Reply #271: what do we have to lose? [View All]

[onenote]

I'm trying to figure out what the purpose of walking out would be. To demonstrate to chimpy and the repubs that the Democrats think they have screwed the country left, right, and center. Well, assuming that they don't already know we think that (which is a pretty big assumption), what do you expect their reaction to be? A little light bulb going off followed by mea culpas and promises not to do it anymore? Mass resignations?

Okay, so if its not to demonstrate anything to chimpy and his fellow repubs (and thereby influence their behavior), it must be to demonstrate something to the public at large and influence their behavior. Well, one portion of the electorate (represented by folks here at DU among others), we already know that chimpy and his gang of thugs are fucking up our country. So nothing really accomplished by a walk out other than a feel good moment.

The one group who we should be trying to influence are the moderate and independent voters who are beginning, finally, to come to the realization that voting for chimpy and the repubs was the stupidest thing they've ever done. Its their kids that are dying in Iraq. Their pension plans that are going under. Their transportation costs that are skyrocketing. Their right of privacy that is being compromised. However, poll after poll show that while these folks don't trust chimpy much anymore, they haven't exactly fallen in love with the Democrats. They think both parties put politics above everything and don't care about taking care of the things that need to be taken care of. Well, I'm not sure how the Dems walking out of the SOTU convinces these folks that the Dems are interested in governing. It will be spun that the Dems don't want government to work.

What we need is a strong response to the SOTU and we need to start the 2006 campaign, on a national basis now. We need to begin running ads -- national ads -- spelling out how Dems are the party of American Values -- of democracy, protecting individuals' privacy against government intrusion, etc etc.

What we have to "lose" by an empty symbolic gesture that will be characterized by the media as a petulant tantrum is the momentum we have in getting independents and moderates to support Democrats in November and beyond.

onenote