Democrats Must Unite to Stop Republicans from Making 2010 "The Year the Empire Strikes Back"

[ProSense]

Robert Creamer

Democrats Must Unite to Stop Republicans from Making 2010 "The Year the Empire Strikes Back"

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1). An Historic Opportunity for Change.

The election of Barack Obama -- coupled with Democratic control of the House and Senate -- provided the first serious opportunity for progressive change in forty years. Bill Clinton made real strides on many fronts during the 1990's, but America was still gripped by the dominant conservative ideology that massively limited his opportunity to make real structural change.

All of that changed after eight years of corporate, right wing excess -- during which George Bush had practically unfettered opportunity to put right wing ideology into practice at virtually every level. His tax breaks for the rich, and anti-union policies guaranteed that every dime of economic growth during the period went to the top two percent of the population. His blind faith in the "market" allowed the recklessness of the big Wall Street banks to run wild, and finally run the economy off the road. Not just into a ditch, but into a deep canyon. His Neo-con fantasies had led America into the quagmire of two massively expensive wars.

In November 2008 the ideological winds shifted in America. The progressive forces in America took the offensive.

2). We've won major battles.

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Every one of these battles involved a massive struggle with hugely powerful corporate economic interests that wanted to stop change dead in its tracks. In every case, the Republicans lined up in lock step with the big Wall Street banks, insurance companies and Big Oil.

But we've won major battles. In fact, Progressives have won more territory in the last twenty months than in most of the preceding forty years.

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3. They don't roll over and play dead.

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4). The Republicans want to make 2010 the year the Empire Strikes Back.

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5). It's up to us to unite and stop them.

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[Gman]

1. LOL! The unrecs will start pouring in

this one will never see the light of day.

Great post nevertheless. K&R.

[jefferson_dem]

57. If that's not the literal definition of PUMA, I don't know what is.

Fuck that...and them. We need to win.

[Historic NY]

2. K&R.,,,,,,even thou many here are against it.

[NJmaverick]

3. Who is working against the Dems by unreccing this?

[zipplewrath]

5. This sounds alot like "why do you hate america"

You know who used that line of "reasoning" right?

[NJmaverick]

7. Nope it looks like people working against the Democrats

don't try to call an apple an orange

[zipplewrath]

12. "You have no where else to go"

as well as expressions like "the other guy is worse" aren't exactly ways to unify a party. Pointing that out is hardly "fighting the democrats". It's "standing up for yourself".

[paulk]

80. perhaps it's simply people

working against the OP?

[emulatorloo]

26. Preposterous n/t

[zipplewrath]

28. Well, how can I dispute such a well thought out argument

You made the difference between the two so clear.

[emulatorloo]

31. OK let me explain it to you.

"Why do you hate America" = used by Republicans to intimidate Democrats when criticizing Republican Policy

Disparaging calls for Dem unity on election day = The election of more Republicans.

[zipplewrath]

35. hardly

Disparaging calls for Dem unity on election day = speaking to the root problem

[emulatorloo]

38. Oh - we may be on the same page after all

The Original Post has nothing disparaging in it. It is a pretty straightforward call to unity on election day.

I reacted to your post as if you were reacting to the Original Post. (rather than the one you were actually reacting to)

DOH! Bad reading on my part - sorry.

[Donnachaidh]

45. purity hall monitor?

Ya Vole dude.... :rofl:

[NJmaverick]

46. nah, I leave that sort of nonsense to the people

who feel they are in a position to declare who is and isn't liberal (or liberal enough)

[zipplewrath]

4. Horrible write up

It ignores the fact that it is the administration in control that has sought to divide the party.

[ProSense]

8. The administration didn't

do anything to divide the party. There are progressives focused on action: What Progressives Did Right to Win Healthcare


Calling out the divisive forces isn't dividing the party. People who didn't lift a finger to support change, but instead spent all their time crying out "kill the bill," "Obama = Bush," and "Obama is a corporatist sellout" aren't looking to unite with the President.

