A simple reason to focus on failings of Obama & Congress Dems more than GOP:

[yurbud]

As Democrats, we theoretically could have some control over his actions.

We have no control over Republicans.

The coach for one football team can't go over and tell the other team how to lose. He could try, but it wouldn't have the desired results.

Now back to waving your Bachmann boogeyman at us.

[Poll_Blind]

1. The President consistently cut backroom deals with Repukes which Democratic Leadership were....

...not aware of, and then expected to follow through on. His tactics have had an impact on long-time big money Democratic donors, "core" Democratic constituents who rely on a party which will protect social services and on the relationship with Democratic lawmakers, fragmenting not just the party but the various Democratic caucuses which we need cohesion in to help get legislation moved through the House and Senate.

President Obama is bad for the Democratic Party, across the board. At any level in politics, those that get the recurring support are those that deliver.

President Obama is not delivering for the Democratic Party and he's making moves which are very disruptive to the Party, period.

PB

[RegieRocker]

2. Awesome. Well put.

[JoePhilly]

3. You ever coach football, or any sport?

If the players constantly attack the coach, the team divides, and then it fails.

But you think the loudest fans should run the team. Good plan.

Here's another sports analogy ...

The GOP today is like Dean Smith many years ago. Dean determined that if he got a small lead, he could go to the 4-corners offense. In that offense, his team simply dribbled around, and did not take a shot. They brought the game to a stop. Neither team could score any points.

It was terrible to watch.

The GOP is now playing 4-corners. They HATE the government and they want it to do nothing. So they stall, delay, and block everything. And now that they have the House majority, they can hold the ball, and do nothing.

But you want our team to SCORE, SCORE, SCORE !!!!!

Can't happen.

[Whisp]

4. +1

[bvar22]

9. Of course I have,

and I NEVER told our team to cheer
when the other team scores points!
THAT is called "Losing".

[cherokeeprogressive]

14. Would that the Democratic Party had a Modern Day Dean Smith...

Are you sure you want to use this analogy?

:rofl:

Dean Edwards Smith (born February 28, 1931) is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Smith coached from 1961 to 1997 and retired as the NCAA Division I men's basketball record-holder for victories (879), a record which was surpassed by Bob Knight in 2007 and Mike Krzyzewski in 2010. Smith has the 9th highest winning percentage of any men’s college basketball coach (77.6%).<1> During his tenure as head coach of North Carolina, the team won two national titles and appeared in 11 Final Fours.

Emphasis mine.

[roguevalley]

20. how about a coach that plays for our team and doesn't look out

for the other side first? If the coach sucks, get another one.

[A Simple Game]

23. Poor analogy.

"But you think the loudest fans should run the team. Good plan."

Remember the debt ceiling negotiations? Ever heard of the Tea Party?

Old saying; squeaky wheel gets the grease. Democrats aren't very squeaky lately.

On edit: Yes I coached kids baseball for awhile.

[treestar]

5. Congress has to pass a law before a President can consider signing or vetoing

It's not like a football game, where two teams square off equal. There is a chronological process here.

Further, the two parties do not agree on the rules of the game and just play the game. They have different rules for the game.

[bvar22]

10. I agree that The Presidency is a weak position with no power to influence legislation.

He can ONLY do what Congress lets him do....
.
.
.
.
.
unless you have been paying attention for the last 200 years,
then you would KNOW how WRONG that position is.

Look at HOW successful presidents like LBJ got things done!!!
Read Up on "The Johnson Treatment".
http://thejohnsonpost.blogspot.com/2009/08/johnson-treatment.html

"Johnson was the catalyst, the cajoler in chief. History records him as the nation's greatest legislative politician. In a great piece on the Daily Beast website, LBJ aide Tom Johnson, writes about how his old boss would have gotten a health care reform bill through the current congress. It's worth reading to understand the full impact of the "Johnson treatment" and how effective LBJ could be in winning votes for his legislation."

http://thejohnsonpost.blogspot.com/2009/08/johnson-treatment.html

Can you imagine wimpy Joe Lieberman stamping his foot telling LBJ, "NO!!! I'm NOT going to support your Health care Plan?"
:rofl:

Many on this site will tell you that the Presidency is weak and powerless, and can only do what Congress lets him do.
THAT is a pathetic excuse...and just plain BULLSHIT!!!!

"Strong and successful presidents (meaning those who get what they want - whether that happens to be good for the country or not) do not accept "the best deal on the table". They take out their carpentry tools and the build the goddam piece of furniture themselves. Strong and successful presidents do not get dictated to by the political environment. They reshape the environment into one that is conducive to their political aspirations."

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/07/17

"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone

photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed

[Pooka Fey]

11. + 1000

[treestar]

19. Yes it is. The FF did not want a king.

A bill has to pass both Houses of Congress before a President can even consider it - sign or veto.

The President is not a malign/benign monarch.

[Snoutport]

6. because they have souls and we expect better?

[bvar22]

7. I can't get mad at a dog for being a dog.

Republicans are Republicans.
I EXPECT them to do Republican things.
I EXPECT them to fight for the Top 2%,
and the Wall Street Bankers,
and give Tax Cuts to Billionaires.
I don't give Republicans money, and I don't vote for Republicans.

I DO give money to the Democratic Party,
and I vote FOR Democrats.
I EXPECT Democrats to represent the Working Class, Organized LABOR, and the Poor.

When supposed "Democrats" call for Slashing Government Spending during a Recession & Jobs Crisis,
and put Social Security & Medicare On the Table,
and call for More FREE TRADE,
and bail out Wall Street criminals and leave Main Street in the ditch,
DAMN STRAIGHT I GET MAD,
because THOSE are Republican things.
I did NOT send them money and vote for them so that they could do Republican Things.

When "Democrats" advance the Republican agenda,
I say, "FUCK these Phony Democrats!!!"
I'll STAND with FDR, LBJ, and Harry Truman!

"I've seen it happen time after time. When the Democratic candidate allows himself to be put on the defensive and starts apologizing for the New Deal and the Fair Deal, and says he really doesn't believe in them, he is sure to lose. The people don't want a phony Democrat. If it's a choice between a genuine Republican, and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time; that is, they will take a Republican before they will a phony Democrat, and I don't want any phony Democratic candidates in this campaign."
---President Harry Truman

QED:2010




"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone

photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed


"By their WORKS you will know them,"
not by their excuses.

[Pooka Fey]

12. Bvar22, you are on fire today!! Awesome post. +1000

[bvar22]

15. I get more angry...

...when someone tells me I have no reason to feel angry,
that last week was really a HUGE WIN for Democrats.

[amborin]

16. yes, awesome! completely extinguishes the b.s. excuses and distortion

[woo me with science]

18. Hear hear! nt

[kenny blankenship]

8. Another reason: they are often the SAME failings

They're supposed to be different, at least! Along with -hopefully- much smaller failings.

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. Kickaroo!

:kick:

[Skidmore]

17. Well, it's a losing strategy.

[Lorien]

22. No, cheering a losing polical stategy and RW policies that come from so-called Left wing

politicians is a losing strategy. Whenever Obama and the blue dogs do something absolutely vile and completely "un-Democratic" and we're told to wave pom-poms it makes us look as foolish and corrupt as they are.

[Lorien]

21. Exactly. Obama himself told everyone to hold his feet to the fire. What about that

do his fans not understand? If we DON'T hold the Dems to a higher standard and demand better of them they'll continue to weaken and drift to the Right until they become a permanent minority. Is that what the "no criticism allowed" group really wants?

[KoKo]

24. K&R