Want to know what "Morning in America" will look like come January 1? Keep sulking, progressives.

[kpete]

Sunday 05 September 2010

by: Denis G. Campbell, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed


.............

Republicans were tossed out in '06 and '08. Did they sulk, even for a minute? Nope, they came back swinging. Now they stand poised to take back the House and could also win the Senate - the group that created this mess back at the wheel.

Forget Obama losing his cool; ain't happening. Progressives need to learn the fighting comes in rounds. The Republicans lost two, had their corner cut man do quick work (rebranding as the Republican Tea Party), tied themselves to illogical anger at phantoms, birth certificates and health care, and came back with withering blows, while progressives said, "You don't matter; we won; you were knocked out, now go away."

The Republicans have taken a page from the UK Conservatives' (Tories') playbook. The Tories played catch-up for more than a decade before winning the UK Parliamentary elections this spring. How did they do it? They never sulked and they never quit. Since becoming party leader, David Cameron launched weekly, withering televised attacks during Prime Minister's Question Time against Tony Blair, then Gordon Brown. Each attack was like watching a heavyweight fighter in a tight clench, pounding slowly and determinedly away.

................

Want to know what "Morning in America" will look like come January 1? Keep sulking, progressives.

http://www.truth-out.org/the-powerful-coincidence-2010-campaign-words62962

[BeFree]

1. Yep

Could be that come Jan. 1, reagan comes back from the dead.

But that can only happen if we let them laugh all the way to the Diebold machines.
You can bank on it.

[glitch]

38. At least they changed the tape from 'whining' to 'sulking'. Way to GOTV.

:thumbsdown:

Seems intentionally discouraging.

[phantom power]

2. Perhaps progressives would sulk less if the people they elected stopped telling them to STFU

:shrug:

[cap]

4. so when are we going to start working en masse for the campaigns

we gotta get our mojo back people... regardless of whether we are being told to STFU...

Don't you think that the Tea Partiers have been told to STFU? Did they listen? No.

I suggest we do likewise.

[RBInMaine]

5. Not so. They want purity, and that is not reality.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

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[frylock]

26. you gonna finally get some dems elected in maine?

how are those repubs working for you in reality, ME?

[ThomCat]

37. Not purity.

Progressives don't want to be attacked by the people we elect. From the very beginning, this administration has attacked those on the left as much or more than the people on the right.

The difference is, this administration compromises with the right to make them happy. All that bi-partisan shit. They don't do anything to bring us to the table. We're excluded entirely.

From the beginning we've been told, "Thanks for getting us elected, now go away until the next election."

And when we say, "Hey, we Voted for Obama! This isn't what we voted for." We're told "So what? What are you going to do if you don't get what you want, Vote republican?"

That doesn't make US the ones causing the rift. It's the DLC centrists who used us for our votes and essentially threw us out afterward. It would be really nice if the attitude we got was something better than "Vote and then STFU."

This is supposed to be our party too.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Perhaps we'd win if they actually STFU and starting working on campaigns...

even the campaigns of those who are not perfect.

[AndyA]

11. What is it they say about a fool and his money?

Elected Democrats must start doing what they were elected to do.

They were not elected to take impeachment off the table.

They were not elected to appease the GOP.

They were not elected to allow the Republicans to block bills in the Senate.

They were not elected to cover up torture.

They were not elected to pass health care "reform" that does nothing to reform the major health care concern: cost.

They were not elected to break the promises they made to get our money and our votes.

Not being perfect isn't the issue, lying to us repeatedly and then expecting to be rewarded for it a few years down the road is the issue.

So we just keep giving them money, voting for them, and supporting them because they're not as bad as the GOP? Yeah, that'll be the equivalent of a sternly worded letter. :eyes:

[TreasonousBastard]

13. They were elected to govern, not to follow your personal agenda. If you don't...

like the way they're doing it, perhaps you'll be a lot happier with Speaker Boehner.

You might note that despite their best efforts, Republicans have not managed to reduce social Security, eliminate Medicare, make abortions completely illegal, bring prayer back into the schools, or get much of their other public agenda passed. But they haven't quit, have they? And they haven't turned on their own as useless sods who can't get the job done.

[AndyA]

31. Another "Either Or" Party Member.

You're either 100% in love with Obama/Democrats, or you secretly want the GOP to be in control forever.

Get real. :eyes:

Keep doing it your way, and the progressive part of the Democratic Party will cease to exist, then what will you do? :puke:

You are rewarding bad behavior. The Dems are in the mess they're in because THEY DID IT, NOT US. You can accept the blame if you want to, and continue to give them money and be lied to, but it's not going to get you anywhere.

