dagblog - Comments for "Meet The Family"

Hi stilli, long time (life's

matyra — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:55:20 +0000

In reply to After reading this several

Hi stilli, long time (life's crazy right now).

I'll just chime in and say that it's not the party, it's your values. If your values align more one way, then that's the party. I'm no fan of "Democrats do or die" or "Republicans or else." Sometimes you choose your team based upon the coach and players, and not on the fact that you've been a diehard Redskins fan your whole life (changing metaphors on you).

I took a quiz today (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/page?id=11975438) that told me I use the language of a Republican--It says I'm 60% Republican! But I'm not a Republican because, whatever language I'm using, I have values that align towards another party. One that believes in science and rationality, one that believes in compassion for people and the environment, one that knows that regulation of industry, like regulation of speed limits, helps all get to their destinatition.

I think you're talking about mistakes that the Democrats have made in strategy, in leadership, in sticking to a subject, in messaging. I agree that the Dems have utterly sucked recently. But these people can be fired (I'd hoped Pelosi would move on, but oh well.) or changed. And some of these people can learn from their mistakes. I

But leadership aside, you chose the party that votes in keeping with the most of your values. And if you belong to that party that's most aligned towards your thinking, you can use your voice more effectively. There's nothing wrong with being independent either, but I like to think that I can have a voice in the Democratic Party that can help it change. If there were a viable third party, instead of no party, then there would be more options. But there isn't. Besides, if the leadership continue to be wimpy, then my letters--instead of reading "the honorable blah blah blah"--will begin with "Why you son of a bitch." But that's me. ;)

After reading this several

stillidealistic — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:24:53 +0000

In reply to Meet The Family

After reading this several times, along with the comments, I have to say that the analogy isn't working for me, lis.

If the family is the American people, there would have been some like-minded people at the table, and therefore should have felt free to make his points, knowing that nearly half the people would have his back.

It sounds to me more like the family is the republican party, which changes the dynamic. In that case, you cannot just shut up, because you need to be able to convert at least some of the moderates, and you can only do that by discussing the issues. No way can you storm off.

At risk of straying OT, what has happened to Obama, in my opinion, has happened for several reasons, some of them Obama's fault, some beyond his control.

First, the repub party was in total disarray. The "pundits" were saying that it would take 20 years for the repubs to be relevant again. They had nothing to lose by becoming the party of no. They chose to actively attempt to destroy this President as their one and only plan for America, country be damned, and in spite of the fact that many of the things he wanted to do had repub support at one time (ie, john mccain being in favor of repealing DADT, and now actively working against it.) And it worked. And the reason it worked, again, my opinion, is because he is black. (And I believe the same would have been true if it were a woman, but that's a whole 'nuther discussion.)

Second, in normal times, I believe the moderate republicans would have worked with him, just as moderate dems have worked with repub presidents. But somehow, the repub leadership was able to convince its members to hang together, no matter how bizarre their tactics became, no matter how outrageous their behavior. As much as I despise what they have done, I am in awe of their ability to present a united front.

Third, and this IS Obama's fault, he used the tactics he said he would work against to get the health care issues resolved (ie back room deals w/ big pharma) and broke a cardinal rule of negotiating by starting too far to the right. Instead of asking for the moon, the stars and most of another galaxy and settling for the moon and the stars, he asked for the moon and the stars, and got a few stars.

Fourth, Obama, AND the whole dem party, aided and abetted by the msm, allowed the repubs to win the war of words. The repubs were able to come up with a bumper sticker campaign of lies and distortions that resonated with a large portion of the un/under-informed citizens, the ones I like to call stupid people (sorry, I know that doesn't advance the discussion, but I'm just being honest here among friends.)

Now we've got a mess of epic proportions, and it is anyone's guess how it is going to shake out.

I don't know if Obama can pull it out or not. But I do know that I am becoming less and less enamored of the dem party. I have really hated the idea of becoming an independent, but I left the repub party in protest to what the repubs did by giving the world sarah, so it seems fitting to leave the dem party in protest to them being weenies. But, I'll give them awhile. If they can grow a pair, I might stay. If not, adios. If I'm going to be eunuch, I might as well do it as an independent.

And, yes, I'm depressed this morning. I might change my mind when I'm more myself. Am I going to hit send, or hit select all/delete? Let's see...

Hahahaha!

LisB — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:17:40 +0000

In reply to This is why I now bring shoes

Hahahaha!

This is why I now bring shoes

quinn esq — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:05:48 +0000

In reply to Meet The Family

This is why I now bring shoes to all family gatherings.

And Presidential press conferences.

True that, Dick. True that.

LisB — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:20:32 +0000

In reply to Families are nuts!!

True that, Dick. True that.

Families are nuts!!

Richard Day — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:36:16 +0000

In reply to Meet The Family

Families are nuts!!

If Obama's "tactics" is to

oceankat — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:32:37 +0000

In reply to Thanks, Ramona. Yes, that is

If Obama's "tactics" is to get the views of all the guests at the table, imo, he's failing miserably at that too.

The "bipartisan" deficit commission was, theoritically, nothing but discussion to get all the views on the table. If you want to get the views of everyone and you ask the republicans to join you in appointing a commission and they say NO its doesn't help to create your own. Then put a right wing republican known to hate social security and a blue dog right wing democrat in charge as co-chairs. And then tell the left a few times, in essence, to shut up. The view on the table is Bowles-Simpson. All other views are marginalized in the tactics Obama used.

You don't do that unless you're stupid, naive or you want to cut entitlements and not have a serious discussion on tax policy and defense spending. Unless Bowles-Simpson is exactly what he wanted his tactics were terrible.

You bring up some wonderful

LisB — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:18:19 +0000

In reply to art...If the result of an

You bring up some wonderful ideas about the benefits of compromise in these comments, Chuck. The main point being that you didn't have to compromise your own beliefs in the process, and usually turned these situations into win-win. You got something out of it, and the other person did too.

Agreed. It's a better

LisB — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:09:14 +0000

In reply to I think comparing politics to

Agreed. It's a better analogy. But I had my upcoming Thanksgiving dinner in mind...I'm going to be visiting with the mostly-Republican family. Luckily I'll have some Liberal nieces there, too.

Thanks, Ramona. Yes, that is

LisB — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:21:55 +0000

In reply to I'd certainly stick with my

Thanks, Ramona. Yes, that is what I was trying to get at.