What have the Dems accomplished?

[blondeatlast]

Big and small, national and local; let's give them a hand for what they've managed to do without having the House, Senate, administration, or Supreme Court.

I'm in a marvelously positive mood today, partly resulting from reading this article, posted by AtomicKitten:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2568989

I'll start:

They've put the kibosh on Social Security "Reform," making those who favored it vulnerable in November '06. The Dems OWN the issue, and we must exploit it for the good of the nation.

They've stolen the administration's thunder on homeland "security." again, it's an issue that the administration didn't really want to talk--only to preach--about, but with the Dubai ports deal and smaller victories, WE'VE forced it into the open--and the polls remain in the thirties largely because of it.

Delay is gone. While it's likely his replacement will be another R, I still call this a MAJOR victory. If he'd thought he had a snowball's chance of winning, he'd still be in it.And those who are unaware of the power he held in the House may not know, but his DEFEAT is an enormous win for us.

Let's lavish on the kudos--for a severely minority party, they've not rooled over by any means.

What can you praise them for?

[johncoby2]

1. No R in District 22

Uh.....dont give up on Nick Lampson. THe ground work we are doing is very impressive. We are getting great responses.

[blondeatlast]

3. Note that I said "likely." I know there's a great effort

on Lampson's behalf and God knows I applaud your efforts, but the odds are heavily stacked against ANY Democrat.

BTW--I'm going to be pretty upset if you kill this thread with the initial negative reply (I'm kidding, of course).

[ginnyinWI]

2. They're on the right side of the Iraq issue

From Murtha to Feingold to Kerry and others, it's Dems who are standing up against the occupation and offering alternatives. We don't hear much from the other side. If any Repubs have spoken out, it hasn't gotten much press. Oh I think Hagel and a few others have made some noises--but it's the Dems who are actually offering up plans, and taking heat for it.

:patriot:

[blondeatlast]

6. Even if we can't agree on a plan--it's being talked about.

Not just in the press, but at the watercooler.

That puts the Rs in the very uncomfortable position of playing defense on the issue--something all too familiar to the Dems.

That's how we won on the Social Security issue, and it's how we can get out of Iraq now.

[BeatleBoot]

4. Another Thing My Party Did That They Get Little Credit For....

is not getting in the way when the Republicans are imploding.

I mean this sincerely.

Didn't Napoleon say something like this?

Something like, "never get in the way, when your enemy is making a mistake"

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

8. Absolutely.

Let them dig their own grave.

[blondeatlast]

9. There's something to be said for making corruption non-partisan!

I'm barely old enough to remembre Watergate; it was my pre-adolescent introduction to political wonkism (I think I was 12 when Tricky Dickie resigned) but I remember the Dems making very little public fuss over it--even though their offices were broken into.

Of course, we had a hungrier and far more objective press than we do now, but I remembre just watching the Nixon administration slowly and quietly crumble from their own weakness.

Once the corruption gets discussed at the water cooler, it can't be ignored.

[jwirr]

10. Dems not make a fuss over Watergate? There was an

impeachment hearing!

[blondeatlast]

11. Well, true--but they didn't come close to screaming it from the

rooftops as many DUers are insisting they do now.

But we also had a hungrier, more objective press, then, too. It wasn't as necessary as it is now.

Plus, we did have a majority then.

FWIW, I was entering my teen years and already politically wonking. My memory isn't all that great regarding it!

[jwirr]

12. You are right about that they did not have to scream because

we did have a real press back then. Sad thing when the MSM is as useless as a broken door nob.

[ginnyinWI]

5. a local story

I live in a Republican county where the largest city and county seat just had an election for mayor. The Repub candidate had much more money than the Dem candidate, but he won handily. I look at it as a portent of things to come next fall.

[blondeatlast]

7. YA-YUS! That's what I'm talking about!

:bounce:

[NI4NI]

13. 30 something Dems on C-Span

I gotta hand it to the young Dem reps from Florida, Ohio, and Washington who I see on C-Span trying to get their message across to the public every Tuesday night until midnight.

[blondeatlast]

14. Kick for persepctive. nt