2016 Postmortem
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graham4anything
(11,464 posts)Still have my campaign button from then.
In 2000, Nader threw the election to the Bush's and got rich off of it.
tblue
(16,350 posts)I voted for Obama in both general elections but I voted for another Democrat in the 2012 primary.
Vietnameravet
(1,085 posts)How the HELL did they not vote to end the filibuster? Why is Obama always "reaching out"? to these radicals? Why has Obama ceded the SS debate to the Repbs over the Chained CPI? Did he not know they would now use that against Democrats in the next election?
Why have they not demanded the Fairness Doctrine be implemented and break the monopoly far right media? Why have then not demanded the congress confirm all those nominees Obama has made to the Federal Courts? Why are they not screaming from every media, that the Repbs are a vicious minority that has obstructed Obama and the electorate at every turn?
Do you realize that everyone laughs at Harry Reed when he threatens to "keep the Senate working all weekend" because they all know ..Repbs and Demos, that he wont do it.. Why the hell do they refuse to challenge his pitiful leadership when he pulls bills just because Republicans threaten to defeat them..Repubs then go around saying "Democrats cant get a bill passed" ignoring the fact that it was them that threatened to defeat it!.. If Reed had put the bill forward and it was defeated at least Demos could go to the people and say " "look what we tried to do and look what they did" but thanks to his weak leadership, they cant.
A large section of the Democrats are sickening cowards and weak-kneed milquetoasts afraid to be called "extremists and divisive"by the likes of Limbaugh and Hanity!! How pathetic..
And then they will lament the "enthusiasm gap" next election.
I have said it before and will say it again..its the Marching Pitbulls vs the Cowardly Tabbies..
Cal33
(7,018 posts)George Washington Univ., Washington, DC? In the book he pointed out
the influences that played a big role in the makeup of the personality
of Obama during his developing years. Among other things, he thought
that Obama could have an obsession concerning bipartisanship. Once
an idea assumes the proportions of an obsession, the obsessed person
can no longer get away from it. Intelligence plays no role here.
It looks to me now that the coming 4 years will be a repeat of what
Obama had done the past 4 years. He always has been slightly to
the right of center, from my point of view. The extreme rightists, of
course, think of him as a leftie, if not a commie.
I"d be happy to be wrong about what I've written above.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)about as much as I trust the book pyscho-analyzing bush ... I didn't then and I don't now.
IMO, any psychiatrist that attempts to written a book of this nature is unethical and full of money-seeking crap.
Cal33
(7,018 posts)done was a practice begun by Freud, himself. The analysts of today
realize that it isn't as accurate as having the person as a patient, but,
nevertheless, it does have some merit.
Franken did research Obama's childhood, read his books and follow
what he had said and done in his public life. Can you come up with
a better way of finding an explanation for Obama's 4-year-long
appeasement and giving in to the most incredibly greedy and immoral
demands of the Right-Wingers at the expense of the middle-class and
poor people of America, when the Right-Wingers have yet to give an
inch?
And Obama has shown no real signs that he'll be changing. He did
raise the hopes of the members of his own Democratic party with
what he had said during his campaign speeches of 2012. Now his
actions show that he is the same Obama he has been the past four
years.
One small hope is left: Obama has said right from the beginning of
his presidency that he wanted the American people to raise their
voices and tell him what they want him to do. So, he'll stop his
appeasement only when we tell him loud enough to stop??? Is
this how he wants us to become more involved in politics?
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)the practice is, and has been, done. I also know that it is a much a guess as forensic profiling and of little value other than to sell books.
Cal33
(7,018 posts)can find out the childhood influences as well as the sayings, writings
and behavior of the adult subject under study. If the findings match
the symptoms of a certain disorder -- mental or physical -- then
the person has that disorder. That's how diagnoses are made.
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it
is a duck.
However, if you belong to the type that expects 100% accuracy, and
anything less than that is entirely wrong, then you will never reach
any conclusion. As far as human behavior is concerned, 100% and
o% can hardly exist.
studyshare
(49 posts)They are in on the scam.
