Normally, I answer comments to my posts in my comment section, in fact, I still have comments from Fri. post to answer, please bear with me, I'll get to it eventually! :-D The comments on the ''Shooting Sacred Cows'' post from yesterday, however, perhaps deserves a follow up post to best answer.
Yes, I'm frustrated, in fact, I'm mad as hell! The Dems have missed the best, and probably the only chance that they'll have for a very, very long time to actually accomplish anything meaningful that will make a long term difference in the lives of the American people, in general, and the GBLT, in particular.
After Nov. 2, the Dems will, most likely, be in the political wilderness for at least the next generation as they're expected to experience historic losses that will make 1994 seem like nothing. At this point, it's a sure thing that they'll lose the House, and they may even loose the Senate. This means that we can forget all about ENDA, DADT, and DOMA, none of these will EVER pass in a GOP congress.
The blue dogs unquestionably threw a few monkey wrenches into the gears, but if there were someone in the White House with some leadership skills it may have been possible to do a better job of bringing them onboard. Reagan and Clinton achieved much of what they wanted working with a Congress that was run by the opposite party, one could've expected better from a Congress that's run by the same party as the POTUS. In any event, O is now irrelevant, it may as well be Homer Simpson sitting in the Oval Office for the next 2 years. He spent all of his political capital on health care and bailouts and has none left. He's already a lame duck and unless, by some miracle, everything turns around and we're going gangbusters, he's probably a dead duck in 2012, he's said as much himself.
I'm not laying all the blame on Obama, that wouldn't be fair. A lot of our current problems began back in the 90's under Clinton with NAFTA, outsourcing our manufacturing base, and the loosening of financial regs, and from there the GOP made matters worse. Enter the military industrial complex, who's profits had taken a hit since the end of the cold war and needed a little war to prop up their bottom line and all the while Wall St. was throwing around millions of dollars to buy both parties so that the good times kept rolling. Combine all of that with years of D.C. pols spending taxpayer money like drunken sailors and you have a perfect storm. Blood on all their hands and a pox on all their houses!
The very LAST thing that I want to see is a return to power of the big spending, big government Republicans of the last 10 years, but that's probably what's happening. I think that the best that can be hoped for is that they've learned their lesson after being spanked in 06 and 08, but I don't have any real faith in that. I'd also like to think that the Dems will wake up and smell the coffee after the beating they're going to take this year and, quite possibly, in 2012, but I don't have much faith in that, either. What I'd really like to see is a good, viable 3rd party with some common sense, but the way that the American political system is built it would take some people with some VERY deep pockets and a hell of a lot of grassroots support!
Dani xxx
3 comments:
Oops! My bad! I forgot to mention financial reg. reform! A long overdue accomplishment, and a good one if it isn't loaded with enough loopholes to drive a truck through, but knowing the way Washington works, it probably is!
Dani xxx
My best possible outcome for this election would be the Dems holding a narrow majority in both houses. They could control the worst excesses of the Repubs, while learning how to play well with others. Boehner is a thug who scares the crap out of me. And I've voted against Mitch McConnell so many times I've lost count.
I want the Dems to get new leadership in both houses. Reid is ineffective, and Pelosi has the instincts of a mongoose. She is shrill and unbending, and the Dems' worst enemy.
I'm not good at reading other people--do I sense some anger in you, Dani? Hehe, I like your passion. I'm not mocking.
Remember, Clinton and Reagan had their own parties in charge their first two years, and accomplished little, then wound up working with the other party therafter. There is a steep learning curve as president, and there's not really anything that can prepare you. We just have to have patience while they learn.
Hi, Leslie! Just a little anger and frustration, does it really show? :-D
I'm pretty sure that the Dems will lose the House. The GOP is going to pick up both of NH's House seats, and I'm hearing similar stories from other states. This may not be a bad thing, though, it'll probably spell the end of Pelosi, who's lead them to their ruin. Someone really needs to throw a bucket of water on that wicked witch! Northeastern Repubs aren't quite as doctrinate as Repubs from other parts of the country and are more apt to vote with the Dems to restrain some of the lunacy that we would otherwise get.
I think that they stand a better chance at holding the Senate, but it'll be close. In any event, Senate Dems may not have a choice about finding new leadership, Reid's probably going to get beaten by Angle!
Yes, I remember that Clinton had a Dem Congress for his first 2 years I may be wrong, but I think that the GOP only controled the Senate for Reagan's first 2 years but that the House was Dem for all 8, I'll have to check. Unfortunately, the discourse in D.C. is nowhere near as civil as it was in the 80's these days. Reagan and Tip O'Neill could agree to disagree, then sit down and have a beer with each other. It's too partisan today, both parties are like sharks. That's why I think that Obama's done for, the GOP smell blood and they'll never let up on this guy.
Dani xxx
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