Robert Parry: How Democrats Might Blow It

[kpete]

How Democrats Might Blow It
By Robert Parry
October 24, 2006


As Democrats go through their biennial rite of premature victory celebrations, they are inviting defeat again by obsessing on polls about how many congressional seats are “in play” rather than on explaining to the American people what a Republican victory on Nov. 7 would mean to the nation.

In the last three elections, George W. Bush has claimed mandates for his policies even when there were questions about the legitimacy of Republican victories. In Election 2000, Bush brushed aside the fact that he lost the popular vote to Al Gore and pressed ahead with a right-wing agenda.

The Republican congressional victories in Election 2002 convinced Bush that the voters were behind his plans for “preemptive” wars. He called Election 2004 his “accountability moment,” ratifying both his invasion of Iraq and his expansion of executive powers.

So, there should be little illusion how Bush would interpret a Republican upset victory on Nov. 7. It would be taken as a public embrace of his authoritarian vision for America’s future and as an endorsement of the neoconservative commitment to wage “World War III” against Islamic militants around the world.

more at:
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/102306.html

[KittyWampus]

1. "premature victory celebrations"? Which Democrat is doing this?

"they are inviting defeat again by obsessing on polls about how many congressional seats are “in play”"?

Again, which elected Democrats and Democrats running for office are 'obsessing on polls'?

Does he mean the DNC and Dean who are actively trying to make as many seats in play as possible?

Does he mean Emanuel and his organization who are trying to focus on those with the most chance of winning?

Is he talking about both? Neither?

Or maybe the talking heads and mediawhores are the ones who obsess on the polls relentlessly?

"rather than on explaining to the American people what a Republican victory on Nov. 7 would mean to the nation.

Hasn't he heard about Pelosi's 100Hours Plan? That talks about what DEMOCRATS will do if elected?

Apparently Parry thinks it's better to talk about what Bush will do if Congress stays GOP. WE ALREADY KNOW.

[Der Blaue Engel]

4. Did you mean DNC and Dean?

(Rather than DLC?)

[KittyWampus]

5. Phew! Thanks for catching that silly mistake.

[SheilaT]

6. Well, all over DU

there are posts about the first thing we should do when we win on November 7. Not if, when. That's the kind of thinking that's dangerous. We should be out there campaigning as if we were ten points behind everywhere. And Pelosi's 100 Hours Plan is more of the same. Something about counting one's chickens.

[greeneyedboy]

11. there is a difference...

between "counting one's chickens" and holding a positive vision and agenda.

if we cannot imagine victory, how can we navigate toward it, and how can we inspire ourselves to do the field work needed to win?

the GOP likes to motivate people with FEAR. our constituency has a positive agenda and different motivations.

obsessively fretting about past muggings we've experienced is not the way to motivate ourselves, and doesn't change anything.

do you have a problem with the bumper stickers that say "IMAGINE PEACE"? should they say "FEAR WAR!" or "OH NO--WE'RE GOING TO WAR AGAIN!"?

neither cockiness nor paranoia is useful at this point. we need to stay focused on NOW and what we are doing NOW to "close the deal" on this landslide. that doesn't mean we can't allow ourselves a vision of victory--i think we need one, or else we are forever going to be the Charlie Brown to the GOP's Lucy. and that doesn't mean we should not learn how we can prevent and redress "irregularities" (see the toolkit in the resource forum for practical hands-on ways to do this). but being depressed and anxious is no more helpful and inspiring than cockiness.

[elehhhhna]

18. Here in TX22 it's just party-alla-time. Riiiiight.

:sarcasm:

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. Huh?

I'm missing something.

[Armstead]

3. He is making a good point

The GOP is telling voters what will happen in very scary terms what will happen if the Democrats win. Naturallty they are distorting it -- but they are putting the stakes out there.

The Democrats are not countering this by actively warning voters what will happen if the GOP holds on to unlimited power.

Parry is saying that the Democrats need to spell out the stakes clearly. Not just "If you're angry about Iraq vote for us."

[greeneyedboy]

9. which campaigns are not doing this?

[ananda]

7. Only 4 ways Reeps will win:

Diebold.
Vote manipulation.
Voter intimidation.
Screwing the voter rolls.

[greeneyedboy]

8. complete B.S., another attempt to sap our energy.

we can work our asses off to GOTV *AND* enjoy visions of victory at the same time. if you don't like it, get over it.

[Kolesar]

10. So Robert Parry spends his precious time writing this bullshit

"As Democrats go through their biennial rite of premature victory celebrations"

How is that going to win one candidate a seat in the legislature?

[specimenfred1984]

12. They're going for WWIII regardless

People, elections, casulties, laws: these don't matter at all to them.

[Gregorian]

13. Let's not take this personally. He makes a point.

I noticed a new poster here yesterday saying the same thing. We, at least I, were cheering about the fifteen seat pickup in the House.

I think it's obvious that what he's saying is don't focus on "us", but instead focus on "them". That's what "they" do. It's all Clinton's fault. That's how they do it.

Well, I think we better heed his advice. As a Dem, I think it's incredibly obvious that Bush is more than simply a failure. We're more honest, and smarter than our opponents.

Of course, if we had a media, our message would have penetrated the general population. But we don't. And we have to work doubly hard.

Bush is not a failure, he's a disaster. From the Shock to the habeas.

Now how do we do it? Money for tv ads, I suppose. I don't know. I'm just some anonymous poster on DU saying what I think.

[blm]

14. You nailed it, Gregorian.

You and Parry both. There isn't ANY ONE of us who wants BushInc to go down more than Parry does. He wants us to be SMART about it. He knows how BushInc and the media whores play their cards against Dems. He's watched it for at least a decade or two longer than many here.

[tblue]

15. You know how the Repugs are raising the horrifying spectre of 'Speaker Pelosi'?

Well, we need to do the same. 2 more years of unchecked power & destruction — now that is really scary.

Spell out what is at stake. Stay focused. Give, volunteer, canvas, phone bank like your life depends on it. Don't take anything for granted. That's the messsage. Onward, DU soldiers!

[greeneyedboy]

16. word.

[Kurovski]

17. Not crushing voter suppression and election fraud

into a mere stain on the sidewalk might turn out to be the one biggest, fattest mistake.

GOTV! GOTV! Get out the vote.

we can all donate to any candidate we choose right this very minute, online!

[elehhhhna]

19. Ah, Grasshopper, the old "they lost because everybody knew they would win"

trick.

[cassiepriam]

20. If the American people can't figure out what electing a repug

means by now then they deserve the leadership they get.