If The Democratic party caves forget winning in 2014

[UCmeNdc]

It is vital to stand up for your campaign promises President Obama. Many of your supporters elected you to not cut social security of medicare. They voted for you to raise the tax on the rich 2%.

Are you and the Democratic Party going to cave in to the Republicans once again?


You are going to de-energize your supporters if you do Democratic Party!

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Their Obstructionists so cooperation is off " The Table "

ShrubCo used every reason in the world to Steal Americas wealth via the deficit or the lack there of, to create a wealth gap unprecedented in history, we need to Repair that damage, before we go any further with the general well being of our country .

[Iggy]

2. OF COURSE.. why is this even a question?

haven't the "democrats" caved on most major policies-- no single payer with health insurance reform, no EFCA, no prosecution of bush adminstration officials for torture, no climate change legistation, etc. etc.

[brooklynite]

10. Is THIS the new definition of caving?

Pick a position that you like that was never the Democratic position in the first place, and then complain because you didn't get it?

[byeya]

17. EFCA was an Obama campaign pledge and he made little or no effort

[Iggy]

34. Correct, Thank You

just because Obama and the "democrats" in congress conveniently FORGOT about EFCA doesn't mean the rest of us did the same.

[Kahuna]

3. I'll vote Dem no matter what. 2010 should show us the folly of your

position.

[OKNancy]

5. +1 - ..and what is the definition of "caving"?

Not voting and/or supporting Democrats in 2010 is what got us into this mess in the first place.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

28. Agreed...

I have little patience with people who think they can pack up their tents and go home without consequence. It takes decades to move the nation in a direction...right or left. To expect one administration to do it in 4 or 8 years is ridiculous.

[Kahuna]

33. +1

[dotymed]

4. We have proven this in 2010

if our party caves again...they will never be my party again. It is early enough to float a new party, a populist one that will stand up for the 90% of us.

[OKNancy]

6. ...and lose

A third party is a sure way to have Republican rule for many, many years.
Too bad too, since they are weakened right now.

[byeya]

18. Clinton wouldn't have been president if not for Perot

[dotymed]

19. It seems that with a 2 party system, we always have corporate rule.

America IS a Progressive country (it's citizens), yet we are not ruled as such. If we can unite our progressive citizenry (and we have 4 years) hopefully we can throw off the corporate shackles. So far, for many decades, we keep moving right no matter which of the 2 parties are in "power."
We must change this paradigm. I would happily help do so under Democratic leadership. If it doesn't happen very soon, the only alternative for Americans will be to form a party that actually represents us. Four years of advertising and planning would give us a great head start.
IMO, we always say that we must do this or that. When our party wins (and even when it doesn't) nothing is done to ensure real representation until election time rolls around, and then it is always...choose the lesser of 2 evils. Bullshit.

[loyalkydem]

7. I serisouly

am sick of seeing posts like this. Enough with the If crap

[reteachinwi]

8. If Plouffe talks this way

we need to be heard loud and clear. We voted to protect SS, Medicare, and Medicaid. Bargain harder, bargain something else, or reach no deal that makes the middle class/poor pay for the banksters crisis.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/plouffe-on-fiscal-cliff-this-is-going-to-get-hai

[bonniebgood]

16. This is why i read the post for the comments on Plouffe he kept saying

the President feels the same way. My friend and I were just discussing the Obama Election team can
write their own ticked to the next campaign they run. My friend said: They would not sell out to the repukes would they? This clip answered our question.

[JoePhilly]

13. Come on now ... the SH*T won't just stir itself!

The manufactured outrage machine broke down for a while after Obama's re-election ... but its slowly sputtering back to life.

[FSogol]

27. +1 n/t

[NYC Liberal]

37. We've been hearing the same tired old crap for four years.

You'd think that would be enough. You'd think after this much time, people would get a clue. But no. It seems the handwringing, hyperbole, and chicken-little posts will continue for another four years.

[union_maid]

9. They might not cave, but they will certainly "cave"

It's a given that even if they manage to get through this giving on mostly cosmetic points, they will be pilloried by purists. Nothing short of having Boehner on his back showing his belly satisfy the naive wing of the party. Politics is the art of the possible. We are in a good position and should do well in negotiations. We are not really in a position not to have to negotiate at all.

[lefthandedskyhook]

11. Well put

"Politics is the art of the possible. We are in a good position and should do well in negotiations."

The ship of state does not turn on a dime. It is good to see it returning to a more reasonable course. There is still much work to be done.

[Chan790]

30. I want a President that thinks "compromise" is a dirty word when the enemy is this recalcitrant...

even in a position of great weakness. Compromise is something that should only be offered from this strong position we're in between the complete destruction of conservatism and allowing them to capitulate.