Just look over all the things you listed. You asked why? It isnt because they are weak cowards its because this is all a game so that BOTH parties can do the bidding of their same master. Democrats have to play their part and seem like they are getting bullied so they can blame republicans for giving them 105% of what they wanted. And the game goes on.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)voted against filibuster reform because they want to be able to blame republicans for their inability to do anything. They are either weak or complicit.
nineteen50
(1,187 posts)they are from the same country club as the conservatives and their only fight is over who gets to keep the bar tips.
Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)There are a few things I wish they could go further on, such as single-payer health care and free education (like in Sweden), but I recognize none of that is going to happen anytime soon in a country that is still fairly divided along the middle and with a party across the aisle in Congress whose intent is to make the President look bad and fatten the pocketbook of Richie Rich. Until we either change our election system to instant run-off or until the GOP becomes irrelevant enough, the Democratic Party will be stuck straddling the middle, and those of us on the Left will essentially have to deal with just a half a loaf of bread at a time instead of the entire loaf.
The way I see it is that with the Republicans, you get no bread at all, but you at least get half a loaf under Democrats. While under Republicans the deficit and unemployment grew and we were involved in several wars, under this administration and Clinton's the deficit and unemployment have shrunk, and neither of these presidents have gotten us involved in any new wars.
studyshare
(49 posts)We all know it; we just dont want to admit it.
Republicans are wholly owned and we have seen time and again that MOST democrats are too.
We need to remove this silliness of money in politics because if we don't our party will continue to shift more extreme Right to continue to chase the $. It is the only logical thing they would (and should) do. Hey, i am a Liberal but when you put me in a position of power it wont take me long to get a whiff of the green and may start to swing my vote in a different direction (away from the people) if it ends up padding my pocket a little more.
Enough is enough...clean house
silvershadow
(10,336 posts)whether or not Social Security survives uncut, and whether or not Obama care is implemented fully as intended, and if Obamacare was presented to us truthfully. (In other words, I'm quite concerned, still, and cautious. I intend to hold their feet to the fire every day, on through 2014 and then 2016). Not sure I will exhale until sometime after that.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)the Democratic party, for the most part. Though, I am to the Left of most of the individual Democrats in the center of the country. But then, they are where they are because that is where the people in their district/states are ... so I can't fault them.
And I'd far rather have a conservative/blue dog Democrat when we have a Democrat in the Whitehouse than the most liberal of republican, especially looking towards 2014 and 2016, when we are likely to see 2 SCOTUS seats open up.
Cal33
(7,018 posts)see other reasons for two of them to leave?
YoungDemCA
(5,714 posts)On issue after issue, the vast majority of Americans-Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike-are demonstrably to the Left of the politicians.
I think a more accurate statement would be: "They are where they are because that is where corporations and Wall Street want them to be."
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)on gun controll and other current issues. You do the same.
We can both report back. We will see what is who and where. Deal?
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)
Response to CobaltBlue (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
BethanyQuartz
(193 posts)The Democrats as too similar to the Republicans to even bother about for now. Strangely it is the staunchest enemies of social movements that we now need on our side: the FBI and the CIA. Arguably they are two of the most powerful forces in the world, particularly the CIA, which is possibly the most powerful organization in the world. Supposedly both agencies exist to defend America and Americans (including their own families), but they have historically betrayed us to the wealthy and powerful.
If enough agents come to realize that those they have always served are undermining our health, national security, economy, and freedom perhaps they will turn on their corporate masters and destroy the power those masters hold. Once that happens we can remove private money from politics and no longer suffer from lack of choices.
As much as I loathe both of these organizations, particularly the CIA, they are made up of human beings. Those human beings are mostly drawn from the middle and working classes, and their families mostly live in the United States. Doubtless many of these men and women take their oath to defend their country very seriously. They just need to realize they're focusing the wrong targets. By making the world safe for corporate takeover instead of for true democracy, they endanger America rather than defend it. If enough of them ever realize that, it's game over for corporate power. Make no mistake, many agents have already realized this. These organizations prefer to recruit intelligent people who know how to think. Some have quit, some have even turned whistle-blower. Doubtless others remain silent and hope everything will turn out okay if they just concentrate on their assigned areas.
The question is, how to reach enough of them to tip the balance? To convince them that we aren't the ones they should be fighting? I can tell you this: We can't do it by voting. Propaganda certainly won't work. These agencies rely on data. On facts. On threat assessment. Convince them that the biggest threat to America is corporate America and things will change very quickly for the better.
