Why wasn't there a concerted call for Repubicans to move to the center after 2008?

[ProSense]

Democrats should hold their ground

By E.J. Dionne Jr.

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.

<...>

Mainstream commentary typically bends to the more audacious side. As a result, there was far less middle-of-the-road advice in 2008 urging Republicans to move to the center than there were warnings to Obama not to read too much into his victory. The United States, we were told, was still a "center-right" country. The actual election result didn't seem to matter back then.

Funny that when progressives win, they are told to moderate their hopes, but when conservatives win, progressives are told to retreat.

more

[SKKY]

1. Um, because Republicans aren't whimps...

...their policies suck, but you have to give it to them. They don't fold like a house of cards like the Democrats do.

[treestar]

13. Go join their party then

Since their stubbornness is so attractive to you.

[SKKY]

23. No, I'll just keep supporting Dems who aren't whimps...

..eventually, we'll get through.

[whathehell]

2. Because, by and large, the corporate media is "in the tank" for the corporate party?

Just a guess.

[Lasher]

3. Because they didn't tell their news media to say it.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. IMO, republicans aren't thinking politically as much as dutifully obeying

their benefactors/masters. Someone give me any legislation or policy that has been contrary to corporations, the religious right, and/or richest 2%.

[sweetapogee]

5. why?

dems have a complete majority status in both houses. HCR was passed without the need for a single puke vote.

[democrat_patriot]

6. There was, they ignored it.

[dkf]

7. They lucked out that we were incompetent job creators.

We gave it to them. They didn't win anything.

[ProSense]

8. The President

created more jobs this year than in Bush's entire Presidency.

Perception on jobs is one thing, but that relates to 2010.

It doesn't explain why the media didn't make a lot of noise demanding Republicans moving to the center in 2008.

[dkf]

9. Tell that to people who have been out of work for over 99 months.

There are still ridiculous amounts of applicants for each available job.

[ProSense]

10. What does that have to do with the OP

and the media reaction to 2008?

Seriously, what?

[dkf]

11. The Republicans didn't have to move anywhere to win. We gave it up.

They relied on our failure.

[treestar]

14. Yet they were the job destroyers just two years ago

[treestar]

12. Because the M$M carries Republican water

It is so obviously biased.

[avaistheone1]

15. The media is owned by huge corporations who frame news and opinions in their own interests.

That is why the Republicans where not instructed to move to center after 2008.

[frylock]

16. why would they do that when the dems are more than happy to track right?

[MissDeeds]

17. Yep

From the get-go it was all about reaching across the aisle and 'building consensus' with Republicans. Screw the base, let's make nice with the folks who did so much to improve the standing of the US during the Bush years.

:sarcasm:

[craigmatic]

18. Probably because the media only wants to tell democrats what to do

while they accept the repig narrative

[StarsInHerHair]

19. there should have been

*

[opihimoimoi]

20. TRUTH is required when moving to Center....GOPers canardly

[Kaleva]

21. The Eisenhower Repubs have been run out of the party long ago.

[quaker bill]

22. Because it is normal

after a loss to say "we lost because we weren't true to our principles". There is plenty of this going on here. A different narritive accompanies victory. He is correct mushy compromise is not a path toward a return to power. It is past time to pick a few issues and make some stands.

If the repugs intend to shut government down, we should make them follow through.