"Pity The Election Year Democrats, For They Know Not What They Do"

[Eric J in MN]

By Greg Saunders

http://thismodernworld.com/3210

Of the 10.5 Democrats who voted in favor of giving President Bush the powers of a despot, 5.5 are running for reelection. Since these men are all in heated election battles, I think it’s only fair that we get to know them and maybe get a better idea of why they stabbed their party and their country in the back.

...The other Senator Nelson also has a bad case of red state fever. Like most Democrats, Bill Nelson is a grand master in the “let’s wait and see what happens” school of political campaigning. Unfortunately for Bill, he’s up against Republican superstar Katherine Harris. Perhaps if Nelson caught a lucky break, then maybe Harris’s campaign would run into some troubles…things like having the National Republican Party oppose her candidacy or having her entire campaign staff quit or being tied to a bribery scandal or being accused of “increasingly erratic behavior” by a former campaign manager. Those things could sink a candidacy, but Harris only has to gain 28 points in the next 40 days. Just to be safe, Nelson should probably support the GOP’s efforts to shred the constitution.

[ClintonTyree]

1. Being a "Democrat" is relative.........

relative to which geographical area you happen to be in. A southern Democrat could not win in a northeastern state, they'd be deemed too conservative. Same goes with a northeastern Democrat in a southern state, they'd be looked upon as being too liberal. Our southern "Democrats" are more "Dixiecrats" and that's exactly what they must do to get elected in that geographical area.
Funny (not ha-ha funny, but weird funny) this doesn't seem to apply to RepubliCONS. A RepubliCON is the same everywhere; a xenophobic, racist, bigoted asshole. Perhaps that's why they always walk in lockstep and win elections. They have a platform and stick to it no matter where they're from. Democrats are too divided, they lack that single purpose that binds them together. As long as we have Dixiecrats masquerading as Democrats we're in for a rough, rough ride. Worse, I see no solution for this. This is what they MUST do to get elected. They say the south lost the civil war. I beg to differ.

[n2doc]

2. Do you honestly believe Harris would beat Nelson

if he had voted against the torture bill? Can you honestly believe that 28% of his voters would say "whoa, Nelson must love the Terrorists! I must vote for Krazy Kate now!" The real point is that these Senators are supporting W. They support his major policies, his dismantling of the courts and appointment of radical judges, and his wars. And unfortunately the "real" democratic party (those who oppose even some of this) is only 30-35 members strong in the Senate. And it won't get any stronger with these imposters in the party.

Has America really changed so much in the last decade that a genuine moderate cannot win in a "red" state? Or are we just fed that line so that no one will try to find out?

[lonehalf]

3. Are you saying that Democrats "MUST" act like Republicans n/t

[ClintonTyree]

4. In certain parts of the country, yes.

They must appear as centrist or closer to the right in order to get elected. That's just the way it is. You'd never see a Ted Kennedy or Hillary Clinton elected in the south, it could never happen. The most disgusting thing is, if they're elected, they have to VOTE the same way to stay in power. Look at Landrieu, Nelson and a host of other southern and mid-western "Democrats". More often then not they're voting WITH the opposition because that's the way their constituents expect them to vote. It's "safe" for them.
It's a screwed up system. Just because there's a (D) after their names doesn't mean they have to act and vote like a (D). Look at the voting records of these people and you'll see what I mean.