General Discussion

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)

105. Since when did 'advocacy' and 'governance' become two separate things?

Wed Oct 22, 2014, 03:10 PM

Oct 2014

When voters elect a candidate, what are they doing? In my experience, they are voting for someone they think is GOING TO ADVOCATE for THEM. They will GOVERN by ADVOCATING for those who ELECTED THEM.

Can you explain when voters accepted the fact that voting was nothing but a weary act of acknowledging that 'Governance is not Advocacy'?

What exactly IS Governance, in your opinion. Because if voters ACTUALLY accepted your analysis of this most important process, why on EARTH would they bother to vote at all? Do you realize how defeatist these talking points are? I've seen this one now multiple times and wonder 'who decided to tell voters not to expect their elected officials to mean a thing they say during their campaigns'. Because that IS what you're saying, isn't it?

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When you stand for nothing, you get nothing in return. [View all] WilliamPitt Oct 2014 OP

I regret that I must agree with all of this, my dear Will... CaliforniaPeggy Oct 2014 #1

Best rant ever, Will. 7wo7rees Oct 2014 #2

YES billhicks76 Oct 2014 #11

Those that do not recognize this are living in a cloud of denial. Democratic candidates won't even rhett o rick Oct 2014 #125

that was very unfair G_j Oct 2014 #3

Now stop it William. Your TeaLeft Purity is not welcome in the Big Tent that is the Democratic Party MontyPow Oct 2014 #4

Possible only with the tacit acceptance of the rank and file.[n/t] Maedhros Oct 2014 #5

They could care less whether we accept it or not. merrily Oct 2014 #76

They put a lot of effort into selling the LOTE concept. Maedhros Oct 2014 #90

The base believes it is exercising critical thinking skills and also thinks that merrily Oct 2014 #92

If they were thinking critically, they would realize that they are being manipulated and deceived. Maedhros Oct 2014 #97

I think some of us know that. And some of us even admit on this board that we know that. merrily Oct 2014 #103

Bull Hockey!! Peacetrain Oct 2014 #6

Thank you. I believe I stand for something too. I also work with local Dems mountain grammy Oct 2014 #21

To Peacetrain and Mountain Grammy ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2014 #45

Agree! mountain grammy Oct 2014 #51

Thank you!!! Peacetrain Oct 2014 #55

I so agree with this. my_best_self Oct 2014 #75

Sadly ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2014 #80

And they both should be thanked and appreciated! Because they DO stand for something. calimary Oct 2014 #85

Thank you.. let's face it, with a conservative MSM, Democrats are up against the wall mountain grammy Oct 2014 #115

Since when did 'advocacy' and 'governance' become two separate things? sabrina 1 Oct 2014 #105

Well ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2014 #108

Me too mountain grammy Peacetrain Oct 2014 #57

It would unthinkable to see Harkin's seat taken by a Republican. mountain grammy Oct 2014 #109

While you guys/gals are slapping each other on the backs, Republicans are winning more than their rhett o rick Oct 2014 #124

Look here, nobody is slapping anyone on the back. I believe you and the OP mountain grammy Oct 2014 #139

You missed the complete point of the OP and my comment. It has nothing to do with you. It isn't rhett o rick Oct 2014 #144

I have a problem with your broad generalizations and the OP's too. mountain grammy Oct 2014 #150

Hmmm ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2014 #151

In the real world Democratic candidates are running away from the Democratic President. rhett o rick Oct 2014 #157

Me thinks you're watching too much mainstream media.. mountain grammy Oct 2014 #159

I don't think Democrats will STFU for you or Rambo. rhett o rick Oct 2014 #161

By the way old man.. we are the Democrats.. Peacetrain Oct 2014 #184

Once again, this has nothing to do with YOU. I also am working in the field. I have high aspirations rhett o rick Oct 2014 #186

mountain grammy.. do no let anyone belittle your efforts.. Peacetrain Oct 2014 #183

so frustrating and a slap in the face to good Democratic candidates mountain grammy Oct 2014 #185