The President just won reelection with a larger mandate than Bush ever had. Now is not the time to be negotiating out of weakness...now is the time to be taking fight against republicans, waging war against the very ideals of conservatism.

"War is merely the continuation of politics by other means." - Carl von Clausewitz

We just won a mandate, it's time to take the fight to that orange f**ker from OH, that sniveling rat-bastard from VA, human-turtle hybrid from KY and all their cronies.

Two choices, assholes...give in or watch us accelerate off the cliff. We're playing chicken against ourselves...we still win if the car goes off the fiscal cliff because the "sequestration" deal is better than any compromise we're getting out of the GOP at this point.

[Kahuna]

12. +1

[daleanime]

24. Should do well in negotiations?

Thats nice.

How much more funding can we cut from public education?

How long can we ignore our crumbling infrastructure?

How much more will be bleed out of SS?

How many vets can we create and then toss away?

How unreasonable of us "purists" to think about the cost to human life instead of just the $$$$$.

Now feel free to ignore me, I understand, it must be terribly uncomfortable. To know, to see whats this nation has become and just standby watching. So hate me, I don't mind. Tell me what 'possible' I promise I'll listen, just don't expect it to change a single thing I do.

[union_maid]

29. I really don't use ignore

I think ignoring is mostly kind of counter-productive. I have no doubt that nothing anyone says to you is going to change anything you do. I'm mostly happy to agree to disagree except for one thing:

How unreasonable of us "purists" to think about the cost to human life instead of just the $$$$$.

The cost of human life argument was one I was making in the fall of 2000 to people who insisted that there was no difference between Bush and Gore. My position was that people would suffer and some would die in much greater numbers under Bush than Gore and that was plenty of difference to me. And I had no idea how right I was. I was just really thinking of domestic policy. But they were pure and they were totally wrong. And nothing I or anyone else said changed a thing that they did.

So disgree if you want, it's your right. But don't tell ever presume to tell me I'm not concerned with human costs. Ever. I've just learned, from long experience, that the good cannot be made the enemy of the perfect. In fact there are even times when the meh shouldn't me made the enemy of the perfect. I expect much better than meh here, though.

[coalition_unwilling]

32. Excellent riposte. I hope you will consider fashioning this into an OP. I'm not

sure I entirely agree with you, as I tend to come at politics from a far-left (Democratic Socialist) position. But you state your position compellingly.

[Javaman]

14. I was speaking about just this to a friend of mine...

he claimed that if this went through, that everything would be business as usual, but I told him (he's not very politically savy), if any compromise is made on this or the taxes on the rich, a core demographic of the Democratic party will be very very pissed off. He didn't believe me.

[think]

15. Goldmann Sachs & Monsanto must be shaking with a Dem in the White house

[dotymed]

20. Really?

We have had a Dem in the WH for the last 4 years. Sachs and Monsanto are well represented in the cabinet and they should not be.

[think]

26. Sorry. Should have put the sarcasm tag on my post.

I love my country and sarcasm....

[INdemo]

21. With the newly elected liberal Senators

it gives the Democrats a stronger force to fight for the middle class,even though they will be going up against those Republican lites in their own party..We have a much better representation now than we did in 2006.
So I really expect the majority of Senate Democrats to fight the battle instead of surrendering as easily as they have done in the past.
..if they cave ..well the Democrats will lose the labor union support because Democratic Candidates ran on supporting the middle class..If they dont then they are just another wing of the Republican party.

[The Wizard]

22. Negotiating with political terrorists

and the radical fringe only works when they're convinced they have have to bend first. The President has not been a good negotiator for the majority. Surrendering key issues to the radical, but very loud and well funded, cost the Democrats the House in 2010.
Maybe the President didn't realize how unethical and immoral the Republican Party can be.
We must always remember that the Republican Party is about ruling, not governance and the will of the people.
While they're down it is imperative to keep a heel on the backs of their necks. It is a political contagion that must be dealt with accordingly.

[forestpath]

23. K&R! But after watching David Plouffe yesterday - it's more like an avalanche than a cave in.

[Whisp]

25. o geeze

here we go again.

Fortunately all your crying and belly aching about how much a 'caver' the President is, means piss all.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

31. Trashing this thread and every single one like it!

Sick of the fucking whiners! Stop whining and get to work!!!

[hrmjustin]

35. Huge K&R!

[NYC Liberal]

36. He will continue to do so as he's done for the last four years.

This last election season highlighted the accomplishments of PBO's first term. I see no reason for anything to change.

[Sirveri]

38. Voters respect Strength.

That's pretty much all their is to it. Romney went up in polling after the first debate, not because he was actually saying anything truthfull, or that people agreed with, but because he 'appeared' stronger than Obama.