Vice President Biden noted yesterday that he hoped that the Tea Party might finally get Democratic and liberal votes out of their “lethargy.” The comment struck a nerve with me since various Democratic leaders have expressed surprise and mild criticism over the lack of enthusiasm by Democratic voters. What is striking is the fact that Biden and others continue to consider their own failure to give voters a reason to become active after years of broken campaign promises and outright betrayals of core values. The best that they can come up with (yet again) is that the other people are worse than we are.
It is unclear why Biden thinks, for example, civil libertarians should be energized after the Obama Administration embraced and expanded Bush-era policies in the war on terror. President Obama has shielded Bush officials from any investigation, let alone prosecution, for torture and has fought to block any cases that would hold companies or agencies responsible for violations of human rights or privacy.
It is unclear why Biden thinks environmentalists should be energized after the Administration opened up pristine areas of the East Coast for oil exploration and, even after the BP disaster, downplayed the spill damage to lift the moratorium.
It is unclear why Biden thinks that peace advocates should be energized after the Administration continued both wars and the gushing of both American blood and treasure.
It is unclear why Biden thinks gay and lesbian activists should be energized after the Obama Administration fought in court to preserve Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and then appealed to limit the major victory enjoining DADT.
For over a decade, the Democratic Party has based its demands for political support not on its own performance but on the “lesser of two evils” argument. They simply cannot understand why voters would be less than enthusiastic in fighting for them to retain power. Indeed, from the very start of this Administration, the clear message to liberals has been “you have no where else to go.” What the Administration and congressional democrats did not consider is that liberals, civil libertarians, and environmentalists could decide to simply go no where and stay at home.
Biden was speaking(at a fundraiser in Chevy Chase, Md. when he noted that “[m[aybe the best thing to happen to us lately is the Tea Party wins. Maybe it’ll shake some of our constituency out of their lethargy.” Biden seems to welcome that there is finally a compelling reason for voters to take to the streets: even worse people are running for office.
How about another option? The Democratic leaders could actually fight on principle over things like torture and give voters a positive reason to care about their future. If you want voters to care, you can start by giving them something to care about — other than the job security of Democratic officeholders. If the Obama Administration did not actually jettison these issues for political convenience, it might not have been more popular, but it would have been more respected and it would have garnered far more enthusiasm from Democratic and liberal voters. Instead, the Democratic leadership has repeatedly conveyed that they are concerned only about retaining their offices and power at any cost — hardly a motivating message for votes.
So here is my suggestion for a new campaign motto: “Fighting Lethargy With Leadership.”
Source: The Hill
HenMan,
IMO, not voting for Democrats will probably give Repubilicans a majority in the House and/or the Senate. I would hate to see that. I’m a realist…not an idealist. I plan to go to the polls in November and vote Democratic.
If you’re thinking things will change if Democrats don’t vote, I think you’re dreaming. Maybe I’m too old and have seen too much to
be an optimist. I’d prefer the status quo to things getting much worse…as they most likely would if Republicans gained control in the House or Senate.
Elaine M: I haven’t seen anyone here advocate voting FOR Republicans, only NOT voting for Democrats who take our votes and our money and do nothing to support the things we stand for. As long as we continue to do that, nothing will ever change.
Slarti Some of the people on here would not even vote for a democrat to be elected to the Texas State Board of Education. Let the creationists prevail. Things must get worse. We must allow the republicans to curtail scientific research in the name of christianity. Things must get worse.
and I still think there are worse places and worse ways to be…
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-23-2010/international-house-of-handshakes
Slarti,
I’m not arguing against the Slow Way. Just pointing out the destination is still the same until the rampant corporatism problem gets addressed. Dress appropriately.
Buddha,
“Nothing is likely to change without getting worse first.”
I doubt our country would have started a pre-emptive war in Iraq if Al Gore had been elected president. I guess I’d prefer the lesser of two evils…once again I’m not ready for hell just yet. I’ll stick with the Democrats for the time being. IMO, voting for Republicans in November would be akin to cutting off my nose to spite my face.
Slarti: You said “Thanks for pointing out that Tony C is implicitly supporting requiring 60 votes for the Senate to pass any legislation and forcing women to carry their rapist’s babies to term.” Where did Tony C say anything about “rapist’s babies”? If that isn’t a Straw Man, then I never saw one.
Buddha,
I’m just arguing that we pick ‘Hell the Slow Way’ in order to give ourselves more time to find a third path… Do you see any reason to pick ‘Hell the Fast Way’?
Slartibartfast….I dinna forget…but I’ve been really really really trying to break down the horrific collapse of our Government into believable bits….and the pieces just don’t fit.
