Durbin: Democrats would be 'on trial for treason' if they adopted GOP's tactics

[kpete]

Source: The Hill


Durbin: Democrats would be 'on trial for treason' if they adopted GOP's tactics
By Tony Romm - 01/28/10 02:45 PM ET

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) on Thursday admitted the "general feeling on the Democratic side" was that Republicans have so far been able to cast controversial protest votes and stall important legislation "with impunity."

He consequently seemed to suggest Republicans' behavior in Congress over the past year as hypocritical, as Democrats could never vote against important legislation and emerge unscathed.

"Some of the votes cast -- we would be on trial for treason if we had voted against defense appropriations in the midst of a war," he told reporters on his way to the Senate chamber. Durbin was referring to GOP members who tried to block the defense bill out of concern that a hate crimes bill was attached to it.

"They did it with impunity," Durbin lamented.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/78603-durbin-democrats-would-be-on-trial-for-treason-if-they-adopted-gops-tactics

[gateley]

1. He's right. We need to do something to change that. nt

[JDPriestly]

12. The press encourages Republicans to balk at every step the Democrats take.

That is how the Republicans get attention. They create a scene. They are like two-year-olds. We shouldn't expect anything more of them.

[No Elephants]

21. And no one encourages Democrats to thwart Republicans?

How far in denial are we going to get before we stop portraying Democratic officeholders as totally helpless victims of everyone's conduct but their own?

[pattmarty]

38. Well No Elephants you are entirely right. Now tell that to the DU'ers........

............that bang & batter liberals here that agree with you. It seems that you are "fringe" if you want the Dems to stand up for traditional Dem values (SS, Medicare, working people, middle class) and criticize those Dems that don't. I had the "purity police" on my ass recently just for speaking out.

[treestar]

59. this is not true

Just not true. The Dems do that within the realm of civility and decency. The Republicans act outside of that. Durbin is pointing that out. They do not act with decency.

It's like the campaign debate, should be lower ourselves to their level or not?

[bdamomma]

63. decency?? the repigs don't know the meaning of the word

for example, they just sat at SOTU address, and smirking what jerks!

[No Elephants]

98. Double standard? The Democrats did much the same when Bush gave a SOTU

[next left2]

105. GOP's Lee Atwater dirty tricks: REQUIRED VIEWING

Every US citizen HAS to watch Frontline's document on Lee Atwater, "The Boogie Man". He started the GOP's dirty rise to power.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/atwater/

Information is power.

[next left2]

113. GOP = bailout pigs

Their strategy: they STEAL our issues. GOP = big business pigs. THEY screwed things up! We HAVE TO take back the bailout issue. THAT is what's pissing people off.

http://www.facebook.com/MoveYourMoney

Smack down on big business power and greed.

[No Elephants]

97. And you cared because......?

They are entitled to express their opinions, and you are entitled to express yours.

[pattmarty]

107. I agree. But there is a lot of bad mouthing here if you happen to.........

.........disagree with ANY of the Presidents proposals. Ie, Healthcare for just one.

[Beartracks]

86. But... but that's the MSM meme!!!!

What do you want the media to do - report news as objective information??? If they don't have a "story" into which they can "cast" the participants into certain roles, that goes against everything they stand for!

[TwentyFive]

50. But two year olds don't know any better. They can be excused. But Republicans should be spanked.

And Larry Craig might be eager to do it!

[xxqqqzme]

57. Vitter prefers it while diapered up!

[gateley]

66. The Republicans don't need much encouragement. They ARE like a bunch of

two-year-olds.

I'm watching Obama speak now and Boehner and Cantor don't even make the effort to look civil. Probably pissed they're not the top dogs in the room.

Some of the questioners have been very respectful, though, and asked really tough -- but fair -- questions.

[certainot]

87. 2 yr olds with 1000 uncontested radio stations

that's the difference- except for a few shots at the prominent radio gods there is no free speech effort to correct or contest their coordinated lying and laundering of lobbyist talking points that often drive the news and make efforts by dems to frame anything useless and strategizing on framing a waste of time.

the left is completely stupid by ignoring talk radio.

progressives can win in nov by finally recognizing the local state limbaugh megastations as GOP power centers that will attack their candidates and causes 24/7, purging moderate reps and progressive dems, and by challenging their lies and attacks with picketing and boycotting of local sponsors. otherwise the GOP is going to dominate as usual, with the rest of the well trained corp media ready to kiss their ass mainly because all the left has is common sense american liberal values and a few spokespeople on media once in a while.

limbaugh and hannity will shout over anything obama does with their 1000 coordinated radio stations if the left keeps ignoring their free speech responsibilities to point out that the soapbox on every corner has a liar on it.

