General Discussion

Bonobo

(29,257 posts) Fri Oct 4, 2013, 02:49 AM Oct 2013

One thing the Republicans seem to grasp that our side doesn't. [View all]

"Shoot for the stars and you may reach the sky"

In negotiation, you will ALWAYS get less than you ask for. Almost everyone knows this. And yet, time and time again, we see a demonstration that only the Repukes actually put that understanding to the test.
They escalate and escalate and escalate. And thus they pull the center towards their side. I have been screaming about this for years.

When this latest episode of Republican "craziness" is done, we will have a budget that it at sequester levels and possibly some other small bones thrown to them.

Where has the "adult talk" gotten us? What have the attempts at bi-partisanship achieved? I'll tell you: They have allowed the center of the rope in our tug of war to be pulled inexorably to the right.

Crazy? Like foxes.

They may suffer some repercussions, but as a whole we will find that they have pulled things further to the right while we look down and see that we were sliding on muddied ground.

84 replies

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One thing the Republicans seem to grasp that our side doesn't. [View all] Bonobo Oct 2013 OP

Rec 1000words Oct 2013 #1

If you're suggesting we become more psychotic and less intelligent, I'm out. Gravitycollapse Oct 2013 #2

That's what you ARE watching. Bonobo Oct 2013 #3

Then it was inevitable. There is no gain from being dumber and crazier. Gravitycollapse Oct 2013 #4

No, I genuinely believe that harder pushing to the left would result in more gains to the left. Bonobo Oct 2013 #5

You are ABSOLUTELY right, Bonobo. But watch out: they'll call you an Emoprog. Th1onein Oct 2013 #8

It was coined by someone who doesn't like to see unity on our side, Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #13

Well, there is a difference between taking a hard left and acting insane. Gravitycollapse Oct 2013 #22

This is called "soviet style" negotiation.. sendero Oct 2013 #62

It was crazy to ever 'compromise' with lunatic bullies. THAT is why we are sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #53

I take it as rpannier Oct 2013 #32

That's quite a leap. Scuba Oct 2013 #61

Rubbish! nt longship Oct 2013 #6

I think that's a petty straightforward and rational understanding of how it works Douglas Carpenter Oct 2013 #7

You're right. Th1onein Oct 2013 #9

I think it was made up by a troll. Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #12

I don't think you are correct. Or, at least, not by that particular troll. Th1onein Oct 2013 #20

Fair enough. Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #25

You can do a google search for it on DU. merrily Oct 2013 #34

Nah. Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #47

I mean only that it has been used on DU a good while ago. merrily Oct 2013 #56

It's an INSULT. The rightwingers use it to try to shut us up. Th1onein Oct 2013 #80

Obama put a significant marker down on the field with the ACA. He accomplished a very large Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #16

I disagree. I think when they overreach, all they accomplish is looking insane. Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #10

One of the major reasons the Left gets very little accomplished. DontTreadOnMe Oct 2013 #11

We need to get the House back in 2014. Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #14

The strategy to get the House back includes learning how to "play" the negotiation game. DontTreadOnMe Oct 2013 #15

I think the strategy to get the house back figures out how to shoehorn out at least a few of these Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #17

Here is how the Left needs to play the game... DontTreadOnMe Oct 2013 #18

I hear you. I kind of lean towards the idea that just saying "fuck you" negates the idea that there Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #23

The Progressive Left needs to start making demands DontTreadOnMe Oct 2013 #31

I think part of the problem are the way the rules of the House operate. Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #33

Unless the Democrats are in the majority? merrily Oct 2013 #36

The speaker can sign off on any vote. joshcryer Oct 2013 #41

That is not what Warren said. merrily Oct 2013 #43

I should have been clearer and said "The GOP controls...etc. NOW" Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #45

The current speaker is GOP. joshcryer Oct 2013 #50

Yes, I know the current speaker is Republican and am also familiar with the Haester rule. merrily Oct 2013 #52

Who cares what he says. Common vernacular has made him own it. joshcryer Oct 2013 #58

As I said, I consider it irrelevant who they name it after. merrily Oct 2013 #63

He did formulate it. He didn't originate it. joshcryer Oct 2013 #65

If you say that he did not originate it, I am not sure what you mean by "he formulated it." merrily Oct 2013 #68

Formulation is just explaining. joshcryer Oct 2013 #70

Are we going to go back and forth on definitions, too? merrily Oct 2013 #72

I was using it under the second definition. joshcryer Oct 2013 #74

Yes, the party that controls the house controls the committees. Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #44

I think you misperceived the point of my post by a lot. merrily Oct 2013 #73

Basically. The majority owns the vote. Discharge petitions never happen. joshcryer Oct 2013 #38

I care if there are blue dogs, but the DCCC hardly even backs a new candidate who is not a merrily Oct 2013 #46

Hey, fair enough, I can get behind that. joshcryer Oct 2013 #54

"The DCCC goes with whoever they think is electable." Meh. merrily Oct 2013 #60

I think that's too simplistic. joshcryer Oct 2013 #64

Warren may be an exception. I am not sure yet. And that is Massachusetts, too. merrily Oct 2013 #66

What about those EMILY's List candidates the DCCC is supporting? joshcryer Oct 2013 #69

You can't equate EMILY's list with "liberal." merrily Oct 2013 #71

Fair enough, I only checked the first three. joshcryer Oct 2013 #75

Exactly how it should be done. DireStrike Oct 2013 #83

ABSOLUTELY. Th1onein Oct 2013 #84

This may not be popular, but we might just need some hardcore liars. joshcryer Oct 2013 #37

You don't need to lie. You just don't have to label people. merrily Oct 2013 #49

That's true, but the intent is still there. joshcryer Oct 2013 #57

I agree. DireStrike Oct 2013 #82

Yep. And we need to fix the filibuster rules. joshcryer Oct 2013 #28

Deadpan humor is so underappreciated these days Fumesucker Oct 2013 #55

Reid doesn't want to get rid of his baby. joshcryer Oct 2013 #59

Deja vu of what was being said when Obama's polls went down during the 08 campaign Turborama Oct 2013 #35

The Republicans don't "seem to grasp." They have BEEN grasped... Orsino Oct 2013 #19

You may be right. LiberalAndProud Oct 2013 #21

True, I have often faulted Democrats for the same Live and Learn Oct 2013 #24

unfortunately I think that is right hfojvt Oct 2013 #26

Boehner: I got 98 percent of what I wanted joshcryer Oct 2013 #27

The new deal didn't happen because people asked for the new deal. redgreenandblue Oct 2013 #29

Agree. Bill Maher had a great New Rules a couple years back where he said this. cui bono Oct 2013 #30

Great for comedy, not good for politics. merrily Oct 2013 #42

Well of course he pushed it to the extreme to make it funny and poke fun at how crazy the other cui bono Oct 2013 #48

Yes. merrily Oct 2013 #51

There is no negotiation on allowing a vote on a clean Continuing Resolution. Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2013 #39

Negotiation 101 You don't open with your last, best offer. merrily Oct 2013 #40

So far during this stupid shut down, I'm pretty proud of the democrats. I B Calm Oct 2013 #67

There is no ground so low that they won't take it. ananda Oct 2013 #76

Clever way to win a war, or ... GeorgeGist Oct 2013 #77

The Country IS Moving Left... KharmaTrain Oct 2013 #78

Our side gets it. "Our" elected representatives don't "get it". stillwaiting Oct 2013 #79

This tactic works 99% of the time. DireStrike Oct 2013 #81