The steady drumbeat of the DEMS losing big in the midterm has started ...

[srican69]

Why can't we just wait and find out rather consigning us to defeat from day 1..

This is infuriating beyond words ...as this can become a self fulfilling prophecy


Links
EJ DIONE :
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ej-dionne-the-politics-of-hopelessness/2014/03/16/077f6d86-abe0-11e3-98f6-8e3c562f9996_story.html

MAUREEN DOWD
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/opinion/sunday/dowd-dems-in-distress.html?ref=maureendowd

[CJCRANE]

1. The MSM says that about pretty much every election.

It might backfire on them again.

[Warren DeMontague]

55. They also desperately wanted people to believe Romney had a chance.

So, yeah.

[djean111]

2. Don't you know that blame for losses has to be firmly and repeatedly assigned

to The Left, as soon as possible? MUCH easier than looking at policy.

[spanone]

3. the real drumbeat should be 'how the f*ck can republicans win anything?

they offer nothing to the voters.

[tridim]

4. It started on DU about a year ago.

The one place I never expected it.

[CJCRANE]

7. It's the old "perception is reality" thing. They think if they keep repeating something

people will believe it. They do it every time. Of course they're wrong at least half of the time.

[FSogol]

12. True dat.

But I did expect it.

[lumpy]

57. Makes one wonder what the the D party has become. All time bitchin', no understandin.

[polichick]

5. EJ is right on this point:

"Winning back three-quarters of those discontented Democrats would, all by itself, bump up his overall approval rating by more than six points. It’s where he needs to start."

And here too:

"It is also about drawing a sharp line between the interests and policy goals of those fronting that money and the rest of us."

Hope Dem leaders take some notes from EJ.

[Auntie Bush]

6. Maybe it will make some lazy Dems wake up and get off their duffs and go out and VOTE.

If Dems think we have this election in the bag...they might very well just stay home...especially if the Thugs have made it difficult and time consuming to vote which they are already doing.

[polichick]

8. Dem voters wouldn't be so "lazy" if they knew that their "leaders" would...

actually put the people's needs ahead of corporate greed - which doesn't happen much these days.

[Auntie Bush]

14. Dems need to have something to be really angry or afraid about and the

Media doesn't help. All we hear about is how awful Obama is and how crazy the Right wing is. Wait till they pick a middle of the road Rethug and they will sing their praises because compared to the crazies they are wonderful.

I'm getting sick of seeing all the Rethug talking heads...Where are all the Dems ?

[JoePhilly]

26. The media works to anger the right, and discourage the left.

The GOP's formal efforts to suppress the vote might not be enough. So the media helps by pushing messages that will anger the right (Obama is a Socialist) and discourage the left (Obama is a corporatist).

You can see this pattern almost every day, on every issue.

Obama is weak, and a warmonger.

Obama wants to redistribute your wealth, and he's working for the 1%.

Anger gets people to the polls, while discouraged people stay home.

[polichick]

28. And yet Dem leaders work hard to be as pro-corporate as possible...

which turns the voters off and doesn't buy them the corporate popularity they seek.

Nice plan.

[JoePhilly]

29. Dem leaders hate America.

Make sure you tell that to everyone you meet, because that will definitely get them to the polls.

[polichick]

33. Voters know that their "leaders" don't put them first...

That's why we have a turnout problem.

[JoePhilly]

35. Make sure you include that in your GOTV canvassing.

I'm sure it will help.

[polichick]

36. Your glib remarks don't hide the facts.

[JoePhilly]

37. But they'll get more people to the polls than you will.

[polichick]

38. Voters have been conned enough - I'm happy to see them waking up...

Nothing will change until people have had all the bullshit they can stomach.

You can keep shoveling the Third Way shit if you want - I'll pass.

[JoePhilly]

40. So you are against electing Dems, thanks for admitting it.

The Tea Party appreciates your assistance.

[polichick]

41. Nice try.

[JoePhilly]

42. I'll be working to get Dems elected, you'll be working against that.

Again, not that I'm surprised.

[polichick]

44. Nice try again - think harder.

[lumpy]

60. Damn good thing most Dems don't have any interest in DU.

[polichick]

34. imo RepubliCons vote fear and anger - Dems need more.

[lumpy]

64. That is pure unadulterated BS !

[polichick]

65. That's your argument? lol

[840high]

15. Correct.

[lumpy]

58. Yes, it would help if the GOP leaders would work for the people.

[Doctor_J]

59. All the Dems voted in 2010

as has been pointed out about 1000 times. All of the Dems will vote this year. Because of our sever media disadvantage, we need indies and casual voters. The indies who voted with us in 2008 stayed home or voted (R) in 2010 because Obama & Reid & Pelosi were unable or unwilling to do what they said they would do during campaign 2008. In the FL House race last week, the (R) was able to paint the (D) as "wanting to cut Social Security". We will not win while our "leaders" willingly float SS cuts every couple weeks.

