So that's the way it's going to be then, hmm?

[MadHound]

That's how this big tent is going to work from here on. We here on the left get Dems with large majorities in both houses of Congress, along with the White House, and when dare to ask for the smallest little thing, we're castigated, insulted, denounced, belittled.

OK, if that's the way it's going to be then, fine.

But when Dems fall this fall, when Obama goes down in 2012, don't go blaming the left. The reason that the Dems will lose this fall is hubris, simply hubris. You can't take your constituents for granted. Moreover, you can't abuse and belittle them in such a politically tone deaf and pompous manner as Gibbs did. You simply can't do that and expect to win friends and influence people. When the Dems lose, the fault will lie squarely with the leadership, not the left.

So in the aftermath of this fall's debacle, remember what went down here, and don't blame the left.

[flvegan]

1. Well, if much of the left wasn't underneath this heavy bus...

[MadHound]

3. I know, I've found myself thrown under this bus multiple times

Teacher, anti -war, pro gay marriage, etc. Now with this latest little word from on high I guess they've just decided to chuck us all under here wholesale.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Lucky for us this bus has lots of ground clearance.

[mdmc]

2. ..

[MadHound]

4. LOL, that's great, mind if I borrow it? n/t

[Electric Monk]

23. credit

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[mdmc]

37. yes

[Sherman A1]

18. Perfect!

[DCBob]

6. Looks like the mid-term elections will be much better for the Dems than many were predicting..

Most of the "angry left" will come to its senses by election day and those that dont will be more than made up by gains from moderates and independents who like the "anti-lib" talk coming from the WH.

[MadHound]

7. Keep whistling past that graveyard.

You just might make it home safe.

[EFerrari]

9. The "angry left"? Any more RW talking points to unload?

Might as well get them all in.

[DCBob]

13. darn.. I thought I coined that term.

[Individualist]

12. No sale!

"Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices." - Voltaire

I'm immune to absurdities in the form of DLC talking points.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. they MIGHT be better

but that is because the Sharon Angle's of the world have shown just how insane they are. Not because the alternative is much better.

It is truly a question of the lesser of two evils, or in this case, the rational (more or less) dem, or the crazee republican. In this case the old dictum will not apply, only because the crazee is damn right scary.

That said, the only poll that is valid will be in November... and 1994 patterns are emerging.

[polmaven]

24. You are not REALLY saying

that ANYONE in the Democratic party is anywhere at all close to Angle (and/or Bachman) etc., are you? i will agree that several (D) legislators are somewhat more right of center than most of us would prefer, ie: Lincoln, Nelson, etc....but even they, and certainly not the White House are even within spitting distance of Sharon Angle!!!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. Nevadans are not too happy with Reid

if they had ANOTHER choice... and that is my point.

Some of the candidates fielded by the Rs are down right scary and are making less than palatable D candidates look far better all of a sudden.

Reid might not be very ahem forceful (and sucks as leader), but at least he is not crazy.

This is part of the pattern emerging.

Lemme see, the guy I don't like but is more or less rational, or the Christian Reconstructionist with a dominionist strain? (Ok the last two way too much inside baseball)... just crazee will suffice.

[Skittles]

35. LOL

you are disgusting - to berate people voicing legitimate complaints as the "angry left"? What utter tripe.

[LoZoccolo]

8. Everybody's responsible for their own actions, and doing what's right in the face of their

hurt feelings, and I will hold them accountable.

[MadHound]

10. Whoops, I see damage control is out and active,

Geez, you guys must be tired, after all you've been on the cleanup crew for what now, going on thirty six hours.

[Forkboy]

16. I'm sure people reading this will be filled with fear over the idea of you holding them accountable.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. 1994... we might get that again

just remember though, history never, ever repeats itself 100%.

That said, if this comes to pass... they will STILL blame the left... count on it.

Oh and don't mind me, while I get off the exhaust... cough... cough... can we at least get an Electrical Bus?

[damntexdem]

14. Hey, we have an important role with the big tent -- as the tent stakes.

And Gibbs is just pounding us in more securely.

[TheCowsCameHome]

20. If it wasn't for us, where would he wipe his feet?

[27inCali]

17. it's only about 10-15% of the Left that has a problem

understanding how bills make their way through Congress.

If there aren't enough Progressive votes in the Senate and House to get a really Progressive bill, Obama can't sign it. Maybe there aren't enough Progressives in the Congress because a just large enough percentage of Dems peel off every other election cycle because they just can't understand why it takes longer than 2 years to build Liberal Utopia.

