Fire Tim Kaine/Rahm (& Bring In Dean)? - Cenk @ Huffington Post

[ihavenobias]

(edited for copyright purposes proud patriot Moderator Democratic Underground)

To see interviews with Arianna Huffington, Katrina Vanden Huevel, economists, authors, screenwriters, journalists, conservatives (yes, conservatives) and more, check out our new YouTube channel,

By Cenk Uygur

For months people have been talking about whether Michael Steele, the head of the RNC, should be fired. He says ridiculous things, gets himself and his party in needless trouble, has nearly run out of money and caused dissension within the ranks. But he has also won three important elections. Tim Kaine, the head of the DNC, on the other hand, has caused no trouble but lost nearly every election. So, who is really the one that should be held accountable?

Do I actually think Michael Steele deserves credit for the Republican wins in Virginia, New Jersey and now in Massachusetts? Not remotely. He happened to be at the right place at the right time. And I look forward to him claiming victory, saying more absurd things and generally hurting the Republican Party.

Well, conversely, is Tim Kaine also the victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Yes and no. These elections definitely mean something. You could have dismissed Virginia as leaning conservative and New Jersey as unique in their anger at Corzine. But there is no excuse for Massachusetts. This is a national election for a senate seat, not a local governor's race with local issues. And three is an undeniable trend. Houston, we have a problem.

Is it fair to blame that problem on Kaine? Well, results matter. When Howard Dean was the chair of the DNC, the Democrats were getting crushing victories. As soon as he left, the losses started piling up. Yes, circumstances also matter. When Dean was chair, it was easy to blame Republicans but now the Democrats own the national problems. Before the economy was the Republicans' problem, now it's the Democrats'.

. from pollster Celinda Lake absolutely nailed it:

"If Scott Brown wins tonight he'll win because he became the change-oriented candidate. Voters are still voting for the change they voted for in 2008, but they want to see it. And right now they think they've got economic policies for Washington that are delivering more for banks than Main Street."

...

to read the entire piece.

[theFrankFactor]

1. KICK & REC!!!!

This is principally the Rahm Emanuel strategy -- cave in to lobbyists, collect their money, choke off Republican fundraising efforts by better serving corporate America and win elections by outspending the opposition. The only problem is that it doesn't work.

The DemocratIC party need serious reformation! Honestly, who can't see this?

[ihavenobias]

15. Sadly there's an answer to your question.

Just look at some of the comments and threads around here.

[Turborama]

33. K&R America also needs serious campaign finance reformation! n/t

[rudy23]

2. This assumes party leadership wants to gain seats in '10. Why would they?

So they can take on corporate America and the Military Industrial Complex? So they can be blackmailed, intimidated, and smeared in the media?

Why wouldn't they prefer cozy gridlock, where they get to carry the water for corporations, keep their donations coming, and not be expected to really do anything?

[Demeter]

5. Purpose Is Our Standing Place

see Archimedes post below.

The Rahmboys have thrown out all our principles, the very spot upon which the Democratic Party stood firm and moved worlds.

[ProgressOnTheMove]

20. Well 2 options really gain seats or lose their own, double or nothing. It is time to play hardball.

Also, they need to ditch the idea money will convince voters from lobbyists nearly didn't work for Bloomberg barely made an impression with Coakley. Folks want the real deal or to ditch the over complicated big insurance health bill or abandon ship. This was liberal MA as frustrated as I was with Ted losing his seat, they do know what they're doing. They are saying give us what we want or forget the whole deal, "the same old Washington games JUST WON'T DO."

[Enthusiast]

36. Rudy23, to me

this is the inescapable conclusion.

[libodem]

3. Oddly

I hadn't a clue who was the DNC Chairman, until we lost #3. Whatever is going on it is not working.

Bad ju ju.

[ihavenobias]

21. I've heard that a lot today.

The invisible chairman!

[Demeter]

4. So What Can We Do With This New Tool, The Internet?

Can we dislodge the powerful and wealthy who block progress? Because that's what is really needed.

