If the Democrats arent motivating, How does beating the Teabaggers Motiviate you?

[Capt.America]

A Republican victory will set back any progressive hopes we have, Are we going to let the 'baggers win?

I want more from my party. Lets push and make them do it!

Long Haul multi year, election cycle fight!

This is just the start of journey people. Hope dies last!

[saltpoint]

1. I'm compulsively motivated, even without the nutbaggers,

but agree with you, Captain, that they add that era push.

The nutbaggers bring two things to the public discourse on issues: misdirected anger and vacuous stupidity. Not a great combination in a Constitutional democracy.

"A republic, if you can keep it," Franklin warned us.

Yeah.

Recommended.

:thumbsup:

- - -

And as long as I'm talking to Captain America, may I ask if you think Rudy Giuliani is based on Cap's arch-foe, the Red Skull? Because I get a powerful Red Skull vibe from Rudy...

[Capt.America]

2. We're all on the same side - lets just hope Reason Prevails. But I do got my eye on him ;)

[saltpoint]

3. Cap, I did rec this, but see that I've been outvoted.

I'm kinda nervous thinking that there are DU members who don't want to see the nutbaggers defeated.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Vote for [fill in DINO] or Palin becomes President!!!

Why don't we focus on telling elected DINOS to act like Democrats so we'll vote for them?

I don't think the problem is people at DU not voting. But for every one of us, there are hundreds of people who voted for Obama, but will sit 2010 out. This is how Scott Brown became my junior Senator.

[saltpoint]

5. We do tell them, Manny. They aren't listening.

Do you have the magic words to get past the sentries at Ben Nelson's castle? I bet you don't. I certainly don't.

If I did I'd by god use them and knock some sense into the old fool's head.

The critical stage of almost any issue is in front of almost any generation whose members are involved and engaged in the process.

There is no process that produces a better result that I've seen. That isn't to say that in U.S. history there will not be one at some point down the road, but that point is not at hand, no matter how much you want it to be or how much I want it to be or how much Howard Zinn would have liked it to be when we were still fortunate enough to have him walking among us.

In Scott Brown's victory, I sensed a strong rejection of his Democratic opponent's decision to vacation after she won the nom, which gave off a powerful scent of privilege and entitlement. Had she plunged immediately into community and grassroots county-level Democratic workers, she would have run a far stronger race, maybe even beat the guy in the pickup. I don't think she will ever be a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, and I think Brown is on his way out.

A lot of good work goes on at the grassroots level, Manny, and we both know it. That work should go forward, with always-new faces joining the ranks. I'd be delighted if there were a way to lightswitch Evan Bayh and Ben Nelson but there isn't, and we have to "play the hand we're dealt and stay in the action." Meaningful work remains, and requires that we do it.

I don't see anything wrong with that at all.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. Kerry, Dukakis, ...

Mass isn't known for its strong campaigners - strong politicians by lousy campaigners.

The numbers that I saw indicated that if the Obama voters had showed up at the polls, we'd have Senator Coakley right now.

I'm not sure if people like Ben Nelson are of any help whatsoever - might as well take them out, hopefully in a primary.

[saltpoint]

13. Whoa. Hold on. Kerry was felt to be vulnerable in the

Weld race and he beat him just the same. I think the Massachusetts Congressional delegation would consider themselves fit and focused candidates.

I'd prefer Coakley in the Senate next to Brown, although there may be some Republican women who would find fault with my logic.

For there to be effective primaries, there have to be critical mass (I should say near-critical mass) within party ors, usually at the county level, who can focus a campaign in behalf of more progressive candidates. This is not very easy in Indiana or Nebraska, although it's still worth doing. I have no problem with the 'worth doing' part at all, but have been around one or two county-level orgs and those breakaway challenges are usually not very successful. Once in a while they are. Often they are not -- witness a moderate challenge to Blanche Lincoln this year, for example. The Democrat running against Dan Coats in Indiana is more conservative than Evan Bayh, and he still won't stand a decent chance in a Republican state like that.

The sheer logistics of dumping an Evan Bayh or a Ben Nelson are daunting. The argument I'm making is not against the intent but against the likelihood of success, which reframes the intent.

[Forkboy]

6. One of the reasons Obama struck such a chord was that he ran on hope instead of fear.

[endless october]

7. i vote for candidates, not against.

run on an attractive platform, and then deliver.

the scary bad other guy is not enough to earn my vote. instead, try earning my vote.

[WilliamPitt]

8. I'm with you.

I remember the eight years these people were in charge. To say things are as bad or worse now is deranged.

Vote Democrat.

(edited for spelling)

[EFerrari]

14. Except things are worse and even much worse for many, many people.

The thugs couldn't have set Obama up better if they were frickin geniuses with God on their side. People have lost jobs, pensions, homes, whatever line of credit they had -- no matter if it's just a little credit card or a serious line of credit for your business, the effect is the same.

And whoever speaks to *that* will do well this round.

/oops

[Odin2005]

9. I vote for candidates, not against them.

If the Dem sucks, that person will not get my vote. Period.

Politicians have to EARN my vote.

[Curmudgeoness]

10. Rec'd too, still outvoted. I could not agree more. If the RW

win big, there will be no stopping them. And the arrogance will be too much to take. We have to elect Dems and then if we have to fight with them over the way they are voting, we fight. But there is just no fighting the RW. They will tell us to go to hell.

[w8liftinglady]

11. rec'd I am surrounded by teabaggers

They are motivated to vote....we need to be,too.

[DinahMoeHum]

15. I'm with you. Fuck the Pee Tartiers.

Crush the troglodytes like a bug.

:kick::kick::kick: