Why we liberals lose in mid term elections- lack of political savvy is the reason

[kansasobama]

Here we go again!

In 1994 and 2010, our base sat out because Heath Care Reform did not go far enough.

A major Latino organization announced plans Tuesday to encourage Hispanic voters to think twice before casting a ballot for four Democratic senators currently seeking re-election in key swing states.
Presente Action issued a statement Tuesday to say it would target four Democrats who the group says have opposed immigration reform. The group cited the senators' support for a procedural vote held last week that the group says amounted to a vote against expanded deportation relief for undocumented immigrants.
The four Democrats are Sens. Kay Hagan (N.C.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Mark Pryor (Ark.) and Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.).

So, in 2012, our friends want to punish Democrats who had to tactically oppose immigration reform to win a Senate seat. Great! Fewer seats we have in Senate, less likely an Obama executive action will stand. If it goes to SC, it will be struck down.

Obama is, rightfully, playing a tactical game. Politics is tactical, come to the real world! If Democrats win Senate, Obama can implement Executive Action and there is less likelihood of it being challenged. If Senate goes GOP, forget it.

Why do liberals forget that tactics are important? Even if the four senators do not support, we are better off with a Democratic Senate....

[BlueCaliDem]

1. I just cannot believe that Presente Action is this shortsighted.

I'm hoping that this is just a tactical move on their part, and that they'll eventually get their members to vote Democratic Party on November 4th. Because with a Republican majority in the Senate, they can bank on it that there will be NO immigration reform of any kind.

[yeoman6987]

2. We did extremely well in 2006, 2008, and 2012

We did bad in 2004 and 2010. Perhaps if we find out why we won in 2006 specifically we could use that as a way to ensure victory in 2014. Our goal for 2014 is way too low....keeping the Senate? We should have a goal of gaining seats and taking the house. We set ourselves up for low expectations. I always found that strange. I can see all the grandstanding that will occur if we only lose 3 seats. Lose 3 seats? Unacceptable and should not be considered victory. Our expectations for this election are a horrible message to voters.

[RadicalGeek]

5. 2006

Was likley more of a referendunm on Iraq.

We have issues we COULD make 2014 a referendum on: Unions, Women, and yes, Immigration

[Cosmocat]

6. You can't recreate 2006 without Bush II destroying the country for another 6 years

Democrats didn't do much, they just rode the wave.

Honestly, one way or another elections are driven by republicans.

They either are so god damn bad people are repulsed enough to vote against them or they drive the narrative to their favor.

[RadicalGeek]

12. The Threat Of McConnell, Bohner, etc

Doing the same thing for 2 isn't enough?

[world wide wally]

3. Another example of the perfect being the enemy of the good.

If not election time, all four of them may be likely to vote on the side of immigration reform. Now we can rest assured that nothing will get done.

[fredamae]

4. I hear ya-however

when we are Not given good candidates to choose from-and "we" end up trying to choose the "Least Evil"...because Good candidates are not chosen or refuse to run...this (not wanting Any of them) is where "we" end up---It's as if they Know the dems aren't there to support us by majority. And we Know the GOP Will Not support us because--money. The conclusion is What difference does it make Who is in office when BOTH sides put their own re-election and politics before the needs of the people they're supposed to serve.
That's the game.
This is the consequence.
We are partially responsible, ourselves, for the mess we find ourselves in. We failed to be part of it beyond casting our vote. And then there are those who Don't vote because they feel that since their Dem leaders Did Not listen to/work For them--they'll "punish" them by Not voting-believing this will help "wake them up"-when in reality all it does is allow the "crazies" to gain a stronger foot-hold...
When you leave something that requires constant care-(democracy)-Alone for decades-it will fail.

[kimbutgar]

7. Like the United Negro College fund I wonder how much of a donation

Presente received from the Koch's to make this announcement?. Someone needs to do some digging into this organization. We liberals are quick to blame ourselves for apathy when it all comes out to organizations receiving $donation$ from questionable sources.

[blkmusclmachine]

8. Who to vote for? The Real Republican, or the Wanna-Be Republican???

[trueblue2007]

9. LINK PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jappleseed]

10. I think the real answer is:

Both Democrats and republicants are both on the same side of the American people. That is to the right of us.

Democrats moderately right and Republicants far right. Both move left during big elections and right all the rest of the time. Both govern from the right, sometimes the Democrats speak left but still govern from the right.

Problem is moving right makes Democrats less likeable by their voters, and Republicans more likeable to their voters.

Get money out of our government and things may change. Until then.....

[AverageJoe90]

11. True, although in the case of 2010, purity politics didn't help, either, TBH.

I do hope, at least, that we've learned at least some of our mistakes from 2010.....because we don't want a repeat of the latter half of the Clinton era, now, do we?

[winter is coming]

13. Independents are the ones who didn't turn out in 2010. Are they are base?? n/t

[brooklynite]

14. I can't imagine ANY Democrat who wouldn't vote for the Democratic nominee...

...certainly nobody HERE would do that...

[Jamaal510]

15. The entire country is going to

continue getting fucked over by the GOP because these people are too self-centered and narrow-minded to vote. This makes me...
[IMG][/IMG]
I'm sick of people not acknowledging the numerous differences (in both social and economic agendas) between having Republicans in power and having Democrats in power.

[walkingman]

16. I will vote for the Democrat

candidate simply because I disagree with almost 100% of the GOP platform. However, I am very cynical about the present state of the Democratic party. With two wars, the worst economic crisis since the great depression, the GOP attack on women, and healthcare in America such a god-awful mess, I don't see any real progress being made in changing anything.

Wars continue, ACA pretty much a gift to insurance industry, wages stagnant, the list goes on and on and yet we don't control the House and are in jeopardy of losing the Senate. Something is not right in river city.

As a liberal, progressive citizen I see very little that excites me these days. Maybe our country really has turned into a right-wing country. It seems that has been the cause since the early 80's - sucks!!!