You notice when you push back Peacetrain Oct 2014 #187

Thank you, very much agree. uppityperson Oct 2014 #36

You bet !!! Peacetrain Oct 2014 #58

I understood that the Washington Generals were officeholders, not just voters. merrily Oct 2014 #77

I am glad I opened this thread... because of this response. Amen, peacetrain. Thank you!! PeaceNikki Oct 2014 #91

So, how have those last 45 years gone, peacetrain? Scootaloo Oct 2014 #128

You mean critically look at where we are now and ask questions? Rex Oct 2014 #163

Trust me on this one..you don't want what I grew up with Peacetrain Oct 2014 #182

Seems to me you missed the point of the OP. It isn't about you. It's about those Democratic rhett o rick Oct 2014 #176

I'm so glad you posted this, Will. randome Oct 2014 #7

No criticism, there's an election coming up! Hissyspit Oct 2014 #28

No, wait until shortly before the election to lob your flashiest grenades, that should help. randome Oct 2014 #67

Pitt did not wait until now to say this. He's been saying similar things all along. merrily Oct 2014 #79

we would work with candidates green917 Oct 2014 #130

You might have a point there. Major Hogwash Oct 2014 #136

Definitely not. mountain grammy Oct 2014 #140

Right LondonReign2 Oct 2014 #47

Do you really think Democrats don't stand for anything? randome Oct 2014 #68

Even the playing field? MontyPow Oct 2014 #112

More level like LondonReign2 Oct 2014 #120

Me2D. Nice moniker! MontyPow Oct 2014 #127

LOL! Rex Oct 2014 #164

Man. On. Fire. MannyGoldstein Oct 2014 #8

I lost count. sheshe2 Oct 2014 #9

Reread the post... You are not the target! N_E_1 for Tennis Oct 2014 #56

I was listening to this while reading the OP... jtuck004 Oct 2014 #10

Wow~ sheshe2 Oct 2014 #12

Damn... I'm fired up. I'm gonna vote for this President again. Autumn Oct 2014 #25

Did you even read it? sibelian Oct 2014 #29

Right? truebrit71 Oct 2014 #40

^^^^^^correctamundo^^^^^^^^ ballyhoo Oct 2014 #43

Reread the post! ..... N_E_1 for Tennis Oct 2014 #59

Could Not Agree More colsohlibgal Oct 2014 #13

Is 'yeppers' still acceptable? reimaginethis Oct 2014 #14

Pretty sad, isn't it?? elias49 Oct 2014 #15

I choke up when I think 840high Oct 2014 #16

Did you get this epic missive? MannyGoldstein Oct 2014 #17

democrats.org website is less interesting than an airline magazine, stock photos of MLK, meanwhile whereisjustice Oct 2014 #18

The Dems in DC are being told "Populist" is unpopular. Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2014 #19

This doesn't help, Will. Raine1967 Oct 2014 #20

Good point. Just exactly who is the OP addressing mountain grammy Oct 2014 #113

If you read the OP there are a number of clues who he is addressing. rhett o rick Oct 2014 #170

You are not helping one damn bit... sheshe2 Oct 2014 #22

Well, we all now know what you stand for ... NanceGreggs Oct 2014 #23

Seriously? leftstreet Oct 2014 #32

At least Will has the courage to tell the truth. N_E_1 for Tennis Oct 2014 #60

+1 n/t JTFrog Oct 2014 #62

I know full well what he stands for tkmorris Oct 2014 #93

We know exactly what Will stands for. I and a lot of others on THIS web site stand with him. Autumn Oct 2014 #122

Sounds pretty damn clear what Mr Pitt stands for. 99Forever Oct 2014 #138

Don't like the message? Attack the messenger. rhett o rick Oct 2014 #145

How did I attack the messenger? NanceGreggs Oct 2014 #146

Really? You address the author and not the OP. "we all now know what YOU stand for." rhett o rick Oct 2014 #153

