It's time for Tom Daschle to resign as Minority Leader

[SeattleRob]

Is it unreasonable that I am pissed of at Mr.Daschle for being such a horrible and ineffective leader in the Senate? He is rolling over on Medicare and he will be voting in favor of the horrific energy bill. In my opinion,he is the poster child of the Democratic Party's failure to stand up to Bush and the Republicans. He is also the poster child for the election defeats of 2002.

He is putting his own political needs ahead of the party. Obviously, his main concern is being re-elected. Thus, he puts his own agenda ahead of the party's well being. Because he cannot lead, he should step aside and allow someone with courage and the will to fight to take over.

I would also argue that Mr. Daschle's (along with the DLC and the Party establishment)ineffective leadership and lackluster opposition is the reason why Howard Dean's message has resonated with so many people across the country.

It's time to take this country (and our party) back!

[JI7]

1. the others voted for him

the other senators voted for him to be leader. nobody else challenged him. and what would be different anyways ? the other democrats are free to speak out on whatever they want.

[AngryYoungMan]

3. What would be different...

....is that we wouldn't have that son of a bitch standing there PRETENDING to be a Democratic leader. Sorry for the strong language but few things are worse than a self-appointed problem solver who is more interested in the spotlight than in solving problems. Dean, Clark, Kerry etc. make Daschle look like a damp washrag.

[JI7]

10. "self-appointed"

daschle was elected (voted for by democratic senators+jeffords). my point is that none of the other senators are willing to challenge him for the position. and they can speak out on their own if they want.

[frank frankly]

25. this is true and I hope somebody does challenge him!

and soon...

[virtualobserver]

6. It might be a tad different if the Senate leader stood up to Bush.

...occasionally.

[bryant69]

2. Agree in part disagree in part

I agree that Daschele hasn't been the most effective of leaders, but these aren't easy times either. I'm also not sure we should focus on taking down one of our own. It might be better to vent our rage at Bill Frist and COngressional Republicans.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Hippo_Tron]

38. It's difficult to effectively vent our rage on the cat killer...

When the leader of our opposition is weak. Tom Daschle is not just senate minority leader but he is in effect the highest ranking democrat and therefore supposed to be head of the party and head of the president's opposition. Tom Daschle is supposed to be to Bush what Newt Gingrich was to Clinton. Unfortunately Tom Daschle, unlike Newt Gingrich, is powerless and spineless. Gingrich was a right-wing extremeist who challenged much of president Clinton's agenda, just as Clinton challenged his. While they had to come to terms on issues like budgets, Clinton vetoed many bills sent to him by the Republican congress just as the Republican congress didn't pass several parts of his agenda such as social security and healthcare reform. I'll admit that Tom Daschle is minority leader and not majority leader and that Nancy Pilosi is in the same position as well. Gingrich had a substantial house majority and the Republicans controlled the senate by a pretty good amount as well. But this wasn't the case for the first two years of Clinton's term. Gingrich started the so-called "Republican Revolution" and took back both houses of congress with Bob Dole leading the senate (somebody who I'd take over Bill Frist in a heartbeat). While we should in no way be trying to emulate the ideals of Newt Gingrich, we should be looking at his success as an example of what works. Gingrich did very serious damage to Clinton's agenda and Clinton is one of the greatest presidents of all time. Just think about what we could do to the brainless chimp's agenda with good congressional opposition.

[virtualobserver]

4. I couldn't agree more

Dean needs to clean house at DNC headquarters, and Democrats need a new leader in the Senate.

[Fleshdancer]

5. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so

Daschle and leadership is an oxymoron in my opinion. I like the guy for the most part, but I want to know my leaders are fighting for me...and don't get that impression with Daschle.

Maybe the problem is that this current administration has me running further to the left and Daschle remains moderate?? Then again, during his re-election campaign, the right compared him to Saddaam Hussein and instead of defending himself, it's as if he played the sympathy card...too passive agressive for my tastes.