[zipplewrath]

10. So going on fox news

So going on fox news and bragging about rejecting your own supporters ideas is a good thing? Complaining publicly about union expenditures in primary races is a good thing? Crass charcterizations of progressive action plans is a good thing? Locking the single payer advocates both literally and figuratively "out of the room" is a good way to unite the party? Giving a speech advocating the escalation of the Afghan war in front of a bunch of cadets that can't complain, instead of your own supporters is a way to unify the party? Honoring Rick Warren after he successfully campaigned to with draw the rights of some of your strongest, and most vulnerable supporters was a way to unite them? Claiming never having campaigned on the public option was a way to address their concerns? Going into Kucinich's district to campaign for a bill he was fighting, but never calling Lieberman on the phone to try to move him on the public option was a way to support your own base? Going over to the CIA and telling the torturers that he "had their backs" was a way to unify the base? Including Rahm, Timmy, and Larry, while not finding anything for Dean was a way to unify all aspects of the party. Keeping Gates, and sticking to the SOFA was a way to encourage everyone to stick together?

[ProSense]

15. "So going on fox news and bragging about rejecting your own supporters ideas is a good thing?"

"Honoring Rick Warren after he successfully campaigned..."

Wow, still hanging on to that? You are never going to be satisfied.

[zipplewrath]

16. It's a growing list

I notice you ignored the vast majority of it. All of those things are included because they establish the long term, consistent pattern.

But we're always suppose to just "look forward".

[ProSense]

18. Sounds vindictive, but let's look at this point

"Going into Kucinich's district to campaign for a bill he was fighting"

Kucinich not only voted for health care reform, but he also stated that he did not like seeing people trying to destroy this President.

With little fanfare, he voted for Wall Street Reform, which is constantly being mischaracterized as selling out to Wall Street.

[zipplewrath]

25. So you agree

he went to his district, before Kucinich announced he was voting for it (and was still on record as saying he would not). And he never even called Lieberman.

[ProSense]

30. It's pretty sad when you're

left behind by Kucinich.

[zipplewrath]

36. Who was left behind?

Now you're projecting.

[ProSense]

39. Kucinich has obviously moved on from what you claim was a slight

He recognizes what many do not: progressives have forward momentum.

[zipplewrath]

41. The administration has forward momentum

It's probably about to be slowed down by the elections, the question is probably by how much. I suspect their warring ways are going to hit a wall soon. But their policy of protecting torturers will survive. They're not going to get Lincoln back. They're not getting Specter back.

Progressives are a tad stuck right now.

[ProSense]

43. The OP author is a progressive.

Richard Kirsh is a progressive.

There are many progressives who believe that progress is being made.

[zipplewrath]

44. Yup

Different standards. And they never address the problems

[Ryano42]

6. As I said..."Only a Fool Fights in a Burning House"

I have no problems with being disappointed and having heated discussions over things that have come up short...

But...when the time comes to get to the polls and get others there...we have no choice. If they get majorities...even LESS will happen and then things get worse...and then we have NO voice instead of some.

I understand the anger...but soon Gibb's stupidity will seem quite small when ReichWing II is in full power.

[Lucky 13]

9. Earn it.

Want my vote? Want to get the base fired up? Want me to volunteer? Want Dems to unite?

Earn it. Cause you haven't come close yet.

[ProSense]

13. Well, sitting back and making demands

without the work isn't going to get anyone anywhere. Voting isn't the end of activism just because you disagree with the achievements.

Now, if you don't believe the administration and Dems have done anything good, then I'm not sure what will motivate you.

[Lucky 13]

27. I'm not sitting back. I have my own platform and priorities. It's very simple...

All my donations of time and money will go to the candidates that align with my views.

1) Environmental responsibility. No to offshore drilling. Demanding alternatives to oil. Inquiry into health ramifications of Gulf oil spill and Corexit. Encouraging, not blocking, legitimate scientific research.

2) Equal rights for everyone - specifically gays and immigrants. Anything less makes you a bigot and I don't care if you are Republican, Democrat, or three headed alien, I'm not voting for any fucking bigots. Ever.

3) No more corporate dick sucking. No tax breaks for oil companies. No tax cuts for the extremely wealthy. Pro-unions. Pro-poor. Pro-middle class.

Those are not unreasonable demands. Democrats are supposed to be leading the way on these things. But some people have been drifting a little right for my tastes.

So, if you don't care about the things that are most important to me, you will not get my vote. How is that unreasonable? Why do I have to choose between right and righter?

[CakeGrrl]

32. Earn your vote? Problem is,

the people you're "threatening" by withholding your vote aren't going to have one personal worry if Republicans are in power. Like it or not, they have the resources to withstand the shitty decisions and policies that are made, even if they're not in the seat of power.

Can you hold up as well?

