Obama's theme of reaching out to Republicans is disturbing, & it's starting to get very old already

[mtnsnake]

Fuck Republicans. I'd like to reach out to Republicans and give them all a little slap like they deserve.

Our party is already the wimpiest party in political history, and we don't need Senator Obama making it even wimpier when we're on the verge of taking total control of power. WTF is he trying to pull with this DLC routine of reaching out to Republicans? History should tell us that anytime Democrats have reached out to Republicans, all we've gotten for our efforts is one big kick in the teeth. If we are fortunate to put one of our people in the White House, then let the frigging Republicans reach out to us instead. It's not time to reach out to them.

It's time to get TOUGH with them.

Reaching out to Republicans means compromising on issues as important as all the environmental laws that Bush rolled back the minute he got into office. Do we really want to reach out to Republicans and compromise on the environment, or do we want take the environment back and preserve it in its entirety? Do we want loggers logging SOME of our National Parks or NONE of our National Parks? Do we want them wiping out SOME of the wolves in Alaska or NONE of the wolves in Alaska? I say NONE.

If we have the power, fuck reaching out to them and to hell with compromising with those barbaric assholes. Besides, we are Democrats. There is no need for us to turn into Demublicans.

[K Gardner]

1. We'll be glad to leave you alone with your hate and bitterness. Three more days.

[mtnsnake]

3. Your the only one who is hateful, just by virtue of your tone here

I'm just pointing out the truth and if you don't like it, tough shit.

[femrap]

48. These BOers truly have their heads up their

arses...have they paid any attention to the past 7 years at all? Even Jesus would be angry...he'd be throwing those money-changer's tables everywhere!

[Yael]

27. 3 more days! 3 more days!

:woohoo:

[Evergreen Emerald]

2. Pelosi had the theme too...look where it got her. She reached out

and they slapped her hand. The house and Senate have done nothing. Gridlock is rampant with the idea of "reaching out" and "compromise."

[mtnsnake]

5. She did more than just reach out. She jumped right in the sack & we got kicked in the teeth

but good point, EE.

[Tellurian]

93. Thats Nancy taking care of Nancy....

snake did you see Hill on SNL?

She was awesome!

GO HILLARY!

http://www.taylormarsh.com/images2/hillaryclinton_wideweb__470x308,02.jpg

[skipos]

4. Yes, we need to elect triangulating, nafta loving, IWR voting HILLARY to RESCUE US!

Go Hil!
:woohoo:

[mtnsnake]

6. Sure, hijack the thread & make it about Hillary even tho she isn't the 1 reaching out to Repukes

[NJSecularist]

13. The Clintons are the masters of triangulation

[mtnsnake]

20. and Obama's theme of reaching out to Republicans is DLC in tone

and that just is not acceptable. The guy wants it both ways and that won't cut it in a General Election.

[Arkana]

86. Yes, we should shun any attempt to work together

and instead be bitter and secretive as we exact our sweet, sweet revenge on the GOP!

Give it a rest. I'd prefer to get things done, thanks.

[femrap]

51. And BO has made a deal with The

Corporation...his new found Daddy. He even is supporting Blackwater, the most vile of Corporations.

At least HRC has a spine and will stand up to the repugnants.

[TheWraith]

67. Care to post proof of that? Oh wait, you can't, because it's not true.

As opposed to the fact that Hillary Clinton's top strategist is the CEO of Blackwater's PR firm.

[femrap]

94. Check out Democracy Now! on Friday

...Jeremy Skahill was on. He wrote the bestselling book on Blackwater....he was discussing BO and Blackwater...

It might have been Thursday...go to Amy's website and she'll list the guests...look for Jeremy.

[skipos]

19. Yes, she NEVER has talked about reaching out to Republicans

In response to a question about whether she is too polarizing, she replied,
"When I started running for the Senate in New York, I heard the same things. And what I did was to reach out to Republicans, Democrats, independents, rural, urban."

She has NEVER supported NAFTA, and voted against the IWR too. Go HILLARY!
:woohoo:

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

43. er her advisor and McCain's advisor are in same firm

if that isnt Bi Partisan campaigning, what is.

Not to mention Hillary joining Bush and McCain in attacking fellow Dem Obama

[TheWraith]

66. No, she's just BEING a Republican.

Sliming, terror-mongering, military brinksmanship, and following the Bush policy of not talking to people we disagree with.

