This Week in the Mercury

Blood, Honey, and a Trojan Horse

Film

Blood, Honey, and a Trojan Horse

Angelina Jolie Brings a Dog into the Bosnian War


Globetrotter

Books

Globetrotter

Pam Houston's Contents May Have Shifted Travels the World with Grace



  |  

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Politics Republicans Could Retake House In 2010

Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 9:55 AM

So says Andrew at Five Thirty Eight. Chickenshit Democrats will now argue that they can't be too aggressive about health insurance reform—or repealing DADT or regulating the financial industry or doing something about climate change or renewable energies or anything else—because they might lose control of the House if the do.

Hello? Democrats? Large majorities aren't just there to be used. They're there to be used up. You get your asses elected—with the help of the base—and you deliver some of that change stuff you're always talking about. You get in there and make good on the promises you made to the people who actually sent you to Washington, the promises you made to the people who voted for you and gave you money. Then you let the fucking chips fall where they may. Ramming your agenda through may cost you some seats, it's true, and losing a few seats could cost you the majority. But guess what? You can sit there on your asses and do nothing—you can cower in a corner worrying about vulnerable Dems in swing districts—and lose seats anyway. You can do nothing—you can sit there very quietly—and still lose control the House. And in the long run you're going to lose the majority eventually because no one party is power forever.

You have to use the power you have while you have it.

The point of electing Democrats to Congress isn't to keep every Democrat elected to Congress in Congress forever. It's to advance the Democratic agenda. But we're always told, once we've elected Democrats, that we can't move on the Democratic agenda—not too aggressively, not without bipartisan support, not at all—because a few Democratic members of Congress might lose their jobs. But some of your are going to lose your jobs anyway. The point is to enact the Democratic agenda while enough you have your jobs to constitute a majority, to make change while you're in control, and to hopefully lock those changes in. Then with any luck once the Republicans are back in charge—and they're going to be back in charge someday—the changes you've made will prove to be too popular to undo and will become permanent, your legacy, accomplishments that future Democratic politicians can point to and run on. (See Social Security, Medicare, Unemployment Benefits, early childhood education, etc.)

That's the whole point, that's the reason Democratic voters and donors sent you to Washington. Christ!

 

Comments (9) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
Progressives have long recognized that Republicans are evil Christo-fascist perverts. When are they going to start facing up to the fact that the Democrats are useless pussies?
Posted by Jesus Fucking Christ on September 24, 2009 at 11:08 AM · Report
2
Dan,

Be realistic. Nobody wants to lose their job. Politicians as a group especially because they are generally narcissistic, egotistical people.

It seems like you are actually complaining about democracy working. The problem isn't whether politicians are too scared of getting voted out of office, it is the lack of sophistication and education of the voters, which allows distortions and other ridiculousnesses within our political discourse. By the way, WATCH OUT OLD PEOPLE THEY ARE STEALING YOUR MEDICARE RIGHT NOW!!!!!
Posted by Around on September 24, 2009 at 11:23 AM · Report
3
You expected that they would actually do the things they promised after your vote for hope and change.
How's that government problem solving working for you?
ha.
ha ha ha.
Posted by D on September 24, 2009 at 11:42 AM · Report
4
D - we believed we would get change from Obama. And we have - witness his great (and internationally hugely well-received) speech at the UN yesterday. I don't think even the most optimistic democrat was expecting the same improvement from congress...
Posted by Stu on September 24, 2009 at 12:10 PM · Report
5
Oh, OK, a speech counts as doing something now.
Posted by D on September 24, 2009 at 12:54 PM · Report
6
Obama's speeches, in Berline, Cairo and now New York, have done more to rehabilitate America's reputation abroad than any single action ever could. That means better trade deals. And less chance of being attacked by terrorists, since they find it harder to recruit people. Compare that with a year ago when the US was detested, even among our supposed allies. You think that counts for nothing? I beg to differ.
Posted by Stu on September 24, 2009 at 1:03 PM · Report
7
Your perception of how the foreign press sees the U.S. is hardly indicative of America's reputation,

I suggest you take a trip to the Mideast and see how much the U.S. is actually "loved" now.
What trade deals have been made?
How many terror attacks happened here a year ago?
Posted by D on September 24, 2009 at 2:19 PM · Report
8
Since when did the Middle East have anything to do with anything? (except in the minds of the neocons, obviously). Trade deals get done with China and Europe, not the Middle East. And terrorists are trained at bases in Pakistan and Afghanistan, not the Middle East. If you're going to use false logic (like, conveniently forgetting that 9/11 happened when Bush was president...), at least try to apply it to the right places...
Posted by Stu on September 24, 2009 at 4:49 PM · Report
9
The Mideast has to do with people hating the U.S.

"terrorists are trained at bases in Pakistan and Afghanistan, not the Middle East"

OK, well you better tell Hamas, Hezbollah, etc.

Posted by D on September 24, 2009 at 5:46 PM · Report

Add a comment

Our Friends

Our Enemies

/images/adoftheweek.gif

ad of the day

The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.go


post an ad

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC

115 SW Ash St. Suite 600
Portland, OR 97204

Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Production Guidelines | Terms of Use