Comments on: Democrats Leading in New Poll

By: Jack Whelan

Jack Whelan — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 18:04:56 +0000

For those of you who are struggling to think of a positive way to think about Democrats, I’d suggest that you just see them as the stodgy establishment party. No need for big expectatons or for inspirational leadership. They don’t have to have new ideas; it’s enough that they represent stability and competency dating back to the 1930s. You may not like the particular Dem up for office, but the larger question is about power. I didn’t like Bill Clinton or Al Gore much, but do you honestly think that if either were president for the last six years we’d be in the fix we’re in now?

So if you’re even remotely considering voting for a Republican, here are some questions to think about: Do you really want the Republicans, whose rule has been disastrous by any standard, to continue to control all three branches of government? Do you really want the executive branch to be able to do everything it does knowing it will never be held accountable? Are you ok with the culture of corruption, with the K Street project, with the secrecy and lack of transparency, with the thuggery including event the bullying of principled conservatives as happened in the crony-capitalist inspired Medicare Prescription Bill?

You may have good reason not to like Democrats, but it’s the Repupblican culture that’s the problem in DC. Even good, principled individual Republicans are going to play ball with the Republican power structure as it is currently constitututed. Look how John McCain has had to grovel. Individuals, even good ones, are relatively powerless; that’s why you have to think about the Party and not just the individual. We don’t have that luxury now.

I don’t know, but the way I look at it, it’s all about votes that help the congress and the executive branch to go in one direction or the other, and these elections in November are not about changing direction, but about slowing the momentum toward a politics that is more about cronyism, corruption, and incompetence than about any principles those principled conservatives among you may hold. In 2000 I thought Dems/GOP, six of one, half a dozen of the other. Not any more. If you haven’t read it yet, I strongly recommend Alan Wolfe’s “Why Conservatives Can’t Govern.” Give it a try, you may not like what he has to say, but if you’re honest, I think you’ll have to admit it has a ring of the truth:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2006/0607.wolfe.html

By: DosPeros

DosPeros — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 15:10:07 +0000

I find it truly amazing, and a testiment to the vacuous nature of the Democratic party, that in terms of ideas, they have been unable to muster an coherent, intelligible (let alone “unified”) counter-position to neo-conservativism. Maybe it is because, despite the vilification of Bush from the left, the current administration has usurped modern liberalisms basic belief in big government and internationalism — albeit under the veil of some pithy marketing, “compassionate conservativism”, ext. Is the bag just completely empty, beyond hatred for Bush? If someone can point me to a Democrat who goes beyond those monumental achievements of have “common sense”, “decency”, and all the rest — actually has an underlining idea, a philosophy, a vision that is significantly different (and correct) I will vote for them. But this requires an amputation from the modern welfare state, identity politics, income redistribution, vehement secularism & the willingness to kill 3rd trimester babies. Like I said, let me know when a Democrat has a new thought, but until then I will continue to vote for the lesser of two evils, which is exactly what I did Bush/Kerry and Bush/Gore.

By: Lewis

Lewis — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 13:07:15 +0000

My only desire is to be able to vote “for someone” not “against someone”. Party affiliation doesn’t carry a lot of weight for me. I’m looking for a politician who understands the definitions of leadership, character and integrity. That’s pretty rare these days.

I’m also looking for someone who can temper idealism with realism and who has reasonably well thought out plans for dealing with all the difficult issues we face.

Quite frankly, I can’t find much of this in the modern democratic party. Lieberman comes close but he’s the one they want to kick out. I also think the democratic party is stuck in the past, the glory days of the 60’s and 70’s. I’m more than ready to move past that. I lived through it and it wasn’t all that great. It was a time when we decided to live without being very responsible and individually self-centered. Sure that part was fun but it was a dead end street. Like never maturing past the teenager mentality all your life – Party-Party-Party.

The fringe left is desperately clinging to that time. The mainstream democrats, probably because of the money, gives those folks way too much attention. I’m ready to move forward and won’t vote for people who want to live in the past.

By: Susanne Schmidt

Susanne Schmidt — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 02:16:07 +0000

I have never seen an administration so deaf to the voices or concerns of the American people. He says he could care less what the polls say, that we’ll look back on this time and feel he’s done the right thing in the long run. This president is hell bent on what he wants to do and could care less that the American people are so sick of a war that is going no where. Violence is escalating in Iraq. The rest of his party sound like puppets who just repeat Bush’s words over and over “stay the course.” I am sick to my stomach knowing I voted for Bush in the last election. I want him and the rest of his party out of office. I am without hesitation voting Democrat this time.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 23:46:53 +0000

I want to vote Democratic, but the Democrats in my conservative district are putting up a nutjob. Damn it. I don’t know what I’ll do…

By: Andrew P

Andrew P — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:50:48 +0000

I don’t put too much stock in one poll. This was NOT a district by district poll asking which congressman people will vote for. This was a general poll and is practically meaningless as far as the House is concerned. General sentiment matters more for the Senate. Read Jay Cost on RCP. It is easier to take the Senate than the House, historically speaking. He points out that the Senate always changes hands when the House does, but the reverse is not true. Others have pointed out that the overwhelming majority of close Senate races always break the same way in any given election year. I would bet on GOP retention in the House and loss of the Senate.

By: wj

wj — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 20:30:30 +0000

How glad I am that I’ve got a relatively sensible (and I’ve spent time talking with him 1-on-1, as well as reading campaign material) Democrat running. Because my incumbant Republican Congressman is not only whacked on several important issues, but seriously corrupt besides.

Like Amba says, getting common sense and integrity (independence sort of comes with that package) is critical. I hope a lot of people have the option this year.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 20:27:05 +0000

Do I want more of the same? No. Have I had enough of Republican dominated D.C? Yes. I’ll vote democrat.

By: amba

amba — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 17:34:42 +0000

I don’t support the anythings with an s on the end. If a candidate has independence, common sense, and integrity, I will support him or her regardless of party or lack thereof.

By: Alan Stewart Carl

Alan Stewart Carl — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 17:05:11 +0000

My dislike of Pelosi is not due to an overdose on Hannity and his ilk, I can assure you. My own observations of her are enough to convince me she is not the kind of leader I could routinely support.

But I don’t want this thread to be about my views–I want reader’s to discuss why or why not they support the Dems this November.

By: JP

JP — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 16:30:20 +0000

I’m so disgusted with the media’s (Hannity’s) anti-Pelosi campaign. Granted that “get Bush” isn’t much of a platform, but “You don’t want to say the words ‘Speaker Pelosi,’ do you?” on the other side isn’t either. Stop feeding that baloney.

By: wj

wj — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 16:21:54 +0000

Might be more important in the long run for the Democrats to take the Senate. If they only have one, there may be grid-lock in the Congress (which may not be all that bad in general) — unless the concept of working across the aisle for the good of the country makes a reappearance. And what passes for reasoning of some of the judicial nominees who require Senate confirmation is getting to be just too much. Don’t really want to see any more of those than is really avoidable.
All this from a conservative, life-long Republican mind you.