dagblog - Comments for "What's the Matter with Delaware? What Christine O'Donnell's Victory Means for America's Future"

My point exactly. But jeez,

acanuck — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:00:50 +0000

My point exactly. But jeez, stop writing "the Democrat Party." If you're a left-of-center Dem you should find that Republican-generated slur offensive. It's even crept into use up here, where papers and pundits sometimes call the opposition New Democratic Party the New Democrat Party.

exactly.

anna am — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:48:30 +0000

In reply to I guess another worry is that

exactly.

"It will be fun to watch and

anna am — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:31:24 +0000

In reply to I think those we see as

"It will be fun to watch and see what gets compromised to placate those tea-baggers."

Fun or painful. But you're dead right, and if the Republicans don't properly acquiesce, there's America's (shudder) first viable third party. Quick cooking too, just boil and stir. And New York's now officially planted its imprimatur. I think, with Paladino in, Genghis's what's the matter with New York question should be revived.

He won't beat Cuomo (I hope that doesn't wind up to be famous last words), but downstaters tend to forget that upstate is a whole different animal, and, he's going to get a lot of time at the bullhorn, winning hearts and minds.

So the syndrome spreads. Perhaps it has to reach critical mass before there's a pullback. But till then the question remains as to just why progressive causes can't produce this kind of groundswell. Fancy financing aside, I keep scratching me head on that one. Why?

So as the moderate

Beetlejuice — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:01:23 +0000

In reply to Here's another argument for

So as the moderate Conservatives are kicked, pushed and shoved out of the GOP by the tea-baggers and their ilk, they move to the Progessive party which will open the door for more right leaning Democrats to pander for their approval which in turn moves the Democrat Party to the conservative political spectrum once held by the GOP before the hostile takeover. So that leaves us left of center, center left and lefty Democrats out in the cold without a Party. Instead of the GOP having to recreate itsel anew, they just pressgang the Democrat Party and make those of us in the party either submit to their political ideology or walk the plank. Who would have thought the demise of the GOP as we knew it would shift the Democrat party so far to the right it would become the new GOP and start the unravelling the essence of what it meant to be a Democrat.

Here's another argument for

acanuck — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 05:53:57 +0000

In reply to What's the Matter with Delaware? What Christine O'Donnell's Victory Means for America's Future

Here's another argument for why growth of the tea party is bad news for Democrats: As what now passes for "moderate" Republicans are driven from the GOP, they will swell the ranks of independents who vote Democratic. But not because they are dumping their small-C conservative views. As they become a bigger part of the the mix Democratic nominees need to appeal to, candidates' stances will inexorably skew further right. Conservadems may be the first to suffer this November, but like unwanted chest and leg hair they'll be back in even greater profusion next election cycle. As the crazies complete their takeover of the Republican brand, old-style Republicans will play a bigger and bigger role in shaping the Democratic one.

double?

Jamie Friedland — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 03:54:18 +0000

In reply to What's the Matter with Delaware? What Christine O'Donnell's Victory Means for America's Future

double?

I can't tell whether this is

Jamie Friedland — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 03:53:29 +0000

In reply to What's the Matter with Delaware? What Christine O'Donnell's Victory Means for America's Future

I can't tell whether this is a surge of crazy or a surge of existing crazy being motivated to vote. Neither is ideal, but the latter is probably better than the former.

I guess another worry is that

Michael Maiello — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:46:09 +0000

In reply to What's the Matter with Delaware? What Christine O'Donnell's Victory Means for America's Future

I guess another worry is that these people running for office now are winning instant celebrity for themselves. They don't have to win office to be dangerous. Indeed, Sarah Palin is a lot more dangerous out of office, with millions of dollars and free media access.

I think those we see as

Beetlejuice — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 19:24:12 +0000

In reply to What's the Matter with Delaware? What Christine O'Donnell's Victory Means for America's Future

I think those we see as tea-baggers and birthers are a large part of the core republicans have relied upon to sweep them into office. Of course, the pot was always sweetened to the taste of whatever fringe group being placated. Unfortunately for the republicans, the fringe began to get restless once they knew the republicans had the power to push thru their agendas. By 2006 and the end of republican reign in Congress, they realized all their faith in the GOP was for nothing. So began the exodus creating splinter groups of like-minded conservatives hell-bent on making sure their agendas got center stage this time around. Interesting to note, none of the splinter groups have anything in common with Democrats and I suspect Progressives...they're strictly hard-core conservative republicans with a single agenda they want made into law. Now we come to this election cycle.

It is interesting to see so many fringe elements for the republican party wrapped up in myths of what they perceive to be the truth. And that they never understood about simple politics that if you don't cross all your T's, both large and small, and dot your all your little i's and j's too, there will be ample legal wiggle room to make legislation ineffective. In short, politics isn't for the lazy or those looking for a quick fix. It's a time consuming and thought provoking exercise in thinking up all the what if scenarios and determining the exact words to nullify any attempt to reinterpret the intent of the legislation. But many tea-bagger readily claim they had considerable trouble, if not out right failure, to grasped those concepts in their high school civics and government courses. But they have the power of the lever at the ballot box.

This whole tea-bagger movement is based on the failure of the GOP in manipulating political perception of their base for political leverage to gain control over Congress...the base finally realized their political ignorance was being taken advantaged of. So this is nothing more than a strike back. And it's hard enough to shake the GOP at its' roots. That's why the head honcho's are scrambling over each other to placate those tea-bagger that have ousted their select candidates in GOP primaries.

I suspect the GOP will expect the newly elected tea-baggers to caucus with them, thus giving them a majority to take back control, however, those tea-baggers are going to expect their agendas become part of the legal record...something the GOP has resisted doing.

It will be fun to watch and see what gets compromised to placate those tea-baggers.

You've put into words what

Donal — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:19:47 +0000

In reply to What's the Matter with Delaware? What Christine O'Donnell's Victory Means for America's Future

You've put into words what has been bugging me every time I read that a win for the Tea Party candidate is good for Dems.