2016 Postmortem

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)

68. Nope. Nothing anyone can do will change Republican behavior. It's mistaken thinking to think

Thu Aug 13, 2015, 10:54 AM

Aug 2015

otherwise.

The only thing that will change Republicans is for them to be voted out of office in large numbers and kept out through several election cycles.

And I say that because even the humiliating 2008 election only resulted in a double down by them. THey need to lose 3-4 elections in a row badly before they will change.

And guess what is preventing that from happening now? As I have said several times in this thread, gerrymandering.

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Could a 'President Bernie Sanders' deliver? [View all] Uncle Joe Aug 2015 OP

I kept waiting for this to be some kind of Onion or Yes Men spoof 99th_Monkey Aug 2015 #1

It's a nice opinion piece "and" from someone that's familiar with Bernie. Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #3

that someone is Jay Parini, well known author cali Aug 2015 #13

Thanks for the background addition, cali. Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #14

And to you Uncle Joe .. 99th_Monkey Aug 2015 #26

I noticed a sea-change in reporting when Bernie polled seven points over HRC in the NH poll. Stardust Aug 2015 #90

Yep. It seemed both palpable and instantaneous 99th_Monkey Aug 2015 #91

He would definitely take his issues to the people, no to Corporate Ceos. I think he would sabrina 1 Aug 2015 #2

I agree, Sabrina, he would use the bully pulpit and to good effect. Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #4

Yep, and it's the path to a supportive Congress in 2018. Scuba Aug 2015 #15

If people feel they have a voice Mnpaul Aug 2015 #28

He was a Mayor, US House Rep and Senator...He knows the Ropes. Better Qualified KoKo Aug 2015 #92

He delivers by being nominated and then elected. Ron Green Aug 2015 #5

In large part, I agree, should Bernie be nominated and elected; that kind of watershed momentum Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #6

What a transition that would be: Betty Karlson Aug 2015 #9

I agree, the political shift would be unmistakable and go a long way toward Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #10

Don't forget the voting machines! Stevepol Aug 2015 #11

I agree and also don't forget the long lines for mostly African Americans in trying to vote, Bernie Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #12

Like in 2012? brooklynite Aug 2015 #55

And Congress? treestar Aug 2015 #54

That's where "citizens, not consumers" comes in. Ron Green Aug 2015 #79

Two things: 1. he can't do anything himself 2. we need a movement mikehiggins Aug 2015 #7

I agree on all counts mikehiggins but I believe the exceptionally large turnouts at Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #8

That was true in 2008 uponit7771 Aug 2015 #17

LOL "he just might" ... do what?! Convince the overtly treasonous gerrymandered GOP congress to do uponit7771 Aug 2015 #16

Sanders would be expected to be somewhat consistent within the restraints of reality Armstead Aug 2015 #19

That's not what Im hearing from him...Voting day a national holiday?... with this GOP congress? uponit7771 Aug 2015 #23

I guess the election should be about VChips and School Uniforms again Armstead Aug 2015 #27

No. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #18

I love your open mind Armstead Aug 2015 #20

(Edited) I've had the last six years of evidence to inform my opinion. And I learned from it. stevenleser Aug 2015 #21

I guess the people of Vermont are all idiots Armstead Aug 2015 #24

Nope. He had a city council willing to work with him. He won't have that with the GOP congress. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #25

Always a reason... Armstead Aug 2015 #29

Reality isn't always what you want it to be, but it's best to work within it. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #32

And I reply therefore....Why the hell not at least try to mke things better? Armstead Aug 2015 #34

The GOP congressmen who are ensconced in safe gerrymandered districts dont care what we do. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #37

if Bernie is successful, there won't be a GOP Congress. virtualobserver Aug 2015 #30

Yes there will. We will have a GOP house through 2022 at least and probably through 2024 due to stevenleser Aug 2015 #31

Only if Democrats continue to pursue the same tired strategies virtualobserver Aug 2015 #33

Has nothing to do with strategy. Redistricting isnt done again until after the 2020 census. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #36

the "tired" strategy is imagining that voters and non-voters are locked in place virtualobserver Aug 2015 #40