[certainot]

88. i meant

picketing the radio stations themselves. few of their local sponsors in most states will defend the liars and hatemongers and are usually sponsoring the stations because they're the loudest, they do sports news and weather, and some local programing, and maybe their ad agencies put them there. with corporate money starting to get lined up for those stations to get them out of the red and ready for the elections, progressives must not continue to ignore them.

for instance, there is no reason for not complaining to state universities who sponsor those stations (mostly sports, probably) for sponsoring stations that do global warming denial all day counter to the vast majority of scientific opinion. how can university science and environmental communities ignore that? the uncontested radio propaganda was the whole reason that idiotic email episode actually made serious news, for example.

[JDPriestly]

92. Excellent post, certainot.

He who controls the culture controls the country. And in our case, the Republicans and their loudmouths from Limbaugh to O'Reilly and everybody in between control the culture.

That is why I am such an avid fan of progressive radio including Thom Hartmann.

[certainot]

94. can you imagine how different this country would be if

if the radio waves weren't monopolized by paul reveres in reverse?

if they were warning against invading iraq instead of lying us into it? or the deregulation that caused this economic catastrophe?

we need more thom hartman, less limbaugh.

[nRkiSt]

33. Durbin and the Dems need to grow a pair

and stop the whining and use their MAJORITY POWER to make some changes. The Repubes aren't being hypocrites- they are just acting like the Machiavellian assholes that we all know they are. The Dems need to bring a gun to the knife fight.

[howmad1]

67. Hey, I'd act like a Machiavellian asshole also.......

.....if I knew I could get away with it. As long as democrats sit their like bumps on a log the rethugs will take every advantage to make the dems look like assholes.

[SemperEadem]

71. once Reid has been replaced by a progressive candidate

Durbin takes his spot.

[No Elephants]

96. That's not going to happen. Obama and the DNC are backing Reid.

[SemperEadem]

117. I take it

you missed the part of that statement that said "once Reid has been replaced by a progressive candidate". It's either that or a repig candidate. His numbers don't look good in NV. Can't back someone who isn't there any more.

[tblue37]

78. The MSM are owned by corporations. They will continue to spin the news in

in way that benefits their Republican friends.

[lib_wit_it]

89. One of the hugest problems in this country. It's wrong, wrong, wrong! One of the great challenges we

need to find a solution for.

[next left2]

103. SMACK DOWN on big business. Big business = GOP. THEY are the assholes.

The government bailout should be the democrat's weapon against the GOP. THEY screwed things up! We HAVE TO use this voter outrage.

http://www.facebook.com/MoveYourMoney

[Jefferson23]

2. Obama and you act like a TEAM. Take those guys on, of course that

will require you to pass Democratic Party principled legislation, not GOP friendly legislation.

[No Elephants]

22. IMO, it's not Democratic Party v. the Republican Party anymore.

It's big business and politicians who depend on big business versus all other Americans. Those are the two teams today. The only problem is, the Americans team does not know which game is being played, or even that they are a team and their interests are in play.

[Jefferson23]

43. But I think Americans do realize that for the most part, despite what

the MSM feeds to them each day. Obama won in part b/c he was suppose to confront Wall St. crime, Health Insurance rackets, and he did not lead.

It is one thing to lose a well fought fight, another to not participate. The Democrats do not need the Republican party to pass health care reform with a public option, but they claim they do, why? So as to blame Republicans for not taking the heat from the lobby whores and/or see that money go even more heavily to their challengers I suspect is more the case.

The Republicans provide more than enough ammunition for Obama and the Democrats with their NO votes. How often did you hear Obama or his surrogates call them out on this as he did the night of his SOTU? Not much if at all, and that needs to change now. They could be a team, he and the Congress, senate...and since when does a president muscle the naysayers in his own party publically? I doubt FDR and LBJ did that, so the blaming of Emanuel is somewhat baseless, the man only carries out what Obama wants, not the other way around. Obama needed to privately squeeze Nelson, or tell him we can do this without you and you risk looking more and more like a whore to the health insurance when you keep saying no.


