About the losses. Powerful thoughts from a disheartened Democratic party in a Florida city.

[madfloridian]

Last edited Wed Nov 5, 2014, 03:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Dear (Contact First Name),

I held off sending out the newsletter until after the election in hopes that there would be some positive news. Turns out it's all bad. After 2010's drubbing I was determined to make this midterm result different. So much for my determination. I for one am tired of trying to convince people to vote for their own interests, let alone expect them to know who their friends are.

Many thoughts swirl in my brain today.

From the religious:
'Forgive them Father for they know not what they do' -Jesus

to the profane:
'If it is inevitable, you might as well relax and enjoy it' -Republican fund raiser. Clayton Aiken (speaking about bad weather and, astoundingly, rape)

EDIT Someone in the comments noticed it should be Clayton Williams not Aiken.

So just what have the majority of voters wrought on America? (Notice I said voters, not citizens)

In reading all the dire warnings of what it means when Republicans take over, please notice that none of their expected changes will help the poor, or women, or the unemployed, or the environment, or immigrants, or really anyone but the powerful and the vengeful. Making Democrats pay seems to be the driving force of not only the Republican's campaigns, but the goal of future legislation.

I expect we will see Congress move from it's current posture of 'No way'... to 'My way or the highway'.

We will see the ACA individual mandate (originally a Newt Gingrich creation) come under fire and become a bargaining chip for some even more noxious piece of legislation. If healthy individuals do not have to buy insurance, the cost goes up for the rest of us, and even more, unhealthy people will drop from the rolls, putting the hospitals under more financial stress. link

It means the most powerful senator in charge of the environment will likely be James Imhofe, a climate change denier who explains the wild swings by quoting the Bible:
Read Genesis 8:22: 'as long as the earth remains there will be seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night.' My point is, God's still up there. The arrogance of people to think that we, human beings, would be able to change what He is doing in the climate is to me outrageous." link

Women's Issues in danger of passage in Congress:
A law that would make it a federal crime for an adult to accompany a teen across state lines for an abortion and hold doctors liable for knowing that.
A law to ban abortion coverage in all state health-care insurance exchanges.
A law to ban abortions after 20 weeks with an exception only for the life of the mother.
A law to end the contraception benefit in the ACA.

These will need to be stopped by the veto pen of Obama. The real danger is if they get slipped into necessary pieces of legislation, funding bills, so he has to bear the burden and blame of shutting down government or letting them pass. link

I could go on and mention the harm that will be done to education, veterans, the poor, civil rights, and immigration, but I think I have more than made my point. America is under siege, now more certainly than ever before. More surely than if ISIS itself were actually embedded in our small towns. The emotions wrought up by fear and misinformation and hate during the elections have instilled a divide among our citizens that will be difficult now to extinguish.

Look around you when you walk around downtown Lakeland this Friday night. These are not bad people, yet the majority were convinced to vote for those who promised to deny or take rights from minorities, women, the unemployed, and the poor. I ask myself, what could make poor whites turn on poor blacks or immigrants? Is winning worth feeding the fires of division, fear, and loathing among our fellow citizens? I don't think there is any good answer or solution to the question.

[madfloridian]

1. I guarantee our county and state parties would not speak so powerfully.

[Zorra]

2. I believe that this may be the primary answer to the question:

[RKP5637]

53. Definitely! Damn, just briefly listening to radio here it's so damn right wing

it even makes the far right wing look moderate. Yet, democrats, any progressives are missing. I think one core problem with democrats is they often think most of the population is capable of thinking. Many aren't, they respond to gut reactions, not logic. And that is why democratic messaging often sucks, as well as democrats have allowed the right wing to take over the media.

[villager]

3. I'm not sure that they *aren't* bad people...

That's always the thing everybody tap dances around...

[world wide wally]

24. They're not "bad people" ... But they are not "good people" either.. They are "ignorant people"

[villager]

26. "Ignorant people" eventually wind up claiming they "thought" crematoria chimneys were "bakeries"

End results, over a number of years, tend to be indistinguishable from "bad people."

[RKP5637]

54. Yep!!! n/t

[atreides1]

55. If they're ignorant...then it's by choice!

“Ignorance breeds fear.”
―Mike Wilson

"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate.. to suffering"
Yoda


"I'll tell you what's at the bottom of it. If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."
LBJ

And intentional ignorance is the worst kind of all...because it leads to evil.