And trust me, the Left's attacks on Obama get much more play and traction in the media than RW attacks, so if the Dems lose, it will rest squarely on the shoulders of those so-called Liberals who have done everything within their power to divide the party and crush the enthusiasm of the Dem base.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

19. Oh please...

"And trust me, the Left's attacks on Obama get much more play and traction in the media than RW attacks..."

Preceding a flatly false statement with "trust me" is always good for a chuckle.

[Individualist]

21. No sale!

"Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices." - Voltaire

I'm immune to absurdities in the form of DLC talking points.

[MadHound]

22. How so very condescending of you,

Way to talk down to a group of intelligent adults, especially given the nature of the Dems' actions over the past year.

Let's take that way back machine, waaaaay back to last winter. Remember back that far? Remember how the public option was getting strong support by an overwhelming majority of Americans? And what happened? The 'Pugs said "filibuster, BOO!" and rather than standing up and fighting for what is right, the Dems caved, folded like a wet paper bag. And this is a pattern they've repeated over and over again.

Don't talk about what you think "realpolitik" is, we know exactly what it is, and the fact of the matter is that the Dems were handed a tremendous advantage, a tool to pass the agenda that they promised us. And quite frankly, not only have they failed miserably, but most of the time they've simply refused to fight.

But hey, congratulations are in order. With your condescending attitude and belittling remarks, you too can join Gibbs as being part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Oh, and that 10-15% you're so casually dismissing, well that's the margin between winning and losing. Think about it.

[XemaSab]

25. 10-15% is not a narrow margin

It's the 42-57 election, which is American politics is a landslide.

[MadHound]

32. True that. n/t

[Ignis]

27. Can you support this claim?

the Left's attacks on Obama get much more play and traction in the media than RW attacks

[abelenkpe]

26. OK

I get it, we're all insulted by Mr. Gibbs. Please still vote in Nov and vote for democrats or progressives. Not showing up is bad for everyone. The house just passed an important jobs bill that will save thousands of jobs. Please make sure they can do that in the future if needed as well. If people don't vote we all lose.

Honestly Gibbs is an idiot, but teabaggers and libertarians scare and offend me more. And if the left doesn't show up and vote it will be truly silenced.

(added a space....)

[MadHound]

29. No, this isn't just about Gibbs being an idiot and insulting people,

If it was just that, hell, I've let worse than that roll off my back over the past forty years (and if you truly understand what happened to McGovern, perpetrated by the Dem leadership, then you would know what a magnanimous statement that is).

No, Gibbs' statement was the culmination of all the shit that traditional solid Dem groups have received since this administration and this Congress took office. For Gibbs, as the voice of this administration, to be disparaging the left, after the Dems have refused to fight, refused to stand up for the past four years is beyond insulting. It is a slap in the face to people who have been there for the Dems, and frankly I don't know if I can, in good conscience, support a party that so obviously doesn't give a damn about me.

[abelenkpe]

30. If you don't

you hand the tea baggers power. Think about that, think about a world where their vision reigns.

[MadHound]

31. Yeah, yeah, I've heard that argument before,

Even believed it at one time, back when I was young and naive.

The thing is, neither party is the solution at this point, in fact both parties are actively engaged in tearing down this country and its institution.

The only difference is the speed with which each party pursues this destruction. The Dems have traditionally gone slower (though it looks like that is changing), while the 'Pugs did the deed quick.

I would, at this point, prefer the quicker version, for the same reason that I prefer to die quicker rather than slower when it's my time. I don't want this country to linger and be in pain, and the quicker it all goes down, the quicker we can start rebuilding.

[SoCalDem]

33. To be fair, republican/right-wingers had the same problem with Bush

I think this is an inherent problem all voters have with all politicians. They all pretty much say what you want to hear and promise everything they think you want, but when push comes to shove, they do what the money-people want them to do...because there is always a next" campaign. ("Tell me you love me, Baby"... and then we all know what happens next )

Bush had everything in his favor, and yet the knuckledraggers did not see abortion laws reversed, they did not see many of their pet wishes fulfilled...

Every now and then he threw the most rabid of them a bone or two,m but he mostly just spent money like a drunken wastrel and started two wars...

The main problem is that Americans are so used to being lied to, that we fall for it over and over..

Politicians who dare to speak the truth, pay for it dearly...by being un-elected or sometimes even with their lives

[PufPuf23]

34. We are fast becoming the Pavematic Party. nt

[Jester Messiah]

36. "The smallest little thing."