If this is true, we are doomed in November

[Kelvin Mace]

Newsflash: According to this article in Roll Call, Congressional Democrats privately admit they really want to lose the 2006 midterm elections!

Okay, the article doesn't actually say that, but it might as well, since it is all about how Democrats have decided that the way to win in November is -- I kid you not -- to make the economy the central issue of the campaign.

"We've got to go on the offensive," explained a senior Democratic aide, "and keep our eye on the ball -- and that's the economy"

"We're not going to win 15 seats on the war in Iraq," said another Democratic staffer, insisting it is the economy that will, in the words of Roll Call, "bring the party across the goal line."

Sen. Debbie Stabenow is quoted as saying the 2006 election "is all about jobs."

And, in a memo sent to Democratic staffers, the party's Senate leadership claimed "while Iraq may be high among the concerns of the American people, it is a distant reality in comparison to the day to day challenges many families face filing their gas tanks, paying for college, saving for retirement and securing a job."

A distant reality? Oh. My. God.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/deja-vu-all-over-again_b_29977.html

If the Dem leadership spends the next six weeks pushing the economy and ignoring Iraq, we will lose completely.

We need to get on the phone and tell Stabenow, et al, that "it's the fascist regime America has turned into, stupid!"

[MamaBear]

1. We. Are. Dead. And. This. Is. Hell.

Stephen King had a character in The Stand say that. Nadine Cross, the Chosen One, wife of Randall Flagg, the demon in us all.

They are so out of touch. It's staggering to contemplate.

[mmonk]

2. The only thing I figure is they must agree in part

with the republicans on foreign affairs, terrorism legislation that conflicts with the rights of Americans, and aggressive war to conquer the middle east. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense.

[Sammy Pepys]

3. Ugh....

If they decide to go full bore on the economy, that's definitely a losing issue.

[blm]

4. This is Carville and Clinton at work. A political reporter told me there

is some buzz on the election fraud issues, but Dem strategists (reClinton, Carville, Begala) have told Dems NOT to bring it up and not to bring up Iraq withdrawal because it makes Dems sound weak and whiny.

Fock that. The people are concerned about Iraq - they need to KNOW about voting machine fraud. And Carville wants to play "It's the economy, stupid" game when we are nowhere in the same media climate as we were in 1992.

[Kelvin Mace]

10. Yeah, because nothing has changed

since 1992, has it? :sarcasm:

And didn't Clinton make some noises yesterday moving to the Right on torture?

[ixion]

5. why are politicians so freakin' stupid?

oh, sorry. I guess that question answers itself.

[Binka]

6. The Meme That Bush Is POPULAR Again Has Already Reached Fever Pitch

You know why the media pushes this shit...so they can EXPLAIN the theft!

[rhiannon55]

7. Oh. My. God.

is right. Are the Congressional Democrats THAT out of touch? How is it that WE know what the central issue is for American voters, and they don't? Are they so close to the fascism that they can't see or smell it? God, it reeks so bad we can smell it all the way out here in the heartland!

You're right. We're doomed. :scared:

[Individualist]

15. They ARE that out of touch.

Utterly clueless. :crazy:

[Armstead]

8. We can walk and chew gum at the same time

I agree with those who say "It's the economy, stupid."

The Democrats should carve out the image as the party who is agfgressivelty protecting the financial interests of the middle class and the disadvantaged, while also dealing with the security issues.

[Kelvin Mace]

13. Sorry, I disagree

The GOP is successful because it picks one issue and harps on it. The Dems are picking the wrong issue. They should be hammering on Iraq and the GOP's complicity and the greatest military disaster since Vietnam.

[Armstead]

25. It usually picks a few issues

04 -- GOP Message: Democrats Weak on Terror, They'll Raise Your Taxes, They'll Advance the Gay Agenda.

Part of what Rove and the GOP do is set up numerous diversions, so Democrats have to fight on several fronts simultaneously.

