Why can't our leaders have the intensity and commitment of the opposition?

[CreekDog]

HELL, I'd take half!

It just feels like, "oh well, we don't have 60 votes for this, we'll try later..."

While that is a reality of Senate rules, it is only half the game.

The other half is built on intangibles.

Remember the financial reform bill? Of all things, they pushed it and when Republicans pushed back they started hammering them, saying, effectively "whose side are you on, Wall Street's or Main Street's?

It worked. Perfect? By no means. Instructive? You betcha!

Heck, if I could see our leadership defending Obama and progressive policies half as well as the average poster here defends their ideas, I'd feel encouraged.

But I'm not feeling that now.

Sorry. :shrug:

[babylonsister]

1. Which leaders are you speaking of, and are you taking into

account the obstruction coming from not only the rethugs but Dems themselves? There are quite a few Dems I don't consider leaders at all.

[CreekDog]

2. our leadership...congress and the WH

yes i understand all too well obstructionism and where it's coming from.

we're treating them as if they hold all the cards and supporters hold none.

that is not a proper defense of important ideas.

[babylonsister]

12. We support tax relief for the middle class, not for rich people.

You tell me whether that matters at this point.

If they're not holding the cards, who is?

And if you think we ever get a proper defense for important ideas, besides from the one man who can't vote, let me know.

[cilla4progress]

11. Right on, Bab!

The loss of Ted Kennedy was incalculable. I will never forgive Rahm Emmanuel for not fighting for his Senate seat that went to Scott Brown. What a miscalculation.

[babylonsister]

13. Why are you blaming that on Rahm? What about the candidate who

thought she was a shoe-in and wildly miscalculated? What about the head of the DNC who didn't do much of anything?

[cilla4progress]

15. Ok, Tim Kaine as well

I assume that as Obama's politico in chief it was Emmanuel at the helm of the machine. I don't think Coakley really had a clue...

[babylonsister]

16. He's chief of staff; he has other major responsibilities. I have

always wondered why so many people attributed such power to him in his current position when he really can't do it all.

I can't honestly blame this on Emanuel, though I know many people do. Kaine, yea. He should have heeded Teddy Kennedy's mantra, that every election is an important election, and don't take it for granted. I'm afraid that's what happened.

[cilla4progress]

17. Agreed.

And that 60th vote has made all the difference. I'm sure Obama will pen a lot of word on this in his memoirs...

I hate to think one detail can make or break, but sometimes it does.

[MrSlayer]

3. Because they are the oppositiion in many cases.

A great deal of the elected officials on "our" side want nothing to do with us, the common people. Many of them pay lip service to us when it is safe to but when it comes to actually sticking their neck out for something, they cave. Not because they are cowards or whatever but because they really don't want to do the things that we need them to do. They are puppets for the owners just as the "opposition" is. It is painfully obvious.

[CreekDog]

4. I don't really believe that

but a lot of people will if they don't see some intensity.

[MrSlayer]

7. What reason have they given you to believe that what I say isn't true?

I don't see any at all. Sure, the few good ones on the hill are on our side but again, they are few. The rest are nothing more than corporate whores helping to sell us all down the river.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Because they are not quite as big assholes as the GOP?

It takes a lot of Intense conviction to be a total lying asshole,
and not look like you are acting.

[CreekDog]

19. We don't have to copy the ignorance

or, the sheeplike obediance. :eyes:

[CreekDog]

23. I simply asked for our leaders to show the same intensity on our issues

as the Republicans show for their issues.

is that really such a bad thing to ask for more of?

sheesh, i can't even figure out what you're defending anymore...you're now just defending a person, a party, seemingly unconcerned about the things that party and the person are committed to and whose actions should demonstrate more strongly that they are.

[Tesha]

6. Because man of "our" elected officials actually believe many of the same things *AS* the "opposition

The Blue Dogs and their supporters are the disease that
is killing the Democratic Party.

Tesha

[ProSense]

8. Why can't Democratic voters be like Republican voters?

Both dynamics would likely have to be equal for this hypothetical to work.

Republicans lie and obstruct with impunity because Republican voters don't care. Two examples:

1) Here is what Redstate.com said about the Republican "Pledge"

...These 21 pages tell you lots of things, some contradictory things, but mostly this: it is a series of compromises and milquetoast rhetorical flourishes in search of unanimity among House Republicans...

...The entirety of this Promise is laughable. Why? It is an illusion that fixates on stuff the GOP already should be doing while not daring to touch on stuff that will have any meaningful longterm effects on the size and scope of the federal government.

This document proves the GOP is more focused on the acquisition of power than the advocacy of long term sound public policy.

This is how the post at the orignal link ends: "I will vote Republican in November of 2010. But I will not carry their stagnant water."

2) Gay GOP group gives Cornyn award after 'no' vote to move on DADT repeal

Maybe the grass isn't always greener?

[craigmatic]

9. Sometimes I think some of us on this site would make better party leaders.

[BlueIdaho]

10. I don't want elected Democrats act like Republicans, I want them to act like Democrats!

Our House and Senate leadership are spineless cowards unwilling for fight for anything. Many of our members of congress are so busy protecting their own personal gravy train they can't be bothered to fight for the working men and women of America. The republican tea party is not a viable alternative but at least you know who they are fighting for - America's rich.

A plague on both their houses.

Edit = typo

[FrenchieCat]

14. So knowing that they are fighting for a bigoted, small minded, racist agenda

makes the Republican tea party better?

I don't think so.......
but go on.

[BlueIdaho]

20. FrenchieCat - you know better

Try reading the black parts of my post, not the white parts of the screen. Did I say they were better? Fuck no. I said I want Democrats to fight for working men and women in America. Are you saying our elected officials fart rainbows? I am a 60 year old life long Democrat and I continue to support the party with my blood, sweat, and money. But I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. Long term elected officials in both parties are too influenced by the cash that flows into their pockets, buying influence and breeding contempt for the little guys and gals out there. All that cash and all those cocktail parties makes it that much easier to do nothing - to not rock the boat - to go along to get along.

I want Democrats to fight for us - even if that means losing now and then. I want them to be as passionate as you and I are. That is not the same as saying I prefer republicans, but you can't deny they know how to fight when they need to. I'm not sure our elected leadership even has a clue how to throw a punch.

[RagAss]

18. Like Alan Grayson....n/m

[treestar]

21. What is intensity and commitment - willingness to abuse the procedures

do or say anything to get what you want, regardless of whether or not it is true - you want them to act like that?

[Uzybone]

22. because the loudest voices in the GOP base are actually active

they vote in primaries and the GE. When they get pissed, they threaten to remove their lackeys.

The loudest voices (or the voices the media plays the most) in our base are passive. When pissed they threaten to not vote.