Why Are The Democrats So Dysfunctionial?

Glenn Greenwald sums it all up here.

It's hard to put into words, but this is exactly why I've gotten so disengaged from the Virginia Democratic Party.  The strategy Glenn describes is all we have anymore.  Every elected Democrat is a "free agent" in the name of a "big tent" and together we stand for nothing other than "look at the freaks on the other side!"

Speaking of freaks on the other side, Democrats won a lot of elections from 2005 to 2008 thanks to George W. Bush.  Those days are over.  Democrats won't begin to win again until we stand for something that encourages people to go to the polls to vote for our candidates.

2011, 2012 and 2013 are all going to be ugly years for the Democratic Party unless someone figures this out.

Comments

[DCCyclone]

I can say only linking to Glenn Greenwald always makes a blog post a #fail

[Spock]

Greenwald rawks!

[Jack]

Democrats all believe in taking from the few and giving to the many so that the many will continue to elect them.

[Fairfax Volunteer]

Democrats held both elected branches of government and did come together to support a policy agenda they believed in. Those policies simply don't work.

Thanks to Democratic "stimulus", we're in the second "summer of recovery" - which has had no discernible benefit for our economy.

So, alas, even when you win on your principles, not all principles are equal.

The things bedeviling's today's American Left are far more the consequences of their landmark triumphs (Keynesian stimulus, the unsustainability of today's welfare state, the real economics of "green jobs", etc.) Than the lamentation of their failures (cap and trade, amnesty, single payer, etc.).

Yet leave it to the likes of every committed Leftist from the local Lowell Feld to the distant Paul Krugman to somehow imagine that if only the Left had achieved its WHOLE program rather than only part, everything would be sunshine and daisies right now in the new utopia.

Alas, for a slow but steady stream of people now seeing the results of what they perceive to be progressive success, that is not the conclusion they are drawing.

[James Young]

What Fairfax Volunteer said.

[GoGreenMiles]

Miles Grant nails it, what President Obama should propose today.

http://bluevirginia.us/diary/4539/the-package-president-obama-should-propose-today

[Not the Same Old Complaint Again]

That's the problem you have when your party truly has a "big tent." It would be a lot easier if everyone was exactly alike.

Nonetheless his point is well-taken - Democrats don't have a message. It's been written, said, face-booked, and tweeted 10 million times for over three decades.

His analysis has a kernel of truth of in it but nothing new. Yawn.

[Not Just Whining]

Here's one that will generat a ton of comments.

This blog should try to come up with a "Democratic" Party message/stance.

Ben should write the first draft and then post it for comments. Eventually you may have a platform. Sort of like a "wiki" project to create something to stand for instead of just bitching about it.

It would be fun to see where it goes. If anyone wants to "steal" this idea -go right ahead.

[novamiddleman]

You guys need a left version of Grover Norquist

At the end of the day the only two levers of power that exist are taxes and spending

So I guess it would be the pro-spending pledge... its what Democrats basically do anyway might as well make if official

[Jack]

Blue Virginia is so lame they have to ban anyone who disagrees with them, because their arguments cannot stand up to the facts.

One example is blaming the Bush Tax Cuts. The second of those, passed in 2003, reduced capital gains and dividend taxes. The result was increased revenue and decreased deficits -- until the Democrats took control of Congress. For four straight years, the deficit came down. The Democrats came in, threw all the lowest-income people out of work, and try to blame Bush for it.

[Max Shapiro]

Democrats, unlike most Republicans, actually have a vision of America that does not revolve around changing government. Their problem is that they want to use government to make it happen. They would be much better off reforming and shrinking government to the point where they could band together to accomplish it as an independent entity. I'm sure there are enough wealthy democrats and engaged activists to start a private universal healthcare business if only the government would remove the roadblocks to making it happen.

[change]

When it all boils down, the only problem with democrat’s thinking is that they want the impossible.

Sure, it would be great if we could all retire at 65 on someone else’s dime, having spent 40 years of our own income on self indulgent “necessities” like new cars, cable TV, internet cell phones, vacations, parties, etc… but that is not realistic.
Somewhere, sometime debts have to be paid.

Liberals want to send the bills for their lives of “party(ing) like it’s 1999” to the next generation; as if our children are their personal Visas. But when you throw the party you have to pay the bill; that is real life.

Those who have worked hard, made something of themselves, prepared for their futures, and forgone all the unnecessary “necessities” should not have to pay the bills for those who chose otherwise.
Those who take the risk to own a business, who employ and insure individuals create opportunities for others to follow. They should not be demonized, they should be applauded.

Who would take these risks if, in the end, they ended up at the same place as everyone else?; and if no one takes the risk we are all on the path to failure.

Every thinking person should run as far as they can from the “progressive” mantra and turn into a conservative.

[Noticed]

Gee, Ben, I thought you thrived on calling the other side freaks (and worse things). I mean, when it comes to issues, you clam up completely. Anyway, I can see the point. The alternative is for you Democrats to talk honestly about your socialist vision for America. Go ahead, make our day!

[Reason]

The mantra from the Clinton campaign is what needs to be done by both parties or things will get even worse-it's not health care, don't ask don't tell, debt ceilings, tax cuts, tax increases or anything else that's been voted on. Simply said: "It's the economy stupid." Which ever party or candidate that can create jobs and growth will win handily for the next decade and sadly, only lip service and large Wall Street profits have come from what little true dialogue there's been in the past 3 or 4 years.

[Steve Vaughan]

Ben: Thi9s point is well taken.
Fairfax Volunter and James Young: The problem was that they controlled both elected branches of government and COULD NOT come togehter on policy. Dems wrecked both the stimulus and the heatlh care bill.
The problem with Dems is that they've internalized the GOP criticism of them to the point that they are afraid to actually exercise power. Republicans, when in power, ignore the criticism and forge ahead with their agenda.

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