A gift for my fellow DUers: Twas the night before Xmas, and all through the land...

[WilliamPitt]

...Rove's grandest dream has now turned into sand...

Cheers.

:toast:

===

Get Ready for a Democratic Era
By John B. Judis and Ruy Teixeira
Sunday, December 23, 2007; Page B01

Karl Rove's grandest aspiration was to create a Republican majority that would dominate American politics for a generation or more. But as the effects of his distinctive brand of fear-mongering fade, it's the Democrats who are poised to become the country's majority party -- and perhaps for a long time to come.

Many conservatives have insisted that the Democrats' wins in the 2006 midterm elections, as well as their recent pickups in some 2007 races, were mere blips. They wish. Political, ideological, demographic and economic trends are all leading toward durable Democratic majorities in Congress, control of most statehouses and, very possibly, the end of the decades-old GOP hammerlock on the electoral college.

This sea change is the result of the electorate's disenchantment with conservative Republicans, beginning in the 1990s. The old conservative majority, as given voice by Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich, sought to cut federal regulation, to privatize government operations and to slash social spending. But by late in Bill Clinton's presidency, broad public majorities had come to back environmental and consumer regulation, as well as significant new government spending on health care and education. As President Bush discovered in 2005, the public also disliked attempts to gut Social Security.

Moreover, much of the electorate had grown leery of the GOP's fervent identification with the religious right. As early as 1992, mainstream voters were turned off by Pat Buchanan's nasty, divisive "culture war" speech at the Republican National Convention. Attempts by religious conservatives to stop teaching evolution and funding human stem-cell research spurred a widespread backlash, even in states such as Kansas, which Democrats had given up for dead.

This dramatic shift in the public's outlook carried with it a change in the political makeup of the Republican and Democratic coalitions -- in a way that decisively helps Democrats. Even in conservatism's heyday, Democrats received the support of African Americans, Hispanics and a residual group of white working-class voters (especially union members) who had not switched parties in the 1980s and become "Reagan Democrats." That was fine for a base, but not enough to win the White House or to keep Congress. But over the past two decades, two new groups have migrated to the Democratic Party -- and provided the basis for an enduring majority coalition.

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/21/AR2007122101415.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

[Hekate]

1. Cheers. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. And a happy new year....

:party: :toast:

Hekate

[blue neen]

2. Happy to give this the fifth recommendation.

I hope Karl Rove chokes on his eggnog! :)

[robbedvoter]

3. If WaPo was allowed to print it, must be fargone conclusion since...forever?

Think about it: the republics didn't really win any election since 1994 - even though they did reap the spoils of victory.

[pretzel4gore]

9. they're thieves...

it's so simple. "thieves. crooks. conmen. cheats. and the USA? Law'n'order. Hang em high. lockemup, toss the key. spare the rod, spoil the kid... god gives to the good, denies the liar/thief." So utterly simple. Drug laws are the weapons of organised criminals. war on terror is terrorism, period. righteousness can never be selfish, ergo the reactionarkies= thieves, PUSHERS (of greed) need prison.
all so simple, a child can see it

[oasis]

4. Thanks Will Pitt. Merry Christmas.

:toast:

[Richard Steele]

5. K&R

[WilliamPitt]

6. .

[sellitman]

7. Merry Christmas Will.

Wishing you and yours a Democratically controlled America!

[senseandsensibility]

8. Thanks

There's been precious little cheer around here lately. Merry Christmas!

[supernova]

10. Loverly, Will, thanks. K&R

I hope it comes true. :D

Hey if we get a majority for the next say 50 years, we will get universal healthcare.

[lonestarnot]

11. Merry Twismas Will and Hairy Bastid!

[InvisibleTouch]

12. Good article!

I think we've seen the last gasp of the right-wing-wacko republican party. 9/11 gave them an artificial second wind, but that has run out.

[fascisthunter]

13. A Cautious Reminder:

will these Democrats be Republican wannabees who will prevent Progressives from ever getting anything meaningful done? Just being a Democrat is not enough anymore. It is a start, but a Republican can pretend to be a Democrat. "Corpocrats" run the country regardless of political identity and it is screwing everybody except for the "elite", at least in the short term.

Anyway, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and all. I believe we have more work to be done, yet your article does show a glimmer of hope.

[liberalla]

20. "Just being a Democrat is not enough anymore."

Bullseye!

We have to select Dems that are not corp-owned. Dems who truly have the best interests of 'We the People' in mind. Dems whose allegiance to and protection of the Constitution is without question.

[Work4Peace]

21. exactly

http://peacecandidates.com/

[pberq]

14. Kick & Nominated - thanks Will

Merry Christmas!



http://thecia.com.au/reviews/m/merry-christmas-joyeux-noel.shtml

On Christmas Eve 1914 in Northern France, officers and soldiers from Scotland, Germany and France, who fought each other from trenches barely 100 metres apart on a daily basis, put down their weapons to share wine and food, exchange photographs and memories and play a game of soccer in the snow. It was an extraordinary act of human generosity and humility - and a true event.

The story follows a Scottish Anglican priest, who volunteered to follow his young church aides; a prestigious Berlin tenor now fighting for his country, and the French Lieutenant Audebert, who has had to leave his pregnant wife behind. These men and their peers easily find a common ground that is dangerously subversive to their superiors.

A bona-fide hit of the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, Merry Christmas (Joyeux Noël) is a heart-warming story about courage and dignity. Anchored by an excellent international cast this deeply moving and uplifting film features scenes of great bravery, simple decency and extraordinary humour. With a genuine poignancy in its celebration of the way a shared humanity transcended the madness of war, this elegant film is a European classic.