Obama is making really unsavory music right now do you think he knows something we don’t? Like who really bought the Country?
The sign at the fork in the road say has two arrows – “Hell the Fast Way” and “Hell the Slow Way”. Unless Congress decides to look out for the common good instead of leaching off the corporate largess, the destination is the same. People are losing faith in the parties because of Congressional failures to address the needs of society despite repeated promises to do so. Given their track record in both parties on willingness to break promises but especially when they can profit personally from it? Nothing is likely to change without getting worse first.
While the dems leave a lot to be desired, we really, really should “be afraid” of the Republicans. We are slowly becoming a third world country and that will continue full throttle if Republicans gain the majority again. Not voting is NOT the solution. And, voting Republican is NOT the solution either. I am not sure what it is; but, on election day I will go out and vote for Democrats because I believe it is the only way to keep the country safe for a little while longer. I am 65, I have two very bad knees, a chronic disease called Fibromyalgia; but, I will still go out on election day and do what I can to keep this country from sliding into the abyss. You don’t like the Democrats . . . but, look at the alternatives . . . look at the alternatives . . .
Apathy will kill us just as fast as the Republicans.
HenMan or Tony C,
Also please explain how any progressive goal is helped by a Republican takeover of the House and the Senate in November, because I just don’t see it…
HenMan,
Please explain how you think my comments to Tony C constituted a straw man.
HenMan,
It would make me feel pretty shitty, but not nearly as bad as having the Republicans take control of Congress. I suggest that this is a ‘close your eyes and think of England’ moment – it sucks that our choice is between having our face rubbed in shit and being shot in the head, but would you really rather be shot in the head?
Woosty = ^..^ (still),
You for got to mention the evisceration of our nation’s regulatory agencies… The gift that will keep giving us presents like the financial collapse, the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion and the BP oil spill for years to come…
Slarti: Nice straw man you threw at Tony C, but I’ll bet it bounced right off of him! Right On, Tony C!!
“What is striking is the fact that Biden and others continue to consider their own failure to give voters a reason to become active after years of broken campaign promises and outright betrayals of core values.”
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Thank you Mr. Turley
thank you for saying it
and I agree w/Slarti, Lottakatz and Blouise.
…plus, I remember that O’Bama didn’t start out to be watered down by constant deliberate obstruction. This has been a Country tearing itself apart but before Obama was Bush enthusiastically feeding chunks of it to Corporations and other Countries. Remember when Bush tried to get Americans to look at the stock market as a valid retirement account?! [like stocking a fish pond for the citified elite to come have a shoot!]
….just give me better choices and fair play…Kucinich
I encourage all prgressives to donate money to Russ Feingold’s cmapaign. It would be a tragedy if he loses his senate seat in November.
Tony C,
Your attempt to ‘punish’ the Democrats will most likely be interpreted (by pundits and pols alike) as a tacit endorsement of the Republicans (and the Teabaggers) over the Democrats. If your goal is enacting progressive policies and legislation, you cannot (in my opinion) have picked a tactic more likely to produce results that are the exact opposite of what you desire. Just to take one example, how would having Harry Reid replaced by Sharon Angle for the next 6 years accomplish anything that you (or I) wanted? The opposition is running on trying to reverse every progressive policy of the last 80 years that they can – you can either fight to defend what you believe in or let it be raped before your eyes. I could care less about the individual Democrats who will lose their jobs in this election, but even the loss of the most spineless blue-dog is lost ground by the progressives that will likely take years to recover. I don’t know what you think you will gain beyond some abstract and fleeting feeling of moral superiority by rewarding Republicans for creating this ultra-partisan atmosphere and attempting to prevent, delay, or sabotage every single legislative initiative, but to me it is total lunacy.
Swarthmore mom,
Thanks for pointing out that Tony C is implicitly supporting requiring 60 votes for the Senate to pass any legislation and forcing women to carry their rapists babies to term. Are those policies that you really want to support, Tony?
Slarti, Swarthmore mom, et al: How does it feel to vote for someone who just spent 2, 4, or 6 years spitting in your eye? How does it feel to vote for a Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, or Joe Lieberman because they are “the lesser of two evils”? Especially when some of these dirtbags defeat Progressive primary challengers by means of large donations from the national Democratic Party. When you vote for these corporate-owned jerks, you are saying to them, “It’s o.k. that you voted to invade Iraq, voted for the ‘Patriot’ Act, voted to give billions of taxpayer dollars to the richest people in America, voted against a ‘public option’, etc.,etc,etc. – at least you’re not a Republican”.
Tony C Some men could care less about “freedom of choice” so they say they are staying home. They don’t seem to care that most of the republicans want to take away abortion even in the case of rape and incest. It is in their platform.