Mass. Senate loss could be blessing in disguise

[Thunder]

Yes, we lost a very traditionally Democratic seat.

but....we only lost one seat. and we still are greatly in the majority in the House and the Senate.

this...could be a great opportunity. to moderate our views, listen to the American people, and adapt.

Adapt so that our losses in 2010 are miniscule..or perhaps even non-existent.

I have to admit, we have been trying to run this country as if the Great Recession did not happen. That was probably a mistake. We should have paid more attention to the calls for avoiding more extreme deficit spending.

But now, we can do just that. We can tone down the need for major changes. We can pull back some of our goals. We can show the American people that we can listen, learn, and adapt to the new realities on the ground.

This defeat..may end up being what keeps us in power through 2013.

[Peephole]

"Moderate our views." What does this mean? Shift even further to the right?

Why is staying in power more important than passing solid legislation?

Also, you do realize that with a bigger stimulus plan, the U.S. economy, and eventually the U.S. budget would be doing better?

[thaiboxerken]

"Moderating our views" is what's making the current administration and 2 houses stagnant. For the "change" that Obama wants, he's going to have to be a bit more Bush-like in his approach and whip those Democats into shape so he can herd them.

[Thunder]

"Moderate our views." What does this mean? Shift even further to the right?


it simply means slightly altering and reducing our goals.

...for the time being. once the economy starts roaring again..then we can start pushing for the big changes that take big risks.

[fuelair]

it simply means slightly altering and reducing our goals.

...for the time being. once the economy starts roaring again..then we can start pushing for the big changes that take big risks.

Hard to win with a large population that still votes on baby kissing and "a guy I'd have as beer at the bar with". That's fine for fixing the plumbing, teaching the kids, fixing the car... Not so much for running the country.
Though finding out she was involved in one of the created false memory things meant I could have not voted for either of them.:mad::mad:

[geni]

Thats not how politics works.

If you want political positives:

1)The dems can now drop the mess that the healthcare bill had become and blame the failure to do anything on obstructionist republicans.

2)In fact that will just about cover any inaction for the next few years

3)Joe Lieberman becomes less valuable thus removing his comitte chairmanships becomes an option

4)reduces the issues with the left wing splitting off since the republicans can clearly be represented as a threat

5)Tea party mob now have someone in power to become disincarnated with.

[Magyar]

Yes, we lost a very traditionally Democratic seat.

this...could be a great opportunity. to moderate our views, listen to the American people, and adapt.



The trouble with this idea is as Peephole pointed out. We're already more right than ANY other 1st world and even some 2nd world countries when it comes to social services and benefits. And the right - they see us as COMMUNIST for f*8 sakes and talk about going to the bullet box if they can't win with their ballot box to go FURTHER right then most of the right already IS.


You're compromise IMHO is kind of like bargaining with a rapist to get it up the but so you don't get pregnant. May avoid that pit fall but your still getting F8ked

[ZenFountain]

For the "change" that Obama wants, he's going to have to be a bit more Bush-like in his approach and whip those Democats into shape so he can herd them.

It's worth noting that aside from the tax cuts, which were pass via reconciliation, legislative "achievements" circa 2000-2006 were passed with Democratic support. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002, Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003...all passed with fairly significant Democratic support. Attempts at Social Security reform failed because Democrats stood firmly against it and immigration reform failed because Republicans were not firmly behind it.

Point is, the vaunted Republican congress didn't accomplish anything without scaring people (PATRIOT act, Iraq resolution) or going the feel good and politically acceptable boondoggle route (no child left behind, medicare part D). Since Democrats don't scare anyone their only choice is the boondoggle route, which is exactly what we have with the current health care bill =/

[AlBell]

... Since Democrats don't scare anyone ....
Some would say they scare the hell out of too many voters.

[Redtail]

Refresh my memory, did the Dems ever run any ads and/or hold a press conference, state of the union address, pointing to the numbers that showed many "1st world" countries payed less for and got as good or better health care than America did? I ask because I was against universal health care until someone showed me the numbers.

[Dragoonster]

"Moderating our views" is what's making the current administration and 2 houses stagnant. For the "change" that Obama wants, he's going to have to be a bit more Bush-like in his approach and whip those Democats into shape so he can herd them.

Absolutely. It's bizarre how much the GOP gets done every time they have a simple majority, and even with a quasi-super majority the Democrats get almost nothing substantial done. There seems to be absolutely no leadership among the Dems. Not in the DNC, not Obama, not Pelosi or Reid. They're all either bucking for their own reelections or have different visions of what to do. This Democratic caucus is the most incompetent of any party in my memory. Losing that seat doesn't matter at all--the Dems would be a minority party in practice if not numbers even with 99 members in the Senate.

[Peephole]

it simply means slightly altering and reducing our goals.