And your comment about "despite their best efforts" is a joke. If this is the best the Democrats can do, they don't deserve to be in power.

Do you know how many bills are currently stalled in the Senate?

Do you know how many vacancies still exist that haven't been filled since Obama took office?

Health reform that doesn't control costs or provide any competition?

Discrimination against gays is perfectly legal and acceptable?

This is the result of their best efforts? Give. Me. A. Break. :eyes:

You're a prime candidate for the Democratic Lowered Expectations Party. You'll be thrilled with what you get, whatever it is.

By the way, no where did I suggest we should not support Democrats so that Republicans will be in control. That's another symptom of the "Either Or" Party.

[booksenkatz]

15. ^this^ NT

[whatchamacallit]

29. word. nt

[Andy823]

30. So...

Do we let the republicans come back in and go back to destroying this country, giving tax bread to the rich, starting more wars, deregulating more, and paying for it all by cutting programs for those who really need help? Or do we get out and make sure republicans don't get back in, hold the democrats accountable, push the issues we want to see changed, and at least have some kind of hope that something will get done, even if it's not what we feel is our own top priority?

Now I know that after 8 years of Bush I sure as hell don't want to see the democrats lose either house because we all know what will happen, and it isn't going to be pretty! Now if one wants to see the government come to a complete standstill, see the right try freeze any money for social programs, see tax cuts for the rich on the table paid for by cutting SS and medicare, etc., I would say stay home be mad, not vote, and when the first of the year comes along and republicans start trying to impeach Obama, and take us back to the "Bush" days remember there was a choice, we could have all gotten out and voted to at least make sure we had some kind of a chance to get things done that need to be done!

[AndyA]

32. Yes, obviously that's the ONLY answer. Let the Republicans take control again.

Geez, where do you people come up with this?

There is a balance between undying love no matter what they do and criticism because they aren't doing what they promised they'd do.

Another member of the "Either Or" Party.

No where did I suggest it would be best to allow the Republicans to take control. That's a jump you made on your own.

I merely pointed out that at the rate the Dems are going, before long it will be next to impossible to tell the difference between them and the GOP. Obama said to hold him accountable. I'm going to do that. You don't hold someone accountable by continuing to let them perform at a level that is lower than they need to in order to achieve their goals.

:eyes:

[glitch]

41. Maybe Centrists should get their corporations to run a bunch of tv ads instead.

Wasn't that the deal they made, lose the left, gain the corps?

So, work it.

The reality is, most of us will still GOTV, and we will never ever STFU, especially for the likes of DINOS. So they'll have to keep dealing with us.

They way this party keeps shitting on Progressives, one might think they wanted us to stay home. No doubt Republicans are much easier to work with in achieving the 'Centrist' agenda.

[stranger81]

22. +1000

If folks here really want progressives as allies, it would be in their interest to do less to alienate them at every available opportunity.

[msongs]

3. conservadems are bitching because bad mouthing progressives is not working. ok nt

[frylock]

28. let the beatings continue until morale improves..

is it any wonder why these numbnuts can't win jack?

[derby378]

6. Thank you...

THIS is an argument that all Democrats need to take to heart. Why are we losing? Is it something we are doing wrong? And what are we going to do to fix it?

[TreasonousBastard]

8. Work? Why, when it's so easy to blame Blue dogs, Diebold, and the phases...

of the moon for our expected demise?

Work is, well, work.

[derby378]

34. Plenty of blame to go around...

...and the DLC does deserve a lot of the blame, but rolling over on our backs and peeing on ourselves while deluding ourselves into thinking our catty remarks and snarks against Repukes are having any impact on Main Stree, USA isn't helping us, either.

[backwoodsbob]

9. maybe if they give us something to vote FOR

instead of the *OMG vote for us or the repukes will win* mem...people will get excited

[lunatica]

12. your vote against something is as powerful as your vote for something

Is that not obvious?

[backwoodsbob]

14. no it's not

voting for something *slightly less bad* isn't exactly an orgasm inducing experience for me.I'll vote in November but I'm not donating or canvassing.

[lunatica]

16. So how is your vote less powerful?

Or is an orgasm a must?

[backwoodsbob]

18. so how are those talking points going over?

is posting *we are less evil than them* a good enough reason to get excited? Are you still feeling a shiver up your leg?