This is Obama's time, he can turn this around if he wants to.

[SammyWinstonJack]

44. Seem that he doesn't want to which makes him part of the problem and not the solution.

What a waste.

[Jefferson23]

46. Frustrating as hell, that's for sure!

[treestar]

60. But they won't. They proudly and smugly announce that

"we don't march in lockstep."

You have to do that, to a point. Getting Obama elected when you really wanted Hillary or Kucinich was like that. The trouble is, once the election is over, they have not the political will to continue. So nothing gets done. That is the price of taking the luxury of "refusing to march in lockstep." They then whine the Dems that don't agree with them are "spineless." How do they expect those Dems to assert their agenda when they've already abandoned them and started calling them "sellouts" and "cowards?"

[defendandprotect]

3. While that's true, what has the response from the Dem leadership been? Bipartisanship--!!!!

Isn't that a little bit of confused thinking on the part of Dems?

They had us -- they screw us constantly -- but we continue chasing them

down to play nice with them?


Whaaaat ???



Meanwhile, quite courageous of Dick Durbin to say this --

how many of them would?

[cstanleytech]

5. Problem is their base is willing to support them no matter if they are hypocrits.

If we want to truly kneecap them then we need to go after their main pr branch (fox news) by reinstating the fairness doctrine.

[defendandprotect]

7. Agree re Fairness In Broadcasting Doctrine and Fox News --

Over the past two years we've seen animosity for Fox News growing -- maybe a bit longer?

I don't watch it so I don't know -- do Democrats appear on Fox?

Think it has to be a more united attack by Dems -- party leadership.

Boycotts --

This is what gives them the power to Swiftboat -- and, of course, they're not doing it alone?

Looks like most other networks have also tumbled to this behavior -- lies.

I don't think most of the public knows what the Fairness Doctrine is --

we'd be dependent upon our politicians/elected officials beginning to talk about it --

beginning to push it!



And, their base is the other part of the problem -- they are voting against their own interests -

not understanding their own stake in all of this.

Who's going to tell them?

Obviously, it's the job of Democrats to tell them -- when does that begin to happen?

"Who will tell the people?" -- Wm. Greider



PS: And as Durbin begins to say "Treasonous behavior" we are getting closerto what is actually

going on in America.

[The Wizard]

9. Pox News

provides cover for the right leaning main stream media. Pox is the bad example.

[zeos3]

13. +1

[zeos3]

14. +1

[treestar]

61. That is an advantage they have

We already have a circular firing squad. One they would not have. So the comparison is not quite apt, and in fact, we deserve not to get anything done. Though I would have to say the progressives in Congress are better than the ones on DU. Note they would all have voted for the HCR bill, even if it was not perfect to their liking.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Arugula Latte]

69. Yep -- Here's a clue, Democrats. STOP LETTING THEM CRAP ON YOU!

[swilton]

83. +1

Me thinks that Dick and his emocratic colleagues doth protest too much -

Less hot air and grandstanding and more

actions to fix the mess we're in

The progressives were echoing his insights years ago - granted Obama wasn't in power then but the game plan was clear

Our Democratic senators enabled this set-up

[provis99]

4. Durbin has the best job description and name in the world!

Democratic Whip Dick, indeed!

[depakid]

6. Sour grapes

Fact is, Republicans are effective politically in getting their agenda though when they're in power- and when they're not, they effectively block their the opposition's policies, or water them down to the point of being ineffective- or force "compromises" that drive wedges through key elements of their opposition's base.

They're quite unabashed (and amoral) about it- and they get it done without fearing the "political fallout" -which as Durbin notes, rarely occurs.

[MrsCorleone]

11. There is no political fallout for those that do the bidding of large multi-nationals

because the multi-nationals ensure a clueless citizenry via their media. Pro-corporate PR dominates TV, radio and, increasingly, much of the internets.

The republicans (& Blue Dogs) are only effective because they now have a largely ignorant populous & Big Money backing.

It is that simple.

[No Elephants]

17. And because Democrats protect them.

[Enthusiast]

26. It is that simple.

Politicians that vote against the interests of their constituency are never called out by the M$M, unless, that is, they vote against corporate interests. In which case all hell breaks loose. It comes down to media fairness. There ain't none.

[Enthusiast]

29. They have the advantage of

near complete control of the M$M. The M$M supports almost every claim they make. And they repeat RW talking points endlessly.

[depakid]

34. If the Dems weren't too timid (or ideologically compromised) to bring back media regulation

that might not be the case....

[Enthusiast]

36. No.

The media has been like this for too long. Democrats are justifiably reluctant to attempt media reform.

Remember back to the 1990s when the media was engaged in a "get Clinton" mode 24/7. It is the same now. Anything that is proposed by the Democrats is first attacked on every news outlet then the attacks are reported as being correct and justifiable.

If Democrats proposed media reform that idea would be attacked. It is little wonder they get nothing accomplished.

[depakid]

82. Accountability mechanisms worked for 50 years

but it could be that you're right. Seems too many Democrats no longer believe in the media's public interest obligations or have the first clue about responsibilities owed in return for exclusive and lucrative licenses to broadcast on the public airwaves.

For much of society, 1st Amendment values have been twisted to encourage and reward dishonesty. Accountability is anathema. Everything from political ads to content of the news (or whether there's news at all) is put up to the highest bidder.

And to think- people are outraged about the Supreme Court decision.

[icee]

75. Yep. I finally have to admit you're right. I've been hedging for

years.

[The Wizard]

8. They impeached Clinton

for refusing to disclose lurid details about his sex life.

[No Elephants]

19. It's either they impeached him bc he was a Democrat or they impeached him

for perjury, nothing in between.

They could have cared less about hearing about his sex life.

They impeached him because he was a Democrat and they controlled the House and they could. I'd leave it at that because I think that is the bottom line reality of the matter.

If you are going to go to the next step, though, don't leave out the bit about being under oath and a lawyer and the President of the U.S. No one forced him to lie.

[NewJeffCT]

24. And you can bet

If they get the House back after November, they'll be looking for something to impeach Obama about.

[No Elephants]

100. I doubt it. Impeaching Clinton backfired on them big time. They will not soon forget that.

[NewJeffCT]

118. It did?

they "won" the presidency in 2000 despite a good economy and far better standing in regards to international relations.

They held onto Congress until 2006 as well.

[Doctor_J]

114. But in another reply up above you said that the Dems were just as mean to Bush

which is it?

[SlingBlade]

10. So, That's Why Democrats Won't Fight !

They don't want the RePukes to put them on trial for treason

It all finally makes sense, And to think, I coulda had a fucking V-8 !

"Change You Can Believe In"

[slay]

16. Preach it brother - PREACH IT! I've been saying this for years!

Republicans can get away with shit cause their voters will let them. Sandford - cheated on his wife.. said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail or something.. WTF?!? And it ends up being a mistress from some foreign country. Woah. STILL IN OFFICE. John Edwards - Most Evil Man on the Planet.

Personally I would never vote for either but still - 2 different sets of rules. It's sickening. CHARGE THEM WITH TREASON! AND AND they opposed it because of a hate crime bill attachment. Another HUGE WTF - so the GOP = Down With Hate Crimes. I can see that. Cause I know their supporters online are very vocal in calling people faggots and telling them to burn in hell in the comment sections on any pro-gay news story. Just check out Yahoo Buzz sometimes. It's both sad and sickening. GOP = Down With Hate Crimes. Don't forget it. Oh and it appears they are traitors too.

[No Elephants]

20. Sanford is not still in office because his voters kept him there. He's in office

mostly because his Lt. Governor is even worse than he is--you know, the guy who just said it's bad to give kids a school lunch for the same reason you don't feed stray animals--they breed? So, the Legislature ended up not voting Sanford out of office. Had nothing to do with Republican voters.

Democratic voters kept Edwards out of the nomination before most of them heard of Hunter. They are now calling him evil (not so much only bc of the affair, but bc his wife is dying of cancer and he has been lying time after time). But, now, they are not reacting as voters.

Democratic voters elected Clinton twice AFTER Genifer Flowers told God, the Republicans and the media about their affair. And, after the impeachment (which was after the Paula Jones case, too) Clinton's approval numbers rose.



