If Congresional Democrats were an NFL team...

[grumpyduck]

I hate sports analogies, mostly because iI'm not that much of a sports fan, but it struck me a couple of mornings ago that, if Democrats were an NFL team, they would have the worst record of all time.

They want to run the ball right down the middle of the field right into the end zone. Never mind the tackles: they don't matter. They're totally focused on the end zone.

Defense? Who cares about defense? They don' t need defense.

Meanwhile the fucking requbs are playing the game and eating the Democrats alive.

Sorry, but that's my opinion based on the last few years of following the news.

[brooklynite]

1. And your solution is...?

[Bobstandard]

3. He's got a pretty good analogy there..

The solution suggests itself. Try to figure itbout

[Amishman]

8. take the little victories where they can be found and be patient

To keep the football analogy going, we keep trying the deep pass for the immediate touchdown. We then turn it over on downs and wonder what happened, and then blame the quarterback when much of the issue is the coaching and playcalling.

On third and two, go for the safe play to get the first down. When controlling congress by razor thin margins, pass the smaller stripped down bill to make progress and move down the field. Avoid the high risk / politically controversial areas.

Look for the easy play to get a new set of downs / find a popular issue and gain political capital by addressing it. Easy issues that will get people to sit up and notice like cracking down on the awful phone scams and spam text messages.

[NewHendoLib]

2. I will make a modification to your analogy

I think that the Democrats think that their game plan and players are so faultless and stellar that all they need to do is show up and they will waltz down the field and score at will.

But.....the defense doesn't care about game plans and talent. They know how to defend, and take delight in kicking the shit out of the Dems.

Two different games are being played right now. And I don't think we realize how much the rules have changed.

[Beartracks]

6. True. It's not enough just to be right or have the best players, unless we start winning.

[Klaralven]

4. The Lions?

[gab13by13]

5. My analogy would be different,

2 teams, the Democrats agree that the Republicans don't have to follow the rules, the referees only call penalties on the Democrats. That allows the Republicans to play dirty and cheat.

[Bettie]

10. That's a better analogy

the problem really is that the rules apparently don't apply to the other side.

[cadoman]

7. but what is the superbowl equivalent of politics?

Is it consolidating the House/Senate/Executive? Nominating Supreme Court candidates to interpret the law in beneficial ways? Passing legislation? Good executive orders?

The biggest victories to me feel like nationwide perspective shifts on policy. It's indicative of proving ideas at the state level, bringing the argument to the national stage, and through broad consensus, making permanent changes to the way the world works.

Viewed through that lens, Democrats win a lot, in spite of the party fumblings.

[CrackityJones75]

9. The problem is your analogy to start with.

Politics is NOT football and when it got turned into that type of mindset (us vs them) is when shit really started going bad. With a population’s education in continual decline and the dumbing down of politics to a “Democrats bad, conservatives good” mentality we will continue to lose because life isn’t black and white. Politics and the decisions we make aren’t summed up in simple jingoistic rah rah root for the home team thoughts.