opposed). I don't suggest that the Dems do the same thing, since it's partly because of those very tactics that the GOP is now out of power. However, the Dems need to be just as, if not more aggressive than the GOP with their own legislative agenda.
I'm getting increasingly pissed off watching the Democratic leadership wasting opportunity after opportunity to put the GOP on the spot and shame them publicly for the political obstructionism.
News Flash! The GOP aren't interested in compromise--at least not in any type of comprise as the word is understood in the English language. To the GOP, "compromise" means "do things my way." The GOP mentality, the mentality of ideologues, is a black or white, yes or no mentality. To them there is a "right" way and a "wrong" way, and there are no shades of grey. If anyone doubts this, one needs only look at the purity tests that the GOP has started to implement for candidates. You can't be a "pro-choice Republican" and have any chance of being supported openly by the GOP leadership. You can't be a Republican and for single-payer health-care reform--the party will abandon any such candidate as a "traitor."
So when it comes to "compromising" with the GOP, that means conceding the points the GOP wants. It does not, however, mean that the GOP will agree to ANY Democratic priorities.
The Dems won't take on the Republicans, and they've even begun to run from themselves. Any possible semblance of standing for something is slowly sloughing away from a party that currently holds the balance of political power in this country by almost any standard. How about acting like it!?
Lieberman? Give him a figurative kick in the nuts. He wants to campaign for the Republicans? He wants to undercut the Democratic agenda and hamstring efforts to accomplish the people's business? Make him a pariah. Revoke every one of his committee seats. If he wants to hold on to those seats, then he needs to get on board and stop his namby-pamby, bruised ego tantrums. He's polling in the mid 20s. Why do the Dems want to support him in any way, shape, or form?
Harry Reid? God Damnit, man! You're the F*ing Senate Majority Leader! Get your message out there and challenge the GOP to actually participate in the process. You have (had?) the majority of the electorate behind you. You have plenty of people who can make your case in an articulate, passionate, and engaging manner (Franken, Feingold, Sanders). Get them out there! Get up in the grill of the GOP.
Nancy Pelosi? You're the F*ing Speaker of the House! You're not just a Congress-critter anymore, you're the F*ing Speaker! Act like it! You have a higher standard of behavior to uphold. You are the voice of the Democratic House.
Kossacks need to be taking this message to their representatives and senators. They need to take this message to the party leadership. They need to take this message to anyone who is in a position to carry it forward.
My final thought is this: If Democratic leadership in the House and Senate want people to disengage entirely from the political process (and thereby, their electoral support), then keep up with the status quo. But if you want to actually legislate and push a real progressive agenda for the U.S., then get off your ass and start doing some heavy lifting and engage in the public debate in an aggressive and passionate way. We're here. We're waiting. We'll support those who are willing to be strident in their beliefs and bring positive leadership to this country.