Republicans know how to organize. We look like the Keystone Kops.

[Cyrano]

Whether it’s due to fascist tendencies, or threats to those who won’t fall in line, the Republicans run a highly disciplined operation.

And it’s often been said that getting Democrats to fall in line is like trying to herd cats.

The fact that we did so great in the 2006 and 2008 elections is probably because most people were sick of Bush, Cheney, their henchmen and their criminal activities. But I wouldn’t count on that happening again this year, or in 2012.

What I find amazing is that, from jobs, to the Gulf disaster (greatly enabled by Dick Cheney), to the trillions being pissed away on wars, to the venomous ugliness that the Republicans display daily, why can’t elected Democrats get their act together? Then again, this might be like asking “why is the sky blue?”

FDR, Truman, JFK, and Lyndon Johnson didn’t win elections by running to hide every time a Republican sneezed. Where are their likes today? What changed? Why are we letting the bullies kick sand in our faces every moment of every day, and then apologizing to them for getting in their way?

At present, I’m going to have to agree with those who believe we’re going to get our asses kicked at the polls, both this year and in 2012. The only way to prevent this is for the Democratic Party to find a huge set of balls and start treating the Republicans as our enemies. Because that’s exactly what they are.

[SpiralHawk]

1. Republicons attract sheeple

who like to be told what to think and what to do. It is, for them, security -- having Big Daddy in charge liberates them from having to think, act, and take responsibility on their own. Lots and lots of studies have shown how the right wingnuts luv to SUBMIT to the authoritarian personality (now often embodied in corporations).

That's why republicons swallow whole hog the Authoritarian Pontifications of Rush Draft Dodger Limbaugh, Dickie 'Five Military Deferments' Cheney, Glenn 'Whimp Out' Beck, and the other Chickenhawk Pretend Tuff Guys, and why the republicons are now groveling on bended knee before Big Daddy BP, apologizing and begging for ongoing corporate 'service' to their cause.

Liberals, on the other hand, think and act critically and independently -- and thus are not amenable to lining up in neat little rows and ranks.

[Cyrano]

4. I'm basically talking about the elected members of each party. But

I agree with your remarks about those who choose to be Dems or ReThugs.

[SpiralHawk]

8. same thing goes for the 'elect'

they SUBMIT. Subby is a state of being that comes natural to them. Either that or they like to be Faux Dommes, like Jeff Gannon, the Republicon Male Escort who hung out in the George AWOL Bush White House for over 200 visits, some apparently overnight according to the official Secret Service records.

Go figure.

[bobbolink]

15. Just keep repeating that to make yourself feel better.

....while the country goes down the terlet.

Republicans call liberals names, and we call them names.

See how much good its doing?

But it feels soooo good, right?

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. Yeah, that's how they won the last presidential election

:sarcasm:

[K8-EEE]

20. Honestly I think the GOP/Teabagger thing is a mess for them

Angle, Rubio, Hayworth, Paul are all sinking like stones, I'm sure the GOP brass is freaked out about how to coral the freepers back to the "lesser of two evils" schtick.

[OHdem10]

3. What changed. Our DLC, Centrists(which started as good)

have evolved into Moderate Republicans. It is very difficult
to attack an opponent if you agree with him --just degrees difference.)

Liberals and Progressives have been pushed aside in order
for DLC, Centrist and Blue Dogs to run the party.

I repeat it is almost impossible to attack the opponent
when most of the time you agree with him.

[DJ13]

5. +1

Spot on.

[walldude]

6. +1 Problem with the Democrats is they aren't Democrats

and over and over again we are told that it's the liberals and progressives that have to "compromise" their positions to "fit in". Yeah, I'll fit right in... to a progressive party when one rears it's head.

[DCBob]

7. So true.. herding cats comes to mind also..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8

:)

[Spazito]

9. Well, seeing as some DUers believe President Obama is MORE conservative than....

Nixon and Reagan, Keystone Cops as a descriptor is, imo, a gross understatement. It is becoming increasingly more bizarre but, I must admit beyond hilarious.

:rofl:

[NeedleCast]

12. Just gotta remember that you can't associate DU and the Democratic Party

DU is often significantly more left than mainstream Democrats and is a collection of political junkies who like to argue about politics. Most people I know do NOT like to talk or argue about politics.