[BayCityProgressive]

7. Daschle is pathetic.

We need Kerry, Feingold, Clinton, or Corzine in there.

[SeattleRob]

11. agree

any of the above leaders, though I would add Kennedy and Byrd, would be better.

The point is, we need an opposition. History has shown that you cannot be accomodating with Rove, Frist, Delay, and the rest. You give them an inch, they want a yard. It's time to draw a line in the sand ans stand up for what's right.

[moondust]

8. Look at how much the Dems have lost during his tenure as leader.

It's amazing. Of course it can't all be blamed on him but I think you're right that he's always looking over his shoulder to see what the conservative folks back home want him to do with an eye to reelection. Stronger leadership would have done better.

[eissa]

16. Yes!

I always viewed Daschle and Gephardt as the poster children for the wimpy Democrats. Those two were a factor in pushing me into Dean's camp long ago. They both have the words "doormat" stamped on their foreheads. Even when Daschle is speaking for our side, he still sounds unconvincing.

[Loonman]

9. Having a spine helps

Daschle has none.

[Classical_Liberal]

12. He is the reason the late term abortion thing passed

. Even those scared democrats who vote with the dlc because of dlc loyalty on that one issue should be mad at Daschle for that. He opposed the fillibuster.

[SeattleRob]

13. Buzzflash Agrees...

Check out this excellent Buzzflash Editorial...

http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/03/11/edi03004.html

[ibegurpard]

14. Hold your horses!

Read this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=767678

[Cocoa]

15. Daschle critics, please explain these procedures

Please make your explanation detailed and authoritative to match the strength of your criticisms.

At the same time, please explain in detail the procedural maneuvers involved in the passage of the campaign finance legislation. It was all over my head, but I understand that it was considered an accomplishment for Daschle.

Thanks!

[Monte Carlo]

17. Daschle should have resigned after the 2002 elections.

Just like Gephardt did. It should have been a big win that day, instead it was a tragic failure. Why both he and McAuliffe managed to stay in control is beyond me.

[Cocoa]

18. explain this, please

Which races did Daschle affect, and how.

Which actions of Daschle's caused those dems to lose, and please give evidence.

Did those dems lose because of the dem victories that Daschle played a role in, and if so, does this mean that Daschle should not have opposed Bush on campaign finance, the sept. 11 investiations, or Alaska drilling, or should not have gotten Jeffords to switch?

If this is your thesis, I'm not so sure I agree. I think those things miht have been worth fihting for, even if there was a cost.

Likewise, if the judicial filibuters cause some senators their seats, I'm willing to believe it was worth it because the federal courts are so important with Bush in office.

[Monte Carlo]

19. When the ship runs aground, the Captain is relieved of duty.

Underlying reasons are irrelevant. And boy, did the Senate Democrats hit land that day.

[Cocoa]

22. i.e. you don't know

that's ok, I'm not surprised. :hi:

[Monte Carlo]

24. Don't tell me what I know.

And don't try to impress anybody with these race-by-race trifles. The battle was lost before it even started. Daschle had responsibilites to lead the Senate Democrats to a big win, and he did not do what needed to be done.

[Cocoa]

27. I've heard that a lot

that Daschle is responsible for the senate losses, and Gephardt is responsible for the house losses.

What's always missing is the proof, or even a clue as to why, or an analysis of how true it is, or examples of what wrong actions he took, or right actions he didn't take.

In other words what's always missing is ANYTHING other than mindless repetition of the shallow scapegoating. Even with a total lack of evidence, the argument is delivered with total conviction.

[Trek234]

34. Cocoa got ya Monte

Cocoa is correct IMO. Daschle has SOME influence, but ultimately he is not responsible.

[Democat]

30. You sound like the Republicans defending Bush

Daschle is the Dem head of the Senate, he take the credit and the blame.

When we lost in 2002, he should have been forced out if he refused to resign from leadership.

The fact that he is still there, and people like you defend him, means that you and some other Democrats are unwilling to face the truth about the problems with our party.

Daschle has screwed the Democratic Party by being a pathetic wimp.