But hey, just keep denying and repressing the massive weaknesses of your candidate.

[Auntie Bush]

30. Hypocrite! Obama's not triangulating when he reaches out to Rethugs and India's?

Oh I forgot...Obama doesn't do anything political...he's as pure as the newly driven snow we have piled up outside the door. All his "present" votes show he is a political coward and can't take the heat in the oven. We need someone with the courage to take a stand in the White House.

You have no idea or proof Obama wouldn't have voted for the IWR...IF he had been in the senate and planing on running for president. Hillary would have never been allowed to even run for that office if she had voted "no".
Remember how they laughed at Kerry for his no vote for IW1? Remember, ALL the candidates voted for it. How come Hillary is the only one who's responsible? If you had any understanding at all ...you'd be more forgiving instead of just jumping on the bandwagon. Try thinking and reasoning for yourself. You'd be a smarter person.

[mtnsnake]

35. Amen, AB!!

Thank you for so aptly pointing out the hypocrisy of it all! :thumbsup:

[Name removed]

68. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

65. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[indimuse]

75. finally!

"Where's the PROOF" is the right question and should be the rebut from now on!

[Auntie Bush]

89. Wow, Looks like I missed all the fun !

:evilgrin: Must have hit a nerve or something. :applause:

[tabatha]

7. You're projecting.

[Exilednight]

8. Hillary said she would reach out to repugs, but I guess that's different because it's Hillary?

[Evergreen Emerald]

11. And when she did, there were complaints that she was betraying the party

double standard.

[Exilednight]

17. I never bashed her for reaching out to repugs. It's going to have to be done if we want to pass ...

any bills. I believe we will pick up seats in the Senate and House, but I'm not convinced it will be 60%.

[mtnsnake]

14. Hillary never made that her theme, but nice try at diverting this to Hillary

This is Obama we're talking about. If you don't think that he's the one who's pushing it in his campaign to reach out to Republicans then you should take up a different hobby.

[Evergreen Emerald]

24. she absolutely did. And whenever she did it, DU called her a traitor.

The memory here on DU is so shallow.

[movonne]

9. God I will be glad when this primary season is over...so tired of

all this shit around here...it would be nice to see all united here against the real enemies of this country...

[mtnsnake]

15. What, Hillary supporters aren't allowed to express disaproval of reaching out to Republicans??

Wow what a thin skin you people have

[LaurenG]

45. I'm with you, move over a little

:hi:

[casus belli]

10. Why don't we just divide the country in half

Oh wait, yeah. We tried that.

I'm sorry you have a tendency towards hating people you've never met, or that you think there are no Republicans with redeeming qualities, but I'm not sure you can call yourself a progressive and not be willing to expand the tent. I'm not suggesting that Republicans who are unwilling to negotiate or listen or to evolve should be invited, but why would you presumptuously disregard people who are willing to listen and to work with people who don't share all of their political ideals? The Republicans aren't going anywhere, they have one vote just like you and me, and they have to live in the country that WE create with our votes. So why WOULDN'T you want to hear what they have to say, if they are willing to do the same?

[femrap]

55. That is sounding more and more like a good idea....

The South could have had W as Prez and The North could have had Kerry. I am really tired of the NASCAR bubbas telling me what to do.

[mtnsnake]

57. I'm with you. n/t

[Guava Jelly]

12. I am begining to think that you don't like Obama

Is it just me?:dunce:
Do you need a hug?

[mtnsnake]

16. When I'm away from this hateful forum, I like Obama and defend him as much as anyone

when I'm stuck talking to Republicans, but I'm not going to sit here and praise him for something like this idiotic message of his of reaching out to Republicans when I know it's just an empty election ploy that goes along with his equally empty slogan of hope and change that he can never seem to explain.

[Guava Jelly]

22. .

"idiotic message of his of reaching out to Republicans"
You are right nothing positive ever happened by talking and reaching out to our enemies.
We should just close the UN..

[Not the Only One]

25. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act

"By helping to lift the veil of secrecy in Washington, this database will help make us better legislators, reporters better journalists, and voters more active citizens," Obama said. "It's both unusual and encouraging to see interest groups and bloggers on the left and the right come together to achieve results. This powerful grassroots alliance shows that at the end of the day, Americans want to see Congress work together to get something done and not continue to engage in the partisan gridlock that so often brings Capitol Hill to a grinding halt."