[Spazito]

16. I agree there! From the polls, 81% of Democrats support President Obama...

which certainly gives one reason to think the DU 'left' is on the fringe rather than the mainstream. Believing Obama is more conservative than Nixon and Reagan by some DUers solidifies, imo, the fringe aspect.

Your point wrt political junkies who like to argue politics is right on point and I certainly count myself as one of them.

(81% number is from the July 7/10 Gallop poll so it's probably still at 86%, lol)

[NeedleCast]

19. I only hesitate to label DU as fringe because it takes all kinds

There are certainly fringe people here and many who would probably aren't (and some who have said they aren't) Democrats, which is fine. There was some sort of online politcal spectrum test posted here a few months ago and I was like a 279 out of 350 (with higher numbers being left and lower numbers being right...a 0 was extreme right, 350 extreme left). According to the test, that placed me in the "far left" category but I was one of the lowest scores of DU'ers who answered (and posted their scores). That's kinda my litmus test for what DU is.

I think the 2nd part of what I said is most important. Web sites/boards with a political agenda tend to be filled with people who seek out political discussion and who are fairly (or very) opinionated. I showed DU to a friend awhile back and he said something I thought was very appropriate. It was along the lines of going to a Star Wars fan-site and starting a discussion about Star Trek. Most fans of Sci-Fi like both - along with a wide range of other sci-fi - although they may like one more than the other. But to someone who has invested countless hours and effor into creating a popular Star Wars site, starting a discussion on Star Trek would be a big deal and is likely to start a big fight.

DU operates on the same pricipals without being geared towards any one issue. Everyone here is on the left to one degree or another but we fight about the right way and wrong way to approach individual issues.

[cameozalaznick]

10. Well, Mussolini made the trains run on time. nt

[NeedleCast]

11. I think the opposite is more true

It was easy to see during the Presidential campaing of 2008. Getting Democrats to agree on everything may be hard, but getting them to oranize isn't. In just about every area I've seen, Democrats tend to be more technically savy, and have better communications practices and ability.

I think we'll probably suffer moderate losses in the mid-terms because that is traditionally what happens in the mid-term elections. That didn't happen in the 2002 mid-terms because Bush was wildly popular thanks to 9/11 but that's really the only recent time when I can recall that happening. I think the Republican party continues to be somewhat disorganized in its message and there's a growing split between fiscal conscrvatives and moral (religious) conservatives.

I don't think it will be as bad as many, especially those on the right, think it will be though. I'm counting on some tea-party candidates to run in some races and draw-off some of the Republican vote.

[EstimatedProphet]

13. Repubs cater to bullies

Bullies are wholly invested in proving themselves at all costs. I'm surprised the RNC hasn't started putting out commercials saying "If you don't vote for Republicans then you're a fag!" because that's what half of their drones say.

[alsame]

14. Howard Dean should also get a lot of credit for being able to

implement the 50-state strategy that led to victories. He was the most effective DNC chair that I can remember in terms of organization and motivation.

[HardWorkingDem]

17. IMHO, The number one reason why Rethuglicans have it more easy is...

because when you come down to it, they speak to mainly one large homogeneous group. This is not a slam or a means to reduce their party to idiocy, but to point out in many ways the Republican Party simply is not as diverse as the Democratic Party.

Our party has all sorts of diverse interests which often time do create internal conflict.

Sadly, our part simply does not rely upon the philosophy that if you really do work for the people, the people will come.

[IOKIYAL]

18. Does this apply to Progressives? cause even Dems are more organized than you are

[Cyrano]

21. Sorry, but I don't have a clue as to the meaning of your words.

Could you possibly be more specific, elaborate, or even verbose as to what it is you are trying to communicate?

I don't mean to be sarcastic, but I simply can't make any sense out of what you've posted.

On edit: This really is not an attack on your opinion. But I'd really appreciate it if you could clarify your meaning. (On the other hand, it's late in the day and I may be too mentally depleted to grasp your words. If so, my bad.)

[Cal33]

22. Yes, they may have nothing but pain and misery to offer

the American people, but they know how to organize their
lies and deceit, and make them look good. And half of us
are so easily fooled!