Letters to the Editor
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Energizing the base
Republicans know how to do it; why can't the Dems get a handle on it? We need to feel righteously pissed (wait, I already do feel that), and we need to know that our peeps in DC feel the same way and are ready to go out and fix things. I saw some cat named Ryan(?) stand up in the House yesterday & get after it (courtesy of Olbermann), but I've yet to see the big names do the same.
They've got to give us something to care about.
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Disheartening
The muteness of the leaders in the Democratic Party is disheartening.
It's even disheartening if you're a thoughtful and committed Republican. Our country benefits from debate and challenging each other. You clarify your own ideas when you're challenged by someone else. You can make better, more informed decisions.
Has the Democratic Party got some sort of Learned Helplessnness thing going on?
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I fell your pain Glenn but...
things could be worse. Bush's approval rating could be at 70%. That said I believe the Democratic Party leadership has been spotted walking a bird trail in the Berkshires, they promise to be home in time to save the day.
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Missing persons report?
That said I believe the Democratic Party leadership has been spotted walking a bird trail in the Berkshires, they promise to be home in time to save the day.
As I said on my blog, I think it might be time to issue an Amber Alert for Democrats. They have been missing for an alarmingly long period of time. I hope they're OK.
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$$$$$
A week or two ago Barack Obama, with a straight face, made his presidential wannabe appearance in Iowa and said the Democrats need a strong unified message to present to voters in the upcomming election. Is he on another planet? The election is just a few short weeks away, and he drops that priceless pearl of wisdom now?
The Democrats are silent and useless because they're begging for scraps from the same people who are dolling out the big bucks to the Republicans. Its all about money, and it always will be. Not untill we can somehow pry lose these people who go to Washington, settle in for years and years and get fat and rich off of their "service" nothing will change. The only ideas the Democrats have are one that will keep cash flowing.
Americans are disatisfied, but none of these big issues are personally impacting great numbers of people.
The war in Iraq and the possible war with Iran wont really resonate with the American people until the draft is reinstated.
The torture issue won't sink in untill grisly videos of our soldiers being "interrogated." begin to surface.
The domestic spying issue won't matter untill it impacts the publics internet use.
The Democrats had the window opportunity to exploit all of these failings and abominations brought on by the President and the Republicans. If they did their cash cows would have disappeared, and that's what really matters.
Yes there is a feeling of unease and disastisfaction running through the country. but the Democrats have left us with no other choice than "stay the course".
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I forwarded this piece
to the following:
Senators:
Reid, Durbin, Clinton, Feingold, Obama, Kerry and Boxer
Reps:
Can't email them if you aren't a constituent, have to call them. I wanted to send this to Nancy Pelosi and Hoyer (the whip).
Democratic Offices:
DNC, DSCC and DCCC
Before reading this, I had called Reid, Durbin and my senators offices asking them to stand up against this Torture compromise and to pre-empt the GOP framing them as weak on terror. I hope they heard it.
Excellent piece.
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Bleak, indeed
Greenwald has nailed it. How can anyone who passionately cares about the ethical, historical, and international standing of this country bring himself or herself to be passionate about the pulseless, voiceless, spineless - are they dead? - Democrats? Republican trickery and deceit notwithstanding, the Democratic party has contributed just as much, if not more, to its own impotence. If it weren't for the fact that real people will really suffer (and I'm not talking about weak Democrats who get their losing ass served to them on a platter), I would, too, like Greenwald, allow myself to engage in the anger-filled fantasy of this country getting what it deserves - irreparable damage at the hands of ruthless Republicans. But for the sake of all those whose lives and liberties will be the first losses in the event of continued Republican rule, I force myself to hopeful action on behalf of Democratic canditates in whom I have only a fraction of the faith and enthusiasm that I could have - if they deserved it.
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Are we this stupid?
The truly scary thing about all this is not the Democrats' abdication of their duty, but the apparent blind stupidity of millions of Americans. Are so many of us really so apathetic, frightened, ideologically brainwashed and/or simple-minded that we can be swayed to vote GOP after five-plus years of staggering ineptitude and mendacity?
The GOP has proven itself to be completely without morals or respect for this nation; their ONLY interest is perpetual power. That should be blindingly obvious to any intelligent individual. All that should be necessary for the Democrats to do to retake Congress is to produce well-dressed candidates who can fog a mirror. That it will apparently take more than that is chilling.
Perhaps the only good thing that could come out of the Dems' spinelessness and the GOP holding onto control of the government is that finally, enough Anericans might get behind a third party to give it some critical mass.
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The strategy is working.
If the Republican's have no fight on their hands, then they have some explaining to do. They need an opponent. Someone pushing back. It allows them to say to the American people it is us (the Republican party+America) vs. Them (Democrats). If there isn't an opponent, then the Republican's are hanging in the wind and they will begin to seek out opponents within their own party to curry favor with their consituents.
What if the Dems had been the first to oppose Bush on torture? Do you think McCain would have joined in? Hell no, he would have sat back and watched the fight from ringside.
Although this strategy isn't good for holding those in power accountable, it isn't bad for winning back the House and Senate. Once they are back in, then they can call the hearings and stand at the podium and be heard.