General Discussion

FBaggins

(28,705 posts)

18. It isn't usually "excuses"

Wed Nov 5, 2014, 12:13 PM

Nov 2014

Oh sure... we all go through the stages of grief in the aftermath of a big loss. So there's some of that. It's natural.

But most people don't realize that politics is really not a 2-party game. There are loads of factions within each party that are constantly vying for control. If you can successfully spin a loss as being the result of not listening to your faction, you can gain power within the party even in he midst of loses.

The biggest problem I have with the "no supportng the President enough" spin is that the other side (the winning side in this case) was doing everything they could do to pin our candidates to an unpopular President. It's takes an extreme suspension of disbelief to think that "you're darn right I'll give him whatever he wants!" would be the winning strategy.

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Let me be clear: It is delusional to claim dems lost because they didn't stand with the President [View all] cali Nov 2014 OP

As you note in the last lines, his deep unpopularity was not helpful. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #1

I never get the excuses and denial that invariably pop up after we lose cali Nov 2014 #2

It's simply being human. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #5

It isn't usually "excuses" FBaggins Nov 2014 #18

I don't either. Tatiana Nov 2014 #50

Yes, it was a pummeling by proxy. Can't do anything about the guy in the WH, so TwilightGardener Nov 2014 #36

i'll kick & rec that! spanone Nov 2014 #3

having the choice of repub or repub-lite is not a good motivator for turnout corkhead Nov 2014 #4

Seriously? Not this old saw again. In some states all they want is republican cali Nov 2014 #6

ask the disinterested voter why they are disinterested and they will tell you why they stayed home corkhead Nov 2014 #13

If that's true, then we shouldn't even bother running candidates in those states. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #38

But liberal candidates in many regions can't make it past the primaries. Kaleva Nov 2014 #45

Which is why we need open primaries. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #47

Yet the liberal policies win. Which is what confuses me. AleksS Nov 2014 #53

Yes! it is not just one issue but a number of them. hrmjustin Nov 2014 #7

right. many more than I listed, and some are very, very local cali Nov 2014 #14

Our losing Dem gov candidate Erich Bloodaxe BSN Nov 2014 #49

You hit the nail on the head with the economy. amandabeech Nov 2014 #8

But the Bankers have done extremely well since then. Bandit Nov 2014 #61

I can't figure it out, either. n/t amandabeech Nov 2014 #73

Me either...and I sure am shaking my head over Tuesday. nt mariawr Nov 2014 #79

Truly, would this be happening if Pres Obama were not Black? cilla4progress Nov 2014 #9

As I said, racism is a part. It's a significant piece in some places, but it's not the only cali Nov 2014 #15

LOL how did he get elected?! maced666 Nov 2014 #39

absolutely - many ran from bush, even Gore would not enlist Clinton support DrDan Nov 2014 #48

Do you remember the Clinton years? Bandit Nov 2014 #62

In 2006, votes ran away from Bush who was caucasion yeoman6987 Nov 2014 #82

The horrid attacks ads seemed to have worked in Arkansas. moriah Nov 2014 #10

My mom said the same thing Art_from_Ark Nov 2014 #83

"Let me be clear: It is delusional to claim dems lost because they didn't stand with the President" ProSense Nov 2014 #11

one more time: that is not the only reason. It's a factor; a significant one, but still one of cali Nov 2014 #16

"He did win two Presidential elections." ProSense Nov 2014 #22

true, but he did win Iowa. He certainly won MA and MD. cali Nov 2014 #24

Coakley was the Dem candidate for MA gov... wysi Nov 2014 #72

The Repubs elected 2 black legislators to Washington this year. Calista241 Nov 2014 #88

Sure, and that probably animated a bunch of voters... malthaussen Nov 2014 #17

I blame Ebola. malthaussen Nov 2014 #12

presidents get blamed for the bad stuff, get no credit for the good stuff. geek tragedy Nov 2014 #19

yes. every word is spot on. cali Nov 2014 #20

You are so right, and to pretend that dems lost because they didn't stand with the President Autumn Nov 2014 #21

thanks, Autumn. It's just pointing out the obvious. cali Nov 2014 #23

being clear does not equate to being right... lame54 Nov 2014 #25

baloney. the facts support my op. You have no facts to support you- or at least cali Nov 2014 #30

do you need facts... lame54 Nov 2014 #54

"Don't vote for Democrats ... except me!" is not a winning strategy. ieoeja Nov 2014 #26

Nunn/Carter in Georgia would have benefited if they stood with Obama, and.. Dawgs Nov 2014 #27

Nunn and Carter lost by over 8 points. Calista241 Nov 2014 #75

I didn't say she would have won. I said she would have benifitted. Dawgs Nov 2014 #77

A rash of Democratic retirements did not help either Proud Liberal Dem Nov 2014 #28

absolutely. cali Nov 2014 #31

agree. hell harkin couldn't stick it out for another 6 years. okieinpain Nov 2014 #32

They retired on a bad year Proud Liberal Dem Nov 2014 #57

it looks that way. hopefully president obama will do a good job okieinpain Nov 2014 #58

I'm going to disagree with you a little bit on president obama okieinpain Nov 2014 #29

doing that one on one is entirely a different thing. You don't have the MSM to contend with cali Nov 2014 #33

they did but not like the dems did with obama. n/t. okieinpain Nov 2014 #44

Standing with the President must include Darb Nov 2014 #34

This is it exactly. MoonchildCA Nov 2014 #52

It's hard to teach marions ghost Nov 2014 #66

Certainly true but when so many candidates run against the party's leader, even though it may make pampango Nov 2014 #35

I disagree. dawg Nov 2014 #37

I'm sure he is deeply unpopular in red states treestar Nov 2014 #40

No, the dems lost because they didn't stand with the President jeff47 Nov 2014 #41

You left Obama himself off the list - he needs to own some of it. maced666 Nov 2014 #42

It IS also a factor. When candidates won't even... JaneyVee Nov 2014 #43

An economy that does NOT benefit the vast majority of people bigwillq Nov 2014 #46

It's not necessarily standing with the Pres - it's running on the success. Drunken Irishman Nov 2014 #51

Bingo Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Nov 2014 #64

I blame Snowden and Greenwald. Puzzledtraveller Nov 2014 #55

Plus quaking and stammering when adked about the leader of the party. Orsino Nov 2014 #56

All of the above and they ran away from the President. applegrove Nov 2014 #59

David Domina opposes Keystone, sent bankers to jail, and lost (nt) Recursion Nov 2014 #60

If issues don't matter neither does the candidate.... nt think Nov 2014 #80

Agree, but also no unifed, consistent message, and it's always easier to campaign against joeybee12 Nov 2014 #63

Slightly disagree. Absent any other compelling rationale and narrative for election TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #65

You could not be more wrong Niko Nov 2014 #67

Um...NO...that is just one more factor, you seem to be the delusional one here. Rex Nov 2014 #68

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2014 #69

Fuck you and your stupid post n/t arcane1 Nov 2014 #70

Don't enjoy your stay. Rex Nov 2014 #71

You forgot Chickenshit. GeorgeGist Nov 2014 #74

Two-way street. Combine the Conciliator-in-Chief with a party of spineless cowards BlueStreak Nov 2014 #76

voter turnout and apathy. Women and young for the most part didn't show up. It bothers me that GOTV still_one Nov 2014 #78

While all those factors are very real think Nov 2014 #81

Totally and respectively disagree. nilesobek Nov 2014 #84

Forgive the analogy. Savannahmann Nov 2014 #85

It sounds like you're feeling guilty. Renew Deal Nov 2014 #86

+1 rock Nov 2014 #87