Bush Poll Plummet and DLC Idiocy

[Warren Stupidity]

The AP article about the GOP's plummeting poll numbers for both Congress and the White House (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20050409/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_ap_ipsos_poll)
contains the following interesting anecdotal evidence regarding the complete idiocy of the DLC centrist strategy.

Democrats, whose public standing is pretty close to the Republicans these days, are pondering how to capitalize on the general dissatisfaction among the American people toward Washington.

"I think the Democrats have to be clearer about offering alternatives, not just the critique," said Democratic pollster Celinda Lake. "People already know what the problems are, they want to know the solutions."

Thomas Johnston, a Democratic retiree from Mooresville, N.C., often doesn't agree with the positions taken by national Democrats. But he thinks being overly cautious hurts them.

"I think they're trying to ride the fence and that doesn't work," Johnston said. "Say what you believe and stick with it."

As the hideous saying goes: 'ya think?'

When is the Democratic Party going to actually perform as an Opposition Party fighting to seize power from an increasingly unpopular incumbant? Instead of opposition, the DP plays the role of lapdog to the rich and powerful.

[MichiganVote]

1. Congress sucks and so does Bush

[kentuck]

2. That's the gist of it...

They need to get off the fence and say what they think. As a Party - not one individual Senator here and there.

[Old and In the Way]

3. If they offered solutions, would there be a medium to carry the message?

Seems we only get to hear Joe Lieberman's voice agreeing with this administration as the Democratic "balance". How much time did the corporate media devote to Kerry's message, as opposed to discussing his VietNam years through the prism of the Swift Boat Liars? How much time is given to 100's of thousands protesting this administration's agenda, as compared to a few dozen religious extremists getting attention 24/7 from the MSM?

In spite of the corporate media's best attempts to puff up Republicans and dismiss Democrats, people aren't buying it.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. good question

I don't know, but I sure think we ought to try. For starters the DNC ought to start doing something like what the GOP does with their rightwing media talking heads: get together with the AAR folks and other progressive media on a frequent regular basis and get everybody up to speed. AAR is well intentioned but I hear them blundering out right wing framing a lot, and getting corrected after the fact, 'cause they haven't always done their homework and they aren't up to speed.

The message certainly won't get out if there is no message, that much I know for sure.

[Demit]

4. I sometimes wonder if the Democratic Party IS an opposition party.

There are some members who speak out forcefully all the time, and there are some members who speak out forcefully on occasion. But any galvanizing effect of that is drained away by a party that--when it does act in concert--decides that staying silent, as it did during the Schiavo bill fiasco, is a really good strategy. Feh.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. So about Howard

Since he is the titular head of the DP, shouldn't he be able to do the talking head circuit any time he wants to, and shouldn't he be doing so at least once or twice a month? Instead he seems to be going around the country talking to local DP organizations. Not that this is a bad thing, I understand that we need to build the local organizations, but there is a leadership vacuum at the top as well.

[Demit]

8. I think it's great that Dean is doing grassroots stuff, and local party

organization stuff. It's like building up the farm system in baseball--pays dividends for many years to come. It's a crying shame that we feel that we have to look to him to do it all. He'd have to be Superman to be able to. It's a crying shame that we DON'T have other Dem leaders going on the Sunday shows to reinforce Dean's message. It's like Spahn and Sain and pray for rain with this party, as it is now.

[radfringe]

5. Q: When is the Democratic Party going to perform as an opposition party?

A: when they grow a spine and find some balls. With a few exceptions -- most are gelded jellyfish (no balls no spine)

[Al-CIAda]

9. Back by popular demand...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3406700