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)BethanyQuartz
(193 posts)uppityperson
(115,677 posts)BethanyQuartz
(193 posts)The agents working for these organizations are mostly like us more than they are like the people who have used them to kill and oppress us. Convince these people that the super rich are the real threat to the future of our country (and species) and there is a chance for us to have actual democracy instead of this sham that we do have.
I'm aware that the head of agencies like this are generally appointed by corporate-bought politicians, which is a problem, but the head can't control a completely unwilling body.
Edit: More clarification on how
Those of us interested in removing power from corporations should approach ex agents known to have quit in protest or become whistle blowers and get them to teach us not just what their agencies did to make them quit but exactly how agents are taught to think, how they assess different threats, and their current opinions on corporate power as a threat compared to, for example, religious extremists, leftists, or hate groups.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)
BethanyQuartz
(193 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)forestpath
(3,102 posts)I would never vote for a Republican - but I would also never vote for a Democrat who campaigned/voted against abortion rights or for SS/Medicare cuts, since I consider them no better than Republicans.
tabbycat31
(6,336 posts)There's been so much bitching here about how the Democrats are not progressive enough and complaining about Blue Dogs. Well then the same week, I asked the same question whether or not people were involved in their local Democratic Party and the overwhelming response was no. If you want a say in deciding who the candidates that run in your district are, get involved locally. In my state, there are conventions as well as primaries (the convention decides who gets the 'county line' but you can still run off the line but it's an uphill battle) and you can vote on your nominees. Consider running for office yourself.
And turning a red area progressive is a long-term project. Don't nominate a Dennis Kucinich type and expect him to win a red area.
I work on campaigns for a living, and all four races I've worked on are Blue Dog districts, where we would be DOA if we could not pick up ticket-splitters. It was just a reality of the district.
Fuddnik
(8,846 posts)RBInMaine
(13,570 posts)
Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)JFK, LBJ, Hubert Humphrey, Bobby Kennedy, Gene McCarthy, Mike Mansfield, Frank Church, Wayne Morse, William Proxmire, Birch Bayh, John Glenn. Howard Metzenbaum, Don Reigle, Claude Pepper and my all time heroes, Mo Udall and William O. Douglas. These guys were leaders-they voted their conscience and took stands that sometimes were courageous. They're why 50 years later I'm still a Democrat. If I was 20 today, I'd probably be Independent.
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)We have only two choices: Evil and slightly less than evil, but still evil.
The parties don't care about people, just $$$ and special interests.
The parties are failing America.
zeeland
(247 posts)A family member addicted to drugs or alcohol. Trapped between my
loyalty and lifelong dedication to the party vs. an increasing realization
how toxic and damaging continued support is for myself personally and
for my country. When I consider the alternative, repukes, it acts as
reinforcement to stay because things will be worse albeit in a different way.
Having voted third party in two Senate races in the last few years was
a mere protest vote since in both cases the Democrat was a guaranteed
winner.
When Obama ran in 2008 for the first time in my life I believed again in
all the naive bs I was raised on. Obama was going to be the FDR of my
lifetime. He was going to be the president my mother spoke of in her
lifetime as she would a beloved Uncle or even a father. A man who's
death still made her cry.
Admittedly, I set him up for failure by expecting too much and believing
every word that came so eloquently from his mouth. After eight years of
Bush/Cheney we all were desperate for our Democratic leaders to be the
very best they could be. it was so easy to forgive voting for the war and
all the other betrayals because that was all going to change after all we
had endured the last eight years. We had all looked into the abyss and
we never wanted to be on that edge again.
In all fairness Obama is a good man and a good president. He is not
exceptional. He is not progressive and he is controlled by corporate
and financial interests that have taken over the party and the country.
He is not powerful enough to buck the status quo for the millions that
believed he could be. This is as good as it's going to get and given that it
all pretty much sucks where do we go from here?
This was cathartic to write and I should delete, but what the hell
bemildred
(90,061 posts)
Big Tent
(85 posts)The current democratic party should be placing more effort on improving the socioeconomic status of ordinary Americans.
As for public safety the current democratic party should be place more effort to regulate Fertilizer Plants across the country to stop preventable deaths and casualties. The current democratic party needs to stop the losing battle of gun control that has no chance of passing the house of representatives and accomplishes nothing to make the American people safer.