Give me a long-enough lever, and a place to stand, and I will move the world!
-----Archimedes of Syracuse

Archimedes, that he might transport the entire globe from the place it occupied to another, demanded only a point that was firm and immovable; so, also, I shall be entitled to entertain the highest expectations, if I am fortunate enough to discover only one thing that is certain and indubitable.
René Descartes (1596-1650)
Meditations On First Philosophy
Meditation II, 1641
Translated by John Veitch

What Archimedes said of the mechanical powers, may be applied to Reason and Liberty: “Had we,” said he, “a place to stand upon, we might raise the world.” The revolution of America presented in politics what was only theory in mechanics.

Thomas Paine (1737-1809)
American Author and Revolutionary
The Rights of Man
Part the Second, 1792
Combining Principle and Practice: Introduction

The good opinion of mankind, like the lever of Archimedes, with the given fulcrum, moves the world.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
(Letter from Thomas Jefferson to M. Correa de Serra, 1814)
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson
Memorial Edition (Lipscomb and Bergh, editors)
Washington, D.C., 1903-04
Volume 14, page 222

“Give me whereon to stand”, said Archimedes, “and I will move the earth.” The boast was a pretty safe one, for he knew quite well that the standing place was wanting, and always would be wanting. But suppose he had moved the earth, what then? What benefit would it have been to anybody? The job would never have paid working expenses, let alone dividends, and so what was the use of talking about it? From what astronomers tell us, I should reckon that the earth moved quite fast enough already, and if there happened to be a few cranks who were dissatisfied with its rate of progress, as far as I am concerned, they might push it along for themselves; I would not move a finger or subscribe a penny piece to assist in anything of the kind.

Mark Twain (1835-1910)
“Archimedes”
Australian Standard, 1887 (under the pseudonym Twark Main)

Don't talk to me of your Archimedes' lever. He was an absentminded person with a mathematical imagination. Mathematics commands all my respect, but I have no use for engines. Give me the right word and the right accent and I will move the world.

Joseph Conrad (1857-1924)
A Personal Record
A Familiar Preface, 1912

Right now, we have neither the lever nor the location, but at least the blindfold is off.


http://www.math.nyu.edu/~crorres/Archimedes/Lever/LeverQuotes.html

[Mithreal]

6. most excellent post

:applause:

[rudy23]

8. I enjoyed this as well. Food for thought. nt

[20score]

7. Agreed! In a big way! K&R

[FiveGoodMen]

9. K&R -- Cenk right as usual.

[Mithreal]

10. The Republican Party has been taken over

by crazies because people who would be a natural fit in theirs have found refuge within ours.

[suzie]

23. I don't think so. I look around and see the same Democrats around working at being

activists as always.

But the 101st Keyboard Commandos are doing this terrific job of putting down the President, most other Democratic officials, AND everyone who's ever supported the Democratic Party.

And 101st Keyboarders, it's working! You're doing a great job of acting as if your tiny fringe is the entire Democratic Party and the demoralization is well underway.

CONGRATULATIONS!

[Mithreal]

24. look in the mirror

[ihavenobias]

25. I just scanned this comment for a substantive rebuttal of the OP.

I came up with 0%. 100% for insults, assumptions and hyperbole though, so I guess that counts for something!

;)

[suzie]

26. I didn't reply to the OP and can only put up my personal experience as a

lifelong Democrat and as one who has worked in many campaigns.

I know that real political experience pales against the knowledge and understanding of politics of the 101st keyboarders, so I certainly understand why you would ridicule those of us who've actually been out there working to elect Democratic candidates.

We certainly should recognize our inferiority to those of you who fight the good fight on the internet.

[ihavenobias]

29. The Bottom Line

No substantive points, only incredibly insulting and incorrect assumptions and generalizations. I guess my raising and donating money (and canvassing and phone banking) was all a figment of my 101st keyboarders imagination. Same with many who've rec'd this thread I'm sure.

At any rate, there are many ways to create positive changes in addition to the things I've mentioned above, including using negative feedback and constructive criticism (definitions may vary of course) in the battle of ideas.

[Enthusiast]

38. +1, ihavenobias nt

[CherylK]

40. +1 nt

[ima_sinnic]

30. I'm sure you were quite successful "working to elect Democratic candidates"

if you communicate with and relate to people the way you do here.

I am thoroughly chastised and humbled, for I am nothing but a lowly worm, a 101st keyboarder who knows nothing of life, a miserable failure who should beg your forgiveness for my paltry and misguided work. My efforts, and those of all other DUers, pale in comparison to your own.