[calimary]

27. I'm not sure about that, either. At best, they're gullible and stupid.

And that would be the very best that could be said. They will be surprised, though, when they get a stomach full of what the CONS have in mind for them. There will STILL be gridlock. There will be massive and aggressive attempts to take away affordable health care, Social Security, and Medicare, AND more of women's rights and access even to the simplest birth control. They'll go back to chiseling veterans and Ebola researchers, 'cause the heat's off, now. AND they'll go after our budding marijuana rights, too. You just watch. There will STILL be time and taxpayers' money WASTED on persecuting and likely impeaching President Obama, and I suspect the Dems will NOT return the favor for all the obstruction we had to trip over for the past four years. I hope they do. I hope they take the filibuster to heart and USE it!!!!! Show yertle the turtle how it feels to be on the receiving end of that for a change.

But it all comes down to the VOTERS. And the voters were royally had this year, at the end of a koch-brothers-funded fork.

[Tumbulu]

32. I have come to the conclusion that they are selfish

and frightened people. Who manifest this in all sorts of ways that I consider to be quite bad.

[madfloridian]

34. One neighbor recently told me she did not want to help anyone with any of her money.

She said no one should ever ask for help. That's a general consensus around here.

[deurbano]

36. Definitely selfish... and frightened and/or outraged about all the wrong things.

My mother's fears almost all involve race. (Well, Ebola is up there now, too, but come to think of it, that African connection has contributed to her freak-out.)

[FloriTexan]

4. Spot on!

I have been moping around since yesterdaymorning. My soul felt this coming while my brain denied it. I no longer trust that my vote counts because I can't fathom that so many people let this country collapse yesterday by not voting or voting republican. Your words sum it up perfectly.

I have no idea where this country goes from here.

[madfloridian]

5. With you on all counts.

[calimary]

23. YOUR words sum it up perfectly, too, FloriTexan. :(

Not sure what happens from here, but I get this feeling that maybe the only solution is to relocate to a different country. I don't see much hope ahead, at least at the moment. Our Dems will cave, and cave, and cave some more, in the interest of "compromising!!!!" And it'll come at the exact moment when we need them to stand firm.

[deurbano]

37. My feelings, too.

Does your name mean you live in California? I do, and at least I've got that.

[calimary]

43. Yep. I just posted in the California forum about some very pleasing election results.

My district stayed blue, too! THANK GOD! I'm a Henry Waxman woman, and he's retiring, dammit. But we have a great new replacement, State Senator Ted Lieu, who has now inherited Waxman's mantle. California did the Dems proud, Thank GOD! WE still lean forward out here!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10408285

[BrotherIvan]

6. It's the churches

Republicans win at midterms because they have a powerful propaganda delivery system: the churches. Their members hear the message every week, all year round. Some of the polls are in church buildings, so no doubt every member shows up. Democrats have no such format, so they traditionally relied on the media or polite discussion. The churches have been captured and so they keep the stranglehold on the country.

[madfloridian]

7. And there's one on every corner around here.

And the IRS stands helpless.

[BrotherIvan]

8. Exactly

That's why Democrats need to stop wooing those people because they will never vote for them. They need to woo the traditional liberal voter, energize young people to vote, and actually do what they say. Strangely enough, we know they know how to do it because Obama.

[BrotherIvan]

9. Also, the churches are gaining strength due to a lack of community

That was the original point of churches. In a time when people don't know their neighbors or get very little human contact, the church steps in to fill that gap. The Republicans were very smart in their long game.

[madfloridian]

35. It's almost like there is no support system other than family or church.

And even if there is family support, the church appears to be the only organized way for on the ground social support.

[Depaysement]

10. "I ask myself, what could make poor whites turn on poor blacks or immigrants?"

Being "better" than somebody.

"If you ain't better than a n----- son, then who are you better than?" - Chris Gerolmo, Mississippi Burning

[madfloridian]

14. You make a good point.

We all need to feel superior to someone. Sad but true.

[CrispyQ]

11. I'm worried the the dem Prez will be happy to negotiate on some issues.

TPP, Keystone, Social Security.

Finally he has a Congress he can be "bi-partisan" with.

[madfloridian]

12. "TPP, Keystone, Social Security."

I worry about that also.

And of course education reform is a big big go now.

[ChiciB1]

18. I'm Worried About Key Stone XL..

Afraid Obama is going to cave on many issues and that really concerns me. Uncertain future and worries abound. I know about past history, but I've NEVER seen anything like this!

Thought it wouldn't be a big problem for those of us who are older and receiving SS, etc., but I DO worry now. Just don't know what Obama will do and wish I felt better.

[madfloridian]

19. On that issue and chained CPI for Soc Sec...he already is for them.

So in reality he wouldn't even have to cave.

I'm nervous also.

