that in itself has the gop on the defensive. They don't want to water down the sleeze with good people.

Being a good man has never stopped the GOP and the Rovian tactics of destroying the opposition in election years. The GOP likes to control the message and to attack and put liberals and Democrats on the defensive. President Obama has set out to put them on the defensive. It's no coincidence that he brought these points up talking to a women's group.

...then you will forever be at war with them.

On the other hand, if you find ways to de-power them and embarrass them, in the long run they will either become powerless caricatures of their former selves or end up being on your side.

That is how to defeat an enemy like the GOP.

they are true believers willing to die for their cause, they are well funded and on top of all that the people that back the GOP now have people who sport a D after their name on the payroll and they consistently vote with the GOP or water down any meaningful liberal and progressive legislation.

The GOP and it's many spin offs are a cancer upon America.

Getting Bin Laden will send more than a few ReTHUGS to seek their meds.

Notice that it is now unpatriotic for Obama to mention that he got Bin Laden

They're definitely flailing and on the defensive.

Then we might, at the very least, have a public option.

But having watched him during his Presidential years I think his strategy has been to get a foot in the door when it comes to big issues like health care and equal rights for the gay community. I think he understands the importance of setting a precedent that will be built on in time.

I am not idolizing him. Just mentioning something I've noticed. The entire health care thing is now up for review by the Supreme Court, which is insane in my opinion, but if they see it as Constitutionally secure then something can be built on it. Since he's a Constitutional expert he may have foreseen this. It's hard to tell though. He keeps things close to his vest.

And the arguments he's advancing are stuff we've talked about on here for all the years that I've been at DU. But we're "fringe" according to the Third Way bunch. I guess it's better late than never.

Now if he will just get a populist economic theme going.....

McConnell is already whining, "But but but Obama is only pushing this to make us look bad!"

Yep.

Asshole.

they have themselves on the defensive

just like when they won so much in the 2010 election

they seemed soooo screwed into the dirt, but 'voila!'

...knowing HOW to react and when NOT to react are important tactics by themselves.

IMO, Obama knows this. True, the GOP is self-destructing. But with anyone else as President right now, I'm not sure we'd have the result that appears to be forthcoming -a defanged and powerless GOP is in our future.

we get drones in the US and a continuation of Bush policies for another 4 years. I'm thinking that nutjob Ron Paul would be kooky enough to fight the military industrial complex at least. Though I'd never vote for him. Obama? well the proof is all around us if we look at his walk and ignore his talk.

I can't see that as winning anymore. I'm sorry to be negative, but I've seen enough.

Far worse for sure. Far, far worse. Women will have all our rights taken away, just for starters. Do you think Ron Paul would defend women's rights? I sure as hell don't.

Not since LBJ have I seen the Pubbies so thoroughly whipsawed by their own rhetoric.

Using their own strategies against them.

He and his campaign get it.

...it's the job of Democrats in Congress to make Obama look mainstream. Where are they?

And they're talking about his accomplishments, also dominating the narrative.

When was the last time an ex-President did that with a sitting President?

It's great what they're doing - I still think there should be fifty congrespeople WAY more liberal than Obama, giving him a way to compromise TO the "mainstream Democrat" position in exchange for Republican concessions.

And they should be. They really should be ashamed of themselves. Which party proposes all of these anti-choice, anti-abortion, anti-contraception initiatives? Which party wants to redefine the meaning of rape? Which party, at every turn, opposes legislation which benefits poor and working class women? Obama and all Dem candidates should keep hammering on this point. There is a war on women and that war is being waged by Republicans. "...he brings up the facts" - Yes, the facts! I'm 53, graduated high school in '76, and I can't believe what is going on. I really don't know how any woman in this country could support a Republican, although there are those in my own family who do (sigh).

I saw the Chris Matthews show last week and all the pundits agreed that whoever carries the vote of single women will win this election. I hope that is true because I know a lot of single women and all of them will be voting Obama.

I want to say this election will be an Obama landslide, but this is coming from someone who thought Reagan was a joke. We all know how that went.

Not just single ones. And men who care about their wives and daughters will too.

And I hope and pray that you are right! We don't want to go back to the 1950's or the 1800's.

Palin, Bachman and the other Republican token women they trot out there certainly DO NOT speak for me or the majority of women in this country.

"And men who care about their wives and daughters will too." - I certainly hope so.

I think women know what is at stake in this election year and will vote accordingly.

Peace.

dumbfucks

At age 53 , I don't use that term often but - "dumbfucks" - I have to agree!

Peace!

speaking of them like they are second class citizens and following up with legislation and proposals that back up their talk cements their positions. These idiots, mccain and boehner can't just blurt out "no we're not doing this or that" -YOU ARE and everyone can see it. You're sexists pigs. You prove it every day.

While Romney has to make shit up.