Why can't the Dems unify and fight back?

[senseandsensibility]

Poll question: Why can't the Dems unify and fight back?

We have been handed mounds of evidence and fuel for serious, all-out war against this administration. Many well informed observers, such as John Dean, of Watergate fame, feel * has been so unethical that he long ago could have been impeached.

The latest is Social Security. Why can't we get it together? IT SHOULD BE SO EASY!!!!!:grr:

[inslee08]

1. It's definitely a combination of all of these

You can't specify a single reason. But, as is the case for all politicians, the biggest reason is probably fear of getting voted out of office.

[BlueInRed]

2. I would add a category

of "scared in general". Scared of being called on the carpet by Fox, scared of being compared to Osama bin Laden, scared of standing up for what they believe, scared of being criticized, scared of having every inch of their private lives investigated like Clinton, etc.

But... that being said, I was impressed that so many put those fears aside to vote against Gonzales. Maybe that will make it easier next time a big issue comes up. There is hope!

[senseandsensibility]

3. Wow.

Behold: a note of optimism. I needed that.:)

[mikehiggins]

4. Got to go with all of the above

The underlying one, of course, is that the pros just cannot beleive that Bush doesn't give a shit about politics anymore than the Taliban did. As the Texas Dems say, these guys don't want to govern, they want to rule.

All hail King George the First! The King a lot of Americans have really always wanted.

[imenja]

5. Unify? Look around this site

A huge number of contributers on this site plot on a daily basis how they can best destroy Democrats. You see more posts here about purging or defeating other Democrats than Republicans. Why worry about Carl Rove when the Democratic base does his job for him.
Politicians are hardly the only ones who can't achieve unity. We on the left are out own worst enemy. The so-called Democratic base is worse. The fact is, we aren't committed enough to even constitute a base. If we don't get our shit together immediately, we don't have a chance of regaining power.

[Al-CIAda]

6. How many of the Dems actually KNOW about the PNAC?

I was astonished to hear Maxine Waters clueless about it when a caller asked. Just last week on C-span during a morning show the question was put to her and she had NO IDEA of what it was. Now here is a group setting the agenda for the nation -indeed a full SCRIPT of events and future plans (Of which there are many detailed entries)-and she knew NOTHING about it.

The PNAC just issued a letter last week, How can they not know?
Are they playing dumb?

...and WHO will MAKE THEM know?

[senseandsensibility]

7. I have been equally astonished by the ignorance

of other Dems about basic issues when appearing on c-span. You have to wonder if they are trying to avoid a disussion that may be politically damaging to them, or if they really are that clueless.

[cry baby]

9. Send them a letter and tell them about it. Don't email, send snail

mail. They are more apt to read it.

You could start your letter (to Ms. Waters) by saying:
I heard your interview on CSPAN and was bewildered that you didn't know about PNAC. Here is some info for you.......

[Just Me]

20. Most of my energy has been spent as an informant *LOL*.

Not only on PNAC but also whenever I discuss a neoCON or RepubliCON "sneak-in" provision in legislation or other matters that will not see the light of day on CM. Lately, I've even recommended that they sign onto DU to obtain information which is needed for them to do their job!

[imenja]

21. I have doubts about that

Is it that she had not hear of the Project for a New American Century, or that she did not recognize the acronym? PNAC's role in promoting the ouster of Saddam has been covered fairly widely in the press. What she may not have understood is the notion that PNAC is responsible for all ills that transpire on earth.
What was the specific question posed to Waters?

[cry baby]

8. We dems are more unified against a change in SS than anything

in a long time. Historically, dems have never agreed on much of anything.

I see where you would like to go with unity. Repubs had unity this last election, dems didn't. If we spoke with one voice, it would certainly be louder, but the party spans so many views that we cannot agree on much. I think we do agree that * needs to go along with the repub party. Maybe that is a start. Be hopeful!

[msgadget]

10. 'We' as in the party

or as in the voters? There's a difference. We - as in Us - have a very clear view of what's going on but they are hindered by politics, special interests, corporate money and the need to win an election not too far in the distant future.

It sure SEEMS obvious that they should point in the opposite direction and get a lot madder on our behalf. However, there are a lot of dem votes on bills that don't serve our interests. They can say they had to because they were attached to other bills or their stuff doesn't leave committee but neither accounts for ALL the bad votes.

Once they're all in Washington I wonder if the only time they REALLY disagree is in the press or on the floor because we - as in Us - are losing but they're all getting re-elected.

[kodi]

11. Because fundamentally its a party of fractured special interests

the GOP isn't.

Until the leaders of the Democratic Party can articulate their basic and core values and philosophies in a way that explains clearly the common ground shared by their special interest groups they will not beat the GOP.

What are those shared values and how in the hell can they be presented in a way everyone understands?

As an exercise, list how many "wings" of the Democratic Party there are which all have at least a "seat at the table" when Party decisions are made, either at the ballot box come primary elections/caucases, or by influnces of money and manpower.

Then list the disparate groups in the GOP.

Any wonder why its harder for Democrats to forge a consensus?

Personally, I think that there are a lot of sacred cows in the Democratic Party and I don't know if they will ever be examined objectively.

[Teaser]

12. Who says they aren't?

The Democrats are unified on social security, to use your example. Moreso than they have been previously.

[Poppyseedman]

14. We are unified in the messge that Bush is wrong on SS

but there lies the problem, we need to have an alternative message that lays out a plan to address peoples concerns.

Telling people Bush is a liar, maybe makes us feel good, but the average Joe wants to see "Why"

[Poppyseedman]

13. Lack of leadership

Lack of coherent message

[stevebreeze]

15. it's not that big money causes Dem's to act against their conscience

It is that big money contributions go to those who are at least in part more sympathetic to the "problems" big money is concerned about. Politician are vetted by the money they need to be successful in the first place. Of course you can turn down money from the rich and the corporate, then no one will ever have heard of you.

[wyldwolf]

16. how about too many far left DINOS?

...or how about too much attention being paid to who is "really" a democrat and not enough attention to defeating the real enemy?

How about not realizing we can't impeach the administration until we regain power - and we can't regain power until we turn the circular firing squad outward?

But, in the real world (OFF of the internet), Democrats ARE unified in purpose to retake power. The "DINO" term never enters into it.

Sure, some vote differently than we would. Sure, some fear losing their seats (which would almost certainly be replaced by the GOP.)

[Lexingtonian]

17. too much internalized, latent, conservatism

Plus, very little sense of how particularly strong or weak or conditional the present Republican uptick is in the long run. Because the internalized conservatism kinda blinds them to the strength on our side- even if it just won't seem to gel properly.

Well, impeaching people is easy if there are some standards held in common. For a negative assessment of the Right in upholding or standing to any actual integrity or responsibility, I recommend Joan Didion's commentary-

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17489

[CWebster]

18. inability, if not downright hostility to the vast majority of the voters

Democrats increasingly alienated everyone--minorities, labor, women, working class and the true middle-class in exchange for a narrow constituency of Yuppies.

Kerry is the ultimate example of that lack of connection--other than his youthful military experience, he doesn't resonate with the reality of most American's lives - as evidenced by his lavish vacations as photo-ops.

[sellitman]

19. Because WE HAVE PRINCIPLES

We don't follow our leaders like sheep or lemmings. The Pukes all unite behind their talking heads and let no one have an opinion that is different than the sound bites they are promoting.

[ClassWarrior]

22. HOW ABOUT "NONE OF THE ABOVE??"

We CAN. We ARE. And we WILL.

End of discussion.

NGU.