"Every American has the right to know how their government spends their money, and then to hold elected officials accountable for those decisions. I applaud my colleagues for unanimously supporting a bill that will aid the American people in that effort," Dr. Coburn said. "This bill is a small but significant step toward changing the culture in Washington. Only by fostering a culture of openness, transparency and accountability will Congress come together to address the mounting fiscal challenges that threaten our future prosperity."

"The group that deserves credit for passing this bill, however, is not Congress, but the army of bloggers and concerned citizens who told Congress that transparency is a just demand for all citizens, not a special privilege for political insiders. Their remarkable effort demonstrates that our system of government does work when the people take the reins of government and demand change," Dr. Coburn said.

It's not rhetoric. Coburn has a 2006 rating from the American Conservative Union of 100/100. Bill Frist and John Kerry, among others, co-sponsored S. 2590. Obama is about action and not all Republicans are the spawn of Satan and worse than Hitler. Obama realizes that. He wants to govern everyone as President, not just blue states.

[Melinda]

50. "Coburn-Obama Transparency Act", " Defense Authorization Act " with Kit Bond, Hurricane Katrina ...

financial oversight bill with Tom Coburn...

Yeah, all that working with republicans is just plain evil!! Here are some evil examples of how Obama works with those bastards for the downfall of us all!!! :

Sept. 22, 2005: Obama and Coburn’s Hurricane Katrina financial oversight bill unanimously passes Senate committee.

Sept. 28, 2005: Obama and Coburn issue statement about the need for a Chief Financial Officer to oversee the financial mismanagement and suspicious contracts occurring in the reconstruction process

Sept. 29, 2005: Obama and Coburn investigate possible FEMA refusal of free cruise ship offer

Oct. 6, 2005: Obama and Coburn issue statement on FEMA Decision to re-bid Katrina contracts

Nov. 17, 2005: Obama and Coburn introduce legislation asking FEMA to immediately re-bid all Katrina reconstruction contracts.

June 15, 2006: Obama and Coburn announce legislation to require amendment to create competitive bidding for Hurricane Katrina reconstruction for federal contracts over $500,000. Although it passed previously, the language was stripped in conference.

June 16, 2006: Obama and Coburn get no-bid Hurricane Katrina reconstruction amendment into Department of Defense authorization bill.

July 14, 2006: Obama and Coburn’s legislation to end abuse of no-bid contracts passes senate as amendment to Department of Defense authorization bill.

August 14, 2006: Obama and Coburn ask FEMA to address ballooning no-bid contracts for Gulf Coast reconstruction

Sept. 29, 2006: Obama and Coburn legislation to prevent abuse of no-bid contracts in the wake of disaster passes Senate to be sent to President’s desk to become law.

July 27, 2007: Obama and colleagues get a measure in the Homeland Security bill that will investigate FEMA trailers that may contain the toxic chemical, formaldehyde.

In 2005, Senator Obama traveled to the former Soviet Union with Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) to investigate the dangers posed by unsecured weapons. The two senators returned from the trip and introduced legislation to establish the next generation of the Nunn-Lugar initiative. Senator Obama helped shepherd this legislation through Congress and it was signed into law in January 2007.

He worked with Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) on the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, a version of which was signed into law.

On July 19, 2005, Senator Obama passed a bipartisan amendment, along with Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Judd Gregg (R-NH) to provide $13 million for the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Signed into law in November 2005, the Obama amendment provides critical funding to keep the Court up and running and dramatically enhances efforts to bring Charles Taylor to justice. Taylor was arrested in 2006 and awaits trial in April 2007.

Senator Obama led a bipartisan effort to raise CAFE fuel economy standards, which have remained frozen for 20 years because of congressional gridlock. He developed an innovative approach to gradually increase CAFE standards while protecting the financial future of American automakers. The resulting Obama-Lugar-Biden bill would establish concrete targets for annual CAFE increases while giving industry the flexibility to meet those targets.

Gas stations will now be eligible for generous tax credits for installing E85 ethanol refueling pumps, thanks to a law advocated by Senator Obama and Senator Jim Talent (R-MO). The tax credit covers 30 percent of the costs of switching one or more traditional petroleum pumps to E85.

Obama introduced legislation with Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) to require 2 billion gallons of alternative diesels, such as biodiesel, to be produced domestically by 2015.

Senator Obama worked with Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) to introduce the American Fuels Act that would increase the domestic production, distribution, and use of biofuels, including expanded manufacture of flexible fuel vehicles, tax credits for biofuels, and a nationwide distribution infrastructure.

