Editorials & Other Articles

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(108,023 posts) Mon Dec 18, 2017, 09:10 PM Dec 2017

Democrats Have Momentum Here's How They Could Lose It

There's no denying that the modern GOP is more successful than the Democratic Party at getting what it wants – Republicans fire up their voting base during elections, and then they deliver. That's why the GOP is unified in support of its horribly unpopular tax plan right now. America as a whole might not like it, but the people Republicans count on to get them elected sure do.

Imagine if the Democratic Party could adopt the same mindset.

Instead, Democrats have developed a habit over the last four decades of trying to get their voting base fired up during elections without delivering a whole lot once in power. They think Americans, and liberals in particular, want to see bipartisanship – lots of hand-holding and playing nice. By the time they wake up from that fantasy, it may be too late.

Over the weekend, newly elected Democrats Ralph Northam, the winner of Virginia's gubernatorial race in November, and Doug Jones, Alabama's new senator, both gave troubling indications that this pattern will continue. Activists on the left fought hard to get these two men elected. How many times can the Democrats expect people to fight for them if they won't return the favor once in office?

Gov. Northam gave a truly surreal interview that sounded like a Democratic stump speech from maybe 2002. At a time when the Republican Party is as strident as ever and getting cozy with white nationalists, Northam claimed he's going to emphasize bipartisanship. Huh?

Centrists appear unable to grasp a simple and obvious reality: Republicans do not like you and do not want to work together.

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/democrats-have-momentum-heres-how-they-could-lose-it-w514204?utm_source=rsnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=daily&utm_campaign=121817_16

8 replies

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Democrats Have Momentum Here's How They Could Lose It (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 2017 OP

President Obama wasted 8 years in a search for bi-partisanship, guillaumeb Dec 2017 #1

I think he only wasted 2 years. He really wanted to UNITE Alice11111 Dec 2017 #3

Hard to unite with a party whose only goal was to make Obama guillaumeb Dec 2017 #4

Hard, maybe impossible. Tbe Repubs would desreoy the country, Alice11111 Dec 2017 #7

Obama did not "waste 8 years in search of bi-partisanship. Nitram Dec 2017 #8

Is it even a question that this is what is going to happen? vi5 Dec 2017 #2

This: CrispyQ Dec 2017 #5

It is sad, the conservatives turned a good characteristic trait into a pejorative... MythosMaster Dec 2017 #6

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

1. President Obama wasted 8 years in a search for bi-partisanship,

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Mon Dec 18, 2017, 09:14 PM

Dec 2017

and GOP politicians refused to play along. 8 years of an attempt at outreach were met with 8 years of obstruction.

And no one was actually punished for the near collapse of the economy or the 2 wars that were justified with lies.

That discourages people.

Alice11111

(5,730 posts)

3. I think he only wasted 2 years. He really wanted to UNITE

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 18, 2017, 09:20 PM

Dec 2017

a divided country, which would have been a good thing. Sadly, it was the 2 years he had real power.
He had to give up beating his head against the wall, and do the best he could against TOTAL OBSTUCTIONIST RWs.

I really respect Obama, not perfect, but great.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

4. Hard to unite with a party whose only goal was to make Obama

Reply to Alice11111 (Reply #3)

Mon Dec 18, 2017, 09:21 PM

Dec 2017

a one term President. McConnell's own words.

Alice11111

(5,730 posts)

7. Hard, maybe impossible. Tbe Repubs would desreoy the country,

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #4)

Tue Dec 19, 2017, 10:16 AM

Dec 2017

rather than help Obama with something they themselves wanted.

Nitram

(22,813 posts)

8. Obama did not "waste 8 years in search of bi-partisanship.

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 19, 2017, 10:34 AM

Dec 2017

He gave it an honest try for a couple of years, and then he did the best he could without Congress. Frankly, this smacks of unfairly and unduly criticizing a great Democratic president.

vi5

(13,305 posts)

2. Is it even a question that this is what is going to happen?

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Mon Dec 18, 2017, 09:15 PM

Dec 2017

I mean honestly does ANYONE believe that things will be different this time around?

Too many elected Democrats have internalized the misguided notion that what their base wants is as "extremist" as what the Republican base wants. It's not. It's all hugely popular if sold the right way, which too many of them don't even want to make a lame attempt at doing.

Nothing is going to cause this momentum to come to a bigger screeching halt than the shit that Northam and Jones are already pulling, not even weeks after winning.

CrispyQ

(36,478 posts)

5. This:

Reply to vi5 (Reply #2)

Mon Dec 18, 2017, 09:38 PM

Dec 2017

Too many elected Democrats have internalized the misguided notion that what their base wants is as "extremist" as what the Republican base wants. It's not. It's all hugely popular if sold the right way, which too many of them don't even want to make a lame attempt at doing.

If the dems had been a true opposition party the past 40 years we wouldn't be in this mess. Veering right every time they were accused of being liberal was a bad move & showed they are weak.

MythosMaster

(445 posts)

6. It is sad, the conservatives turned a good characteristic trait into a pejorative...

Reply to CrispyQ (Reply #5)

Mon Dec 18, 2017, 10:31 PM

Dec 2017

lib·er·al ˈlib(ə rəl adjective
1.
open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values.
"they have more liberal views toward marriage and divorce than some people"
2.
(of education) concerned mainly with broadening a person's general knowledge and experience, rather than with technical or professional training.
synonyms: wide-ranging, broad-based, general
"a liberal education"

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