Understanding Repubs means understanding they'll paint Obama as extreme no matter what.

[Bonobo]

To all of those out there who claim that compromise is unavoidable and that we have to cut deals with the Repubs to get anything done, I want you to remember and never forget that the other side will ALWAYS paint Obama as a socialist radical no matter how far to the center or even right he goes.

Any slack given in the rope is quickly pulled tight by their side and the flag goes further to the right in the great game of tug o' war. Even if he gave in on social security, they would say he did not give enough because he is a socialist. It will never stop.

The Repubs will grab that slack and pull further to the right, dragging us deeper into the middle.

Now you might be tempted to say that's fine. After all, we're a centrist country, right? The Dems grabbing the big center is great politically. It's a big win, right? Wrong. Once you grab the center and that center is relabeled as the left, guess what happens to the real left... it disappears. Poof. Gone forever. And with it goes concepts that Americans once took for granted, ideas of economic equality, living wage, workers' rights, sensible foreign policy that doesn't include unthinking bombing ALL THE TIME of countries and the like.

We NEED a strong Progressive voice to keep our party true to its roots and must not compromise easily to gain the little crumbs they deign to throw our way. Doing so is undermining our long-range goals though many of us do not seem to notice or acknowledge that fact.

[oldhippydude]

1. they ratchet to the right...

to them anything besides themselves is considered left... there is no center.. any attempt to compromise is countered with you can always agree with us...

[RepublicansRZombies]

2. exactly- they will attack us no matter what- they are like three year olds that don't get their way

I have tried to appease these people in my personal life as well, doesn't work.

They will attack for the slightest thing, then take huge offense if you defend yourself with a fact.

They will never accept they are wrong, but are masters of projection. They have never emotionally matured.

They are unhappy people, nothing we do can make them happy.

Money doesn't buy happiness. The 1%ers took all the money and they are the angriest.

There is something wrong with their minds. They have no ability to feel empathy or shame for their actions.

But as I keep saying, if they insist on behaving like three year olds, they need to be treated like three year olds.

Mine Mine Mine! More More More!

They are unable to deal with the reality that they must share, that they can't get their way by bullying and lying.

No wonder they hate Sesame Street, they didn't get it.

But as any good parent knows, you do not fix the problem by giving the kid what they want. They will have no limits and next time they will demand more.

You give them a time out, 5 minutes in the corner to think about what they did.

When they apologize and stop blaming us for their own behaviors, then maybe we will be able to discuss what happened and work on a solution.

Until then, we need to ignore their whining and crying and do what is right for the country.

If they refuse to grow up, they can go to their rooms.

[Bonobo]

3. Yes, and so you can't put everything on the table...

Do not use the tax cuts to bargain. DO NOT put everything on the table or they will grab it.

It's like I do with my kids. I give them the illusion of choice, but within my parameters.

You can eat broccoli or carrots, NOT you can eat broccoli or cookies.

You can do your homework now or after you take a 10 minute break, NOT do your homework when you feel like it.

So let the Bush tax breaks expire and THEN start negotiating. Do not put them on the table with Social Security! It would be like offering broccoli or cookies.

[RepublicansRZombies]

4. yes exactly

But I think we need to go even further than letting the tax cuts expire.

They took all the cookies we were saving for our future, they need to give them back.

I like the illusion of choice though. Good idea.

You can either raise taxes to 90% to pay for your wars and big government, or you can end all the military actions overseas, cancel the war on terror, cut the Homeland Security slush fund, end the TSA and let airlines pay for their own security and end the drug war.

And we should be telling our politicians 'Don't put our cookies on the table ever again'! Lock Box!!!

[RepublicansRZombies]

5. kick for a topic we really need to talk about

someone please one more rec?

[RepublicansRZombies]

6. and another kick

n/t