One of the secrets of the Rethugs' political success

[pnwmom]

Much more than we do, they have each other's backs -- no matter how crazy some of them are. And when a Rethug is elected President, they support him strongly -- even those who opposed him in the past.

Not so with the Democrats. Which means when it comes time for another election, the Independents and less political types in the murky middle listen to the Rethugs complain about the Democrat President -- AND other Democrats complain about how inadequate he is. Why should the Independents, centrists, and apolitical people vote for Obama when even the Democrats don't seem enthused about him?

[Scuba]

1. Blind obedience leads to success - only in the very short run. Fact-based discourse...

...critical thinking and re-examination of beliefs are better in the long run.

Too bad the "very short run" is an election cycle and the "long run" is our People's destiny.

[Marr]

2. They're authoritarians-- that's what authoritarian followers do. The solution is not to

be more like the morons.

[Speck Tater]

3. The principle difference is...

Republicans want a strong leader who will tell them what to do.
Democrats want a flexible representative who will do what the people tell him to do.

[Historic NY]

4. Reagans Eleventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican

[al_liberal]

5. Not at this point in the game.

The r's have been spoon fed all of this bullshit for decades. We're just now seeing the endgame results of all of their work over those years. We, the Democrats, haven't had very many of these decades long plans pounded into our heads. Our problem is that we rely on the rationality of people to see through the bullshit that has been at the forefront of political discourse. We think that everyone thinks at the same level we view topics and this has been our downfall. The r's have been convincing everyone on the face of the earth that they would be millionaires if they didn't have to pay taxes to support "big government". Meanwhile, we continue to think along the margins and try to appeal to the sensibilities of the populace. How can you begin to compare the idea that, even though you make $5/hr, you would be a millionaire with lower taxes to the proposition that taxes need to be raised? We're playing chess to their running a soup kitchen. People understand that which has a direct impact on their lives, meanwhile talk to our platitudes of equality.

[rurallib]

6. I think their biggest success is in owning and controlling the media

When Democratic ideas are not even mentioned and even the wackiest of Repug ideas are hailed as "courageous" (see Ryan budget) we ain't got a chance.

[leftstreet]

7. No offense, but it helps to have a Democratic President who acts like one n/t