"The Democrats have willingly become the Washington Generals...

[villager]

...to the Republicans' Harlem Globetrotters. They go through the motions of playing the game without playing to win."

That was from a friend's email to me today, and thought the succinct observation was worth sharing here...

[mattclearing]

1. As a Democrat, I must say that is incredibly insulting to me personally.

eom

[Jersey Devil]

4. Why? Are you a part of Dem congressional leadership?

Tom Daschle?

[mattclearing]

7. If you read the post, it doesn't mention Congress.

Sounds more like an indictment of us all. I take issue with that.

While my representative is cool with me and fights for my interests, I have to say that we still have a lot of work to do to make our reps truly represent the values we hold dear.

Nevertheless, if you want to single out the leadership, do so.

But don't imply that all Dems are part of an intentionally losing team.

[Gman]

21. The old, 18 month ago, pre-Deanie Bopper

(and in some cases) Greens, will continue to bash Democrats as they have done for a few years now on DU. Its back to business as usual for many here on DU.

[Southsideirish]

2. Very accurate, indeed. Their "leaders" are a total embarrassment.

How Rove and company must scoff at them.

[emulatorloo]

3. IMHO Democrats want to elevate the discourse, repugs want to stay in the

sewer. The problem is how to battle the sewer dwellers tactics.

[ClintonTyree]

5. Since the end of the Clinton era..................

frightfully true. The fight for the soul of this Party is at a crossroad presently. The outcome will make my decision about remaining in this Party, and/or/if in what capacity, very clear and very soon.

[Emillereid]

6. Nice analogy -- I totally agree.

I urge people to read the "Banana Republicans" -- the authors document how the democrats still think that it's a 'contest of ideas' game while the repukes are simply playing for POWER! Raw -- absolute POWER! And that the end game is the total destruction of the democratic party -- or as they say, "politics is war by other means." If we don't even know what game we're playing or what the rules are -- we are fucked!

[pa28]

8. The leadership anyway.

I was impressed by Senator Boxer yesterday but many of our party leaders seem far too cozy and content.

I wish I had a link for this but I remember shortly after the 2002 Republican victories Karl Rove talked about 2004 being a "transformational" election. An election where Republicans moved to a permanent majority with the Democrats becoming a "half party" and full time foil.

Be seeing you.

[KnowerOfLogic]

9. Hey, as long at they get their paycheck, what do they care? nt

[Eye_on_prize]

10. Maybe "had" rather than "have". Hopefully after Jan6 Dems will stop

being "had" by trying to be Bush-lite. I'm choosing to frame Jan6 as possible tipping point on this, where Dems actually DID stand up to the fascists as best they could given rules of the game. Sure they could be all filibustering holding hands in the Rotunda singing "we shall overcome" and getting arrested or whatever, but this could also be the start of BushCo's unraveling. see 'lowest approval rating in past 40 years' just released. (sorry don't have a link for that, just saw it posted on craigslist with no link either - but am assuming its true for now til i hear otherwise.)

[villager]

11. but will the Dems' seize on the low * approval rating

...to actually do something. Before Bushco "solves" the "low approval problem" the way they did at the outset of their last term in office...

[Eye_on_prize]

17. good question. for now I'm trusting the process that's been jump-started

Thanks to Conyers, Boxer, Tubbs, et. al.
not to mention lawsuits still underway revealing criminal behavior by * and his thugs.

[villager]

19. I hope you're right!

n/t

[Al-CIAda]

18. Indeed!

"but will the Dems' seize on the low * approval rating
...to actually do something. Before Bushco "solves" the "low approval problem" the way they did at the outset of their last term in office..."

!!!!!!!

[EC]

12. Just goes to show

they know nothing about what the protest was all about...besides the Globetrotters may have won, but it was more about the show with them, so in the frame of reference your Republican friend was trying to make, it should have been the other way around...the Dems gave a good show and scored some points...they actually developed the beginning of a platform which could win them big on down the line...
most ordinary people want their vote to count, or they wouldn't bother to even go to the polls, so it is bi-partison, and maybe some of the more reasonable Republicans will start to think about their party and why didn't they agree there needed to be improvement, etc...

[villager]

14. a Democratic friend, actually

very, very active politically. His comments come from that POV.

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. I disagree.

We're in a position of weakness, but not willing participants in a farce. I cannot bring myself to belief that.

[villager]

15. it's a farce if we don't do anything about it

n/t

[Pacifist Patriot]

16. I'm at least one democrat who is doing something about it.

[villager]

20. let us know what you're up to

we need to share ideas/strategies here...