[Rex]

9. Corporate media has a distinct negative bias toward Dems.

Their paymasters are all part of the GOP, so it is not a surprise.

[TwilightGardener]

10. Democrats need to take control of their messaging and stop running away

from their own President and policies, the fucking chickenshit quislings. Make a case that Democrats/Obama pulled the nation's ass out of the fire (which we did), we're slowly improving economically DESPITE Republican sabotage and obstruction, and plan to fight dirty in each race. Total war. Make Repubs look like the unserious assclowns they are, it's not fucking hard, Jon Stewart does it every night.

[lumpy]

53. Yes indeed, fu...chickenshit quislings

[VanillaRhapsody]

11. They forget that alot of elections are won by perception because of the wishy washy middle

who just vote for who looks like the "winner". So the defeatist talk is a huge mistake!

[Fumesucker]

16. It thought it was the Pony Pining Purist Left who caused Democrats to lose elections?

[AverageJoe90]

18. Which unfortunately DID happen in 2010.

Yes, the purists really did help cost us 2010, sadly.

[Fumesucker]

20. If the Left and the Center are your enemies

Then you are evidently on the Right.

I appreciate your honesty in this matter.

[AverageJoe90]

21. Are you honestly fucking kidding? You actually believe that dumbassed shit?

Yes, I hate to be harsh, but that is one hell of a leap in (bad) logic there.

I'm left-of-center myself, btw. And yes, the purists really did help ruin 2010 for us, sad to say. I'm sorry if you have a problem with that.

[Fumesucker]

22. Evidently you are a Goldilocksian

Not too Left, not too Center, not too Right.

Just Right.

[Rex]

25. Well he is pushing RWing bullshit about who stayed home in 2010.

I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
Vote by Ideology
Total
Democrat Republican Other/No Answer
Liberal (20%)
90%
8%
2%


Moderate (38%)
55%
42%
3%


Conservative (42%)
13%
84%
3%

http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2010/results/polls/#USH00p1

[Rex]

24. You can keep saying it, but the facts say otherwise.

Vote by Ideology
Total
Democrat Republican Other/No Answer
Liberal (20%)
90%
8%
2%


Moderate (38%)
55%
42%
3%


Conservative (42%)
13%
84%
3%


So let us hope those that identify as MODERATES show up in 2014...they let us down in 2010 and as a result we got the Tea Party.

[Art_from_Ark]

61. What people here seem to forget is that less than 40% of voters

identify themselves strongly with the Democratic Party. That means that not everyone who votes for a Democrat for President is always going to vote for a Democrat at the lower levels (and vice versa). That is, people don't always vote straight party ticket. It is said that politics is local, so if, for example, a Repub is bringing home the bacon (pork) to his district, he or she still may get the blessing of the voters in the mid-term elections, regardless of who his/her state voted for in the previous Presidential election.

It should also be noted that Presidential elections are like Megamillions lotteries, which draw large crowds from many states, while the mid-terms are mostly like local lotteries.

[VanillaRhapsody]

39. don't they?

[Fumesucker]

52. Another Goldilocksian

Not too Far Left, Not too Centrist, not too Far Right.

Just Right.

[VanillaRhapsody]

71. Whatever the fuck that means...

seriously dude...this means something to you I guess...

[lumpy]

54. You slobbered a truism; most of the time that is how it goes. People go for a precieved winner.

[Orrex]

13. Cokie Roberts has been sounding that klaxon for months.

Since shortly before the 2012 election, if memory serves.

[AverageJoe90]

17. That was the problem in 2010, too.

The 'Baggers are in a much weaker position this time, but I wouldn't be surprised if they try to pull a fraud stunt to keep as many 'Baggers in office as possible; voter ID is just a cover for that, I fear.....we need to fight HARD against this shit.

[MineralMan]

19. Some on DU agree with that assessment.

Me? I'm going to be out doing GOTV activism, right up to election day. To heck with the naysayers.

[JoePhilly]

31. The only good thing about those folks posting on endlessy on DU ...

... is that it reduces the amount of time they'll have to walk around in real life discouraging other Democrats from voting.

