Democrats are digging a political hole so deep we may never be able to get out of it?

[Savannahmann]

58. OK, I'm confused.

I didn't say a word about the Native Americans. So I'm assuming that you are confusing my reply with someone else.

Why revel in defeat, if we can win. We can win by learning from our mistakes. We can win by improving our debate, and our message. We can win and help those who are without now. I don't want to use the Seniors who lost Meals on wheels as victims to make our side look better for 2014. I don't want people going hungry just so we can pretend we're going to take the house, an improbable event with the gerrymandered districts out there. I don't want to lose Head Start just so we can get a couple more Democrats into office in 2014. That's insane. We are talking about our fellow citizens, those of us who need the most help, not getting it, and we're happy because it improves our chances for victory in 2014?

Seriously, for a moment. You know that after the 2010 Census that most states were controlled by Republicans, and they didn't water down the districts, they tightened them up, making them stronger. With the incumbent advantage, that makes taking back the house in an off year election very improbable. Especially if our plan is the same one that hasn't really worked yet. Just painting the Republicans as obstructionist.

We painted the Republicans as obstructionist in 2010, and they won the House. We painted them as obstructionist in 2012. They lost a couple seats, but they held the house, that was with the re-election of President Obama who was very popular at the time. So what are the chances that we'll take the house in 2014? Especially now that the Rethugs have strengthened their hold on so many districts through gerrymandering? Less than we had of holding it in 2010.

So we win the debate, we bring them along, reluctantly granted, but we turn enough of them to our side of the issue, issue by issue. We do it by debating differently than we have been. We do it by changing our tactics, and setting reasonable strategic goals. Starving Seniors so we can hope to use that to paint the Republicans in 2014 is awful, and I can't believe you or any Democrat would seriously consider it.