[yeoman6987]

52. If The president caves to chained CPI

Then at least lower the age back to 65 where it was originally intended. The President should not just give away with nothing in return. At least I hope he doesn't.

[KamaAina]

13. Clayton Williams

Clayton Aiken (speaking about bad weather and, astoundingly, rape)

Not Clay Aiken!!

[madfloridian]

15. Thanks I did not catch that.

[madfloridian]

20. And I put an edit in the post.

Glad you called it to my attention.

[hifiguy]

16. Lyndon B. Johnson answered that very question

nearly 50 years ago and his answer is still absolutely true today:



There's also this factor:



Spme kinds of stupid cannot ever be fixed.

[madfloridian]

17. And he said it well.

[SoapBox]

21. + 100

[Fred Sanders]

22. Congressional job approval numbers a fraction of Obama's are going to be hard to deflect now.

[msanthrope]

25. It's you. You and every other person who decided to deride the President

and what he stood for.

And so I hope you feel exactly what your OPs have stood for.

FYI----to the jury....a search of the OPs anti-Obama's rants will reveal exactly what I am writing about. One cannot constantly rail against the President, and then claim astonishment when the Party loses.

[madfloridian]

31. That's bullshit, msanthrope.

I have been critical of his policies about education and some other things.

Hubby and I campaigned for him and donated to him and provided yard signs for our neighborhood whenever they got stolen.

You want to talk to the jury? Go ahead, because I don't alert anymore.

[deurbano]

40. So, YOU're to blame! Aha!

Please sew a scarlet "L" on all your tops, ASAP! (Or will people of a certain age read that as "Laverne"?)

(On a more serious note, thank you for all you do to keep us updated on education "reform"!)

[madfloridian]

42. .....

[msanthrope]

45. There's a smell of bullshit.....from you. You post nothing good

about Democrats.

To the jury......I am not the first person to use the word "bullshit." Google this poster....she posts nothing in support of this President.

[madfloridian]

46. You really just asked the jury to google me?

Really?

[ChiciB1]

50. Coming Back TO YOU TOO!

Have an appointment, but whoa there cowboy/girl! I have some thoughts on this myself... judge much???

[madfloridian]

33. And why don't you post every post of mine you can find? And quit threatening me about it.

Go ahead. Do it.

[Starry Messenger]

51. lol

[marions ghost]

28. Your words:

"America is under siege, now more certainly than ever before. More surely than if ISIS itself were actually embedded in our small towns. The emotions wrought up by fear and misinformation and hate during the elections have instilled a divide among our citizens that will be difficult now to extinguish."

SO TRUE.

The divide they have created will be our undoing.

[DeSwiss]

29. ''So just what have the majority of voters wrought on America?''

Considering that so few eligible people vote at all, I'd say that they've given up on this system and don't believe that it will ever consider their needs or work on their behalf. So if you want to convince people that something's in their best interest, then you should start out with that being a true statement. And then be able to prove it in a demonstrable way.

Not the bullshit ''facts'' spin -- nor the ''improved economy'' crappola. Not when their lives are still in the shit. Okay? Nor do threats about how it's all going to get so much worse for them if they don't show up on election day, when their lives just keeps getting worse anyway. Capice?

They KNOW it's the system that SUCKS and no amount of virgins being elected to Congress is going to reform that whorehouse in DC. For the life of me I can't understand why this is so difficult for people to figure out. We can't see the forest for the trees.

- Maybe it's not their failure to understand the issues so much as it's our failure to convince them that this rotten system can change all of our lives for the better. And maybe we can't convince them, because we can't even convince ourselves of that lie.

[RunInCircles]

30. 3 themes to ponder

I group the issues into 3 buckets. 1) economic - SS, student loans, tax policy, trade policy, inequality
2) social issues abortion, womens rights, gay rights, racial discrimination, immigration 3) foreign policy ie perpetual war security state

How are we doing on these issues? 1) economic - do not seem to be heading in the right direction Obama was willing to consider Cat Food inflation adjustments. Nobody blames the republicans for this Obama offered and 3rd way is a respected strong part of the Democratic Party. I rate this a fail. 2) social issues we seem to be supportive of Gay Rights but I don't see much progress in the other areas. I rate this a minor success while understanding that it will serve to fire up the homophobic to vote republican. 3) The security state seems to be ascending, we are not making headway in protecting our privacy, we are trying to end the boots on the ground wars but escalating the drone and air war and stepping up our war on journalists. I rate this a minor fail.

