General Discussion

MADem

(135,425 posts)

67. No it doesn't.

Wed Jul 30, 2014, 12:16 PM

Jul 2014

Read Robert Caro's books on LBJ. You don't have to pay for them, you can find them in your library. They will advance your understanding of the sausage-making process enormously.

You apparently are operating under a "Mister Smith Goes to Washington" vision of politics.

It's not that. It's "Master of the Senate."

If the D votes the way the leader tells him or her, he or she is advancing the party platform. You aren't going to elect a Paul Wellstone in TX or MT, no matter how hard you try. Tip O'Neill didn't say "All politics is local" on a whim--it's a fact. If the local population subscribes to voodoo, then the candidate had better find something nice to say about that, or he/she will not be elected. That IS how it works. These legislators aren't representing YOU--they're representing the voters in THEIR states and districts.

If you cannot see that, you are not being pragmatic, and you'll never have a majority.

Again--read Caro. You won't be able to put his stuff down, and you will understand how the system actually works.

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Could you vote for a Democrat who didn't accept evolution? [View all] echochamberlain Jul 2014 OP

I can't imagine JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #1

But we gotta draw the line there: "You must accept evolutionary truth as a... FrodosPet Jul 2014 #49

I'm not talking about the voters JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #58

In practical terms, what exactly does that entail? FrodosPet Jul 2014 #64

Oh I know JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #66

I don't believe in blankets. Generalizations never cover everyone. FrodosPet Jul 2014 #79

Thanks for the clarity JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #81

Thank you for understanding! FrodosPet Jul 2014 #82

do you have an example of a Democrat who doesn't accept evolution ? steve2470 Jul 2014 #2

Mark Pryor. D-Arkansas opiate69 Jul 2014 #73

thanks, just amazing nt steve2470 Jul 2014 #76

The D is for Derp. KamaAina Jul 2014 #95

If he/she was electable and reliably voted the way the leadership told him/her to vote, I would MADem Jul 2014 #3

I guess I'd hold my nose and vote for this hypothetical candidate steve2470 Jul 2014 #5

My gut instinct JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #7

same here steve2470 Jul 2014 #8

I pretty much agree with the people who say "There couldn't be a Dem so dumb..." MADem Jul 2014 #9

yes, for example Wendy Davis' position on guns steve2470 Jul 2014 #10

Jon Tester in Montana had to color outside the lines, too. MADem Jul 2014 #13

yep I agree steve2470 Jul 2014 #16

If the Democrat had be that crazy to get elected in that riding... SidDithers Jul 2014 #38

Fair point, that!!!! nt MADem Jul 2014 #41

Wow, this typifies the corrupt thinking of party loyalists whatchamacallit Jul 2014 #65

No it doesn't. MADem Jul 2014 #67

A majority of what? Creationists? whatchamacallit Jul 2014 #69

This is a website for people who are political junkies, who CARE about winning. MADem Jul 2014 #70

Take off your rose-colored glasses whatchamacallit Jul 2014 #71

I think you're the one with the spectacles. Read Caro. MADem Jul 2014 #72

Democrats are sometimes dumb. But not that dumb. Squinch Jul 2014 #4

Doesn't pass the sniff test GOLGO 13 Jul 2014 #6

I'd look at the context of the comments el_bryanto Jul 2014 #11

Only as a nose pincher in a general election. MohRokTah Jul 2014 #12

No newfie11 Jul 2014 #14

No. nt conservaphobe Jul 2014 #15

I would look deeper into what they are all about, as this indicates some serious conceptualization RKP5637 Jul 2014 #17

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2014 #18

I'm pretty sure religion -could- co-exist with belief in evolution. HereSince1628 Jul 2014 #54

sorry, posted this in the wrong place HereSince1628 Jul 2014 #60

As a devout Atheist, I disagree. ieoeja Jul 2014 #55

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2014 #91

If that was my choice, yes./nt demwing Jul 2014 #19

Write in or third party Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #20

We can't be one issue voters at times like this - esp. with so many being left behind... NRaleighLiberal Jul 2014 #21