[Demo_Chris]

23. If we elect more Democrats what do we win?

The leader of our party wants to destroy social security; thinks fracking is fucking awesome; thinks exporting more American jobs is a great idea; wants to fast track more free trade deals; thinks the real problem with healthcare in America is that the insurance companies weren't making enough money; thinks killing innocent families in countries we are not at war with is totally cool; wants the NSA to monitor and database the cradle to grave every fucking second activities and thoughts of every citizen; thinks it's a fine idea for the CIA to spy on the Senate; and believes that he has the authority to kill any American he likes, wherever and whenever he likes, without trial or even oversight... Hell, we are still STILL at war in fucking Afghanistan.

So tell me, as someone on the left what do I win if we elect more Democrats?

I am not saying don't vote, but after the last six years it's pretty difficult to find anything to get excited about.

[polichick]

27. Losing even when we win isn't a big motivator.

[JoePhilly]

30. Make sure you tell that to everyone you meet.

Because THAT will get them to the polls.

[tridim]

43. ^ Obama Strawman 2.0 defined, in order to diminish Democratic voting.

Why is this allowed on DU? Anyone?

[polichick]

47. It's not to "diminish Democratic voting"...

but to look at the reasons Dems have trouble getting people to the polls.

The biggest reason: Once elected, Dem leaders don't stand for Dem voters.

[lumpy]

66. Your analyis (or whatever) would diminish Dem voting. Downbeat doesn't win shit.

[Demo_Chris]

50. Unpopular truth is still truth. And you made my point...

I asked what we win, and your only response is to say 'Don't ask questions!' Obama was elected with a majority in the House, a super in the Senate, and (after Bush and an economy falling into a Depression) a mandate for revolutionary change. You should have been able to fire off a laundry list of liberal accomplishments and proposals.

[lumpy]

62. Impossible to accomplish everything when faced with rabid political enemies and enemies within.

[MFM008]

45. soooooooooooooooooooo

putting the gop in charge is the solution? Want EVEN MORE to be depressed about? Lets put Louie Gohmert in charge? No, do all you can do.

[Demo_Chris]

49. I do not encourage anyone to vote GOP

Vote and vote Democrat. We elected Obama with a majority in the House and a super in the Senate. That's as good as it gets, it's never going to happen again, and all it got us was a bunch of excuses and a Heritage Foundation authored insurance industry payoff-- the largest piece of corporate welfare in American history. They didn't even prosecute the bankers who sabotaged the economy, hell they put their banker bonus checks in the bailout money and even that wasn't enough to make our President say, 'WTF? Enough!'

So tell me, other than blocking the corporatist with the R by their name, what do we win? What do we win?

[lumpy]

67. Got anything positive to say?

[Demo_Chris]

68. Yes. Obama is doing a fine job on the Crimea issue. nt

[Gothmog]

32. In my county, we are targeting people who voted in 2008 and 2012 but not 2010

In my county, we have identified 40,000 voters who voted in 2008 and 2012 but who did not vote in 2010. We have canvassers out with pledge cards trying to contact all of these 40,000 voters to get them to commit to vote in 2014. So far, we have contacted over 5,000 of these voters and have gotten a large number of commitments/pledges from these voters. Hopefully we will see results from this program.

[nyquil_man]

46. I hope you do see results.

We've got a coalition of nearly 70 million voters who turned out in '08 and '12. Only about 40 million of them turned out in 2010.

The Republicans are extremely motivated, even in the midterms. We've got to be the same way.

[Munificence]

48. I surmise

that in 2016 you will be targeting the 60K folks in your county that did not vote in 2014.

I think most are tired in a sense and realize that one is no different than the other..."Ah who cares, no matter how I vote I will still end up in the same shitty position". I mean come on, those 40K folks came out and voted for "Hope and change", something totally different, a new path...look what they got.

[lumpy]

56. Hope and change is difficult to accomplish without some concensus.

[madinmaryland]

51. MoDo is a reliable "source"??? She is still pissed that the Clenis chose to have someone

give him a BJ.

[quadrature]

63. campaign $$$ should be directed to the living

just how I see things

black tag... states of...
Ak, WV, Ark, Mont, La, SD,NC

red, (gone, but worth looking at)
Colorado

yellow, (where the money should go)
Minn, Vir, Iowa, NH, Mich.

[doc03]

69. It may be a good thing, maybe it will

motivate Democrats to get off their ass and vote.

[grahamhgreen]

70. Well, now that we're the pro-WWIII party....

[gulliver]

72. We need to make the non-voters lose big after the election.

They need to know they won't be protected from Republicans. Anyone who fails to vote against Republicans should be fed to them.

[polichick]

73. And what happens to Dem leaders who push RepubliCon policies...

after voters trust them to fight for Dem policies?