That's what the Democrats can do from the opposite side. Put the GOP on the defensive about the economy, while also pushing about the debacle in Iraq.

[Kelvin Mace]

41. Also note that they are saying

they can't win on Iraq, so they will NOT make that an issue.

[snappyturtle]

17. ABSOLUTELY!

Why can't the Democrats do BOTH! Personally, I think both the economy and Iraq are very important!

[blm]

21. The economy is PART of it - it's a war economy where the profiteers are

laughing and the working class is getting pushed into the military because there are no other jobs left for them.

You cannot just concentrate on jobs only and leave Iraq and election integrity buried.

[Nite Owl]

39. We are on the same thoughtwave today!

That was my first thought I was going to post: can't we walk and chew gum at the same time.

We have been canvassing with a list of topics to ask which is most important. People look at it and say 'all of them' but by far healthcare, jobs and the economy are the ones that are chosen. People are worried about the state we are in, the war is important but people have the feeling that they themselves, their families are sinking and sinking fast.

[Kelvin Mace]

42. Again, my caveat for this post is:

IF this is true.

That said, as I pointed out to another poster, they are saying they will AVOID Iraq as an issue. This would be FOLLY if true. They are conceeding the whole issue to the GOP.

[Nite Owl]

53. If they are going to avoid Iraq

as an issue altogether than it is wrong. What people see is a lot of issues, there is no one defining issue, everything is going the wrong way. A comprehensive message would be to change direction to American needs and American values.

[Demobrat]

9. Well it's true.

The war IS a distant reality for most people. And it will stay that way until there's an official draft, not just a back-door one. What I don't understand is why it has to be one or the other. The war AND the economy are disasters. THAT should be the message.

[progressisvirtue]

11. WTF. WHAT

oh yeah, i forgot corporations controlled congress and nothing ever gets done...

silly me.

[Keepontruking]

54. the sky is falling

Get a grip
Iraq
dictator Bush
loss of personal freedoms Ie: speech, bugs, shoes off in
airports(only in America folks)
No weapons of mass destruction
We have nuclear weapons why shouldn't they???
WE owe the Chinese Government trillions of dollars aren't they
communist...isn't Iran??
Where are all are troops...the rest is in down time and ready
to quit!!!
Bush has screwed every American out of every penny for his
personal gain for gas...food has gone up plus every household
NEED 
If people can't see this then we live in a doomed country
anyway and I would leave... that simple.......

Circus Girl

[Freedom_from_Chains]

12. Your right, if this is true we are done for.

For some reason just the thought of being politically aggressive seems to cause Democrats to quake in their boots.

[Kelvin Mace]

24. Sadlu, some of these people have bought into the GOP's fear campaign

I got into a HEATED argument with Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) on the Patriot Act II, which he staunchly defended as neccesary. I told him that we one the Cold War again an enemy with the power to destroy the world with a Patriot Act, why did we need one now. He launched right into the GOP talking points: Protect our children, different world today that before (a variation of the "pre-9/11 mentality argument), and all that crap. He sincerely believed what he was saying and all I could think of was the mantra against fear from Dune

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

[OneBlueSky]

14. BushCo CANNOT lose either house of Congress in November . . .

and they will do whatever is necessary -- legal or illegal -- to ensure that they don't . . .

not only are the Democrats working the wrong issues, they've also failed to make an issue of election fraud that both we and they know has been rampant at least since 2000 . . .

I just don't understand the Democratic Party . . . I really don't . . .

[Kelvin Mace]

27. I agree that the GOP must do everything

to win. I just don't understand why the Democrats want to help them win.

[KingFlorez]

16. Let's stop the panic

I'm confident there is more to this. Do you really think the leadership is going to reveal the strategy for the last few weeks of the campaign? No. They have something up their sleeve.

[Tesha]

22. Of course, we're told that for *EVERY* election.

And every election then amounts to "more nothing".

Tesha

[snappyturtle]

23. I hope you're right but I don't think the Democrats are THAT

smart! I know that's a really sick thing to say. They act like the minority that they are.