Otherwise, who's your "more Left" alternative who will have the numbers to prevail in 1) a Dem primary and 2) the GE?

If Progressives were so easy to put into national office on ideals, we wouldn't have Blue Dogs. How far has a Kucinich type gotten in the Primaries?

[Lucky 13]

42. I will not vote for anyone who is directly in conflict with my best interests. Period.

I've been a lifelong democrat. Never voted for anyone BUT a Dem. Ever.

But I'm really beginning to not give a shit about what letter you have behind your name.

There are all these "democrats" fighting against Elizabeth Warren, pushing for offshore drilling, saying the oil is "gone", saying they believe in equality but don't believe in gay marriage - they are no more working in my best interests than the Republicans are.

I mean really... as a gay, environmentalist, middle-to-lower class woman, how could I vote for a Dem who does those things? Because the alternative's worse? I should stay with my abusive spouse, because my ex used to beat me even harder? It's "not so bad"?

Fuck that. This is my line in the sand. I'm not voting for idiotic, corporate-dick-sucking bigots just because they call themselves a "democrat". And I'm not choosing between "right" and "righter", "bad" and "worse".

I will vote for whichever candidate represents my ideals and will fight for ME, even if that means voting third party.

[CakeGrrl]

48. You'll vote for whoever SAYS they'll fight for you.

No way of knowing what will happen to a candidate's promises and plans once they actually have to deal the realities of how Washington and the legislative system work.

Enjoy your vote. Let us know when you find the candidate with the crystal ball - or at least one who's willing to tell voters exactly how they plan to be successful where you clearly feel others have failed.

[Lucky 13]

79. Well at least...

...I'd like to vote for someone who claims to want full and equal rights for all. Not one trying to sell me separate but equal as equality. That's just fucking insulting.

[NorthCarolina]

74. +1000 n/t

[Warren Stupidity]

11. lets start by attacking and marginalizing everyone on the left!

[ProSense]

14. No one did that.

I'm on the left and I don't feel marginalized, and evidently neither does the author of the piece.

[Warren Stupidity]

17. ^ I'm on the left ^

[30rock]

19. You fooled me. I view you as a centrist n/t

[ProSense]

20. I really don't know what to say about you being fooled.

Do you consider the author of the OP commentary a centrist?

[frylock]

65. you're to the right of me..

well to the right.

[Milo_Bloom]

21. Guess they should have thought of that BEFORE they marginalized

their base.

[ProSense]

22. They who?

The 2010 elections are about Congress, the people who will represent your state.

[Milo_Bloom]

23. You mean the people I refuse to donate to anymore?

[ProSense]

24. Do you vote for them? n/t

[Milo_Bloom]

37. Not anymore.

[DevonRex]

66. Milo, you're saying you're not voting for Democrats anymore in Congressional elections?

[Milo_Bloom]

70. Depends on the democrat

[emulatorloo]

29. Yeah lets go for Republican Rule, that will really punish Robert Gibbs, won't it!

Only problem with that plan is that every body will have to suffer.

Gibbs has been an *sshole and needs a vacation. That doesn't mean Boehner needs a promotion.

[CakeGrrl]

33. Yep. Talk about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. n/t

[NorthCarolina]

75. Yes, better to vote for an administration backed conservative DLC New Dem

that doesn't represent your values because the important thing is that they have a "D" after their name on the ballot, and that "D" is far more important than the actual politics of the candidate. :eyes:

[Milo_Bloom]

40. Everyone is SUFFERING now.

I don't give a damn about Gibbs and his idiotic comment, per se... however, it does showcase what is going on in government at this time.

There are a handfull... a TINY HANDFULL of people who are actually willing to do the right thing.. the rest of them (the VAST MAJORITY) are working mainly for the corporations/special interests (ie, their donors) and take for granted the fact that you will vote for and support them anyway simple based on the fact that they are better than the alternative.

There hasn't been a single piece of legislation passed by Obama that will actually ease suffering in any significant way. Providing people shitty health insurance doesn't ease suffering... it's better than not having it.. but in the same way one kick in the balls is BETTER than 2 kicks to the balls. Mandating that credit card companies show you how long it will take to pay off your balance doesn't change the amount they can raise your interest rate to if something goes wrong with your payment for some reason. Do I need to talk about Wall Street "reform" and the joke that turned out to be?

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DevonRex]

67. He's saying he won't vote for Dems in 2010 Congressional elections.

[jefferson_dem]

68. He's saying he prefers to enable teabaggers.

Disgusting.

