Reply #60: That's all very true, as far as it goes. [View All]

But other things to also keep in mind.

There is also disagreement among the GOP. Many don't want the government to do nothing. They too want it to do something -- Blow things up in other countries, force you to behave as they want in your private life, put you "on watch" if you look or act a little bit different, and toss your ass out if you come here from another country, put a cross on the flag....etc.

Also, they don't really want to strip the government back from the economy. They want what's left to work for corporate abusers and Big Money. Subsidies for Big Oil and rules to rig the field for other business interests, and also to use privatization to make government a customer of the prison-industrial complex, military contractors etc. Also, fortunately, stripping back regulations does require doing things that requires legislative and administrative approval.

So the deck is not only stacked against Democrats/liberals in terms of needing some level of bipartisanship or other political and legal machinations.
Because of all this, it is not only a one-way street.

REGARDING MESSAGING: I believe that "messaging" and tactics are also important. There too Democrats and liberals fail miserably -- but could do much better if the doors were open liberal populism and the grass roots (not just progressives but blue collar types, etc.) instead of its increased dependence on the Beltway/Wall St./Corporate Axis of Insiders.

Obama has, at times, been absolutely brilliant and inspiring in terms of delivering a liberal Democratic message. So has Bill Clinton. The problem, is however, is they then undercut that by running to some mythical "center" instead of sticking to liberal guns. Democrats do not do not necessarily have to become Michael Moore -- But a lot more Bernie Sanders, Paul Wellstone, Ted Kennedy and even Tom Harkin liberalism would make a big difference-- if they backed that up with real action and commitment. . And focus especially on issues of Wealth and Power.

That (in my opinion) is how the Democrats could become much more potent politically, expose the sham at the heart of the modern GOP and do some actual good in the process.

Of course your mileage may vary.