Is there too much civility in the Democratic Party?

[kentuck]

Was Bill Maher correct when he said that when the Repubs talk about "common ground", they are talking about the ground they are presently standing on? They never give an inch on anything?

All this talk about civility is coming from the Democratic Party, not the Republican Party.

Is it the right thing to do?

Because when you give up ground to a bully, they are never satisfied. They always are looking for more.

As Bill Maher said, it is the Republicans that are never willing to compromise an inch on guns and magazines and automatic weapons. Wouldn't it be the patriotic thing to offer healthcare to all our people? Isn't it the Repubs that defend the oil companies and Big Business, generally speaking? Wasn't it the Republicans that doubled our debt and drove our economy into the ditch under George W Bush? Isn't it the Republican Party that refuses to raise taxes on anyone, ever, no matter how much it may be needed? Rather than being all "civil" about it, shouldn't the Democrats be just as up front about it as Bill Maher?

Or is that too "uncivil"?

[snot]

1. Maybe. The main thing is, there's not enough p.r. skills

in the service of GENUINE liberalism.

[ClassWarrior]

2. True dat. The Rape-Publicans need to be more civil and we could stand to be less.

:shrug:

Just sayin.

NGU.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Civility? No. Rationalizations, excuses, triangulation, lies, sell-outs? Yes.

[bobbolink]

4. Towards the wealthy and powerful? Defnitely. Towards those at the bottom of the ladder? HAH!

"Fucking retards". Yup, some civility towards his (former?) supporters.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Aw for crying out loud, NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN!!!!! Actually I find the civility

here much needed and appropriate. Sorry for the make believe uncivil response... ;)

[kentuck]

6. I started to say..

such an uncivil response for such a self-avowed civil person... Thanks.

[cali]

7. No. Since when does civility=weak?

[Paladin]

12. Since The Right-Wingers Took Politics Into The Gutter.

The Repukes count on Democrats to adhere to a bunch of outdated rules of civility, and when we do, we get our asses served to us on a platter. Over and over and over again. In some respects, life never evolves beyond a 5th-grade school yard level: bullies prey on those they perceive to be weak, until the weaklings fight back. It's regrettable, but that's exactly how things are. I'm sick to death of this situation, and I want to be part of changing it, with as much force as is necessary.....

[Liberal Insights]

19. Why not push for "More Partisanship Please.org"

Unfortunately in this age of 144 character limits, it's taken me a whole web site
to make the case, but what if what the country needs is MorePartisanshipPlease.org ?

[Raine]

23. EXACTLY. It can be the opposite being civil can

show strength. It's a good way to push your own prospective without going ape-shit and rude (that's when you look weak and out of control).

[Catherina]

8. It's not civility that's that problem. The problem is complicity. n/t

[Capitalocracy]

14. Fully agree. Let's not conflate the two.

We can be civil, but be strong and stand our ground and tell the truth. If the truth is that the other side is a bunch of fascists, the civil thing is to say so. Nicely.

[Enrique]

9. The Simpsons nailed it in 1996

http://www.snpp.com/episodes/4F02.html


George: Uh, Mr. President, Sir. People are becoming a bit... confused by the way your and your opponent are, well, constantly holding hands.

Kang: We are merely exchanging long protein strings. If you can think of a simpler way, I'd like to hear it.

[kentuck]

10. OK! What a**hole unrecced my post?!

:-)

[progressoid]

16. I fixed it...

:)

[TheKentuckian]

11. Too mealy mouthed or too complicit would be my bigger concerns.

Using "civility" as a tool to silence by playing the false equivalency game is a problem but that falls into one of the first two camps well.

[OHdem10]

13. I had to chuckle to myself when it was reported yesterday that

Biden (in a speech at the Democratic Retreat) had
ask them to tone it down. Telling the Wussies to
to tone it down.

[purrFect]

15. more like 'good cop' vs 'bad cop'

imho

[Major Hogwash]

17. Perhaps.

But, if the Democrats tell the American people just how screwed we are in this country because so many of THEM are retarded and keep voting for Republicans, then the Democrats are told they are too mean.

When Republicans vote against their own best interests for 25 years, there is no way for Democrats to make a better pitch to those inbreds to win their votes.

[OHdem10]

18. I understand your points, but I would add this one point.

When has anyone heard any Democrat go on TV and make
a serious case for Democratic Party Principles, prove
to them that we do believe in something and illustrate
how the Democratic Party is better for the Working Class.

All I hear is, we will cut taxes too. we are pro gun too.

In other words they wait to see what the Republicans are promoting
and either affirm the Republicans or in some cases try to push
back against them.

[uppityperson]

20. Fuck no. eom

[Danger Mouse]

21. Being 'civil' and 'smart' and 'disgnified' just gets our asses kicked.

[Raine]

22. No, they hide behind civility and use that as an excuse

to be weak and it's not the same. :mad:

[EstimatedProphet]

24. I tend to agree

and you mentioned the key word: "bully".

We need desperately to wake up to the fact that the extreme right is at its core, bullies. Compromise isn't going to work, because, being bullies, they the look at any outcome where they get what they want as weakness on the opponent's side, and think it means they should push that much harder. You cannot placate a bully, because they will use it to push you around that much more. The only thing that works is to hit them back harder. Until we figure that out on the left, we are going to keep getting shoved into a corner.