"Reid needs to know that he seems to have the support of the American people". Reid knew the American people didn't support this Fillibuster busting *before* he compromised with the lying GOP. What he also knew was the GOP was voted in by the "American people" and that is why they have the majority, and that is why Reid compromised....it was all he could get. All those on the Left kicking and screaming about the Dem's "compromise" need to look at the reality - GOP has the votes to do whatever they want. The fact that the were stymied for even a little while is a benefit. There were votes in 2000,02 and 04 where this mess could have been stopped. This bunch of TalibandGOP'ers have never, never been popular with more than half, or less, of the American people. That, my friends, is why they lie and cheat.
Posted by T2 at May 25, 2005 08:52 AMI thought you guys would've learned your lesson regarding polling data by now...
Posted by muckdog at May 25, 2005 09:11 AMThe problem is, of course, that they don't really care what the electorate wants or supports, they just spin and lie and cheat, you know, manipulation the bare minimum description of what they do, whatever necessary to get the votes they need on any particular issue.
Fear mongering, chest thumping, co-opting, bullying, intimidation, bribery, murder, whatever it takes.
They play the American people for fools and simpletons and get away with it. In big part thanks to their co-conspirators, the vaunted Big Effing Media, who too, get played for fools.
It's just beautiful, isn't it?
Posted by Duckman GR at May 25, 2005 09:14 AMThere's polls, and then there's polls mucky.
I think we can tell the difference.
Posted by Duckman GR at May 25, 2005 09:16 AMI unfortunately find no solace in these poll numbers, since it is incomprehensible to me that ANYONE, at this point, could still support that pack of liars and crooks.
Posted by Jessie at May 25, 2005 09:18 AMThe biggest Poll number continues to be that Americans believe that the Republicans say and do what they believe and the Democrats don't.
Perversely, the Democrats needs to stand and fight on a few iffy issues to get their credibility back.
And they really need to talk about national security and the basic fact that our military is getting chewed up in Iraq.
Posted by Samuel Knight at May 25, 2005 09:19 AMthe basic fact that our military is getting chewed up in Iraq.
alberto, disappear that guy!
Posted by dubya at May 25, 2005 09:24 AMAmericans believe that the Republicans say and do what they believe and the Democrats don't.
That is the crux of the problem -- but the cure is not standing and fighting on issues.
We will win by attacking the GOP's strength -- their credibility.
John Kerry would have won going away, if his team would have Swift Boated George Bush on a range of issues -- his credibility as a wartime C in C, first and foremost.
Karl Rove's strategy is very simple -- co-opt your opponents strongest issues; attack their strength; and fire up your base. He didn't invent this, but he has mastered it in the current environment. The right wing control of the media is the GOP's ace up the sleeve, but even with that, the country is evenly split.
The Democrats challenge is to convince Joe and Mary Sixpack that the GOP is playing them for fools -- selling them out to the Wall Street Wage Slavers, and paying lip service to moral values while promoting a culture of death.
it is time for the Democrats to frame the House and Senate GOP as nothing more than lapdogs on a leash from evangelical extremists.
That's one of the messages that will fire up the Democratic base -- but convincing the What's The Matter With Kansas? crowd that the GOP is not on their side, is not making them safer, is not pro-life and is, in fact, immoral as hell -- that is the challenge.
Brand Democrat must rise on the broken and bloody ashes of Brand GOP's credibility.
Posted by ck at May 25, 2005 09:48 AM