Tom Daschle as our leader

[SoFlaJet]

I think he's too nice,too soft spoken for this day and age in American politics.Why pretend that we are interested in bi-partisnship when we aren't?I think we need a new senatorial leader kind of like Nancy Pelosi in the House.Someone who will call a spade a spade,somebody who will call the GOP out on their playing politics when we are "at war"(ahem)LOUDLY.I don't know maybe a Hillary Clinton or Chuck Schumer.This speak softly stuff ain't working.Any suggestions?

[sus]

1. one word: milquetoast

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

13. one word: jellyfish

[Frodo]

2. One word: "Wait"

Unless you want a Republican filling his Senate seat (and it WILL happen), then dump the talk of dumping Daschle until AFTER the election.

BEING minority/majority leader (and all of the "bring home the bacon" that entails for his state) is a BIG reason why he can win in a state that's going to go for Bush by 20%. Take away his assumed "clout" and we can be FORCED to pick a new leader because he wo't be an option.

And I now thing we have a small chance at winning the Senate if everything breaks our way. Put his seat in play and we're back out of contention.

[SoFlaJet]

4. I'm not talking about dumping him

I love him it's just that now in the era of Bush WE,dems need a different leader of our party in the senate.No way do I condone him being voted out.Also,he's a vet and a heroic one at that I just like it when he gets real mad and growls instead of the soft tone.

[LeftHander]

7. South Dakota may surprise folks in Nov.

I don't see what Bush has done to help this ag based economy.

The only thing was the ethanol deal and people aren't all hyped about that.

Maybe the Canadian cattle import ban...

[Frodo]

8. The best "surprise" we can hope for

Is getting the gap close to single digits.

YOU may not see what Bush has done, but I'd bet that you didn't see any value in him four years ago either?
It's amazing what right-wingers have as priorities. If Bush loses SD, you can bet this election will be a massive blowout. Bush might lose TX before SD.

[KharmaTrain]

10. Offense Vs. Defense

Seems I see critics here about Daschele's performance without knowing how the Senate works...or used to.

As leader, he could set the agenda of how things are done in the Senate...which bills are read and acted on and which one will languish...and who controls the debate. It's a powerful tool that now is being abused by Frist.

Daschele's problem in 2001-2002 was 9/11...plain and simple. He had stood up to this regime in the early fights and it appeared that there was popular support both nationally and among the party/caucus for him to do that (even Zell Miller didn't stray). That all changed after 9/11 where the pressure was on to "accomodate"...the same pressures that led to Kerry & Edwards to give this regime permission to invade Iraq. It was all downhill from there.

In 2002, Daschele was in Senate hell as he couldn't accomodate the wingnuts and moderates enough and got painted with a pink tutu by the rest. When the Democrats lost the Senate, Daschele took the hit and has never recovered.

As minority leader he's been used as the Repugnican punching bag...beat upon when the Senate didn't move the way the regime wanted...and now is bypassed altogether as Frist uses his powers to turn the Senate into a partisan circus.

While I appreciate Senator Daschele's longevity and agree with him on most issues, his effectiveness as a leader...especially in a future Senate that promises to have a small Democrat majority...is nil. A new leader will be needed...a fresh face to work with a new administration.

[sus]

18. I agree with Will Greider

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20021111&s=greider">"The party of tired blood badly needs a regime change of its own."

Daschle's lame leadership is part of the reason we're in this situation. It's not #1 on my list of things to do, but I wouldn't mind to see him go.

[Frodo]

21. I agree.

I think he needs to go. We're losing too many battles and leadership (including Terry McAwful as well) needs to pay the price.

I'm just saying we don't gain anything by arguing over it NOW. He isn't going to step aside (he want to win reelection) and we can't kick him out or even hint that we WANT to - for the same reason.

Besides, if he was replaced TODAY it wouldn't do us any good between now and November.


I'm just saying "wait" not "don't do it".

[sus]

23. okay

"I'm just saying we don't gain anything by arguing over it NOW."

I can accept that.

"I'm just saying "wait" not "don't do it"."

I agree.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Anyone with a backbone. Someone like Dennis K or Howard Dean or Al

Sharpton.

[SoFlaJet]

6. Dennis K

would be a nice diversion from Oh Say Dewine of Ohio

[LeftHander]

5. No....important to maintain decorum...

Even when the opposition is liying, cheating and bending the rules to beat you. By sticking with your priciples you will eventually win.

The GOP is losing because they have time and time again shown thier rotten underside. In fact they even boast about it now. Someday the neocons will be gone and it is bad politics to burn bridges.

Right now the GOP is making no effort to find any compromise. Becauase of that the Dems are offering none. As a result the GOP controlled senate give santorum the floor to spew hate. Rather than work with people the GOP would rather debate a non-issue for the sake of thier bigot-base.

[LittleApple81]

9. Daschle goes WAY, WAY, WAY beyond decorum to appeasement.

There must be a way (and I admit that it is always easier to watch the bullfight from the bleachers) that they can make a statement that is MORE forceful than what Daschle has trotted out.

[sendero]

12. Decorum is fine....

... rolling over and playing dead is not.

