Ironically I think it could be the Democratic party in real trouble next election if...

[DuaneBidoux]

we continue down a "path of change" that ends up being as superficial as what it looks like now.

From banking, to environment, to healthcare it's beginning to feel like our own party is as bought off as the Republicans. I'm not willing yet to say that Obama is giving up on real reform, he has always talked quietly and yet gotten things done.

But I certainly don't like the rumblings so far of what we are going to end up with. The progressives, of which I consider myself one, may well peel off if we don't get some true reform.

What I don't understand is all this "bipartisan" talk when the Republicans have been against virtually every advance ever made since FDR, that is to say not one single improvement has ever been made by compromising with the Republicans. As soon as we compromise the change becomes the status quo.

I have never wanted to be proven wrong so badly.

[Peacetrain]

1. I don't even know what to say..

just hang in there.. but don't do an ED and threaten to throw in the towel, .. There are so many things in the works right now..it is driving the right nuts, but just take a good look at what is on the table,

edit for spelling

[Turbineguy]

2. If the repubs get back in

you can expect them to take a fearful revenge.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Fearful or FearSOME revenge?

I think you meant the second but I wholeheartedly agree!!!! If people think things are *bad* now with Obama, I have a feeling that they would be begging to have him back if somebody like Palin, Romney, Huckabee, Jebthro, Gingrich, et. al get their hands on the keys to WH. Obama not being able to dramatically clean up and alter the fundamental 28 year trajectory of our country and reverse every single "wrong" or injustice fast enough is hardly sufficient reason for us to allow the Republicans, whom won't be on our side on just about anything at all, to regain power that easily IMHO.

[Turbineguy]

10. Fearsome...

Thanks for the correction.

[PurityOfEssence]

3. When one side won't budge, "bipartisan" means "their way"

Frankly, the whole concept of bipartisanship is weak-kneed and clay-footed. Look at the motivations for it.

1: Wanting everybody to love you (never going to happen)
2: Wanting shared blame (also won't happen)
3: Wanting agreement before proceeding (generally proof of one's lack of confidence in one's own proposals, to whit: the stimulus package)
4: Wanting the "perfectability of mankind" where partisanship is put aside for the common good (this is why communism failed, and Reaganism failed: people are not going to change)
5: Wanting hybrid solutions that actually satisfy disparate groups (ridiculousness itself: Kucinich and Paul can smile and shake hands about the war, but their worldviews are skew)

After awhile, the religion/cult slurs just continue to ring in the head: the need for everyone to be happy with our President's plans says more about the President than the people. To "do the right thing" is to piss many people off. LBJ was hated for civil rights, but he was the one who did it, not Kennedy.

The bad joke behind all this is that by watering down policy to displease the least people is to give us namby-pamby milquetoast uselessness, and will piss off more people in the long run: eventually it'll be seen which side of particular issues he's more on the side of, and those on the other side who were suckered by his fig-leaf of an olive branch will be ragin' mad.

So, we've got a stimulus package where the Administration is deeply proud of the fact that 90% of the money is going through private enterprise. That's flat-out stupid. Reactionaries will still shriek "socialism", and there will be so much waste, graft and imbecility that not enough will trickle to the proper people and entities, and certainly not fast enough.

One doesn't have to be an in-your-face extremist, but as Jim Hightower said: "The only things in the middle of the road are yellow stripes and dead armadillos."

[DJ13]

4. I agree, and I think those who dismiss your concerns are only fooling themselves

Across the spectrum, voters from both parties and the independents overwhelmingly voted to change the way our political structure was being run to advantage only the top income classes.

Should the Dems fail on health care by insisting on supporting the insurance industry instead of making it better for everyone there will be Hell to pay.

Same goes for the phony bailouts and stimulus that seems more like corporate welfare than addressing the economic crisis everyday people are facing.

Our party had the will of the voters to confront our system, to improve it so its more equitable for everyone, but they are squandering their opportunity in an attempt to curry vast sums of campaign cash from the very institutions that have wrecked our country under the Republicans.

Its disgusting.