Republicans in Congress are getting away with stuff bc Democrats in Congress are letting the Republicans in Congress get away with stuff. Republican voters would never let Republicans in Congress get away with caving to Democrats in Congress. Democrats in Congress let Republicans get away with stuff, though, because Democratic voters allow Democrats in Congress to get away with caving. Democratic voters blame everybody but the Democrats in Congress for the shortcomings of Democrats in Congress. Democratic voters make every excuse for Democrat in Congress under the sun, whether it makes sense or not. Republican voters would never do that. They'd primary the bums and elect other Republicans that pushed the Republican agenda as much as humanly possible. Or, they'd stay home and sit on their wallets.

[Nay]

25. "Democrats in Congress let Republicans get away with stuff, though, because

Democratic voters allow Democrats in Congress to get away with caving."

Truer words were never spoken, but around here if you mention not voting, or voting third party, in order to send a message to those very same caving Democrats in Congress, you are likely to get upbraided severely. Personally, I think it's past time to scare the hell out of all our Congressional Democrats, and the presidential Democrat, too. This bipartisanship with outright evil needs to be stopped, and real change needs to come to this country because we are in serious trouble.

[No Elephants]

101. The rules of this board are you do not post to defeat a Democratic candidate.

We can criticize Democrats, even specific Democrats, and we can suggest primarying them, but we cannot post in a way that would defeat them once they are the nominee.

Those are the rules of this board, so people have a right not to expect to see any leftie suggesting not voting or suggesting voting for a third party or, god forbid, for a Republican.

[slay]

47. Oh I agree

that the Dem politicians themselves are the ones to blame for being so weak. The Dems either show a backbone this time and call out the GOP or goes after them, otherwise many people just won't vote for a Dem in 2012.

[Enthusiast]

27. I stopped using Yahoo Buzz.

Without my permission they choose to share my posts with others in my mailbox that also have Yahoo DSL. I will never post on Buzz again.

What kind of an asshole corporation would do something like that? The Yahoo kind of asshole corporation that's who.

[No Elephants]

18. "We let Republicans get away with shit they would never let us get away with."

Isn't that, at bottom, what Durbin is saying?

So, my question is, why are the Democrats letting the Republicans get away with stuff?

Hint: I very much doubt it's because the Democrats are too weak, kind or dumb to do otherwise.

[skepticscott]

23. Bingo!

That's pretty much it...that, and the fact that the Dems can't seem to stay together on much.

[Doctor_J]

30. Big Media/Hate Radio

when we the people start to do something about that, the dialog will change

[Bluenorthwest]

35. Or those we elect could, for example, support good media

All thought the Bush era, he and his people were all over Fox and right wing radio. The same can not be said for this administration and 'our media'. Never heard Biden on Hartmann, nor Sec Clinton on Ed's show, or any of that.
And you known, how many times has Obama lectured us not to 'place blame'? To 'look forward' and 'turn the page'? Here is a partial list of people Obama has praised in my earshot: Chuck Grassely, Tom Coburn, John McCain, Rick Warren, GW Bush, Ronald Reagan, Olympia Snowe, Joe Leiberman. They are variously, 'of God' 'honest brokers' 'ethical people' 'great Americans' and on and on and on. I'm now trying to think of Democrats he's praised, and all I can remember is that his boosters have denigrated every Democrat on the Hill, many times. So we hear that Coburn is a friend and an honest broker, and that Kucinich is an evil elf. I can not recall any Obama praise for Sanders, Feingold, or any Democrat. I do recall that he whined to my Democratic Rep that he was 'keeping count' of his votes, because his votes were too progressive.
So the message from the top is what it is. Grassely, good. Kucinich, invisible. Coburn, my friend. DeFazio, we're watching you, buddy.
It gets old. And in return for Obama's hand delivered praise, the GOP sends Cheney and daughter out to utterly slander the president. I assume Obama calls him up and thanks him, then calls Grayson and tells him to watch his words. That is what he has done so far.
So whine, DU, about the 'MSM' and other constructs of avoidance. It is the top of the Party, Obama, Kaine, Brazille, these are the ones who are not delivering the message. They could be all over the 'MSM' by request, saying anything they wanted. But they are not. Kaine agrees with most of the right about most of the left, he's on their side, not my side. So he fights for them, by not fighting against them.

