Democrats Seek to Outmaneuver Republicans by Imitating Their Strategy

[CatWoman]

For inspiration, Democrats these days appear to be looking more to Newt Gingrich than to Dick Gephardt, more to Bill Kristol than to Al From, and more to George W. Bush than Bill Clinton.

Democrats aren't taking ideological cues from these Republican leaders. It's their tactics and political strategy that's attracting Democrats.

Over roughly the last 15 years — but especially since Bush's election in 2000 — Republicans have imposed a level of order and unified direction on their party unmatched in recent history. Recovering from the drift and division that crippled George H.W. Bush's presidency, Republicans have molded themselves into a party with a common conservative ideology that largely follows central direction from the White House and congressional leadership and punishes dissent on its top priorities, like tax cuts.

To discourage dissent, Democrats are also adapting Republican techniques. Though still not as tough as the GOP, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) is moving more forcefully than Gephardt, her predecessor, to threaten Democrats who back Bush with the loss of prized committee seats.

Privately, Democratic interest groups have discussed the creation of a liberal equivalent to the Club for Growth that would campaign against defecting Democrats. The online liberal behemoth MoveOn.org is already targeting ads at the one House Democrat — Florida's Allen Boyd — backing Bush on Social Security.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-outlook14feb14,1,1245363.column?coll=la-utilities-politics&ctrack=2&cset=true

[Cha]

1. I'm all for that! If ya wanta back

bush then don't come to the table!

[Blue_State_Elitist]

3. okay but

What if the party leadership decided to go pro-life for instance. Would it be okay then to go after defectors?

[Cha]

8. That's hypothetical apples and oranges..I'm glad Pelosi

is cracking down on those wimpy little bush enablers.

[Just Me]

11. IF the "party leadership" went for government control over women's bodies,

,...I seriously, freakin' DOUBT that Moveon would follow that leadership. If it did, it would no longer be the advocacy that it is.

What Moveon IS, THIS DAY, is more important to me than some "what if" which I can only deal with, when that "what if" happens.

Ya' can chew and brew numbers,...but ya' can never, ever, in the long-term, spot human beings,...EVER.

Those who do "spot" the most vulnerable of humanity, are the most evil of human beings.

[Nite Owl]

2. Good for Moveon

Should have been done years ago. I know we can't always agree on all issues but there are certain votes that must be a show of unity.

(Actually I can't see any of his policies that could get a pass to vote for.)

[KittyWampus]

5. Wait! Just Yesterday DU Told Me MoveOn Was A DLC Traitor Organization

I'm so confused :silly:

[proudbluestater]

4. Can't anybody frame an article without giving undue credit to Repukes?

Why does "party discipline" have to necessarily mean you are taking a page from the Republican playbook? Is there no possibility that the Democrats have heard enough from their own constituents, and especially their backers, to realize that voting for ANYTHING this cabal proposes is just freaking BAD NEWS?

[LittleClarkie]

6. For those who say the Dems aren't enough of an opposition party

And that they're not tough enough, how about it now.

Whoa. I dunno. Could be something good. I'm not exactly liking the Club for Growth for the left idea coming out of Dem interest groups like Moveon.org. Hope that doesn't backfire, causing us to lose seats to the Repubs ala Daschle. The Repubs have enough fun campaigning against Dems. We shall see.

[Democrat Dragon]

7. should have been done four years ago

then agiain better late than never. The Dems are finally learning, and it took a "loss" for them to realize they have a problem.

[Just Me]

9. The "leadership" sets the tone which we are forced to overcome!

We have no choice but to do whatever it takes to BEAT THE BULLIES,...the bullies who have created a divided environment.

We cannot overcome with so many "popularity-types" standing on the sidelines,...doing NOTHING.

Our lives are NOT a popularity contest. Those who supposedly represent our interests can either "look good" or do their job. Their job is to PROTECT those who placed their vote and trust in them.

Their job is to dispossess the assholes of "the people's" playground!!!

Once they do their job,...then, we can go forward in "spreading democracy" and "freedom" and "liberty",...and PEACE.

[Skidmore]

18. Until I saw your post, I was about to say that the Grassroots need to

beat the erstwhile leadership of the Democratic party first. I have no use for about 60% of the people in elected office in this party now, especially in Congress. I have no use for them or the operatives that are feeding at the trough with them.

[meow2u3]

10. Democrats seek to beat Republicans at their own game

That's what the headline would read if I were the editor.

[theworldiswatching]

12. "Democrats seek to beat Republicans"

"Democrats seek to beat Republicans"

That's what the headline would read if I had my way.

[Just Me]

13. "Democrats Seek to BEAT Republicans" is what is needed,...

,...by "the people".

Yes? :bounce:

[LittleClarkie]

15. Like red-headed step-children

they forgot to add.

[Piperay]

14. Good

it's about time the Democratic Party got on the ball. :thumbsup:

[NVMojo]

16. they will need someone better than Rove to pull it off to a higher level .

[CWebster]

17. Hell, I would threaten their political futures

That is how much is at stake.

But it isn't actually the tactics shifting--it is the direction. Under the "Centrist" loss of identity, they were instructed to goosestep along with the Regressives.

Pete Du Pont used to have this forum, where articles from across the political spectrum were posted each week, following a general theme. Following the articles were threads for discussion and often the authors would participate. I can recall arguing with Ed Kilgore that what he was up to made me really uneasy because I thought he was weakening the party's purpose through "modernizing". I have been fighting the "New Democrats" ever since.