I don't subscribe to magical thinking that staunch GOP voters can magically be made progressives. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #43

you are not willing to think outside of the box virtualobserver Aug 2015 #61

That's not thinking outside the box. It's magical thinking. There is a difference. stevenleser Aug 2015 #64

it doesn't have anything to do with progressive ideas virtualobserver Aug 2015 #65

So maybe all Democrats should just take a vacation until 2021 Armstead Aug 2015 #42

Nope, that is your straw man. We must hold the white house and make what gains we can stevenleser Aug 2015 #44

If that's the only purpose of politics then, why not have a fighter in that symbolic position? Armstead Aug 2015 #48

You're not reading what I wrote. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #49

I'm reading what you wrote. I get it. I disagree. Armstead Aug 2015 #51

No, you aren't getting it. Being there to prevent a GOP President from doing what they would do stevenleser Aug 2015 #57

You mean what Bill Clinton DIDN'T do? Armstead Aug 2015 #59

Nope. Nothing anyone can do will change Republican behavior. That's your big mistake. They dont care stevenleser Aug 2015 #67

I agree with that. But it is not eitehr/or Armstead Aug 2015 #86

Even a Dem Congress won't be enough treestar Aug 2015 #56

Bernie may not have to deal with a Republican Congress, depending on how Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #73

Yes, he will. The House is hopelessly gerrymandered. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #74

You give up too easy. n/t Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #78

Of course, they'll bend over backwards to work with Clinton. frylock Aug 2015 #89

Adressing your edit -- Bill Clinton set the table for GWBush and the damage that followed Armstead Aug 2015 #39

No, it has nothing to do with Clinton's actions. It has to do with analyzing GOP actions. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #41

It has to do with doing nothing to stop them...or even try to stop them Armstead Aug 2015 #45

Nope, we're talking about what 2016-2024 will be like and how the past informs that. stevenleser Aug 2015 #46

the past only "informs" that because the DNC is the same tired losing plan virtualobserver Aug 2015 #66

Nope. Nothing anyone can do will change Republican behavior. It's mistaken thinking to think stevenleser Aug 2015 #68

Gerrymandering can be overcome virtualobserver Aug 2015 #69

In general that depends. In practice THIS gerrymandering cannot be overcome. We know that from 2012 stevenleser Aug 2015 #71

yep, Congress treestar Aug 2015 #53

This idea that Bernie will usher in a Socialist Utopia redstateblues Aug 2015 #85

I don't know. Calista241 Aug 2015 #22

No matter who the Democratic President is, unless the Democrats control at least the Senate, the still_one Aug 2015 #35

Even with the Senate, the GOP House can still stop pretty much everything. The 112th congress was stevenleser Aug 2015 #62

Actually SC, and judicial appointments are a big deal, and set the foundation for change still_one Aug 2015 #75

Absolutely. That is why we must have a Democrat elected. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #76

Absolutely! gollygee Aug 2015 #38

Absolutely Bernie Will And Can fredamae Aug 2015 #47

Like FedEx hootinholler Aug 2015 #50

There's an anti-gerrymandering movement gollygee Aug 2015 #52

Mid terms in Nov 2022 is the earliest since the gerrymandering cannot be fixed until after the 2020 stevenleser Aug 2015 #58

Just watch n/t hootinholler Aug 2015 #60

Yes, we will watch alright. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #63

Be difficult for any Dem president if the congress is Republican. WI_DEM Aug 2015 #70

You would be surprised how controversial that pretty obvious conclusion is. nt stevenleser Aug 2015 #72

Obama has been making some headway this year gollygee Aug 2015 #77

Much as I love Bernie and what he stands for, no, not with this Republican Congress. n/t Lil Missy Aug 2015 #80

The Congress will be greatly influenced by the Presidential race and Bernie Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #81

How about a plan to take back the House and Senate redstateblues Aug 2015 #82

Totally disagree gollygee Aug 2015 #83

Should Bernie win the Presidential Election, Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #84

The reality is that the Republicans' plan to take over state Houses and Senates redstateblues Aug 2015 #87

I agree with your post, it will take organization, intention, discipline Uncle Joe Aug 2015 #88