[DisgustedInMN]

41. "So he fights for them, by not fighting against them. "

The same exact thing is true of Obama and Harry Reid.

[cadmium]

54. EXACTLY. It was so apparent in Massachusetts

that the media was unified in support for Scott Brown. Even the Sports Talk shows turned into Martha Coakley bashing and Scott Brown promoting programs --- And sports talk is more popular than news talk.

[No Elephants]

102. Are you saying that media forces Democrats to let Republicans get away with things?

If so, I disagree.

Please see Reply ##s 21, 22, 104 and 106.

[newspeak]

95. and, the reason that some repukes can get away with shite

is because they have the MSM to lessen the damage. The MSM can make a "mountain out of a molehill" if it's a democrat, and do the opposite when it's a repuke. Example, * when asked about his drug usage, he didn't want to influence the kiddies--Clinton asked about smoking dope, he tried it didn't like it and didn't inhale. The MSM went on and on joking about Clinton, about how he didn't inhale. * alleged insider trading, he states his MIL lost money (but he made over 848,000), end of story. But, y'all know Gore is a liar for something he never said, but the MSM kept repeating it. *'s military record and purging his DL--nope, where was the MSM on that?

If you really want to change the political environment in this country, then we need to do something about MSM. Because, they are not on our side, they're on the corporate side.

[No Elephants]

104. The media stink, but please see Reply ##s 21 and 22.

At some point, Democratic politicians have to take responsiblity for their own acts and omissions (which may include their failure to address the media issue effectively, as well as many other things). However, they will take responsiblity for their own acts and omissions as long as Democratic voters stay in denial and keep making excuses for them. So, as long as we do that, we deserve to get as little of the alleged Democratic agenda as we do.

We have to stop making excuses and hold them accountable, the DNC, as well as the individuals whom we elected. We deserve better--but only if we act that way. And continuing to pretend that Democrats have no options, no ability to do anything about anything, is not acting as though we deserve better.

If they are really nothing more than completely helpless and ineffectual victims, unable to do anything about anything, be it Republicans, the media, the Purple Snakes, the Pentagon, etc., why the hell would ANYbody vote for them and donate to them?

I once heard Barney Frank respond to a criticism by saying, "The voters don't hold us accountable. They're too easy on us." So, he was even blaming the voters for his own shortcomings as a legislator. That was one of the things that tore it for me.

[nod factor]

28. Republicans are not newsworthy.

We had 60 votes and couldn't get it done.
Show me the money or get primary'd.

[GinaMaria]

31. who lets the get away with this behavior?

They continue to do it because they have learned it is a successful tactic.

[Wizard777]

32. Nothing says, YOU screwed up like a war crimes trial.

When they see Bush & Cheney being frog marched in chains. Then and only then will the be forced to admit they have done something wrong. But until then they have absolutely no reason to believe they have done anything wrong. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rdmG0k8S8k">The reason they are irrational, so confrontational, to tell the truth they're getting away with Murder.* Literally!

It's really that simple.

* Check the quotes on the big board. "BSH" "WMD" "CHNY" "AXSS" "EVLL" "NRON"

[slay]

48. +1

more like +1,000,000.. Dems don't even have the backbone to support the law evidently. This Dem voter is tired of just words and wants to see some action! or as far as war crimes, even some words would be nice. the purposely ignore it. this is why the dems lose.

[the jungle]

37. action

Until we the American people start demanding answers to questions nothing will change. Go to republican events and ask why. Why are people dying without health care? Why did republicans vote against military spending? ASK

[liberal N proud]

39. Make the public aware of what the republicans are doing.

Scream this at every instance where the republicans have put up roadblocks.

[harun]

51. +1

[Doctor_J]

65. How? We have no media access

:shrug:

[liberal N proud]

68. Someone always has to play the negative card

Instead of proposing a solution. It is easy to sit back and say that we can't or complain all the time.

We need to find ways. Be creative, progressive and active.

[Doctor_J]

72. I notice that you don't have any ideas either

If by "playing the negative card" you mean saying out loud that our media is the 5th column of the fascist cabal that runs the country, I plead guilty. I love Thom Hartmann, but his repeated refrain of "we have to get money out of our elections" is ridiculous. We can't get money out of elections, so any changes made are going to have to come inside of that frame. It's the same thing here. we don't have any access to Big Media. They are all right-wing Republican propaganda outlets. There are no ways to get our message out while the 21st century TASS is allowed free reign.

[liberal N proud]

73. Sorry about that

I had just come from a meeting where all I hears was we can't do that. Everyone is always looking for a way to not do anything and not looking for solutions.

Here is a way, regardless of the media, the Democrats need to just what Durbin did, shout it across the land. Use the Daily Show, Olberman and Maddow or others who would listen.

Every time a Democrat is allowed on a Sunday propaganda show they could use their sound byte and totally ignore the questions being asked which are intended to steer the agenda right.

[No Elephants]

109. If the solution that you are proposing is that Democrats who have access to the media complain more,

then (a) posting it here is not going to do anything--maybe you should write the DNC or something; and (b) I don't think that will solve anything anyway. IMO, most people, including many Democratic voters, are tired of hearing Democrats whine and give excuses about why they fail, even when they have a large majority. And the media is not going to treat them well for whining, either.

[DisgustedInMN]

40. Quit fucking whining and do something about it,Durbin.

You need to borrow my spine and my testicles?

:wtf:

[husky92]

42. Durbin is Correct...But...

Durbin is correct in many ways, but the one big reason the Republicans get a free pass is because they own the media. Let's face it, with Fox Noise and all the right wingers out there they get the message out and pound it into American's heads that the Democrats are always wrong. I travel around the country and you turn on your radio anywhere in this country and its Rush, Hannity, Dobbs, Savage, Ingram, et. al. You can be in rural Nebraska or somewhere in South Carolina and you can bet the house that there will be righty radio on in that market. You pounds enough knuckleheads over the head enough and they believe everything they say. Unfortunately, the Olbermans, Maddows and the few others who get out the left-leaning word out are few and far between. As we all know, these right wingers have been pounding the Democrats non-stop since November, 2008. It ain't ending soon!

[No Elephants]

106. Please see Reply # 104. BTW, it's no

accident that Republicans own the media. And don't say it's because they have all the money. That's not true. Democrats have some very wealthy supporters. In fact, many Democrats in Congress are themselves multi-millionairs.

[FailureToCommunicate]

45. Oh boo hoo! Stop whining and hand out some spinal columns to fellow Senators!

[Overseas]

49. K&R. Decocum is for Democrats Only

That's another reason the "let's be bipartisan" stuff bothers me so much.

[The Stranger]

52. Then why don't you fight them, Dick?

Why won't you fight them and beat them at their own game?

[cadmium]

53. If you dont crack through the republican command of media

you cant get tough with them in public. I cant tell the extent that the Democratic messages are shut out or they are weak in trying to crack through the media.

[Yavin4]

55. Durbin Is Wrong

There would be no trial. It would be straight to Gitmo.

[ccinamon]

56. When the Dems decide to fight back, they CAN win the fight...

preface everything they say and do with an example from the Republicans.

"As George Bush put it when he voted for/against a similar bill...."

"When my esteemed collegue on the other side of the isle, insert name here, was in front of the cameras, he said, insert quote here, and he did not get lambasted by the media so I don't think I will."

These types of things will evenutally trickle into the news and to the public and show that the Dems are no longer weenies and encourage the populace to fight because our representatives in Congress are fighting back and showing that the Republicans are hypocrits.

[Christa]

58. K & Highly rec'd nt

[zbdent]

62. the main reason why the Repugs are not on trial for treason for their votes against,

is due to the "liberal media's" slobbering over Republicans ...

[No Elephants]

108. Please see Reply ##'s 21, 22, 104 and 106.

[winyanstaz]

64. The Democrats also need to learn how to play hardball.

They are handed talking points on a silver platter and don't manage to get the message out.

For example, they should be screaming at the top of their lungs about how the Republicans MADE this mess and are hurting America by obstructing the clean-up efforts.

There should be a NAME for this depression...and it should bare the Republican name...something like the Great Bush depression/dick-up or something to that effect.

Every single time they get up to speak they should be hammering in the fact that it is a REPUBLICAN MESS they are trying to fix.

They should be naming names at the top of their lungs..and putting the republican responsible for the obstruction at the top of the list as failing to care about America and the mess we are in.