[uponit7771]

5. Do you feel the moves so far have been meeningful and if no then why haven't they?

My perspective is I'm not willing to discount TRUE progress though even if it's small, the civil rights act didn't really kick into high gear until..........................GHWB, yes...him passing title 9 put monetary penalties on discrimination and made them constitutional and therefore, IMHO, put a definitive price on discrimination.

Again, small MEANINGFUL moves would indicate progress to me.

Thx for any input

[nolabels]

9. I do suspect many here at DU are too close to the sausage making

It seems to me the GOP has been trying the gum the wheels as best as possible all along. Though not much is getting done, the people are seeing the world did not come to an end when Democratic party took the reigns. The gaffs keep coming by the GOP also. The news media that favors the GOP would never tell the real story even if they knew what it was.

At any rate never a good idea to become anxious while holding the high hand, just let come what ever comes, it will happen

[progressoid]

6. Yep - I fear you may be right.

The shine is starting to wear off. Democrats are going to have to do something substantial if they want to retain support.

[Jennicut]

7. Th posters here who think the Dems or Obama is in trouble have not been looking at the future trends

The electorate is changing. The GOP is on the losing end of that as their more loyal voters are getting older and they are losing a significant minority group in hispanics. The Dems have the younger voters right now and are more enthusiastic and happy with the party in general. In other words, our party may suck but the Rethugs suck more, way more.
The GOP is dead in the water for the next election cycle in my opinion. They have no real leaders, no one charismatic and intelligent enough to break through. As much as I detest him, Newt Gingrich was an important leader for Rethugs in the mid 1990's. I just don't see anyone on the Rethug side able to really get a movement going against Obama like Gingrich did against Clinton. The birthers and tea baggers look nuts, popular Rethugs are showing to be weird (Jindal), thin skinned (Palin) or caught up in some kind of scandal (Sanford, etc.). At this point all they have left is Mitt Rommey and he comes across as not genuine. Obama would seem much more sincere in comparison. I think you guys are looking at this from the left and not from the independents and moderate Dems point of view. We may not always be happy with our Dems but I don't see the Rethugs gaining enough seats to be in charge. Governorships may be different as every incumbent regardless of party may be in trouble due to the economy.

[emsimon33]

11. I agree

A friend in Virginia noted on her Facebook page how angry she is with the new congressman from the 2nd district, Glenn Nye (Blue dog Dem--DINO), who voted against the energy bill and who consistently votes with the Republicans. She and others are beginning to search for a candidate to run against him in the primary where those who vote are rabid Democrats who are tired of this type of behavior.

I think across the nation, we should be searching for viable candidates to challenge the incumbent DINOs in the primaries for 2010.

Ironically, my fiend worked hard to get Nye elected and has always given what she could when asked for contributions. However, given his voting record against the common good, she decided to simply let the lobbyists who he represents fund his campaigns.

Either we need to voted these people out or start a new Democratic People's Party.

[county worker]

12. Remember that scene in MASH were hot lips says that if the colonel doesn't

do something she will resign her commission? The colonel says, god damn hot lips resign your god damn commission!



"The progressives, of which I consider myself one, may well peel off if we don't get some true reform."


God damn progressives ...............

[Dragonfli]

14. God Damned Republicans in (D)rag!

"God Damn us" for not wanting to vote for repug Ideals?
I don't see why anyone should be expected to vote against their own interests.

Party affiliation alone does not deserve loyalty when those thus affiliated can not be distinguished from Reagan Republicans.

Just sayin....

[jesus_of_suburbia]

13. I think you're right... we're going to lose in 2012 if Barack doesn't give the change he promised.

So far, I see Bill Clinton V2... and that's not what we were told by Barack or his "fans" on this board in the Primary or the General Election.

They've suddenly lowered the bar, and we all know it.

The truth hurts, and that's why we will see them crying and flailing their arms even when Barack doesn't keep his promises.

[quakerboy]

15. Bipartisan is nice

In reality, it means one of two things. Either one side has to change their opinion to agree with the other, or they have to be given just enough to make it worth it to them.

The problem is that the R's aren't changing their opinions. And they already have everything they want. We have nothing left to give. And that is why there will be no bipartisan efforts that have any progressive basis.