My comment stands. NanceGreggs Oct 2014 #154

Of course you won't discuss the OP but only make insinuations about the messenger. rhett o rick Oct 2014 #155

So tell me, Rhett ... NanceGreggs Oct 2014 #162

Once again, in lieu of discussing issues you choose to discuss people. rhett o rick Oct 2014 #167

I have no interest ... NanceGreggs Oct 2014 #168

You have no interest in actually discussing issues. But of course not. Ad hominem attacks rhett o rick Oct 2014 #174

So sorry. NanceGreggs Oct 2014 #175

Apology accepted. rhett o rick Oct 2014 #177

And until the recipients get this marym625 Oct 2014 #24

Only 13 more Ratfucking Days until the election! FSogol Oct 2014 #26

So 14 days til "We [almost?] lost cuz of DU emoprogs grr!!11" Union Scribe Oct 2014 #65

London Calling!!! Major Hogwash Oct 2014 #133

I agree. We'll increase our hold on the Senate and take the House. A bunch of Freepers FSogol Oct 2014 #134

Heh heh heh heh. Major Hogwash Oct 2014 #141

Scott Walker looked like that during the debate. n/t FSogol Oct 2014 #142

I think I figured it out, people don't like that particular pipeline because it is XL snooper2 Oct 2014 #27

Wow, that's hell of a lot of tar sand pipelines traversing our country. Oh wait Autumn Oct 2014 #111

maybe you should watch the episode VICE did on trains before laughing snooper2 Oct 2014 #116

I picked my poison. No tar sands. No Keystone Autumn Oct 2014 #123

Yep, yep, and yep. Sad. What happened to this party? Tatiana Oct 2014 #30

I forwarded this to my 840high Oct 2014 #31

DURec leftstreet Oct 2014 #33

OMG, you exercised free speech! Look how mad it makes all the operatives! Corruption Inc Oct 2014 #34

^^^ This ^^^ Tommymac Oct 2014 #73

K and R bigwillq Oct 2014 #35

The "party" stands for corporate criminals, torture, environmental destruction, perma-war Corruption Inc Oct 2014 #37

Thank you for encouraging me to not vote Democratic. It is greatly appreciated uppityperson Oct 2014 #38

It is encouraging our candidates to be actual, you know, Democrats LondonReign2 Oct 2014 #48

Yeah, but isn�t the time to do that during the primaries when you actually get a chance to vote for Chathamization Oct 2014 #54

This OP is about GOTV in the General. This negative DCCC crap is all about raising $$$$ Tommymac Oct 2014 #74

Yeah, but if the OP is pissed at the Democrats in power, the way to change that is to choose other Chathamization Oct 2014 #78

We have precious few real options during primaries. merrily Oct 2014 #82

We in Florida bullsnarfle Oct 2014 #114

Did you have a realistic choice in the primary? merrily Oct 2014 #121

Did the DNC or the DCCC have a primary I am unaware of? tkmorris Oct 2014 #98

I thought the OP was about the upcoming election. As far as I know, every Democrat running in a Chathamization Oct 2014 #107

In which primary did you last have a chance to vote for a liberal? merrily Oct 2014 #81

April. I also have a few chances during this general. Granted, not everyone is so lucky, but many of Chathamization Oct 2014 #86

"We choose these candidates." Only in the most literal sense. merrily Oct 2014 #87

Individually, perhaps. As a group, the choice is entirely up to us. It�s a choice that the vast Chathamization Oct 2014 #88

Nope. The choice is not entirely up to us. That's a naive, unrealistic description of what happens. merrily Oct 2014 #89

No, the person who receives the most votes from the voters becomes the candidate. Do you dispute Chathamization Oct 2014 #95

Either you are being disingenuous or you are not. Either way, I specified realistic choice. merrily Oct 2014 #102

I�m asking why you think they don�t have a choice. Do you think that votes are not counted, or that Chathamization Oct 2014 #104

..... merrily Oct 2014 #106

I encourage our candidates by talking directly to them, not by posting on a random forum or blog uppityperson Oct 2014 #94