The GOP streamrolls Daschle because they can. If he were a more forceful and combative leader, they would not be able to get away with all the nonsense they have.

Daschle is most likely a fine man. He's just wrong as a leader for the Dems in a time when the dynamics of the Senate hav changed and they are not going to change back anytime soon.

[SoFlaJet]

15. Exactly

"Daschle is most likely a fine man. He's just wrong as a leader for the Dems in a time when the dynamics of the Senate hav changed and they are not going to change back anytime soon."

Wellstone might have been a great...ahhh sigh

[Atman]

14. You can maintain decorum and take a stand, too

Daschle does NOTHING but kiss the GOP's ass in every speach he makes. It seems the only time we see a clip of him, he is saying something like "well, it's a shame they'd (say/do) something like that. I would hope they'd be more careful with their facts when making such statements in the fut..." *skksnnnnxxxxx yawwwwnnn....hmmph? What was that, Mr. Daschle? Man, there is NO FIRE. Any kid quickly learns that when mom merely suggests he consider moderating his cookie intake before dinner, it is an open invitation to a Keebler-fest with minimal, if any consequences. And any dem knows the republicans are the party of children. Not real children, just repressed high-school losers and frat boys who suddenly found they had trust funds or an inheritence, and power. They behave like children, and we continue to address them as adults.

Kucinich doesn't have the stature, plain and simple. I love him, I voted for him in the CT primary, but to big assholes like Tom Delay -- if he avoids jail -- Kucinich is a little weenie, and he won't listen to him. REMEMBER, these are republicans we're dealing with. They're superficial to the core. We need someone with DK's ideas, The Big Dawgs oratory skills, and the persuasive powers (read: charisma) of...hmm...who? That is the million dollar question. Who is the guy with the charisma, the stature, the...dare I say it...gravitas?

[leesa]

11. I think he's sponsored by the RNC. What else could explain his

pandering to these treasonous thieves?

[Warren DeMontague]

16. Well, If We're Talking Senate- I think we have some strong, solid voices.

For some reason, The name Dick Durbin springs to mind over here.

on edit: BTW, I agree about Daschle. The guy's like cereal that's been sitting in the bowl for a few too many hours. Soggy and useless.

[SoFlaJet]

17. I gotta tell ya

I have been watchingf the last couple of days and that "I got a letter from a Mr.Hill of so and so,the other day,and he told me" stuff puts me to sleep.I want fire baby.Fight it WITH it.

[merh]

19. Useless, spineless, sycophant...

[apnu]

20. not all the time

Once in a while Daschle wakes from his coma and shows us a bit of spark we all wish he'd have 24/7

http://democrats.senate.gov/~dpc/releases/2004330506.html

[SoFlaJet]

22. that's good stuff

thank you this is not meant to be a bash the Dasch but things have really changed.

[apnu]

26. That statement salvaged Daschle for me

Not entirely, but the fact that he has it in him gives me hope for him as a leader. We need our politicians to show more teeth. Dean's greatest success was they he showed that we are pissed, and that its OK to go after the GOP like hungry wolves. But the the team has now settled back into this reactive stance and is letting the GOP dictate the issues in this election. Sometimes I shudder at the thought of a replay of 2002, which I can see happening to some extent again.

Kerry, Daschle and others need to get up, get pissed off, and take the advantage of declaring the issues for this election as their own. Force the GOP to speak on OUR terms and on OUR issues. Make them address the shitty economy, a messy war, an unstable world, and the disintegration of education and civil rights.

I'm smegging sick and tired of the GOP deciding what this nation is going to talk about.

[merh]

24. Okay - one time he stood up

but overall, he has wimped out on us.

His compromise of 2000 with the repukes is enough to ruin him in my eyes for life. They should have fought and he should have lead the fight.

:mad: :nuke:

[apnu]

25. this is the problem of the Dems, IMO

They try to stick to the issues and have a serious debate on them, and rightly so. However, the GOP is not interested in any debates on the issues. Take a look at their campaigns over the past 20 years and you'll see a heavy emphasis on innuendo and character attacks. That makes it very hard to actually debate issues when the other side of the debate won't debate at all.

And the Dems haven't figured that out yet. And so, the perception of the Dems as "weak" is perpetrated over and over. My advice to them, (are you lurking here?) is that they should take from the GOP's tool box and use the same type of attacks as they have suffered under for decades. Blend that thought with debating the issues and go after these robber barons on both the issues (and facts) as well as exposing them for the soulless bastards that they are.

[terrya]

27. May I humbly suggest my Senator, the honorable Dick Durbin of Illinois...

for Senate Democratic Leader (hopefully Majority Leader after November)?

:-)

[SoFlaJet]

28. yea ter

he ain't a-feared to call them out Senator Levin too.I'm talking about a Teddy Kennedy-like dem to really piss em off ya know?Someone who is as scummy to them as Trent Lott and Orin Hatch are to us.They screwed up putting their own Daschle-like leader up when they kicked Lott for Frist.Now there is a pu$$y for ya(excuse the language please)but it best describes what I'm trying to say