The Democrats will still lose in 2006, and as far as the eye can see

[Ian_rd]

Bush has an approval rating of about 38%. How is this possible? That number is freakin' horrifying. That Chimp and his gang of monkeys have done exactly nothing right, and oh-so-many things horribly wrong, since they took power. And nearly FORTY PERCENT think he's doing a good job! That's HUGE!

That means that in America, 38% of the people approve of:

1. Blowing a CIA Agent's cover to poo-poo a Bush critic whose statements remain undisputed.
2. Flat-out lying to the American people on at least two counts (the proven ones) regarding Saddam's weapons in order to start a war! ... to start a goddamn war!
3. The biggest deficit in the history of the country while they continue to increase spending.
4. Defecating all over the Constitution and calling it "freedom."
5. Whatever .. you all know the list. It's long and infuriating.

My point is that the Republicans with their media have successfully created a fanatical base of supporters. It's an enormous base that looks upon Bush and the Republican Party with the reverence of religious prophets - beings that are more than human - divine. Tom Delay can be arrested for money-laundering and all he has to do to woo the masses is drop the name of Christ a couple times and the next thing you know he's freakin' Jesus on the cross in the minds of the fundies.

The Radical Christian Right has spent more than 20 years transforming American Christianity from a religion into a political party. And the Republicans are now seeing the fruits of their labor - unquestioning loyalty, unthinking obedience, and blinding, frothing hatred of all who dare voice opposition.

Take a look at John McCain's sudden respect for Jerry Falwell. John McCain may occasionally show flashes of independent thought, but when it really comes down to the wire the man who once endured torture in a POW camp is now just a spineless politician. Spineless, but not stupid. McCain sees what's going on. He sees the FORTY PERCENT. He knows that he cannot win the Republican ticket without becoming an object of worship. And if he licks enough radical right ass, he knows that the man he once called an "agent of intolerance" and the other fundies will cast him as the new Bush Christ in the soft, pliable minds of THE BASE.

The Democrats once had a base. But they blew it. They allowed themselves to be corrupted with the same dirty corporate money as the Republicans. And for some reason, they still seem terrified of Bush and Rove despite their approval ratings. The Dems are, and have been, in the best position a politician can be. They can do the right thing, AND win! How many times can you do that in politics? This is a golden opportunity!

They can actually stand up for the working poor, support socialized medicine, reinstate the role of government to police the crimes of the business elite, declare their mission to clean up the environment and go after polluters, revitalize the American workforce by denying massive tax breaks to corporations that employ foreign sweatshop labor, balance the budget, and on and on and on.

But they won't because they think the Republican base is more important than their own - more important than us. This is why you see the ever-calculating Hillary feign outrage at flag-burning and a video game with boobs in it. Stupid, spineless, blind morons. That's what they are.

Sure - they COULD win. But I'm not putting my freakin' money on it.

[Radical Activist]

1. Negativity is the left's worst enemy

If everyone believes we will lose, then it will be so.

[tridim]

2. Other polls have him closer to 30%

Still unbelievably high for a complete failure, but much better than 40%.

He's at Nixon popularity levels, and Nixon was forced to resign.

[Democrats_win]

3. America wins only if Democrats win!!!

Otherwise we´ll waste our national resources in a foreign land. Look at the size of the embassy they plan to build.

[frankly_fedup2]

4. Oh, my monies on it too; however, none of the above will play a factor

in why they will win. It comes down to electronic voting. Simple as that. As far as the 38% approval rating, I agree with your comments because anyone that would approve of anything this administration has done are . . .

"Stupid, spineless, blind morons. That's what they are."

[tatertop]

7. Why in hell's name are the Dems not stepping up on this issue?

[AndyTiedye]

12. Diebold Delivers the Votes, Fundies Make Noise and Cover Up the Theft

The regime needs both Diebold and the Fundies.

There probably aren't really as many Fundies as we're told, but they get loads of media coverage
and at least one major polling organization (Gallop) is owned by Fundies.

They always trot out the Fundies and their hatemongering as the reason for increasingly improbable Republican victories.


"committed to delivering the electoral votes of Ohio to the President".
Walden O'Dell, when he was CEO of Diebold Corporation.

[bigtree]

5. Democrats ARE standing up for those things you describe

If we work hard to get our senate and house candidates elected to a majorities this November we will be able to realize and defend our concerns from a position of real power. In their present state in the minority they have little influence beyond obstinance, which many times has been overridden by the republican majority.

They could throw themselves in the road more, but I think now they should be positioning for their individual races, which they will manuever according to whatever politics confront them. Let's try to get behind them wherever we can.

[FredScuttle]

6. Er.....what?

"They allowed themselves to be corrupted with the same dirty corporate money as the Republicans"

Why do feel another "Democrats took Jack Abramoff's money too" meme coming on?

Are there Democrats who've been corrupted by corporate interests? Sure.
Can we say, with a straight face, that the Democratic Party has taken as much dirty money as the Republicans? Are you fucking kidding me?

It's Nader-esque flights of fancy like this that reinforce this canard that "there's no difference between the parties" and helps us stay in the minority. Thanks for a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[BuyingThyme]

10. Er.....you proved the OP correct.

So the straw men do you little good at this point.

[Zynx]

8. The talk of the vaunted Republican base is way overblown.

Bush won in 2004 simply because his approval rating was either near fifty percent or above it. He held virtually all Republicans and picked up enough of the center to win. Kerry held virtually all Democrats and picked up less of the center than he needed.

I am not frightened by this 38, 36, or 33% depending on which poll you look at. President's parties have suffered horribly when their approval ratings are down there.

[spag68]

9. The Dems.

do have their problems, any of us will admit to that. the reason I have more optimism then you, is my core belief that these thugs will have the same malady their predecessors had, that is complete arrogance. They may have a fanatical base, but I refuse to believe it is that big. I don't have the numbers but my gut tells me so. that is when I stop throwing up from bushes latest gambit.

[norml]

11. They've a small army of robots, growing smaller by the day, programmed by

right wing radio clowns. No one believes them anymore, except the robots. They are oblivious to any feedback from the real world. They are told every step they take is brilliant, no matter what that step is, and so they step off of the edge of the cliff, and into the abyss.

[Lex]

13. Locking.

From the DU Rules:

"Constructive criticism of Democrats or the Democratic Party is permitted. When doing so, please keep in mind that most of our members come to this website in order to get a break from the constant attacks in the media against our candidates and our values. Highly inflammatory or divisive attacks that echo the tone or substance of our political opponents are not welcome here.

Do not post broad-brush smears against Democrats or the Democratic Party."

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"Do not post "flame bait" discussion topics. While there is no clear line regarding what constitutes flame bait, the moderators have the authority to shut down threads which they consider too rhetorically hot, too divisive, too extreme, or too inflammatory. Please use good judgment when starting threads; inflammatory rhetoric does not normally lead to productive discussion."

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Thank you,
Lex
DU Moderator