Gene Robinson: "Democrats need to get over themselves. And then they need to get busy."

[babylonsister]

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/needing_a_playbook_not_a_funk_20100715/

Needing a Playbook, Not a Funk
Posted on Jul 15, 2010
By Eugene Robinson


Let’s get this straight: The federal deficit is such a big crisis that we can’t extend benefits for millions of Americans who are unemployed, many of them in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure? But without a second thought we can extend a massive, temporary tax cut for the rich, even though asking the wealthy to pay their fair share would go a long way toward erasing the deficit?

This, as helpfully laid out by Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, is the Republican Party’s economic policy. It’s tempting to conclude that if Democrats lose big in November, it will be their own fault because they’re running against a party that’s preaching pure incoherence.

The thing is, we already know that the Republicans’ prescription for the economy doesn’t work. We gave their approach an eight-year trial under George W. Bush—basically, squeeze money out of the middle class and transfer it to the upper class, which theoretically then shows its gratitude by creating jobs for what BP’s chairman would call “the small people.” The result of the experiment has been the worst economic slump since the Great Depression.

snip//

After rising from the ashes of 2008 by uniting in opposition to anything Obama and the Democrats tried to do, Republicans are defined more by the word “no” than by anything else. They have a rallying cry but not a program. Are the populist, tea party types really going to accept the fat-cat economic philosophy of the GOP congressional leadership? Is “drill, baby, drill” a viable energy strategy after the BP disaster? Is Sen. Lindsey Graham the voice of the party on Afghanistan, or is it Michael Steele?

That’s a lot for Democrats to work with. I happen to believe that Obama and his party have established a remarkable record of achievement. Many Americans do not agree, however, and the thing to do is not to sulk and feel misunderstood but to go out and change people’s minds.

Democrats need to get over themselves. And then they need to get busy.

[senseandsensibility]

1. Aren't some of you

getting sick of asking yourselves (or others) WHY the Dems won't really fight with such brilliantly messed up opponents as the repugs? The scripts for the ads are signed, sealed, and delivered. And I am not just talking about the situation outlined in the above article, which is bad enough, but the last ten years or so? Think of all the ammunition that has just been dropped in the Dems' laps over and over and over. Again, WHY won't they really fight back?

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[FrenchieCat]

5. My question is.....

WHY won't they we really fight back? Instead, we join the opposition
in tearing up those who will do the most for us....and are doing it
during a crucial time in building the election narrative! Why do we do that?
Why do we allow the GOP to tear up the administration one way, while we ignore them,
because we are so busy tearing up the administration the other way?
And then, why do we blame others for what we fail to do? Why?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. You got it!!

:toast:

Look, I'm disappointed in a lot of the decisions that Obama and the Dems have made, but when I see the long list of accomplishments--ESPECIALLY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--I am so very proud of Nancy Pelosi and the leadership there.

Yes, we must find a way to rally behind the Dems. They are far, far from perfect, but we simply cannot afford to cede power to the Republicans. We just can't afford it.

[CakeGrrl]

10. Because Democrats

1. Don't march in lockstep
2. Will not be silenced when it comes to their right to criticize the President or his administration
3. Feel it's the President's responsibility to give people a reason to vote for him, so if he doesn't, why should we bother to vote?

I've heard all these justifications for not acknowledging with the big-picture threat of letting the Republicans regain power. Apparently some Dems/Progressives are more offended by the thought of looking like lockstep lemmings than banding together against the Republicans, who have mastered the ability to come together in party solidarity no matter how much in the wrong they are.

[elleng]

3. Good question

'Running against a party that’s preaching pure incoherence' 'easy' if interest is clear, AND there's no fear of the sociopaths. Often (and personally) there tends to be continuing fear of power of sociopath's incoherence; lots of people go along with it due to power of their propaganda.

'Difficult' to explain fallacies of their propaganda to public that's not interested in (or capable of understanding) nuance.

[Emeritus]

4. I like Gene, because he is not condescending at all

He knows how to get his message across with messages such as "get over yourself."

[azmouse]

6. Gene makes a lot of sense.

We need to get the message out that the Republicans got us into this financial mess and now they want the chance to do it all over again.
Can't let that happen.

[Arkana]

7. Well, Gene, maybe if your guys in the media would stop sucking up

to their corporate masters and stop being so concerned about "presenting both sides" of an argument (even if one side is patently absurd), we wouldn't have such a tough time.

[DCBob]

8. Gene is the best..

Never over the top but cuts to the heart..