Poll_Blind
(23,864 posts)Last edited Sun Apr 21, 2013, 01:42 PM - Edit history (1)
...been a huge disappointment to say the least. My representative for Lane County, Peter DeFazio, summed it up in an interview he gave, oh, about two years ago. At the time one of the best things he indicated he could say about President Obama's choices? "It could have been worse."
PB
hay rick
(7,613 posts)It should have been better.
You are represented by one of the good ones. I live in a reddish area of Florida, so I was happy to replace a wahoo (Allen West) with a young congressman (Patrick Murphy) who I expect to be a blue dog. Time will tell. I'm hoping he drifts to the left as he gains experience. I invested a fair amount of time and effort in his election: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021798362
Now that I am retired I have gotten active in my local Democratic Party. Participation, however, is not endorsement. I think the party is heading resolutely in the wrong direction and I want to help slam on the brakes and help turn it around.
Poll_Blind
(23,864 posts)About a year or two ago, I was trying to find out just how the Democratic party got filled with such poor representatives. I mean, that's a great question, isn't it? To wonder where it all started to go sideways. Anyway, I started looking at exactly how candidates received Democratic endorsements. Turns out, it really depends on the area. They can either be thorough or lax, it's all up to how they want to run the show in that area.
And there's the kicker.
I actually had real trouble finding much in the way of questionnaires, for instance, that candidates had to fill out/answer in as part of the process, for instance. Mostly, it essentially comes down to "I promise to be a good Democrat and look at these other people who support me."
PB
hay rick
(7,613 posts)My current fantasy is to find a young progressive in the area and help them move up through the ranks- starting with a local or state legislature office.
I attribute the lousy quality of many Democratic candidates to a couple of factors, including:
1. Republicans are generally well-financed and entrenched in the business community. Democrats often try to level the playing field by recruiting candidates with similar backgrounds. On average, this shifts candidates to the right.
2. The electorate is uninformed on many issues and the media are worse than useless in disseminating useful information. Having facts on your side is not as beneficial as it should be.
3. Modern politics attracts a lot of self-promoters who readily make the transition to shills for moneyed interests.
YoungDemCA
(5,714 posts)..in the two-party system, with the result being that much of the Democratic Party has moved to the Right as well, and is now the "mainstream, respectable" right-wing party-which the Republicans used to be.
There is no left-wing presence in the Democratic Party anymore. Corporations and Wall Street are increasing their stranglehold on American politics, and both parties are part of that.
supernova
(39,345 posts)in the process at this point. I'm very much to the left of what passes for a Dem who can be elected to office these days. My formative years were spent in the era of JFK and Johnson's Great Society, backed up by the history of FDR's reforms. I still believe in that transformative process. The idea that society can keep progressing, keep becoming more inclusive, more compassionate over time.
No one in public life talks about that anymore. Instead we talk about how to become more strict, more strident, more punishing by the day.
Like the person above me, I think the extreme rightward drift of the Republicans has pulled both parties to the right. It's sad and maddening. Makes me wonder why I bother sometimes. Perhaps I'm just cranky today.
I honestly wonder if I wouldn't be happier in one of the Scandinavian countries. 
Well, except for the weather.
dmosh42
(2,217 posts)
mvd
(65,173 posts)I wish all Democrats were like Warren, Sanders, former congressman Kucinich, Jackson-Lee, Sherrod Brown, Grayson, Grijalva, Conyers, etc. The Repukes are still clearly worse, but I feel the President and many Democrats only move the country to the right with their "moderate" policies and compromise. That is because Repukes are SO far to the right. I want to see more fighters for the middle class and poor in cabinet positions and appointments also. Naturally it is harder for progressive Democrats to win in red states, but our party discourages viable candidates like Ashley Judd from trying. Also, Baucus, Pryor, Heitkamp and Begich should be ashamed of themselves as they put fear above what 90% of Americans want. Even red state Democrats need to have SOME principles.
I hope though if our Party keeps winning that the pendulum will swing back to the left.
MrSlayer
(22,143 posts)And the Republicans are just flat out insane.
The working class has no representation anymore. Democrats are better on social issues but that's about it.