So honestly, when you are willing to sell out seniors, take no action to reduce student loan dept, take no action to assist immigrants, conducting secret negotiations on TPP to further sell out the few working middle class left, then you get - seniors turn out to vote against the party that offered cat food SS compromise, youth did not come to vote since nobody is fighting for them, Latinos disillusioned at no effort on immigration stayed home in larger numbers. The working white male middle class votes republican to stop another wave of immigrants from further depressing their wages.

Exactly who are we fighting for that can make a positive difference in the important issues we care about. All of the justification I see here (across the DU comments spectrum) is for who we are fighting against. This fight can not just be rhetoric such as I am for Net neutrality but I appoint commissioners who work in secret to allow a paid fast lane and a slow other lane. An education secretary that believes teachers need to be held accountable through more common core testing and privatization. An economic team that spent all of their energy and our money helping the very richest and most powerful people and corporations. They did not care at all about the rest of us.

Do You want voters? Give them something to fight for. Then actually fight for them. Obama was great in his rhetoric. He enacted ACA which was a significant plus for every citizen even if they don't know it yet. But all of the other issues his team seems to work against the 99%. Don't expect support from the groups you only pay lip service to.

Nobody remembers that congress was republican when NAFTA was signed they only remember that a democratic president signed it. A democratic president allowed glass-stegall to be repealed which made the banking crisis possible. I suspect that any really awful legislation in the next 2 years will only be remembered and attached to the democratic party because the president was a democrat. When a coordinated police response crushed OWS who among our elected representatives fought this?

And OUR base is not enthusiastic and rushing to vote??? I wonder why.

Tell me what I am fighting for if Hillary is our next nominee.

[madfloridian]

38. "Nobody remembers that congress was republican when NAFTA was signed they only remember...

that a democratic president signed it. A democratic president allowed glass-stegall to be repealed which made the banking crisis possible."

Good comment. I have done that myself. But that's what we expect from a Democratic president...to veto what seems like bad legislation.

Good post.

[jwirr]

39. One of my thoughts on going ahead. In the WH we still have the executive order and the veto. That

leaves us working on the local level. We have done that before. Those of us in states with Democratic governors and legislatures should move ahead on the issues we care about: the environment, safety net, jobs, alternative energy etc. Those in states where a R rules it will be harder but they should still try.

We do not have to stand here and grieve for 2 years. Many of our states are way ahead on the issues - we need to keep moving.

[hfojvt]

41. I don't understand why minorities and women

need to get lead billing and then immigrants get a specific message.

I sort of think this is one of the things that helps us lose.

For one thing "immigrants" are not supposed to be voting.

I guess I am a selfish person, but I kind of expect candidates to represent the interests of voters ahead of the interests of non-voters. You want to help immigrants? Fine. Knock yourself out. Go start or contribute to a settlement house, but don't co-opt the message of the Democratic Party to try to turn it into the party of immigrants.

Not unless you want to lose.

I just find it odd when party leaders seem so determined to
reach out to minorities
reach out to women
reach out to hispanics

and then wonder why those darned white men don't vote for our candidates. If our candidates are serving, or promising to serve poor whites (and I think they SHOULD be) then you don't have to worry about 'what could make poor whites turn on poor blacks or immigrants?'

But if you push them down the priorities list, behind minorities, women, immigrants, then they are not "turning" on anybody, just asking the fairly simple and logical question - what about me?

But really, we don't lose elections because of the votes of poor whites. We lose elections because of the votes of the middle and upper middle class. Many of whom are saying 'screw the poor'.

[madfloridian]

44. Not so sure I agree.

You said this:

I just find it odd when party leaders seem so determined to
reach out to minorities
reach out to women
reach out to hispanics

and then wonder why those darned white men don't vote for our candidates

We really have not been reaching out that much to those groups. Also women are part of the party, they are not a special interest group.

[hfojvt]

49. but they are a special interest group

which is fine if their interests help to win elections.

What I am saying is that there are many universal issues. Rather than being all about, or mostly about various "women's issues".

Things like
clean air
good schools
clean water
full employment
world peace

Those are issues for everybody. If you are going to end poverty, or reduce poverty, then presumably you will be helping every poor person and not just minorities or the iconic single mothers we hear so much about.

Does our party reach out to various groups? Lots of times yes. How much did we hear about the "war on women" versus a larger economic issue of poverty. How much, for example, do we discuss racism on this board? If we on this board reach out to white people at all, it is only to tell them how privileged or racist they are, even more so if they are men. Then they get to be sexist too.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

47. Mad Flo

You are one of my fave DU people.
Thanks for your work for the Democratic Party and education in FL.
Don't let the do nothing but criticize faction get you down.
They can't hold a candle to you.

[madfloridian]

48. The very thought of James Imhofe making decisions about the environment is terrifying.