Understand the target, uppity. N_E_1 for Tennis Oct 2014 #61

oh, golly, thanks for the advice to "think". uppityperson Oct 2014 #96

+1 JTFrog Oct 2014 #69

to quote Galloway "maybe it was the whiskey" dionysus Oct 2014 #181

What Horse Shit! maxrandb Oct 2014 #39

"hold their feet to the fire" LondonReign2 Oct 2014 #49

How do you hold their feet to the fire? Union Scribe Oct 2014 #64

First of all, know your opponent. .... N_E_1 for Tennis Oct 2014 #66

you really don't get it, do you? Skittles Oct 2014 #72

Oh I get it alright maxrandb Oct 2014 #147

"I'm thinking the message was "fuck you, we didn't get 100% of everything we wanted" LondonReign2 Oct 2014 #149

Anf why do you think we lost the moderates and independents? maxrandb Oct 2014 #156

Ah, I see LondonReign2 Oct 2014 #158

Look like Will touched a nerve Rex Oct 2014 #165

these fucking nitwits live in fairlyland, distracted by shiny things Skittles Oct 2014 #169

Whether you believe it or not, this country has indeed been going right. merrily Oct 2014 #83

Spot on Will... truebrit71 Oct 2014 #41

"Not as bad" is a piss poor campaign slogan or form of government. K&R Tierra_y_Libertad Oct 2014 #42

Excellent post, Will... ballyhoo Oct 2014 #44

K & R !!! WillyT Oct 2014 #46

This line from the article stands out to me Generic Other Oct 2014 #50

Yep. This needs to be said. I spend time uprooting this spam... Eleanors38 Oct 2014 #52

Understand the target... N_E_1 for Tennis Oct 2014 #53

When are you running? JoePhilly Oct 2014 #63

They don't even need the money. malthaussen Oct 2014 #70

Yep, the loyalty oaths, 2 years in advance, are a riot. merrily Oct 2014 #84

It's the Third Way. nt Zorra Oct 2014 #71

Democratic doormats blkmusclmachine Oct 2014 #99

Pic URL http://www.burford.co.uk/images/detailed/5/Humber_Plain_1024x609.jpg blkmusclmachine Oct 2014 #100

What if they don't get routed at the polls? JaneyVee Oct 2014 #101

Then ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2014 #119

a sad k&r... spanone Oct 2014 #110

And where are the calf's brains marinated in truffle-soaked baby duck's testicles!?!?!? BeyondGeography Oct 2014 #117

Which is EXACTLY why the whole shebang has to come crashing down. DeSwiss Oct 2014 #118

Well written. Why don't Democratic candidates speak out for Democratic Principles? rhett o rick Oct 2014 #126

As Shakespeare's King Lear was wont to say The Wizard Oct 2014 #129

He also said, "A horse is a horse, of course, of course, unless that horse is . . Mr Ed." Major Hogwash Oct 2014 #132

That didn't work out so well for Lear. ucrdem Oct 2014 #172

Stupidity and greed compound each other. marble falls Oct 2014 #131

This should be made into a whiney country/western song. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #135

There is no "liberal" national party. Guilty conservatives...yes perhaps. But that's all. JanMichael Oct 2014 #137

we all do. dionysus Oct 2014 #180

Been said many times. Rex Oct 2014 #143

Top of the Greatest Page. woo me with science Oct 2014 #148

GOTV! The barbarians are banging at the door! hrmjustin Oct 2014 #152

this is a very condescending post towards so many Democratic mountain grammy Oct 2014 #160

Thank you. JTFrog Oct 2014 #171

Thank you. Sometimes it feels like spitting into the wind mountain grammy Oct 2014 #173

he's found a new act and he's sticking to it. sad dionysus Oct 2014 #179

GOTV! the rethuglicans have hopemountain Oct 2014 #166

a rude pundit ripoff. get your own material. nt dionysus Oct 2014 #178