General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsImagine every "DINO" in the House and Senate
replaced by a Republican. No, really, imagine it in terms of what has happened during the Obama administration. Replace every one of the "DINOS" with a Republican in your mind and replay the past six years.
Like what you see in your head? No?
Go Vote in 2016. Vote for Democrats. Take everyone you know with you to the polls. If you don't, you may not have to use your imagination in 2017.
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)MineralMan
(146,345 posts)you can consider how likely that would be. I've looked at that. It won't be a "real" Democrat who replaces them.
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)MineralMan
(146,345 posts)OKNancy
(41,832 posts)I'd rather a DINO than Jim Inhofe. A Mary Landrieu would be great instead of the cow dung I have now.
NBachers
(17,170 posts)TheKentuckian
(25,035 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)FUD is sad to see on DU.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Maedhros
(10,007 posts)If the DINO votes with the Republicans, then what advantage have we gained by voting for them? Better to vote for the more liberal challenger, if we actually want the change that we keep saying we want.
MineralMan
(146,345 posts)They vote with the Democrats, almost all the time. Republicans almost NEVER vote with Democrats.
I give you Joe Donnelly, the freshman Senator from Indiana: He's about as DINO as they come. He votes with the Democratic caucus on every major issue. He's one of the first that will lose to a Republican in that woe-begotten state. In fact, in 2018, he's very likely to become a "former Senator." Indiana has rarely elected a Democrat to the Senate, and has only two Democratic House members.
There are many in his position, barely holding onto their seats in red states and states that lean red. Most are in very precarious positions in terms of holding their offices.
Can we afford to lose those Senators and congressional representatives? The chance of their being replaced by a progressive Democrat is zero. I don't think we can afford that. We've already lost Senate seats in 2014. We can't afford to lose any more.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)that's why they're called "Democrats In Name Only." They are why we couldn't even talk about a public option.
I stand by my previous statement.
MineralMan
(146,345 posts)Or almost never. If you think you could elect a progressive Democrat Senator in Indiana, I think you're absolutely wrong. The same is true in other states who currently have a Democratic Senator. This country is not uniform in its politics. Indiana is not Minnesota.
What state do you live in? Who are your Senators?
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)MineralMan
(146,345 posts)Not everyone In OR or MN. Still what happens in every state still affects you. Insularity is not a virtue.
mythology
(9,527 posts)There isn't one Democratic member of the House or Senate who vote with Republicans more than with the Democrats. Not one.
OKNancy
(41,832 posts)NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Something Dean was very aware of. There should be a very concerted effort to go after the rino's seats. I really do think that every rino that is replaced by a dino is an advancement in power for progressive causes. It elevates the power and presence of progressives.
The only part about rex I was referencing was their imagining the replacement of rinos. The rest is mine and I don't know what FUD stands for.
MineralMan
(146,345 posts)It's the swing seats that we can hold and win from the Republicans. But, it will take a strong Democratic turnout to do that. GOTV is essential on our part and we have to unite to get the voters out to vote.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Have a great weekend.
MineralMan
(146,345 posts)think
(11,641 posts)Last edited Sat Mar 28, 2015, 01:20 PM - Edit history (1)
let alone not supporting the president's achievements and educating her fellow Kentuckians as to WHY Democrats are a better choice.
Instead we still got a GOPer and the people of Kentucky have no clue as to the accomplishments of the Democrats and Obama. What can middle of the road Kentuckians think of the Democratic party after that display of utter hypocrisy?
Max Baucus, the appitomy of a Dino, who was bankrolled by the healthcare industry made sure universal health care never happened. That's what Dino's did for us:
Peter Dreier - E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics, Occidental College
Posted: 12/19/2013 6:00 pm EST Updated: 02/18/2014 5:59 am EST
~Snip~
It's just unfortunate that Obama couldn't send Baucus to a democratic country so he could see first-hand what a decent universal health care system looks like. Almost any democracy country would do, since all of them -- including Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand, Sweden, England, or Japan -- cover more people at a much lower cost than the United States.
Baucus has been complaining that the Affordable Care Act -- Obamacare -- doesn't do enough to control health care costs. He should know. As chair of the Senate finance committee chiefly responsible for drafting the health care bill, he was the major obstacle to incorporating a "public option" into the bill -- a government-run insurance plan which would allow citizens to select a Medicare-style alternative to private insurers. The whole point of the "public option' was to establish a benchmark to hold the private insurers accountable for holding down costs.
In April, Baucus warned that Obamacare was a potential "huge train wreck." Had he forgotten that he was the guy who designed the train?
From the time Obama took office in January 2009 until he signed the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, Baucus used his considerable influence to undermine Obama's efforts to include meaningful regulations to require the insurance and drug companies to act more responsibly. He led the opposition of a handful of moderate Democrats to Obama's proposal for a public option health care plan. That opposition forced Obama and progressive Democrats in Congress to make numerous compromises to accommodate a few Senators, including Baucus, who were tools of the insurance lobby. Baucus consistently thwarted efforts by health reform advocates to protect consumers and control costs....
~Snip~
In the previous three years, for example, Baucus received $63,350 from Blue Cross/Blue Shield; $45,250 from Aetna, and $46,750 from AIG. Over his career, the healthcare industry (including insurers, drug companies, hospitals and nursing homes, and medical professionals) have contributed $5.5 million to Baucus, including $1.6 million from the insurance industry, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Health industry lobby groups hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress to lobby for them. Two of them were Baucus' former chiefs of staff.
Full editorial:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/max-baucus-china-ambassador_b_4476035.html
So ya I'll vote for Dino over a neocon. But it's not a good solution.
I'd prefer to back true progressive candidates unashamed of their party's achievements who are willing to work to educate their constituents and lose than put up half ass phony Dems that run from the Democratic record and keep their constituents clueless as to what they could have.
In the long run the American people are better served by honest, hard working, and dedicated public servants rather than professional political hacks that will do whatever it takes to win an election rather than expand the vision.
Watering down a good message sucks and it shows...
JMO