What Democrat is this? Peacetrain Jul 2014 #22

I can't vote for a moron, regardless of party. Codeine Jul 2014 #23

Same here.....I can't stomach stupid. yourout Jul 2014 #24

I'd like the choice to vote for one (or a lot) who don't believe in boogiemen or Sky Cake NightWatcher Jul 2014 #25

A lot would depend upon whether or not the opponent shared his delusion CBGLuthier Jul 2014 #26

No get the red out Jul 2014 #27

A Dem who walks upright, with opposable thumbs, and who speaks? Orsino Jul 2014 #28

As long as they aren't a fundie Tetris_Iguana Jul 2014 #29

Oh gods no. Iron Man Jul 2014 #30

No ann--- Jul 2014 #31

No..... Swede Atlanta Jul 2014 #32

I try not to vote for a candidate on a single issue. The issues our candidates should be Thinkingabout Jul 2014 #33

What kind of a debate are you proposing to spark? TBF Jul 2014 #34

Interesting. H2O Man Jul 2014 #35

In fact a sizeable segment of fundies DO believe we Eleanors38 Jul 2014 #44

True. I've met a number of very religious environmentalists. Xithras Jul 2014 #59

Some of these "green fundies" have become a pain Eleanors38 Jul 2014 #86

+1 I figured somebody would echo my sentiments on this thread. nt raouldukelives Jul 2014 #61

Depends on who he or she was running against. dawg Jul 2014 #36

No... SidDithers Jul 2014 #37

The question would be, would their belief affect their policy choices? Coventina Jul 2014 #39

No. Brings into question their education, wisdom, connection to reality on point Jul 2014 #40

I think I may just vote for the Independent in that case. Xyzse Jul 2014 #42

Depends. Is his opponent a Tea Partier who likewise doesn't believe in it? mainer Jul 2014 #43

I could vote for an old earth creationist, but not a young earth creationist betterdemsonly Jul 2014 #45

Love all the no answers jamzrockz Jul 2014 #46

I think we're all conditioned to accept a certain level of stupid. n/t Orsino Jul 2014 #68

Or the fiction of national borders. LanternWaste Jul 2014 #78

There's a difference between artificial cultural constructs and fiction Silent3 Jul 2014 #92

Why does it matter? dilby Jul 2014 #98

Need additional info before deciding but doubtful lunasun Jul 2014 #47

I could vote for people with any number of weird personal beliefs LeftishBrit Jul 2014 #48

NO NO NO. because it means they have no logic and lower intelligence IMO! nt Logical Jul 2014 #50

My initial response is HELL NO. BUT - Avalux Jul 2014 #51

Pretty much what Avalux said. Maybe, under some circumstances. Shrike47 Jul 2014 #52

No. n/t ieoeja Jul 2014 #53

NO! I don't vote for stupid. The Dem party must have better standards for candidates. L0oniX Jul 2014 #56

I'm with you. It would depend on the Republican. Xithras Jul 2014 #57

Economically, I have more in common with William Jennings Bryan lumberjack_jeff Jul 2014 #62

Exactly jamzrockz Jul 2014 #80

The time to fix it is in the primary. jeff47 Jul 2014 #63

Depends on the rest of the issues treestar Jul 2014 #74

No, because of other likely positions they will take along with that. alarimer Jul 2014 #75

"Modern age" is the key. A William Jennings Bryan vote, in that era, to stand up to banks villager Jul 2014 #77

If the Rethug thought the same thing, I'd vote for the Dem, because on many other issues, pnwmom Jul 2014 #83

No. sakabatou Jul 2014 #84

I can't imagine that a candidate like that would make it through the Primaries. Sheepshank Jul 2014 #85

NO...however, in 2000, Al Gore made a weasely comment about how joeybee12 Jul 2014 #87

As long as there were no major policy ramifications that followed from that craziness... Silent3 Jul 2014 #88

No Marrah_G Jul 2014 #89

Is s/he for single payer? rug Jul 2014 #90

NOPE DiverDave Jul 2014 #93

No. n/t zappaman Jul 2014 #94

I'm assuming the repuke doesn't, either KamaAina Jul 2014 #96

Eh, it depends on Aerows Jul 2014 #97