Cat Got Their Tongue, Skittish Democrats Refuse To Defend Obama

[cal04]

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/12/cat_got_their_tongue.php?ref=fpblg

Greg Sargent makes a good point. While Republicans are kicking into high gear with partisan criticisms of the White House over the attempted terror attack over Detroit, Dems have been almost completely silent.

It's not that you'd expect them to be defending the TSA's practices, which may or may not makes sense. But Republicans are making a broader attack -- claiming that Obama's more general stance on the world stage is leading to more terror attacks. That should not be a hard argument to push back against. And it's really a mistake that they're not.


Skittish Democrats Refuse To Defend Obama On National Security
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/uncategorized/skittish-democrats-refuse-to-defend-obama-on-national-security/


GOP terror criticism could backfire
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20091228/pl_politico/31016

“The president doesn't think we should play politics with issues like these. He hasn't. His response has been fact-based and appropriate and will continue to be as such,” said deputy White House press secretary Bill Burton.

But other Democrats say the GOP’s yuletide political offensive could backfire on Republicans, putting the spotlight on the party’s own less-than-spotless record on homeland security.

[Xenotime]

1. Rethugs only have the one isolated incident to talk about.

There are many more important issues to address.

[el_bryanto]

4. I don't agree

Yes it is only one attack, and a relatively minor one. That said, it's a primal attack, and one that goes to the core of the mythology Republicans have been building since the 60s about Democrats (i.e. We can't be trusted to protect the country). I think we need to respond clearly and forcefully (and by we I mean Elected Democrats, of which I am not one).

Bryant

[Winterblues]

7. Should we try and out Macho the Republicans?

I always assumed Progressives used Logic, Rationale and Respect in their approach to things, not bluff and bluster...If the situation calls for force, use overwhelming force, otherwise use diplomacy and intelligence..

[el_bryanto]

9. I don't think we should try to out macho them

Rather I think we should do precisely what you suggest - use logic, rationale and respect to tear apart their attacks on us. What I am opposed to is leaving them the field.

Bryant

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. It was an ATTEMPTED attack

The plane didn't catch on fire or explode, nobody got killed, and the suspect was ultimately subdued and is now imprisoned. While it's true that "the system" didn't keep this guy from getting on a plane and that it was a private citizen who ultimately thwarted the attempted attack, this was NOT a *successful* attack and should not be treated as such and there is NOTHING President Obama has or has not done since taking office that would've made such an attempted attack more or less likely. Vowing to keep Gitmo open and/or resolving to continue utilizing "enhanced interrogation techniques" on suspects would not have altered an event like this at all. Obviously, some more work needs to be done in terms of airport security but nothing that Hoekstra, King, Cheney, et. al are bashing Obama for not doing since taking office would've made any difference. I definitely agree that elected Democrats should be out there taking these bozos (to be charitable) on over this.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Well, if one word tends to describe Democrats, it's "skittish"--that said,

there's no benefit to getting into a big partisan back-and-forth on national security with these idiots. That's what they want, after all--they feel like it's their "home field".

[MidwestTransplant]

3. Discgusting.

[grytpype]

5. The Repugs have an army of liars out there every day.

Dems don't like lying, and they are afraid to say much.

Not an equal contest, although since the Bush Disaster the Dems are still winning.

[Mari333]

6. what does this person want them to do? ask Obama to be even more of a warmonger?

I would like to see the Dems just come right out and deny Obama everything he wants when it comes to war funding,.(fat chance)

on the other hand, its a circus. Dems should remind people that Bush started the catastrophes, and Obama is just contiuing the catastrophes.

the republicans made us unsafe with war war war and now Obama and his Bush generals are doing the same thing.

the whole thing is a goddamned circus of the absurd

[Nikki Stone1]

10. Bush bombed the crap out of an already destroyed country for an act not committed by its people

That's a hard act to to follow, I guess.

[timeforpeace]

11. Maybe we need to try to understand why they are doing this stuff again.

[gulliver]

12. You have to fight lies.

It is disgusting that the GOP would even have the gall to get out of bed in the morning. After eight years of Bush, the GOP should be on their knees begging for forgiveness for what they did to America. Instead, they lie some more.

Since they are doing that, we have to respond. You can't ignore these ticks. Give them five seconds of time to find a spot, and they'll burrow their little tick heads right into America's skin again.

[spanone]

13. i have noticed their absence.....while the thugs pound away 24/7

i've seen peter king and hokestra non-stop ad nauseum