We still have the Senate and the Presidency

[letterwriter]

Not to let the media and the Republicans over blow this but we still control 2 out of 3. That's hardly a mandate for everyone to turn Republican. It is perhaps a mandate for the Democrats to finally put up a fight.

[JI7]

1. we have California also which is like having our own country

[MineralMan]

2. We do, and that's a big deal.

[Midwestern Democrat]

26. Agreed. Last night was a disaster, but keeping the Senate makes this

election a LOT less demoralizing than '94 was. I feel better today than I did during the entire 12 years that followed that election.

[tridim]

3. We have lots of fighters in the House. "Must watch" CSPAN.

[emulatorloo]

4. teaparty groups warning Boehner not to compromise. So lots of Drama coming up too.

[JuniperLea]

6. Just wait until the Pubbies ask to raise the debt ceiling...

You know they are going to spend money... they always do. They spent us into this mess... they won't stop now. But after all the bravado, we have a lot to hold them to. And I for one am going to be very impatient. In fact, why the hell haven't those damn Republicans fixed every thing yet? Huh? Can you tell me that? Why? WWWWHHHHYYYYYY? They will take those seats in a couple of months, and they haven't done a damn thing yet!!

See how easy that is?

[Orrex]

5. And don't forget that we have The Liberal Media, too!

For the past six weeks I haven't been able to turn on a news broadcast without hearing the Liberal media praising the GOP for it's takeover of the House.


It makes me so mad that I even put a goddamn apostrophe in "its."

[emulatorloo]

8. Yeah it is a huge problem. Maddow is about the only FAcT BASED show on cable.

Olbermann too. The rest just repeat the Republican talking points, too lazy to do any actual reporting.

[Orrex]

9. NPR's been particularly terrible about the these past few weeks

Strangely, despite their ever more sharply right-leaning coverage, they still read daily emails from listeners decrying the network's "Liberal bias."

[emulatorloo]

14. I think that's part of the problem. They are so afraid of being accused of Liberal Bias that

they are afraid to question republicans in anyway. They've basically become intimidated by the claim.

[JackRiddler]

7. Who are "we"?

Over-identification with representatives as though they are leaders (or home teams) is part of the problem, not the solution.

[emulatorloo]

10. sounds like you are over-reaching a bit. Most people know what OP is talking about,

and understand that it does not have the "SINISTER OVERTONES" you are suggesting.

[JackRiddler]

13. You are the one reading "sinister overtones."

I'm merely pointing out a false "we."

[emulatorloo]

16. Democratic Underground is a website for Democrats. I just spend days doing GOTV

as a volunteer. I identify as a Democrat. I am pleased about the very tiny miniscule part I may have had in helping my progressive Democratic Representative defeat a Tea Party republican challenger, I feel like a Democrat today.

So maybe I am a little touchy about this "false we" stuff you are promoting. It feels like you are requiring me to feel some kind of alienation that I don't feel at this moment.

[JackRiddler]

18. You can be a Democrat and yet not identify as the "we" who holds the Senate and Presidency...

Furthermore, Democratic Underground welcomes "Democrats of all stripes, along with other progressives who will work with us to achieve our shared goals. While the vast majority of our visitors are Democrats, this web site is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, nor do we claim to speak for the party as a whole."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/about.html

[emulatorloo]

21. Yeah I get it. It may merit you writing a thread on the topic. OTOH I am guessing that

the OP was using "we" as shorthand. At any rate I enjoyed our "argument" and hope you have a great night.

[JackRiddler]

27. You too.

[Rex]

11. Ya and I'm not quite ready to jump off a cliff, yet.

When the turds rule all three AND the SCOTUS, then I'm finding out if I can fly or not. Until then, I see changes and opportunity in the wings. IF we can finally play it right and do what needs to be done we will destroy Karl Rove from the inside out.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. So, if Mars Attacks, we're okay?

[Blue Meany]

15. Actually we have less than that:: we have the White House and

Senate; they have the House andthe Supreme Court. They also have the media, the militias and corporate money. We may have the numbers, but they are hard to mobilize, especially with centrist policies.

[provis99]

17. we lost the Supreme Court years ago.

So at best, we're sharing power with the repubs 50/50, and I'm not too sure about some of those Democrats who are supposed to be on our side; that old fool Harry Reid is already saying the party needs to be more conciliatory to the repubs.

[DainBramaged]

19. HAHAHAHAHA

With harry Reid as majority leader, it will be another two years of licking the boots of the pukes.

The President had a chance to show a spine today, and all he did was beg the Pukes to compromise.

Get real. They controlled BOTH houses with minorities because Dems have NO SPINE.

[Lost-in-FL]

20. 24 hrs ago we had them all.

Your point?

[emulatorloo]

23. One point is that the media is overblowing it. In 1994 we lost the House and the Senate.

The media seems to be acting as if that has happened again.

Seems like a point that is fairly easy to grasp.

[Lost-in-FL]

24. I am happy you are happy. nt

[emulatorloo]

22. Delete wrong place n/t

[GeorgeGist]

Obviously you missed Obama's concession speech.

[GeorgeGist]

25. Obviously you missed Obama's concession speech.

[BlueDemKev]

28. I'm with you all the way on that

[sohndrsmith]

29. Yes. From what I understand after doing cursory research on it,

this is not only "hardly" a mandate, but pretty historically consistent.

That said - much will be made about the number of house seats lost - which *may* be historically high - but which (I believe) aren't all that politically significant in comparison. The media may succeed in making this a bigger deal than it is - solely because their goal is to make a big story, the result of which (no matter how much the media/journalists refuse to acknowledge it) could or will have an effect on the outcome - any outcome...

One thing that concerns me beyond the issue above, is what appears to be the GOP/TP game plan. Or plans.

The GOP has said "no" to every and all legislation proffered by the Obama administration, including those submitted/sponsored by the GOP. With a fully Dem House/Senate, they unilaterally said, "no".

However, with a GOP/TP House, they may think they can now say "yes" to the very same legislation they supported before, but can now claim credit for same, saying, "See? Since WE have been in control of Congress, WE are able to get THESE things done!!" .

It's called bait and switch, folks. And it's highly likely they'll get away with it, because Democrats have integrity. The GOP/TP have forced inaction upon the Administration, and will now take credit for those things that the Dems (quizzically - yet they should know better) couldn't get done (because of GOP obstruction) but now pass AS GOP legislation..."Look how WE take action! Look how WE have the guts to get things done!" It's a shell game, kids.... if you don't get that, then you're distracted by something else because that's what it is.

Another ruse: Pre-midterm GOP/TP:

Part 1: "We refuse to discuss anything! The "American people" (it is to laugh-or cry) say they want everything that hurts them, especially personally! (yes, I'm biased).... as the GOP/TP laugh incredulously that these folks are buying it...

Part 2: Given the power in Congress, they will now claim that everything that didn't work previously was the fault of the Administration, not their blanket refusal to play - and they'll win, especially with those who don't bother to do their own homework or question what they see/read.

Congress - Dem ruled: Useless/Ineffective
Congress - Rep ruled: Useful/Effective - EVEN THOUGH the "ineffective" part was solely due to GOP/TP obstruction.

[sohndrsmith]

30. uh-oh... "we" seem to be arguing... right? Or.. ? hm... n/t

[readmoreoften]

31. The DEMOCRATS? FIGHT? Nah.

So long as they get their paychecks.