It's the War, Stupid [The NYT's Frank Rich blasts Dem Party "leadership"]

The NYT ^ | Oct. 12, 2002 | Frank Rich

[summer]

LOL...but I don't think some people would laugh at that graphic!

BTW, here's a very typical exchange, from a Dem site, to illustrate the very high level of frustration some of these Dem voters are feeling as mid-term elections approach:

AlabamaYankee (589 posts)

Oct-12-02, 08:44 PM (ET)

My response to a Dem fund raising letter

I just sent bcak the return form for the latest Democratic National Committee fund raising effort with the following note: (I also e-mailed it directly to the DNC)

NOT ONE DIME!!

If I want to give money to a party that supports Mr. Bush I’ll give it to the Republicans. And I’ll cut off my hand before I do anything that foolish.

The Democratic Party is, as far as I can see, a leaderless travesty of a political organization. Mr. Gephardt sneaks off to the Rose Garden without consulting his fellow house members to cheerfully be Mr. Bush’s lap dog. Senator Daschle bluffs and blusters but then meekly salutes and says “Yes, Sir!” to the appointed pResident. There seems to be no agenda, no policies to advocate that would help the economy, the environment, or stop the rape of the Constitution. There’s no BACKBONE!...

I Said Pretty Much The Same Thing In My Reply

Don_G

Oct-12-02 1

Excellent Idea!

[summer]

when they write about Democratic disarray it should be taken seriously. Since they always hope for Democratic victory complaints like this reflect genuine fear that the party is in serious trouble.

I agree with you, jalisco555. (Plus, it seems whenever Babs Streisand starts sending emails hounding the Dem Party leadership, that is also a sure sign things are not going too well.)

It's too bad they are so screwed up because there's never a shortage of problems to solve - yet they seem to have become "The Party of No Ideas." Who would want to vote for that???!

Thanks for your post, and glad you enjoyed the read. :)

[summer]

Thanks for the bump. :)

[summer]

I never heard that before - thanks for posting, LS.

[summer]

Frank Rich is right - this is not the frivolous '90s anymore. The terror attacks on 9/11 were a wake up call for Americans who know that they cannot afford to take chances with the lame leadership of the Dems.

I think a lot of swing voters would agree with your observation here, citizenK.

[esopman]

"If we (pubbies) increase our hold in the House and regain the Senate, the Rats are going to "retire" en masse for 2004. President Bush's coattails floods the House and Senate with fresh blood, and a near insurmountable margin in Congress"

From your keyboard to God's modem. Blessings on Freepers Everywhere.

[esopman]

"You cannot get good fruit from a bad tree, and therefore I'm convinced the Dems can NEVER bear good fruit."

Amen Bump.

[summer]

caltrop, here's a question for you to perhaps ponder, and I say this seriously and politely: Why do you think education became such a big political issue?

Here's my answer to that education: Because for 8 long years under Clinton, the Dem Party leadership on all levels did NOTHING on this issue, just as they did nothing on health care issues, etc.

All these traditional "Dem issues" remained on the table because the Dem leadership proved to be so ineffective in dealing with these matters.

I realize not everyone, including you, agrees with everything GW has done on education, but the fact remains: he did something to address a serious problem in this country.

By contrast, it seems to me the Dems, when in power, do not get a whole lot done. That's the bottom line. If they had gotten anything done, if student achievement had increased, if anything positive had happened, then, education would not have been the huge political issue it became.

So, you can't blame it all on GW. Or on Gov Bush here in FL. These major political issues, as well as a long list of others, are matters they are dealing with head-on, and that is a whole more than I can say for the Dem Party leadership.

[summer]

RE your post #32- I think you're right.

[jackbill]

I love the smell of DemocRATs eating their own. Morning, noon and night.

[summer]

I think it will be a big surprise, but I sense it will happen, as there's so much frustration happening on the Dem grassroots level.

[aristeides]

I think Frank Rich is reflecting the pique of his employers -- Howell Raines and Pinch Sulzberger. After they went out on a limb by so vociferously opposing war on Iraq, the Dems have not followed them. So Raines and Sulzberger are now out there by themselves. And they don't like it.

[summer]

Yes, I see many people here appreciate such news. LOL... :)

[summer]

Hmm...an interesting angle to consider. Thanks for your post, aristeides.

[summer]

I meant: Here's my answer to that question:

[summer]

LOL....thanks for that bump.

[PogySailor]

"Our problem is the Democrats whine and whine. Everybody knows what the trouble is. The question is, `What's the solution?' "

The same solution the Democrats have ALWAYS had: Raise taxes. That's why they can't contribute real ideas to the debate on any subject. They always end up taking more money from citizens. And exacerbating the original problem!

Look at McBride. The ONLY they you can really say he's for is a $.50 tax hike on cigarettes to spend on smaller class sizes. All his other positions are fuzzy

[summer]

Yes, you're right -- and, as Mike Thomas of the Orlando Sentinel pointed out: that cigarette is essentially a tax on poor people. Thomas suggested that McMumble instead tax his corporate law clients to raise more money for FL. I am still waiting for McMumble to eagerly embrace that idea! :)

[summer]

that cigarette = that cigarette tax is essentially a tax...

[summer]

I thought you might enjoy this article (and no, you are not on a ping list).