We are only just now seeing them even bothering to talk back (with the exception of the handful of true Representatives like Kucinich, Grayson etc).

Instead we have seen a lot of ass-kissing and folding.

There should be investigations of treason and committees being formed to investigate the finances of the obstructionists and see exactly who is paying them to undermine our Nation.

The main reason that isnt happening is a lot of the Democrats in office are also in the pocket of forgion nations and big corporations.

[boppers]

70. Next election cycle... (and until then)

Every single NO vote needs to be highlighted, every single obstruction tactic, every single stall, so the public is away that republicans voted against defense spending, against expanding medicare, against balancing the budget, against rebuilding a broken economy.

[No Elephants]

110. For the past year, Democrats have had the ability to do whatever they wanted, without a single

Republican vote. So, blaming the Republicans for the failtures of the past year is out of the question. That's why the Democrats have had to do a lot of dancing--to try to obscure that the failures of the past year are all theirs.

[boppers]

116. Lieberman, and the blue dogs...

But PR-wise, I see your point. The party gets blamed anyways.

[SlingBlade]

74. Durbin, My Senator, Should stop whining and ...

Call their Parents immediately, That'll Stop 'em

[notesdev]

76. The Constitution is very specific

Don't get your hopes up.

And be glad, because if it weren't, all us anti-war people would have long since been shot.

[No Elephants]

112. Not really.

I know secessionists and their supporters tend to make that claim at every opportunity, but "aid or comfort" to America's "enemies" is not at all specific. And there is plenty of disagreement as to what actions do or do not constitutes "treason" under the Constitution.

[Pryderi]

77. Dear Dick, NO S#IT! TREAT THEM THE SAME WAY THEY TREATED YOU, YOU MOLLY-CODDLING WIMP!

[RedCloud]

79. That's it! Off with their heads!

[mdmc]

80. Lets try to outlaw having a political spine..

[louis-t]

81. Again, repugs hold Dems to a higher standard

than they hold themselves.

[DissedByBush]

84. Did I miss a treason trial in 2005?

That was when the Democrats filibustered a defense appropriations bill over the inclusion of an arctic drilling provision.

[No Elephants]

111. Is that comparable to voting against a "defense" appropriations bill without any such provision?

Especially when those who voted against it would have screamed loudest if the bill did not pass? Not as though Republicans ever met a military spending bill they didn't like.

BTW, isn't it time we dropped the fiction that all our military spending is for defense?

[DissedByBush]

115. This is exactly the same situation

Voting against a defense appropriations bill because of an objectionable amendment.

Durbin is lying.

He is a politician, so it is expected.

[deacon]

85. k + r n/t

[Kablooie]

90. But WHY? WHY can the GOP get away with it but Democrats can't? WHY?

[NightOwwl]

91. I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Dems need to tell the Republicans to "Shut the Fuck Up". On the air. Just one one time...then let the uproar begin. But you better believe that a lot of people will be thinking "It's about time the Dems showed some fucking balls to stand up for what's right for all of us."

[burning rain]

93. I like Durbin, but these displays of self-pity do Democrats no good.

If anything it makes them look like whiners. They need to do something constructive, such as denounce Republican obstructionism at every turn and in detail, in particular raising public consciousness about Senate Republicans' unprecedented use of the filibuster, with an eye to building public acceptance for using the nuclear option, or at least threatening to do so as a means of cowing Republicans into letting them pass more constructive legislation with 51 votes, rather than watered-down, mediocre stuff with 60. (Legislation passed with 60 votes was almost by necessity mediocre even when we had 60 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus because it had to be compromised so as to secure the support of all the worst, most conservative members.)

[next left2]

99. DEMS Need to take back Bailout Rage from gop: 'Move Money' Protest

The government bailout should be the democrat's weapon against the GOP. THEY screwed things up! We HAVE TO use this voter outrage.

One strategy - get behind the "Move Your Money" movement now raging on FACEBOOK. Thomas Jefferson said it best:

“I hope we shall... crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and to bid defiance to the laws of our country.”
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to George Logan. November 12, 1816

http://www.facebook.com/MoveYourMoney
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Move-To-Amend

Let's harness this rage that is rightfully ours. Smack down on big business powerplay and greed.