[Kelvin Mace]

28. I am still waiting for the Dems to

show me their strategy for stopping Alito and Robertson, the fights they "kept their powder dry" for.

We should know it any day now. Real soon. Yep, could happen any second.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

29. Maybe it's in addition to talking about Iraq. We can't just be abt 1 issue

n/t

[Kelvin Mace]

43. No,

They are specifically saying the will AVOID Iraq.

[Old and In the Way]

18. There are 2 universal messages that I want Democrats to addressing

in this mid-term-

(1) Recognizing the Republican threat to disrupt and distort and/or commit outright election fraud in this cycle....and, if it occurs again, what is the plan for 2008? 100% Support for the Let America Vote Act.

(2) I want Democrats to support the call for impeachment. I want them to condemn the majority(?) Party for the governing atrocities of the past 6 years. They do this by holding this pResident accountable. Democrats allowed the 'Pubs to impeach Clinton on nothing charges...but they won't call for impeachment on a pResident that lies about the causus belli and breaches the Geneva Convention? WTF????


If they don't make these the 2 primary messages, I'm seriously wondering why.

Maybe the bloggosphere can send a carrot/stick message to our Democratic leadership. Support us on the issues that matter or we'll promote our own candidates/solutions unaligned with the Democratic Party in the future.

[BootinUp]

19. Whats the matter, can't walk and chew gum

at the same? Hit em with everything you got you idiots.

[electprogdems]

20. uh no Sorry

every part of the country is different, and it my area, people are talking about gas prices, food prices, the fact that all the new jobs pay very little, the lack of high paying family wage jobs, the cost of medical care for their family. The iraq war looms large for those of us that pay close attention to politics, but believe me, most people do not, paying much more attention to the condition of their day to day lives. Sorry if that is offensive to you, but strickly focusing on Iraq will lose us the elections.

[Individualist]

40. Wrong

Polls show that voters' primary concern is Iraq.

Iraq #1 concern, economy #3.
www.usatoday.com/news/polls/tables/live/2006-09-18-poll.htm


Among those voters who say national issues are motivating them at the ballot box, the war in Iraq is clearly the most important single issue, with 22% indicating they will cast their ballot based on the conflict. Terrorism, meanwhile, follows at 14% www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1172

Again this month, the war in Iraq tops the list of issues for the government to address
www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=698

[Cerridwen]

26. "...they would rather save their energies for 2008..."

Democratic Party leaders have told me something that they will not admit in public -- that they have basically written off 2004 (post note: and 2006?); that they see little chance of defeating George W. Bush. (post note: or the republicans in 2006?) They would rather save their energies for 2008 when Hillary or one of their bigger marquee names -- whoever the hell that may be -- will run and win.

What?! What low-life, anti-Democrat, scumbag would say such a thing?! Source?!

"Dude, Where's My Country?" by Michael Moore, page 204, 6th paragraph.


Oh well, I'm sure he doesn't know what he's talking about, er, in this case.

[filer]

30. This smells like the DLC.

If so, then it's decided. We Progressives are the ugly stepchildren of the Democratic party and are out-of-step with our Republicrat leaders. If the "strategy" is to avoid Iraq as a primary election issue, I fear for our chances in November.

[partylessinOhio]

31. If the Dems only have one bullet to put in the gun - forget about it!

You got to hit them with everything you got. Believe me you got plenty to hit the Repugs with.

[Kelvin Mace]

44. Yes, but they are backing away from Iraq

and concentrating on the economy. The Economy is weak, and headed for disaster. Iraq IS a diaster and is draining of us of blood anmd treasure.

By 2008 the economy will be the major issue since all of the damage done the last six years will come home to roost about then.

Iraq/Katrina/GOP corrtuption/Incompetence ARE the issues NOW!!

