For #60,000 I give you some thoughts

[Renew Deal]

I've been posting here since just before the 2004 primary (almost 12 years). People talk about DU being better or worse in the old days. I think it is mostly the same. DU was more combative in the old days and that was better for discussion. The idea now is that we want civility, but I feel like we had enough of it to make things interesting. Anyway, here are some general thoughts.

This line from the movie The Siege is stuck in my head.

"In this game, the most committed wins."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133952/quotes

This is referring to terrorism. But it really applies to all facets of life. Today's terrorists and tyrants certainly live by it. In Syria and Iraq, it is the meanest that have risen to the top. They are the true believers that are willing to die for the cause.

Politics are for pretty much the same. Look at Greece. The dominant political party from 1981 to 2009 was PASOK. But PASOK lost their way by cooperating with the banks and was replaced by Syriza. In American politics it's hard to deny the hard charging politics of the right. They dominate state government and are trying to take over the entire federal government. Democratic ideas win, but republicans have been doing the hard work at all levels of government.

People here ask when "liberal" policies will get their turn. The answer is when liberals fight for them as hard and as persistently as republicans do. Democrats need to be organized to fight for and win every election from sanitation commissioner to president. Do you think it's a coincidence that we lack credible presidential candidates this time around? Hillary, O'Malley, Biden, and Webb are all credible. But the Republicans have around 12-15 potential candidates with elected experience. Why? Because they have worked to get their people in office.

Governors
31 Republican, 18 Democrats

House
246 Republican, 188 Democratic

Senate
54 Republican, 44 Democratic +2 Indies

In this game, the most committed wins. It doesn't matter if we are talking about eradicating terrorism in the Middle East and Africa or winning elections. Aerial campaigns and taking 3 years off for every year on isn't enough when your opponents never take a day off.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Republicans win because they are willing to lose

They win some, they lose some.

Democrats are unwilling to lose, so they never try, and they never win.

So the Republican wins move them forward, their losses don't push them back, the Democrats almost never move forward and we keep moving right.

[longship]

4. So maybe Democrats should plan to lose?

Your logic, my good friend does not correlate. I need some help...

Norman, coordinate.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. I wrote *plan*, or *be willing*?

Democrats should risk losing.

Try the dictionary for help.

[longship]

6. Sorry, Manny, that makes no sense at all to me.

My thinking is that the Republicans win because they are willing to do just about anything to win. Which they do. Plus, they have the big money backers. I don't think that they even conceive of losing.

Which is why I posted my intended to be humorous and mildly ridiculing response.

I just am not buying your argument. Not at all. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Look up ridicule in your dictionary.

Thanks, my friend. (Normally a Manny fan.)

[MannyGoldstein]

7. They lose all the time.

Shutting down government. Impeaching/suing Democratic Presidents. Proposing lunatic budgets. All losers. But they are winning.

Democrats "keep our powder dry" and recognize "sensible and serious proposals" from these lunatics. When elected Democrats shut down government over cutting aid to feed the indigent, I'll know we're starting to have a shot at changing direction.

[longship]

8. I got what you mean now.

Best regards.

[MannyGoldstein]

9. Yeah, I see, I was inarticulate.

Sorry!

[longship]

10. No problem. Couldn't help the Star Trek reference.

[ND-Dem]

2. and do you think it's coincidence that the democrats haven't organized to fight or recruit credible

candidates?

[Renew Deal]

11. What are you suggesting?

That they plan to lose on purpose?

[ND-Dem]

12. To remind you what you wrote:

The answer is when liberals fight for them as hard and as persistently as republicans do.

Democrats need to be organized to fight for and win every election from sanitation commissioner to president.

Do you think it's a coincidence that we lack credible presidential candidates this time around? Hillary, O'Malley, Biden, and Webb are all credible.

But the Republicans have around 12-15 potential candidates with elected experience. Why? Because they have worked to get their people in office.

[elleng]

3. Yes, FIGHT FOR THEM!