...for the time being. once the economy starts roaring again..then we can start pushing for the big changes that take big risks.
No, the best time to pass stuff is when you have the largest majority. With Obama in his first term and the bad economic and political environment, Democrats were very likely going to lose seats anyway (at least in the House). So it's ridiculous to try not to pass anything. Anything that you try to pass in a couple of years will be weaker than that which can be passed today.

Also, note that actually very little has been passed. So Democrats are in a way already adhering to your strategy. Good job, Parky!
"Moderating our views" is what's making the current administration and 2 houses stagnant. For the "change" that Obama wants, he's going to have to be a bit more Bush-like in his approach and whip those Democats into shape so he can herd them.
I agree with this, but on the actual policy level (at least in something like health care) I don't think much more can be done. But Obama definitely has to learn how to lead his party and put out half a decent message.

And then I'm not even talking about winning elections, which would be very hard this year whatever the strategy, but just creating an environment in which they can pass much needed, landmark legislation.

[rwguinn]

Refresh my memory, did the Dems ever run any ads and/or hold a press conference, state of the union address, pointing to the numbers that showed many "1st world" countries payed less for and got as good or better health care than America did? I ask because I was against universal health care until someone showed me the numbers.
Don't think they have--but if they did, they'd also have to show how its paid for, and those tax rates make the 15% of gross that I pay totally look good

[Gaetan]

The loss of Massachuset is not a surprise as american peoples are stuffed head of right wing propaganda since Obama is elected. What Obama should do is a law to put the capitalist medias at their place, like Chavez did in his country. The spiritual father of right wing is the devil as they don't share with poors, the are dying to be elected to reduce income tax of rich.

Gaétan

[fuelair]

The loss of Massachuset is not a surprise as american peoples are stuffed head of right wing propaganda since Obama is elected. What Obama should do is a law to put the capitalist medias at their place like Chavez did in his country. The spiritual father of right wing is the devil as they don't share with poors, the are dying to be elected to reduce income tax of rich.

Gaétan

It's an amateurish try at Pillory but needs a lot of practice. Too long, not enough breaks. Altogether not nearly as interesting or informative.

The original is in no danger of losing the crown here!!*



Not even potatos for the FSM's sake!:jaw-dropp

[Uzzy]

Moderate your views? Seriously? Do the liberals in America lack anything resembling a spine? Maybe if you guys had the courage of your convictions and stood up to those scary Republicans, Health Care Reform with a public option would have already passed.

Utterly pathetic. Maybe they should just roll over and tell Steele to propose anything he wants, as they'll probably have to pass it. I mean, the Democrats only have an EIGHTEEN seat majority, and they can't pass anything. Republicans can have a two seat majority and they can go to war.

Seriously. Man up.

[Brainster]

Moderate your views? Seriously? Do the liberals in America lack anything resembling a spine? Maybe if you guys had the courage of your convictions and stood up to those scary Republicans, Health Care Reform with a public option would have already passed.

Utterly pathetic. Maybe they should just roll over and tell Steele to propose anything he wants, as they'll probably have to pass it. I mean, the Democrats only have an EIGHTEEN seat majority, and they can't pass anything. Republicans can have a two seat majority and they can go to war.

Seriously. Man up.

This is the problem with a party of victims. :D

[FarmallMTA]

"Moderate our views." What does this mean? Shift even further to the right?

Why is staying in power more important than passing solid legislation?

Also, you do realize that with a bigger stimulus plan, the U.S. economy, and eventually the U.S. budget would be doing better?


LOL. This alien being is a scream.

So if f $1.9T deficit increase will improve the economy, why not go for $19T or $190T or $1900T and really make us all wealthy beyond our imagination? Heck, put the printing presses on meth and say no limits to the deficit? We'd be in Utopia then.

Keep telling what you really think, you nazi/commie statists. You're talking yourselves right into oblivion, starting with "Ted Kennedy's" Senate seat, the one old Joe K bought fair and square. The one the country just rightfully repossessed.

Bwahahahahahaah!

[daenku32]

The blue dogs and along with the willing Obama have been setting almost right-leaning moderation in DC. I think I've seen our Republican Senator Dick Lugar support more measures than our Blue Dog Senator Evan Bayh. Even the rape amendment introduced by Al Franken ran into opposition from these right-leaning "centrists". It's time for the left of the Party to put up a campaign to put up or shut up. Either you want reform or you will sit on your hands. There is no shortage of important changes to push through that are going to ring well enough with the people if they just make they case louder.

[King of the Americas]

"Moderating our views" is what's making the current administration and 2 houses stagnant. For the "change" that Obama wants, he's going to have to be a bit more Bush-like in his approach and whip those Democats into shape so he can herd them.

HEAR HEAR!!!

Democrats are suffering from E.D.

We HAD control of all 3 branches, and could still shake no fruit forth...

We don't deserve the role in Leadership, if we can offer none.