[DevonRex]

69. Well, if he lives in Colorado that's certainly what would happen

since the Republican candidate for Senate is a teabagger and is currently ahead in the polls against Bennet. I expect that to change once things get going but we certainly need every vote we can get in order to stop a teabagger from becoming a Senator.

[Milo_Bloom]

71. Definitely don't believe in party unity for the sake of it.

Blind party loyalty for both the D and R's is what got us into this entire mess in the first place.

[one_voice]

34. K & R.

I'm not giving up! I didn't like the Empire Strikes Back. :7

[TheKentuckian]

47. The Empire runs both sides. I'm voting Democrat in the fall as a check on this

conservative administration and to remove the excuse for more shenanigans.

[okieinpain]

49. i agree, and they should start by putting out a commercial of who

are the biggest donors to repugs are. But my paycheck we would find a lot of people from companies that got bailout money on those lists. maybe that would shut up some of the repugs on how bad the stimulus package was.

[derby378]

50. Creamer's full of shit - health insurance is now a RESPONSIBILITY, not a RIGHT

There have been DUers who have tried to spin this the other way, but they have all failed.

[ProSense]

51. No, it's a right,

Just because one still has to pay for it, doesn't make it less of a right. Those who cannot afford it, will be able to get it.

Medicare also has to be paid for.

[derby378]

54. If you're made to carry bricks, those bricks are not a "right"

In the same way, we're being made to carry private insurance companies on our shoulders. And those who cannot afford insurance are assigned a private carrier who doesn't give a shit if they live or die, just as long as the carrier get its money from someone.

[ProSense]

55. Health insurance isn't a brick.

Nearly 83 percent of Americans have some form of coverage, and the majority have been dealing with this status quo system for decades.

The health care law does makes significant improvements.

[derby378]

56. Improvements like this?

Obama Hires Fmr. Wellpoint Exec to Implement Health Care Law

[ProSense]

59. No,

improvements like this

Hiring someone doesn't change the law.

[derby378]

60. For starters, the doughnut hole still exists...

...and while Obama now says he has the authority to reject rate increases for Medicare Advantage plans, a lot of us on DU aren't even seniors yet.

[ProSense]

62. It is

being closed, and this:

"Beginning next year, preventive care – including annual physicals, wellness exams, and tests like mammograms – will be free for seniors as well."

...is something new and unique to this new law.

[derby378]

64. That part sounds promising

Let's hope it doesn't get watered down once implemented.

[Jakes Progress]

52. Good idea.

Let's have Obama fire Gibbs as a start. That would unite us greatly. Then he could tell Rahm to take a vacation. And mostly he could tell Arne to go back to the drawing board and learn how education works by asking real educators rather than reagan cabinet members, former republican leaders, and corporate lobbyists.

That would make a good start to getting us to unite and stop the republicans.

[ProSense]

53. The President isn't getting rid of his staff or cabinet.

So you're going to have to find somewhere else to start.

[Jakes Progress]

73. So there is nothing that you or Obama

think you have to do to help unite the party. You really think that standing there and exhorting the disaffected to shut up and get in line is going to really help? Is that a special feeling you get by doing that? Is it a job description of some kind, a self-appointed purity patrol guard.

Learn how politics works. The people who want to win office must court the voters. Telling them to get in line has never worked as a motivation for gaining votes. Appeal to me and you will get my support. That's how it works.

All your chest thumping and cut and paste hasn't gained one single vote for Obama; it actually turns off more than you imagine. I got him more votes two years ago than all your huffing and puffing. I sat in living rooms and found things that Obama had promised and things in the platform that would appeal to families one by one. I didn't knock on their door and tell them they better vote for Obama if they knew what was good for them.

The comedy is that for all your supposed support, I would venture that you have contributed to more disaffection than most. Not doing a very good job.

[Bluenorthwest]

61. Why post this here? It needs to be sent to Robert Gibbs.

He can read it as he awaits the results of his drug test.

[ProSense]

63. Why

don't you sent it to him?

[catgirl]

72. K&R

[craigmatic]

76. Very true if the democratic party isn't the voice of sanity in this country there isn't one.

[old mark]

77. Does the Administration understand this? nt

[AtomicKitten]

78. I've heard enough from the teabaggers and assorted GOP wankers.

[babylonsister]

81. This is important; think boehner for starters. nt