His only strength was in fillibustering a few judges, but a stronger leader would have sold even that to the American people far better than Daschle has done.

[Cocoa]

31. you're just repeating it

I'm well aware that people blame Daschle for the losses, and that everyone agrees, but like I said no one seems the need to question that complex assertion, they just swallow it whole.

Just like no one questioned people that accused him of blocking the Sept. 11 investigations, they just believed it like sheep. The difference being that that was simple to expose as b.s.

Go ahead, repeat it ad nasuem.

[Yupster]

37. I'll give Daschle credit

for helping Tim Johnson come through in 02.

I'd still like him to go though. Each six years when he's up for reelection, he's hamstrung by representing such a conservative state. You can tell it's his election time by watching him.

[sangh0]

20. Idiotic irony

Call for Daschle's ouster on a day when he engineered a defeat for the Repukes, who wanted to pass the Medicare bill this week.

[Classical_Liberal]

23. How did he engineer the defeat when he voted against

the fillibuster?

[Kanary]

32. to answer your question with my limited understanding

He "engineered the defeat" by setting up the Point Of Order, which was that the money required by that bill wasn't allocated in the budget, which means that the REpublicans have to break their own rules in order to pass the danged thing.

So, at least if it passes the Dems have some legit criticism about the right wing and their use of money, etc.

OK, not very coherent, but you get the gist...

Kanary

[creativelcro]

33. The filibuster would have NOT passed anyway...

[SeattleRob]

42. huh????

Did I miss something?

[annagull]

21. We need a Senate leader who's seat is more stable

If we had a leader from a safe seat, that would make him/her more free to concentrate on what's right for the party, not pandering to their right wing constituants. I am disgusted that Daschle voted for that abortion ban--come on, there is not even an exception for a woman dying!!

[moondust]

28. Agreed. I believe this is the answer at this time.

Turn it over to somebody whose reelection chances at home will actually be strengthened by their aggressive advancement of Dem causes as minority/majority leader.

[AlinPA]

26. I very much agree.

I'm thinking who, now? Harry Reid?

[Padraig18]

29. Who we need:

It is high time he was replaced with a seasoned senator of stature and sufficient 'gravitas', one whose seat is secure, a knowledgeable individual of impeccable personal background, a fiery orator and an unabashed liberal--- Dick Durbin of Illinois! :toast:

[maggrwaggr]

35. Hear hear!!!

gotta kick to that. The man's a pitiful disgrace. He makes Alan Colmes look like Muhammed Ali.

[Armstead]

36. Dump him

He's been an utter failure.

Let him focus on running for re-election, and find someone who will fight back.

[John_H]

39. I used to think little tommy was a great leader

It's clear now, though, that he looked like great leader because trent lott was such an horrifically incomeptent leader.

Daschle's fatal flaw is his inability to inspire and/or coherce a unified front. Can't do it in the dem party? Read Master of the Senate.

If someone like LBJ were leader, Zell Miller would stil be picking peices of his ass up off the senate floor and someone like Ron Wyden and wouldn't dare vote for medicare.

Do we have anyone ruthless and smart enough to make us an effective opposition in an election year? You tell me.

[adadem]

40. And....

let him take loser McAuliffe with him. If they were salesmen and lost as many "sales" as these two have they would be fired. Just who is the DNC if not it's members. My wallet is closed to the DNC until there is new leadership.

[burr]

41. I enjoyed watching Daschle make his point of order today...

for the first time in recent battles, Democrats were giving Repukes a nice wipping for becoming the undisciplined party of tax and spend. And they shredded repukes for wasting our tax dollars on cherry picking insurance companies, and the overpriced presciptions now to be payed for from our childrens' pockets without any price negotations. It has been a while since I have been able to watch these debates, but what are those typewriter things Senate pages carry around their necks?

But why did Daschle not support closure? Based on the vote against the point of order, Democrats could of gotten the necessary 41 votes with their leader's assistance!

edited for mistakes...:freak: