Democrats Are Lost In The Shuffle While GOP Holds All The Cards (They're On The Run Alert)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 04/04/05 | Ronald Brownstein

[goldstategop]

From Social Security, to intervention in the sad case of Terri Schiavo, to the appointment of conservative federal judges, every major debate positions the parties in the same way: Republicans are on offense, Democrats on defense.

The debate on the federal budget isn't about whether to raise taxes to reduce the deficit, it's over how much more to cut taxes. Washington isn't examining how to expand coverage for those without health insurance, but whether to cut the Medicaid program that provides the central strand in our society's safety net.

Democrats are furiously laboring to prevent Bush from carving out private investment accounts from Social Security, but even if they succeed — which increasingly appears likely — they only will have preserved the status quo. Because Republicans embraced the cause of Schiavo's parents, her case commanded public attention for weeks, while hardly anyone suggested the mass school shooting in Red Lake, Minn., deserved a policy response.

[goldstategop]

Liberal Ronald Brownstein wrote a depressing article today. The Democrats are on the run! Can't believe this appeared in the Los Angeles Times. We do hold all the cards. And the minority party finds itself caught between a rock and a hard place. BWAHAHAHA!!!

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[RockinRye]

Conversely, Democratic thinkers like veteran pollster Stanley B. Greenberg believe Republicans are planting the seeds for a voter backlash by overreaching.

Hang on...how can anyone trust a pollster if he's also a party thinker?

[goldstategop]

"Thinkers"?? ROFL. See, the problem is no one knows what the Democrats stand for. Don't believe me; believe a liberal! This will help y'all understand where the American people sees our opposition party today:

"The most immediate political danger is that Republicans can portray Democrats as obstructionists, a dangerous label in the "red" Bush states. The larger problem is that the Democrats' inability to sustain attention on their ideas encourages a public sense that they have none. In the latest poll from Democracy Corps, a project of leading Democratic consultants, Republicans held a crushing 30-percentage-point advantage when voters were asked which party knows what it stands for."

Yep - they have no ideas, just tired old playbook rhetoric. Name me one idea the Democrats have that has gotten them favorable attention. All they can do is say NO and twist slowly in the wind.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Bahbah]

As a party, they have had few opportunities to explain what they are for, only what they are against.

They are FOR a socialist nanny state and are against anything that the President proposes or does. They just can't get over not being in power. It is a pitiful sight to see.

[ThirstyMan]

Hang on...how can anyone trust a pollster if he's also a party thinker?

Ha ha!
And you point out another problem with the Dums, they're shamelessly and narrowly perceived as partisan obstructionists...which they ARE!

[goldstategop]

The other side is still nursing an election hangover. They haven't even been able to capitalize on legacy media doctored polls that show skidding ratings for the President and Congress. America's political reality is more like this:

On almost every major question in Washington today, the choice isn't whether to move in a Republican or Democratic direction, but how far in a Republican direction to move.

This is the grim reality of political life for Democrats at a time when the GOP controls the White House and both chambers of Congress.

There's NO reason to be afraid of the Democrats any more. They can no longer set the agenda, even with an assist from their erstwhile media friends. Let's learn to revel in power to change the country. Conservatives need to charge just like Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders' did on San Juan Hill. Victory is ours if we dare to seize it!

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[CurlyDave]

Politicians are usually most successful when they can contrast themselves with an opponent...The danger for the GOP is that the political dialogue is being structured less as a choice between Republican and Democratic ideas than as a referendum on Republican ideas alone.

I think we are doing marvelously at contrasting the sound, dynamic ideas put forth by the President with the obstructionism of the left.

Already Iraq is looking more & more like a success.

Privatization of SS is much more popular than the RATs would have you believe, and the reality is that public opinion is less important than Congressional action on this one.

Do not misunderestimate the president.

[goldstategop]

The Democrats have consistently underestimated this President. He's not running for re-election and doesn't have to worry about the polls. I think it'll be a very good year for him when its all over.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Tall_Texan]

Think the GOP will ever figure out they run the country? Or are they still scared of what the Democrats and the MSM will say about them?

[goldstategop]

I do think there's still some fear since while Washington is a GOP town, the major networks and newspapers are still run by liberals. And its in the nature of politicians to want to be liked.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[CyberAnt]

The only voter backlash is going to be against the democrats for their "culture of death" - which is NON EXISTANT - with 79% believing it was wrong to with hold water and food from Terri, or any disabled person.

THE DEMS HAVE ALREADY LOST THE ISSUE - AND THEIR PHONEY POLLS DIDN'T HELP THEM - INSTEAD THE PUBLIC IS EVEN MADDER.

I don't know who's advising the dems - but it's horrible advice.

[jagrmeister]

Brownstein's excuse that Democrats have no avenue for their "idea" is implausible. The mainstream media has gone out of their way to give them a bully pulpit unheard of for the minority party- often the weekly Democratic address gets higher billing than the President's address. The Democrats have the MSM; but they don't have the ideas to put across. They have nothing new to say. Tax and spend is an old philosophy that doesn't sell in America anymore; you can only bang that drum so long. Occassionaly, the Progressive Policy Institute, think-tank for the DNC, has an idea or two that I find remotely interesting. But for the most part, the Democrat Party is the defender of the status quo, hardly living up to the moniker of progressive.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

The modern Democratic/Liberal party of America has been built out of a house of cards on the foundation of sinking sand in a CAT - 5 hurricane.
What we are witnessing is a full blow " CRITICAL MASS " implosion of the Dems/Libs ideology and foundation.
And at this point in their critical mass implosion, they by their own hand is contributing to their own implosion and demise.
The more they yell and holler, spew out their hatred and illogical rhetoric, the more and more the public ignores them.
If they do come up with ( supposedly new ideas ) it is stolen from the Conservatives and repackaged and thrown out to the public as their " NEW IDEAS " .
The one thing we need to look out for and watch our for and be very discerning about the left, is them " MORPHING " into Conservatives or morphing into C.I.N.O ( either Conservatives in name only, or Christians in name only ).

[Coldwater Creek]

Basically it is just the chickens coming home to roost.

I also believe that God is giving this country one more chance to return to its roots. It is lonely being a liberal these days.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

" There's NO reason to be afraid of the Democrats anymore "
Yes, that maybe true to some extent, however, we still need to keep our guard up, and remain on the offensive.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Must be the same person who advised John Kerry's presidential champaign.
We just hope that, that person ( who ever it is ) keeps their job, it's good for us.

[Nephi]

while hardly anyone suggested the mass school shooting in Red Lake, Minn., deserved a policy response.

It does, though. The security guard who died, could've prevented most of the deaths had he been armed.

[goldstategop]

Who's stupid idea was it to declare schools a gun free zone? No wonder Brownstein won't answer that question much less than raise it. We can't reconsider politically correct policy towards school shootings.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Optimom]

CyberAnt, the 79 percent you mentioned is the first I have seen. Please say where that number comes from so I can pass it along at the water cooler. Heartening news.

[Bahbah]

Conservatives need to charge just like Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders' did on San Juan Hill. Victory is ours if we dare to seize it!

YESSSS! Wonder image, btw.