We should all shut up now and let you, the expert, show us how it's done.



oh, be careful, don't break your arm patting yourself on the back.

[Enthusiast]

37. You could not be more wrong.

When voters went to the polls to elect a majority of Democrats it was not because they thought Democrats would move the country to the right. Believing this is just plain ridiculous.

Why have voters become demoralized at the prospect of losing the public option? This has caused the great erosion in support for Democrats. And it is not a tiny fringe.

[pleah]

11. K&R

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[ejbr]

12. k & r n/t

[gorfle]

13. Absolutely on-the-spot correct.

Fantastic piece. Cenk is absolutely right. The people now have the Internet and they know what is going on.

"The electorate is perfectly aware that the Obama administration and the Democrats have done next to nothing to fight the power of corporate America and Wall Street. And they're not going to stand for it."

Exactly.

The electorate wants CHANGE. Failing all else, they will vote out the incumbent for SATAN to get it if needs be.

[ihavenobias]

41. I disagree.

Satan? No way we'd ever elect a non-Christian.

;)

[jgraz]

14. Nailed it.

[tbyg52]

16. Cenk is right, as usual. nt

[Kajsa]

17. Cenk nails it, again!

K&R!

:kick:

[WillyT]

18. K & R !!!

:kick:

[ProgressOnTheMove]

19. This sounds a clear thinking solution to me, it's just losing Ted's seat upset me. I'm cool now.

[yurbud]

22. but will Democrats listen?

[Vidar]

27. K&R.

[emsimon33]

28. Duh!

[burning rain]

31. Great piece.

Two quibbles: I'd have called it the Terry McAuliffe/Rahm Emanuel strategy, as Clinton's old DNC chairman surely deserves to be remembered as a pioneer of the strategy of principle-free collecting of money, plus of course as a former DNC he provides a direct comparison with Tim Kaine. Also, although teevee largely gave Max Baucus a pass on his smelly status as a major benefactor of donations from big health, Rachel Maddow in particular put a spotlight on him, so Cenk could have noted the honorable exceptions there (though he does have a generally good case and a legitimate interest in highlighting the strong points of new media).

Also, I'd love for Cenk to interview DU's own ProSense. :dilemma:

k & r

[ihavenobias]

47. Wait.

That's a joke about ProSense, right?

[ima_sinnic]

32. give Rahm and his stinking brother the boot

and get Howard Dean close to you

THAT would be change we could believe in.

[Rhiannon12866]

34. K&R. Why anyone would change Dean's strategy?! It worked...

It's like Bush* blatantly ignoring anything he considered a "Clinton issue," North Korea, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Osama bin Laden... That worked out well, too. :eyes:

[Enthusiast]

35. When Democrats were elected

to a majority in the House and Senate it was clear to voters that the Democrats are traditionally MORE LIBERAL.

Moving to the right is exactly the wrong strategy unless Tim Kaine/Rahm want to fundamentally change the nature of the Democratic Party. I suspect this is where we are right now. Unless action is taken The Democratic Party is to become the party by and for the corporation. As if we aren't acting like it enough as is.

[KoKo]

39. K&R....They will never do it....even though they should...

[libodem]

42. Howard Dean

Even came to Boise, Idaho. I went to the Julia Davis Park to hear him speak. Totally inspiring. I paid $100.00 to attend the private speech at the Black History Museum, that followed. And I was comparatively poor at the time. I was thrilled to be in the same room with him. He truly speaks for me!!!!! I have no clue who that new putz is. DLC jerk off. Oh, well maybe he will be driving some big corporate donations, now that campaign finance has gone to hell in a hand basket.

[Blue_Tires]

43. I'm a Virginian and from the start never thought he was right for the job

sadly, he has proven me 100 percent correct

[cbayer]

44. ihavenobias,

Please be aware that our copyright rules require that you post no more than four paragraphs from copyrighted material and supply a link.

thanks,

cbayer
DU Moderator

[ihavenobias]

45. What if I have permission from the author to post more than four paragraphs?

Cenk is my boss after all.

[yurbud]

46. fire anyone who is or was a member of the DLC or even said anything nice about them

[fadedrose]

48. K