Get It Straight: The Dems DO Know What They're Doing

[katty]

more: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/13/3559/2099/574/421499

Get It Straight: The Dems DO Know What They're Doing
by thereisnospoon

Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 11:33:25 AM PST

As we all know by now, the Democrats are set to cave once again to Bush on Iraq in return for being able to carry pork to their varying states and districts. The capitulation is set to occur in both the House and the Senate--though the Senate is, of course, the greater culprit.

thereisnospoon's diary :: ::

Many excellent posts have been written at this point about the latest collapse: some have excoriated Democrats for ineptitude in negotiation; others have ridiculed the Democratic definition of compromise; others have attempted to humiliate them for putting a $10 million price tag on a soldier's life; others have attempted to show Democrats how the media spins their capitulation as weakness; and still others have proposed Democratic Leadership changes.

Unfortunately, none of these arguments will make the slightest bit of difference to the Democrats in charge, because those arguments are entirely irrelevant to where they are living and what they actually care about. Being seen as inept, ineffectual, craven, cowardly, or even corrupt by their base simply doesn't matter to them; if it did, we'd have seen more progress than we have over the last year of our invisible Democratic Majority.

What they truly care about is winning the next election. They're politicians. That's what they do: strategize to win the next election. It's the only thing that matters to them.

[joeybee12]

1. They better win big in 2008, because they're gonna fall in 2010...

...the damage done by Bush and his evil minions will be felt for a long time...and the dems' reputation for being cowards will come back to haunt them in 2010 when things still suck...if they stood up for something now, people might cut them some slack later...people will give heroes a second chance over and over...cowards get one more shot at best.

[katty]

2. yes, bush&gang rattle sabers...and the Dems shake with fear

[joeybee12]

8. Someone said this before...are their photos of Reid and pelosi

in Tijuana with donkeys? I mean, there seems to be no logical explantion for their lack of spine.

[thepurpose]

3. Thank you. The democrat leadership is leading everyone to failure.

They are going to be blamed for the problems by the very expert at placing blame GOP and it will stick. The main reason it will stick is because they didn't fight and stand up when they had the chance.

[katty]

4. indeed, so MANY lost opportunities handed to them-results to

date=ZERO

[thepurpose]

5. I can hear the GOP ad now. "The American people put their trust in you and what did you

accomplish? Nothing."

[katty]

6. Exactly

[joeybee12]

7. I know..you'd think they'd learn by now...

...alas they never will, I fear.

[spag68]

9. Charley Rangel

Stood up and said it, the senate should let them filibuster until they are blue in the face. Think how silly the rethugs would look. Don't give me that 60 vote crap any more, america needs to see what fools the repubs. are.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. "What they truly care about is winning the next election"

actually they are piss poor at that too. They were handed the 2006 election because so many people were so angry about Iraq that they kicked the Republican half of the duopoly out just to express their anger.

[Soon2bRenditioned]

11. This is tough. I want our party to stand on principle and block the funding...

but then they know what will happen. Bush will leave the soldiers there in harms way, ensure that they run out of supplies and blame Democrats for not supporting them. It is a catch 22. It is hard to fault the leadership on this. I know from experience - I often have to mediate my 1 year old daughter and 2 year old son disputes. Honestly I think the leadership has a tougher job. My kids can problem solve.

[dbt]

12. Our party stands for nothing, will cave for anything.

They are beyond any defending now.

[yurbud]

13. and they think winning means not pissing off Wall Street is more important than voters

[Proud Liberal Dem]

14. My Theory

I honestly believe that there IS a strategy among Democrats and that it basically boils down to holding votes on popular legislation (for which they deserve at least SOME credit) and more or less allowing the GOP to block it (or at least not fighting as hard for it as they might otherwise) so that they can go back to the public in 2008 and say that they at least tried to pass a lot of popular legislation but that the GOP repeatedly blocked it (which is true) and argue for the public to give the Democratic Party increased majorities in Congress (and the White House) in 2008.

[Demeter]

16. If You Bought This Argument From Your 10 Year Old Son, You'll Buy It From the DLC

and you'd be the laughing stock of the adult world in both cases.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. That was a bit uncalled for IMHO

Surely we can agree to disagree on this forum without feeling the need to resort to insults and rude comments? Just sayin :shrug:

[Doctor_J]

15. The article contains a hilarious piece of evidence of battered spouse syndrome

"others have attempted to show Democrats how the media spins their capitulation as weakness"

And how else might it be "spun"? Let's take a look at dictionary.com and see what capitulate means:

1. to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms.

Synonyms: yield, acquiesce, accede, give in

Dear spoon, please let me give you my Christmas present: a clue

Capitulate => weakness. Period. No amount of spin is needed.

[roseBudd]

18. We do REALLY REALLY NEED them to win the next election...

for the sake of everything we care about, but especially the enviorment and SCOTUS.

Just a couple years ago Rove's enduring GOP majority looked unstoppable. We are in a much better place now, but we still REALLY REALLY NEED to win the next election.

[yurbud]

19. if you mean that they need corporate permission to win next election, you could be right

The power of corporations and the wealthy is so great, and we are so close to fascism, that the Democrats can only win if those powers think Dems won't upset their applecart.