[bowens43]

32. Sounds like a good plan.

Everyone already knows that Republicans are responsible for the disaster in Iraq. No need to toot that horn. Now in addition to the Republicans being blamed (as they are by most Americans) for the quagmire, they'll also be blamed for the mess that bush has made of the economy, the increase in poverty, the rise in the cost of health care, the lack of an increase in the minimum wage, the high gas, the lack of high paying jobs and the coming collapse of the real estate bubble.



Where's the down side?

[Kelvin Mace]

47. Gas prices are falling

(Thanks to Baby Bush's buddies at Big Oil)

The economy is slowing down, but is not the disaster Iraq is.

By avoiding Iraq, they avoid our strongest card to focus on an issue that is further down the list for most Americans.

[Bandit]

33. Why is it always either or?

Do they think Democrats can not chew gum and walk at the same time. I think our entire efforts should be "Throw the Bums Out" for thousands of reasons..

[imfreaky]

34. here it is people

It's called divide and conquer. With so many dems taking different stances on policy issues etc. It comes off sounding like we are not unified. And then that looks like we're just a bunch of confused cry babies. We're turning on our own party in Connecticut, we're bashing Hillary on the national front cause she wants a slower withdrawl from Iraq than others. They are laughing there asses off cause we are being minipulated. And we can't go on the economy. It's pretty frickin' good right now for most. I think the Iraq war is the best angle. But I'm just a dude who should be working, but I'm here instead.

[Ganja Ninja]

35. I have mixed emotions about this.

On the one hand I can't wait to get rid of the Republican congress.

On the other hand if the Democrats take over congress and then start meddling in the war the GOP can claim that they screwed it up.

The shit will eventually hit the fan hard and when it does I'd rather the Dem's not be in the way.

[INdemo]

36. I dont put too much credibility in the Huffington Post

Too belive this is to fall for the republican propaganda at its best.....

[Kelvin Mace]

49. She's quoting a piece from Roll Call

Which is the pub all the Kewl Kidz in Washington talk to.

[Imagevision]

37. I don't believe everything I read...

[Imagevision]

38. The sky is falling! - more news at 11:00...

[Kelvin Mace]

50. Neither do I,

which is why I said "If this is true..."

[gkhouston]

45. And Iraq isn't tied to the economy??!!?!

Haven't they done the math on how much money we're pouring down that rabbit hole? On how the children of some voters will get sucked into that maelstrom because it's the only way they can possibly afford college? Have they figured out how much it should cost us to properly take care of the poor vets who have been mangled by their experience, when they're lucky enough to come home? What about all the tax dollars going to war profiteers like Halliburton? :banghead:

[Leopolds Ghost]

46. Ed Schultz just said this election is about "Nat'l Security

"and Scarin' the Living Daylights out of People...

and that's the Republican strategy."

which is why stuff like Musharraf is so important, says Schultz.

[Connie_Corleone]

48. This has got to be a joke! The economy!

It's the war in Iraq, stupid! Didn't Democrats try to run on the economy last time? What good did that do them?

[Leopolds Ghost]

51. Which tells you DLC will do nothing that costs money

because that would cut into money needed for the Global War on Terror in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, etc.

Which fits into DLC / Republicrat strategy.

Here's where DLC policies could lead us:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2196504

[warrens]

52. War. Insurance. Jobs.

You need all three. If you just bitch about jobs, the employed may be a bit disgruntled, but not that much. Same goes with the other two. There are people who just don't care about the war (although a lot fewer than those inside the beltway types seem to think there are) and people with health insurance aren't under a lot of pressure, yet. But there is NO ONE that is not suffering because of one of the three, and maybe even all three.

Throwing all eggs into one basket is a REAL bad idea.

[aikoaiko]

55. No where does the article talk about ignoring Iraq

Iraq will only gets us so far and it might not be enough. Capture a few terrorists, a lull in fighting, producing OBL on camera dead of alive, a "found" bio-chem warhead, some other good news from the front, and Iraq evaporates as a winning issue.

Its wise to articulate a good economic message in addition to opposing the war.