I'd like to congratulate the Democratic Establishment on tonight's victory in NJ

[Jim Lane]

83. You've correctly summarized Obama's and the Democratic Party's strategy during his first term.

My objection to that strategy is that it was tried and found wanting. Obama began his term by trying to appear reasonable and to appeal to those "semi-sane" Republicans you mention. This approach, however, meant that he wasn't giving his supporters enough reason to come out and vote Democratic. The falloff in turnout meant that we lost big in 2010. (Yes, those people should have voted anyway, but both major parties have some supporters who aren't very politically oriented and whose appearance at the polls can't be assumed.)

So I have more faith than you do in the GOTV strategy. One can't imagine Obama saying, as FDR did of his right-wing opponents, "I welcome their hatred," but if he had more of that spirit we'd have better electoral results.

For 2014, I would love to see Obama deploy his considerable political skills in a concerted effort to lambaste the Republican obstructionists in Congress. Even the so-called "moderates" in the GOP were complicit in the shutdown and in all other crap that Obama's had to put up with, and they should be called on it. They're all extortionists and he should use that word about them. If that alienates a few "semi-sane" Republicans, so be it -- the gains in turnout on our side would more than offset those losses.

Give 'em hell, Barack!