[Patsy Stone]

15. Cheers, Will!

And thanks for posting this. :toast:

[blondeatlast]

16. ...and to all, a good night! Happy whatever you celebrate, my fellow DUers.

And thanks, Will, for giving me a smile on a very busy day.

[mzmolly]

17. Only one thing is missing from this hopeful analysis > A THANK YOU to Howard Dean,

or at least a mention of his 50 state strategy would be warranted. ;)

Thanks for sharing this WP.

Happy holidays to all.
:hi:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

18. Merry Christmas Will

A great read :D

Thank you for all you do my friend.

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

[Crewleader]

19. Merry Christmas William Rivers Pitt

Hugs my friend! :hug:

[Ellipsis]

22. Merry Xmas William...

...to you and all.


:toast:

[Diamond Dave]

23. You are the bestest, dear Will. Merry x-mas and we love you. n/t

We only have how many more days till this nightmare just might be over?

Peace and goodwill.

[clarence swinney]

24. great democratic eras no one will tell the people

-------------------- SHOCK & AWE------------------------
----------DEMOCRATS CREATE WEALTH AND JOBS-----------
1.From Harding In 1921 to Bush in 2003
2.Democrats held White House for 40 years and Republicans for 42.5 years.
3.Democrats created 75,820,000 net new jobs -- Republicans 36,440,000.
4.Per Year Average—Democrats 1,825,200---Republicans 856,400.
5.Republicans had 9 presidents during the period and 6 had depression or recession.
6.Republicans had a recession/depression in 177 months and Democrats in 32 months.
7.DOW—1928 to 2003—Stock market gained 11% average per year under D presidents versus 2% under R presidents. Small Cap stocks gained 18% as yearly average under D and minus 3% under R. SOURCES—Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.BLS.Gov)--Economic Policy Institute (EPI.org)—Global & World Almanacs from 1980 to 2003 (annual issues)
www.the-hamster.com (chart taken from NY Times)
National Archives History on Presidents. www.nara.gov
LA Times 10-11-00 on Market--www.Find articles.com

8.GDP—grew by 43% more under Democrats.

[clarence swinney]

25. GREATEST RECORD OF ALL PRESIDENTS

no one will tell the people
Democrats let rich conservatives promo Reagan record which Clinton demolished

PRAISE CLINTON AND GORE WITH PLEASURE
GDP--rose from 6,300 to 11,600
NATIONAL INCOME-5,000 to 8,000 Billion--
JOBS CREATED—237,000 per month to replace Jimmy Carter record of 218,000.
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS--$360 to $478
AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS WORKED--never hit 35.0--hit that mark 4 times in 80's
UNEMPLOYMENT--from 7.2% down down down to as low as 3.9%
MINIMUM WAGE--$4.25 to $5.15
MINORITIES--did exceedingly well
HOME OWNERSHIP--hit all time high (no big deal most can say this-except Reagan)
DEFICIT--290 Billion to whoopee a SURPLUS
DEBT----+28%---300% increase over prior 12 years by Conservatives.
FEDERAL SPENDING--+28%---+80% under Reagan- who is da true conservative?
DOW JONES AVERAGE—3,500 to 11,720 top in 2000. All it's history to get to 3500 and Clinton zooms it
NASDAQ--700 to 5,000 top in 2000.---All of it's history to get to 700 and Clinton zooms it
VALUES INDEXES-- almost all bad went down--good went up in zoom zoom zoom
FOREIGN AFFAIRS--Peace on Earth good will toward each other---Mark of a true Christian--what has Bush done to Peace on Earth?
POPULARITY---highest poll ratings in history during peacetime in AFRICA, ASIA AND EUROPE . Even 98.5% in Moscow--left office with Highest Gallup rating since it was started in 1920's.
STAND UP FOR JUSTICE--evil conservatives spent $110,000,000 on hearings and investigations and caught one very evil man who took a few plane rides to events.
BOW YOUR HEADS—“Thank you God for sending us a man of Bill Clinton's character, intelligence, knowledge of governance, ability to face up to crises without whimpering and a great leader of the world. Amen”.
THANK YOU GOD FOR THE GOOD TIMES THE CLINTON YEARS.

[clarence swinney]

26. Clinton vs Reagan

I cannot comprehend Democrats.
They let Conservatives promo Reagan record which is not above average.

Is there no Leadership?
Comparing Democrat’s hero-CLINTON—versus Republican’s hero--REAGAN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.JOBS—grew by 43% more under Clinton.
2.GDP---grew by 57% more under Clinton.
3.DOW—grew by 700% more under Clinton..
4.NASDAQ-grew by 18 times as much under Clinton.
4.SPENDING--grew by 28% under Clinton---80% under Reagan.
5.DEBT—grew by 43% under Clinton—187% under Reagan.
6. DEFICITS—Clinton got a large surplus--grew by 112% under Reagan.
7.NATIONAL INCOME—grew by100% more under Clinton.
8.PERSONAL INCOME—Grew by 110% more under Clinton.
SOURCES—Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.BLS.Gov)--Economic Policy Institute (EPI.org)—Global & World Almanacs from 1980 to 2003 (annual issues)
www.the-hamster.com (chart taken from NY Times)
National Archives History on Presidents. www.nara.gov
LA Times 10-11-00 on Market--www.Find articles.com

A vote for a Republican is a vote for Less Success.
A vote to reduce the Standard of Living for all Americans.

[liberalla]

27. clarence, thanks for the posts and links!

good info! welcome to DU!

[Swamp Rat]

28. kick