Senator Obama and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), launched a Government Accountability Office investigation of large oil companies to see if they are fighting the installation of alternative fuel pumps. That investigation will be completed in April 2007. Increasing the Clean Use of Illinois Coal

Senator Obama worked with Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) to secure $85 million for research into a process that will turn Illinois-basin coal into clean-burning fuel for cars and trucks (Fischer-Tropsch fuels). Coal fuel has powered all of South Africa's cars and trucks for the last 50 years. The research could help us one day satisfy our energy needs from Illinois' coal mines instead of Saudi Arabia's oil fields.

Yep, that compromise is pure evil! None of us need any of ^^^^ crap!!!

[femrap]

64. I'd like to see the 'version' of

the Darfur Peace & Accountability that was signed into law....and why is Darfur still a mess? Brownback loves the gag rule, you know? Probably wants the Darfur women to carry to term their rapists' baby and suffer as well with fistula.

Some of this legislation is toothless.

Biofuels....corn? The world starves as corn is used as fuel. Use hemp.

Increasing CAFE standards...we've been screaming for that since the mid-70's. Many of us have lived thru all of this shit before and are used to the empty promises, the issued statements, and toothless legislation. It's busy work all done so to trot it out before the elections. People are still living in poisonous FEMA trailers...New Orleans is still a massive mess...

Eastern coal is still dirty.

And I'm damn glad to see that BO is for justice in Sierra Leone while Justice here in the US wilts...1 out 100 people in the US are in prison.

Critical analysis is no longer taught in American Schools...now opinions are facts.

BTW, what has BO introduced that would help working/poor women and children here in the US?

[Melinda]

87. His legislative history and policy positions are all on the net: links below

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/womenissues

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/additional/Obama_Child_Advocacy.pdf

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/DomesticViolenceFactSheet.pdf

http://www.bellnational.org/news.htm

http://obama.senate.gov/press/071003-legislation_int/

http://www.sovo.com/2007/5-25/Obama.pdf

http://files.meetup.com/400845/Women%20Policy%20Fact%20Sheet%20.doc

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/statements/obama.html

I feel bad that you couldn't find anything good out of all I posted initially; perhaps --or maybe not-- you'll find something you agree with above.

Happy reading. :hi:

[femrap]

92. Words aren't actions;

"From the first moment a woman dared to speak that hope - dared to believe that the American Dream was meant for her too - ordinary women have taken on extraordinary odds to give their daughters the chance for something else; for a life more equal, more free, and filled with more opportunity than they ever had. In so many ways we have succeeded, but in so many areas we have much work left to do.”

What a pile of crap. Sorry. I just don't believe him. I don't think he cares about women....and why doesn't his Health Care Plan cover Mothers...just their children? It's as if the mothers are disposable....so she gets cancer and dies? Well, the child lives...but in foster care.

Seven votes of 'present' on Choice? Why? I see no conviction on his part. Again I don't trust him.

And all the links in the world won't convince me. His ambition is scarey...he would do or say anything to be Prez. Even use his dead mother and say she was a single mother....

To him, women are to be used.

You might like his fluffy little words, but believe me, he is using you. I will not vote for him in the primary.

[Melinda]

99. Yikes, you're scarey. It's been.... real. n/t

[femrap]

56. You forgot...

yes we can yes we can

Can what? Can what?

Change is the only constant in this fucked up world...

His ambitions may have led him to a deal with The Corporation. Just wait.

[emilyg]

18. I sure don't like Obama.

[Guava Jelly]

21. He likes you

He told me in my dreams last night.
He said "tell emilyg I think she is a good person and tell her to buy a lottery ticket this week"
Then he floated off to heaven :)

[emilyg]

39. HeeHee - I like you.

:hug:

[Guava Jelly]

40. aw shucks

:blush:

[mtnsnake]

42. and I like YOU

:hug:

[emilyg]

88. A hug for you

:pals:

[Forkboy]

76. You're a goof.

:D

[Guava Jelly]

78. I have been accused of that

rightfully :silly: :hi:

[gravity]

23. It is exactly what this party needs to do

Reaching out does not mean caving into the opposition.

It is about not belittling half this country, and show that our concerns are in their best interest. You aren't going to win over any support by calling poeple idiots.

[mtnsnake]

26. When you're speaking from a position of strength, it most certainly IS caving

You aren't going to win over any support by calling poeple idiots

Sorry, but Republicans are idiots and if we win the WH, we don't need to reach out to them. They'll be in a position where they'll have to reach out to us. It's time to reinstate ALL of the good Democratic things that the king of all idiots, George Bush, rolled back when he took office.

[gravity]

38. We need to heal the country from a position of strength

The average republican voter is not some evil fuck trying to destroy this nation out of greed. They have many of the same concerns for this country as the Democrats do, but vote republican for many misguided reasons. Probably the main reason is just that many Democrats can act arrogant and aren't able to connect with them. In many red states, they vote for Democrats for many local and state positions, so it isn't just because that they are idiots.

If you can get the support of the majority of this nation, you can push the Democratic agenda much more effectively than inciting a civil war between the left and the right.

[femrap]

69. You don't know the Evangelicals that I know....

They do NOT compromise because, you see, GOD IS ON THEIR SIDE. I was nice to these stupid people in '04. Nice is over. They are stupid...they want a theocracy. They don't believe in separation of Church and State. Other republicans who are not bible thumpers are just damn selfish on one end of the spectrum and truly damn greedy on the other end.

And I hold them accountable for voting for W TWICE...once, I can forgive. Twice...they are a fucking idiots. They are the reason my country is unrecognizable to me. They are the reason we are going to be in one of the ugliest financial disasters EVER!

[gravity]

77. And you don't know the republicans I do

The biggest problem that the Democrats have is the refusal to connect with half of the country. Most Americans want the same thing for this country, and if you re-frame the way you approach the republicans, you will find that you can agree on a lot of issues. The problem is that each issue becomes so polarized, and the discussion just becomes who side is right or wrong, instead of working for solutions to problems.

You aren't going to win over everybody on the other side, but you can make a lot more progress in winning the support of the other side. Many red states have Democrat governors because they know how to talk to their constitutes in a a way that connects with them which comes off as authentic. They haven't won over everyone, but have gotten more than 50% of the support in states that voted overwhelmingly for Bush in 2004.

[femrap]

90. When do the repugnants try to connect

with my half? Read John Dean's (a republican btw) book, "Conservatives without Conscience.' It explains a tremendous amount about the differences between repugnants and Dems....and we are very different people.

I find many repugnants (besides the crazy evangelicals) to be selfish on one end and very greedy on the other. That's my experience....personally I wish the South would secede so I wouldn't have to watch NASCAR. I'm sick of them fucking up my freedoms. They can have W for Prez and the North could have had Kerry. And with climate change...the South is gonna be a drag on the economy....it will be inhabitable.

[Omega3]

31. who said anything about call ing ppl idiots?

[mtnsnake]

33. self delete, wrong post

[From The Left]

28. Did You Fail Civics 101?

Better reach out to the Repugs or not much will get done. Especially if you need 60 votes.

[Kablooie]

29. So, you'd like to emulate the Republicans. Treat them the way they treated Democrats.

Why do you think their tactics were admirable? Why do you want to be like them?

If someone is good at dealing with their opposition they can gain the opposition's support and
will accomplish much more.

Sure I'd like to beat them all to hell too, but it's more important to get something done.

[mtnsnake]

32. Do you understand that his theme means compromising some of our own most important issues?

If we have total power, there is no need to compromise with those barbaric assholes, NONE. We need to revitalize what WE stand for, not reach out to Republicans and become more like THEM.

I do appreciate the sentiment of your post, but I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. :)

[Kablooie]

47. Total power is one thing but we won't have that I'm afraid.

And I do agree that the Democrats have been wimps.
They should have fought when they were opressed but didn't.

I don't say you have to compromise but finding a way to get support
from an opposition by giving them something that doesn't conflict
with your own goals can be better than shutting them out.

Especially in politics where tit for tat is so important.

Make them indebted to you and you have more power over them than if
you simply oppressed them.

Just like Bush refusing to talk to enemies. Stupid. (Unless you are
so stupid yourself you are afraid that by talking to them they will
take advantage of you. Probably what Bush has in the back of his head.)

If you are smarter than your opposition talking to them can get you
a lot farther than blocking them.

Oh, and I strongly feel we should bring all the Republicans that have
done criminal actions to justice after Bush leaves.
We should not ignore illegal activities that were done in the past.

[RiverStone]

34. The puke bastards being in power longer would be a crime...

On top of many impeachable crimes already.

Why do you assume that Obama is moving to the pukes, maybe they are moving to him?

