Moral of the story, Democrats need to be Democrats
Yesterdays election was a mixed bag. Two governorships, Virginia and New Jersey went to Republicans but two congressional seats went to Democrats. What does this mean?
In my state Colorado the same dynamic seems to be working our current Democratic governor, Bill Ritter, has spent most of his term cutting state services in an effort to balance the budget and vetoed some progressive legislation in an attempt to appear moderate. He will probably lose in the 2010 election, although his opponent Scott Mcginnis is a self dealing moron.
Ritter should have immediately raised taxes and restored state services. Instead he seemed to honor the pledge every Republican makes to Grover Norquist. He might have been unpopular at first, but over four years people would have seen the benefits of having a fully functioning government and he might have had a chance at re-election, now he is about to hand the state back to the party that created the mess in the first place.
Moral of the story, if you run as a Democrat act like one when you get into office.
My guess is that 2010 will not be a good year for Democratic governors but maybe the next time they are in power they will recognize that governing is about more than getting elected.
I couldn't agree more.
"They" can spin this however they want... The right is saying "We are turning the corner... the people like what we have to say... " but I don't believe it. The Repugs are polling extremely LOW...
The Blue Dogs can say "This shows that the people agree with our centrist views..." But I think it's the opposite! I think this is evidence that the people REJECT centrist policies...
When THE BASE believed in CHANGE, they (WE) were motivated to hit the streets and knock on doors... and donate money... and make phone calls...
After winning we haven't seen that Change. Actually we've seen a sprint to the middle (That's the OPPOSITE of change as far as I'm concerned).
When the BASE has been snubbed... and doesn't see the point in going all out... then it's not likely that "the voters" will be influence in favor of any Dem candidate. IMHO
November 4, 2009 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
This from KOS
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Tonight's big lesson
by kos
Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 09:32:52 PM PST
There will be much number-crunching tomorrow, but preliminary numbers (at least in Virginia) show that GOP turnout remained the same as last year, but Democratic turnout collapsed. This is a base problem, and this is what Democrats better take from tonight:
1. If you abandon Democratic principles in a bid for unnecessary "bipartisanship", you will lose votes.
2. If you water down reform in favor of Blue Dogs and their corporate benefactors, you will lose votes.
3. If you forget why you were elected -- health care, financial services, energy policy and immigration reform -- you will lose votes.
Tonight proved conclusively that we're not going to turn out just because you have a (D) next to your name, or because Obama tells us to. We'll turn out if we feel it's worth our time and effort to vote, and we'll work hard to make sure others turn out if you inspire us with bold and decisive action.
The choice is yours. Give us a reason to vote for you, or we sit home. And you aren't going to make up the margins with conservative voters. They already know exactly who they're voting for, and it ain't you.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/11/4/800316/-Tonights-big-lesson
November 4, 2009 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
For a different perspective, see
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/fredmoolten/2009/11/election-results-in-nys-23rd-d.php
November 4, 2009 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Democrats as well as independents supported President Obama in large part because Obama promised change.
Well, we Democrats need a Cheney figure. When the Democrats and the press challenged the 2001 tax cuts, Cheney was quick to point out that tax cuts should be the first order of business because it was that time for the Republicans to get their due. Instead of a Democratic Cheney telling us it's time that Democrats got their public option, we get Blue Dog lackeys for the insurance industry trying to kill health care reform.
I'm beginning to realize that I won't get the change I voted for. I'll just get chump change.
November 4, 2009 11:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Democrats as well as independents supported President Obama in large part because Obama promised change.
Well, we Democrats need a Cheney figure. When the Democrats and the press challenged the 2001 tax cuts, Cheney was quick to point out that tax cuts should be the first order of business because it was that time for the Republicans to get their due. Instead of a Democratic Cheney telling us it's time that Democrats got their public option, we get Blue Dog lackeys for the insurance industry trying to kill health care reform.
I'm beginning to realize that I won't get the change I voted for. I'll just get chump change.
November 4, 2009 11:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
State governments, whether democrat or republican lead, are screwed. There is no money. People aren't spending, have lost jobs, real estate is in the dumper and manufacturing is on life support. This leaves two crappy choices. Cut expenditures or take on debt. Stuck in the mud, no tow rope, no tow vehicle and nobody to push.
November 5, 2009 5:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
The solution is to raise taxes. It is interesting you didn't consider that alternative, nor do most of the so-called moderate Democrats. Taxes need to go up, Clinton raised taxes and it didn't destroy the economy, in fact I think even the mythical Ronald Reagan raised taxes a few times.
Borrow and spend economics seems like a failure.
November 5, 2009 8:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
You could raise taxes. However the only people with any money who could actually still get by in spite of a tax increase are loathe to take that step. It isn't practical to raise taxes on a family of four making 60K or 70K. Obama would like to raise taxes for those who can afford it. Whether he can is in doubt. Between republicans and blue dogs it may not be possible. Even though that is the numerically logical proposition.
November 5, 2009 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. It might make sense to spend more time selling the idea of raising taxes on people making $250,000 or even five-hundred. The country and many states are in desperate need of a tax increase.
All the fat ws cut out of budgets a long time ago.
November 5, 2009 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, all I can think of is:
The moral of this story
The moral of this song
Is that one should never be
Where one does not belong.
I would rather have a moderate dem in charge than a goddamn repub.
Name me one moderate repub.
THE END
November 5, 2009 5:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree the "moderate" republican is a myth at this point.
The problem is the "moderate" dem seems to want to govern like a republican and when it doesn't work repugs wind up back in office to screw more stuff up.
November 5, 2009 8:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
What Americans want more than anything is a strong, smart leader who can set a clear, sensible path toward restored prosperity and keep us moving briskly along that path. Right now our two parties are terribly flawed:
The Democrats still can't define a clear path toward anything
The Republicans have defined a clear path, but it's the same path that got us into the mess in the first place
So you can pick the party without direction or you can pick the party headed in the wrong direction. Sadly, Obama is failing at leading. He's a good talker, but he needs to state his policy goals more firmly and get the Democrats to follow him in lock step. If he can't do that, the Democrats will continue to fail to win the confidence of the American people and the Republicans will win just because they seem to have direction, even if it's the wrong direction.
November 5, 2009 7:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Democrats have an idea where they would like to go but are afraid to go there. The big mean republicans will make fun of them after all.
November 5, 2009 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink