Democrats should hold their ground, says E.J. Dionne Jr.

[txlibdem]

Democrats should hold their ground

By E.J. Dionne Jr.
Thursday, November 11, 2010

In 2008, the largest number of voters in American history gave the Democrats their largest share of the presidential vote in 44 years and big majorities in the House and Senate.

How did Republicans react? They held their ideological ground, refused to give an inch to the new president and insisted that persistent opposition would eventually yield them victory. On Nov. 2, it did.

Yet now that Democrats have suffered a setback - in an election, it should be said, involving many fewer voters than the big battle two years ago - they are being counseled to do the opposite of what the Republicans did, especially by Republicans.

Democrats who stand up to say they were right to reform health care and stimulate a staggering economy are told they "don't get it" and are "in denial." Liberals who refuse to let one election loss alter their commitments are dismissed as "doubling down" on a bad bet.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111005192.html

Then again, when you sprint to the right during the entire time you held the majority in congress maybe you don't have much of a leg to stand on.

Wasn't it Roosevelt who said that the American people will always hire a real Republican over a Democrat who acts like one.

[GoCubsGo]

1. Kick.

Judging by the last election, I'd say Mr. Roosevelt was correct.

[treestar]

2. I agree with Dionne but your comments are nonsense

We don't hold our ground because we abandon it for our single issues which we hold dear over any common ground.

We also want the government to run, and the Republicans don't. That makes it easier for them.

We need to quit comparing ourselves to the Republicans this way.

[KharmaTrain]

3. Should...But...

I'm already seeing some in freak out mode. They've drunk the corporate media kool-aid and are assured that they're not being "conservative" enough or "bipartisan". These people are looking at their campaign coffers and the need to raise millions for the next election. That's their priority, not any other agenda but their own self preservation. And where do they find that money right now? It's from those friendly K Street critters not the voters.

Last week's election validated that the biggest "voters" and voices inside the beltway are those with lots of cash to spread around.

[txlibdem]

4. I agree that all they think about is their own job security, never ours

but if this election showed anything it is that those elected leaders who fight hardest for Progressive and Liberal agenda will keep their jobs and the fence sitters and corporatists are the ones with the endangered sign hanging around their necks.

[KharmaTrain]

5. The Big Disconnect

We're already hearing the corporate media drumbeat of how this is a "Center-right" country and that's all they hear in the beltway. While I wish it were so but Democrats are still scared of who they are or to stand up for a true Progressive/Liberal agenda. The voters only matter AFTER the money is collected. It's no bucks no Buck Rogers...without having millions in the bank a politician doesn't stand the chance of facing the voters. It's K Street they hear, not Main Street and defintely not Progressives or Liberals no matter how right we are. If anything the more right we are, the more resentful the establishment is.

Cheers...

[txlibdem]

7. Veering off topic a bit but yes

I'm glad someone but me is commenting on how the new meme is that we're a "center-right" nation. You hear that on all these talk shows, the news shows, the politicial shows. But ask yourself one question. How much money do these people on TV and radio make each year? It is in their own self interest to get the dummies to vote for lower taxes for the rich... because these talking heads on TV make serious money every year -- it would benefit them. They're going to tell the morons (or is it "morans") to keep taxes low for the rich because THEY ARE THE RICH.

The ability of Americans to see the common good, to understand that sometimes medicine tastes bad but you HAVE TO TAKE IT in order to get better, to comprehend that going through each and every day with laser focus only on what will benefit themselves --to the exclusion of all other thoughts-- is ultimately bad for them, as well as the rest of us.

The fraud squad on wall street spent years doing what benefited them greatly and that is what caused a global economic collapse. At any point in the build up to the collapse they (or the regulators) could have slammed on the brakes and greatly reduced the damage. Americans need to stop thinking only of themselves and start thinking of their fellow man every once in a while, they might find that what goes around comes around.

[Kat45]

6. Good article. Recommend. n/t