Obama = Democratic majority in the House, Senate, and Executive Branch.

In the end mtnsnake, if Obama is the nominee - will you vote for him? :shrug:

[mtnsnake]

36. Oh geez yes

That goes without saying.

[RiverStone]

37. Cool!

Then since I would vote for Hillary if she was the nominee (tho I doubt she will be) - we are on the same team!

Why the fuck debate anymore? :pals:

On to kick McCains war mongering ass in the GE!!!!

[femrap]

70. Cuz the primary isn't over....

and your comment about doubting HRC will be the nominee along with your little hug is PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE behavior. Just like BO.

[Maribelle]

41. One million seven hundred thousand Democrats in Florida are shut out because of the Jan 29th primary

Yet the corrupt Republicans who helped turn this nation into the worst shape it has been in for perhaps most of our lifetimes, who helped this corrupt bush administration make the United States the laughing stock of the world are being welcomed with open arms.

This is truly deplorable.

[femrap]

73. Don't you wonder who was really behind this anti-

democracy tactic? Unbelievable that the Dems of FL don't get a voice. And I still believe that where there are open elections, repugnants are voting for BO because the repugnant leaders feel they can beat him. New dirt vs. no dirt on HRC.

[femrap]

44. K and R...I didn't

realize it would be a good idea to compromise with Greedy Devils....that is how they have behaved the past 7 years....starting a war to make $$, killing and maiming innocent people (including some of our own), breaking law after law, reducing our Democracy to a joke, shredding our Constitution...I could go on and on.

Remember how they treated Bill Clinton? Remember how Bill compromised...and we ended up with NAFTA and treating poor mothers and their children like shit?

You can't play nice with these greedy capitalists. They will eat you alive.

[mtnsnake]

46. I love what you just said

and how you said it. Thanks for posting that. :thumbsup:

[femrap]

95. WOW! I have waited my whole

life to read that! lol.

Thank you so much.

[Hieronymus]

49. Sure, we should forbid a Republican from voting for a Democrat .....

winning the White House isn't as important as keeping the nasty old Republicans from casting a vote for our candidate. :sarcasm:

[mtnsnake]

53. You're kidding yourself if you think that his reaching out to Republicans in the primaries will

translate to Republicans giving him an edge in the GEneral Election

Most Republicans who voted for him in the primaries did it to keep Hillary form andvancing.

[Sebass1271]

52. I agree with this post

republicans are the most meanest and self-serving people of this country. Although I support Obama, i dont' think he should courting to them.

If they want to come to our side, that's fine, it means they have finally seen the light. but not b/c Obama begs them for their vote..

forget them'!!
and my in-laws are republicans and voting for Obama. They made that decision themselves..

[NewHampster]

54. I agree 100% Snakey

and we're not the ones who created the divide. Dems have always tried to work together but look what it got us in the 90's. A 100 million dollar investigation of blow jobs.

We need to get control so they come asking us to work with them, not the other way around.

[DemGa]

58. Reaching out to repugs while alienating the Dem base --- disaster in the making----nt

[Thurston Howell III]

59. I so agree! What's killed other Demo candidates is their playing to the middle!

I believe that - regardless of the election problems in 2004 - Kerry would have gone down *very hard*! He's attempts to "reach out" made him look very weak. Anyways, trying to play to the middle is a recipe for disaster!

[stillcool]

60. I think he's talking

about people.

[VotesForWomen]

61. yep; what O is saying is that he'll deal with anybody and compromise anything to win. nt

[mtnsnake]

63. Yup, and in the end, it'll be us who gets kicked in the teeth by the very Republicans he's courting

[RandomKoolzip]

62. For seven years we welcomed ANY Republican conversion story...

We LOVED it when a republican came to the board and said, 'I'm having doubts" or "Bush is not my kind of republican," or any like minded sentiment.

We looked for every crack in the republican party's unity and cheered when they became more frequent.

We all wondered what it would take for republicans to begin abandoning their party, or at least repudiate the psychotic ratfuckers who'd hijacked it.

Such signs were fairly rare, but when they happened, they carried an image of hope with them. We clung to that hope, didn't we? We hoped it would snowball one day, become something more meaningful.

And now it's actually happening, and you guys wanna piss and moan because it's the wrong Pied Piper leading the charge?!

Fuck that.

[seaglass]

81. And that is them reaching out to us - not us reaching out to them.

It's great if Republicans and Independents vote for the Dem candidate but they should be doing it because they are changing what they believe not because we are changing what we believe.

[madfloridian]

71. Hey looky here!

[robbedvoter]

72. Yeah, cuz...bipartisanship always led to great things!

[MojoMojoMojo]

74. Obama Voted for Cheneys Energy Bill

Wouldnt stand for Iraq redeployment timetable,Wouldnt stand for filibustering Bush Judicial Appointees,
Thats Obamas successful story of reaching out ?

[yardwork]

79. I disagree with you on numerous points.

One, I don't agree with fantasizing about giving Republicans "a little slap." I'd prefer to see the war criminals in the Hague. I'm not into violence. A "little slap" isn't going to solve anything.

Two, I disagree that "our party is already the wimpiest party in political history." That's a right-wing talking point. It's also absurd hyperbole.

Three, encouraging Republicans to vote Democratic isn't the same as giving in to Republicans on essential issues. In fact, having a strong Democratic majority in Congress and a Democrat in the White House is the *best* way to avoid having to compromise with Republicans on votes.

[mtnsnake]

80. Wow, talk about taking things so literally!

Thanks for your post, though. :)

[apocalypsehow]

82. You're not any better at counting votes than your candidate is at getting them, are you?

n/t

[MrsT]

83. Are you disturbed with Sen Clinton's theme of reaching out to Republicans?

You shouldn't be. You should be thankful that Hillary is smart enough to realize that campaigning on "I will only work with Democrats, screw everyone else" wouldn't do her much good.

[anonymous171]

84. Republicans are Americans too.

Neocons, however, can go straight to hell.

[Caro]

85. Those independents and Republicans ...

... will pull the Democratic leadership EVEN FURTHER TO THE RIGHT. That's not what I want, how about you?

Texas Republicans cross over to vote for Obama
A poll released this week by SurveyUSA of Verona, N.J., indicated that registered Republicans would make up 9 percent of Democratic primary voters next week. Michael Baselice, head of Baselice and Associates, a Texas polling firm, said that was in line with what his company was finding. A bloc that large could make a significant difference for Obama, who holds a large lead over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York among Texas Republicans, especially in a close race. Polls this week were showing a dead heat in Texas as Obama began pulling even with Clinton.

A Number You Probably Haven't Seen (Christopher Beam at Trailhead, Slate)
Obama, despite being ahead among pledged delegates, has fewer total votes among people who identify themselves as Democrats. (He has 7,392,809 votes; Clinton has 8,229,063.) That gives Clinton as lead with 52 percent of Democrats. Lanier also breaks the numbers down by race and points out that Obama has won white Democrats in only two states: New Mexico and Illinois… It helps you understand why the party gives so much power to its 796 superdelegates. If they didn’t, independents and Republicans could essentially hijack their election.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

[Fox Mulder]

91. Agreed.

We should NOT reach out to Republicans AT ALL. Like you said, make them come to us.

[rufus dog]

96. So we elect a person with long coat tails

and the ability to convert Repubs and Indies. After that we can get some real progressive movement going. Sorry, electing Hillary doesn't get it done.

[davidpdx]

97. Reaching out to some more liberal Republicans

is possible I think and even middle of the road conservatives. Preaching hate toward Republicans I think is not the answer. Granted I don't like most Republicans (I actually dated one once), but there are some I think are willing to see what has happened over the last 7 years. Those are the ones who have opened their eyes up to what Bush has done and are disgusted. To simply say, "well go vote for McCain we don't give a damn" is not a very good strategy.

I understand the frustration about what has happened, but as a party it's time to build bridges not burn them.

[dugggy]

98. Reaching out to republicans is a wonderful idea

after all this is United States of America,
not democratic states of America or
republican states of America.

[AZBlue]

100. Yes, hate-spewing, backstabbing, and refusing to work together has really done

a lot of good for this country, let's keep it up!
:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Caro]

102. Yes, I wish you'd tell Obama to stop doing it.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

[Seabiscuit]

101. I agree it is the Democrats turn to run this country ... the unity b.s. never got us anywhere. nt

[Avalux]

103. Why disturbing? Hillary is buddies with Bush and McCain. THAT'S disturbing.

She trusted Bush and thinks McCain would be a good president. I think you need to re-examine what's really going on here. Obama has the ability to bring centrist Republicans and Independents around to progressive ways of thinking. He's not going to bow to them