I already said I'll vote..and I'll vote straight dem...but I won't be a cheerleader for a bunch of corporate moneysucking pigs who happen to belong to the same party as me.

[lunatica]

20. Where do you get the idea I'm a cheerleader

I simply believe in voting whether it entails excitement or holding my nose. I consider my vote the most powerful thing I have as a citizen of this country. When I vote against someone, as I will vote against a Republican who wants to be President if I have to. My vote is every bit as powerful simply because I vote.

[backwoodsbob]

25. so if someone votes straight green you would be ok? nt

[lunatica]

27. OK with what?

With their vote? It's theirs to throw away if they want to do that. Not voting is bad in my opinion. Especially if there's a lot of bellyaching going along with it. Those who don't vote at all are part of the problem because they sure aren't part of the solution.

[hulka38]

10. Turn the Page, New Dawn...Morning In America

[backwoodsbob]

19. are you a robot?

how many times are you going to post that?

[hulka38]

24. That's twice so far.

If I do it in response for every OP repeating the mantra of sulking and whining progressives it'll give you something to really whine and sulk about.

[suzie]

36. Too wonderful!

[Warren Stupidity]

21. Right, because of course it will be our fault

that the 'independent swing voters', e.g. white suburban males, have rediscovered their inner skinhead nazis and in a repeat of 94, 2000, 2002 will be storming the polls expressing their deep felt white rage.

This analysis in TO is totally fucked, but entirely typical of what is wrong with center-right 'solidarity' Democrats.

[Phx_Dem]

23. +100

[customerserviceguy]

33. Good point

I was chided here a year and a half ago when I would post on the "Death of the Republican Party" threads that they have more lives than Jason from those horror movies.

We've got to make the best of what's coming, and that is the chance to remove Blue Dog style congresscritters that really weren't helping us anyway. Also, the idiocy of the tea party will be on national display for a couple of years, and the voters will be ready to hand the government back to the grown-ups. By then, we will have identified and have in place some truly progressive candidates who will have the good fortune to have President Obama at the top of the ticket.

Of course, that is supposing that the efforts to resusitate the economy have started to bear some visible fruit by this point two years from now, because if they don't, it's "game over" no matter what happens this fall.

[MisterP]

35. 1) Blue Dogs throw 2010 2) party blames progressive "sulking" 3) purge; both parties move rightwards

against 4) Dems shriek about how bad the GOP is, though the Dems are now where the GOP was over 2006-10

if we're lucky, 5) Progressive Party emerges, spits out Ronnie's formaldehyde-infused genitalia from its mouth, and stands up for 95% of America

[glitch]

42. 1-3 certainly seems like their plan

I've never seen the party openly trash its constituents like this before. And I'm over 50. 'Sulking, whining, ponies, fucking retards' you'd think we were lockstep repukes and actually responded to abuse. Amazing.

Who are these people?

[MisterP]

43. they're machine politicians, that's why they're so arrogant and think that cash and patronage can

win the election for them

it's also why they're conservative: the 60s Dems had the machine-appointed Humphrey and Daley screaming "kike!" at Jews and unleashing his police thug-cronies

[Doctor_J]

39. We might be able to turn this around

when wholesale purges of Big Media begin, and the propagandists actually begin to fear for their lives.

[backwoodsbob]

47. please dont say you are suggesting the murder

of those we disagree with in the media

[Doctor_J]

48. I am suggesting that it will become us or them at some point

unless we decide to just give up the country to them (a live possibility, given what's happened until now).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=432398&mesg_id=432398

Edit: Taking down the media whores would be the simplest and most effective way of taking the country back. They're a cancer that needs to be eradicated through whatever means neccessary

[denimgirly]

40. Dont blame Progressives - Blame our Leaders who are Busy suckigng up to Lobbyists...

The system needs to change or this fake system of votes mattering will never end.
Progresssives need to start a new democratic party that geninely cares about the people because seriously the WH, and most of democrats are too similar to republicans.

[GeorgeGist]

44. It isn't the Progressives ...

who are sulking.

[Hawkowl]

45. Keep spreading lies

Keep spreading the lie that we are sulking. We aren't sulking, we are screaming for the democrats to move towards the people and away from the corporations.

But that's okay. Blame us. Lie about us. Do whatever makes you feel pompous and self righteous. You're still not going to shut us up.

[Orsino]

46. Well, yes, as a matter of fact the Republicans DID sulk.

They have continued to sulk, too. Good thing the MSM, corporate money and hate radio are there for them...or they might actually have to stop sulking and work.