Want Republicans to take over the Congress? If not, work and vote for Dems. It is that simple.

[RBInMaine]

There is a choice to be made, and it is as simple as it gets. Either work and vote for Dems (at least go vote), or don't and risk Boehner and McConnell taking over, risk allowing the TeaRacists to dance in the streets with glee, risk Rush-Beck-O'Reilly-Coulter and the rest of that scum to gloat like there is no tomorrow, risk allowing that suck hole Palin-The-Shithead-Lady to smirk smirk smirk and wink wink wink all day long after her TeaRacists win, and turn the progress that has been made (and you are damn straight that is has been PROGRESS) upside down. The entirely idiotic notion that staying home will somehow "punish" the Dems into being even more "progressive" is absolutely ridiculous. It's been tried before, and it doesn't work. All that numbskulled notion ever did was allow ReSCUMlicans to win and run the country right down into the core of the Earth.

I see this cycle as the hugest no-brainer to ever come down the pike. If the long list of accomplishments Maddow has so excellently cited and the ultra-right turn of the G.O.TeaRacists isn't enough to motivate Dems and "progressives" to work and vote, then nothing will.

Also, if you want to sway Indies, just use these four messages: 1) RePUKES want to go back to the Bush days in half a heartbeat. 2) The TeaParty arm of the Republican Party CONTROLS that party.
3) The RePUKES are the Party Of No on steroids. 4) RePUKES are owned by Wall Street, bought and paid for.

These messages resonate with Indies, and if they are repeated a thousand times, we'll retain plenty of them.

[Goblinmonger]

1. Frankly, I'm getting kind of tired of that choice.

I am tired of working for a Dem President and Dem members of congress only to have the act like moderate Republicans at best. I'm tired of the President continuing to shit all over education (I am a teacher). I can probably muster one more election of holding my nose and doing the best I can to not vomit while I vote for the lesser of two evils, but the Dems better to do something to actually win back the left in the next few years or more and more are not going to show up or vote for a third party.

How much worse would we be right now?

[RBInMaine]

2. WAY fucking worse, and I think you know that. As for teachers, he has saved hundreds of thousands of

their jobs. I know. Mine was just likely one of them. Governing the entire country means more than just governing for the "left." The left has gotten plenty of progress (not purity - PROGRESS)to be happy about. Think further.

[madmax]

4. +10

[Goblinmonger]

6. Saved "some" jobs at what cost

Can you honestly tell me that you agree with his education policy? Do you like what Arne and Co are putting in place? The cost that goes with those dollars? It is just more of the same "high stakes testing" bullshit from this administration and I think you know that.

[theoldman]

3. You will always be voting for the lesser of two evils.

Third parties never win a major election. If you want worse, vote for Palin. Any more questions?

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JoePhilly]

8. The Dem electorate is fickle.

We change issues faster than a person with IBS changes underwear.

We are not in it for the long haul. We expect immediate gratification. Any compromise = total capitulation.

And we are far more likely to take our ball and go home, especially when compared to our right wing foes.

You want better Dems?? Go nuts in the primary. Scream and yell. But if your preferred candidate does not win, (1) figure out why you lost, and (2) help the Dem who did win beat that GOP whack job they are running against.

In today's politics, almost any Dem is better than the GOP alternative.

[sendero]

9. No, total capitulation...

... = total capitulation. Obama has capitulated on almost everything. And then he wonders why people are pissed. It would be funny if it weren't so pathetic.

[sabrina 1]

15. Speak for yourself. And this is exactly the attitude that

is losing support for this president. And by extension, for the party. For people like me, and there are huge numbers obviously in that category, I am furious at people like you who never attack the right, but spend your time going after those who are most likely to voted for Democrats, alienating them on a daily basis. And if Dems lose, I will blame people like you, and Gibbs and Rahm Emanuel for handing this country over to Republicans.

Pelosi has already complained to this WH, twice, over this kind of attack on Democrats. What is your problem? You seem to know nothing about politics or how to get your party to win elections. It's almost as if you want them to lose, quite frankly.

[Jennicut]

17. The last 3rd party that really came close to winning was Teddy R.'s try with

The Bull Moose party. There are 3 options, vote Dem, vote Repub, vote 3rd party. However, the movement to create 3rd parties has always run into difficulties because many people will not totally abandon the Dem or Repub. The support is never enough. People mistrust what they know but mistrust the unknown as well. Someday there may be a split.

[Laelth]

7. If Democrats act like Democrats, the people will vote for them.

It's that simple.

-Laelth

[Kltpzyxm]

21. +1000 nt

[gtar100]

10. As lousy as it sounds, our votes are not sacred personal statements.

They count only en masse. Our crappy system gives us a choice of Dem vs. Repuke and that's it. This causes votes for third-party candidates to have the effect of taking away from one side or the other. It's a winner-takes-all contest so voting third party most likely has the exact opposite effect than what you really wanted when taking your principled stand. Sucks big time but that's how it's been rigged.

Worse still is not voting at all. Do you prefer to let those tea-bagger idiots decide public policy?

So the message is this: Vote Democrat or get another fat-ass, stupid-shit republican to spend our treasury on making a bunch of assholes rich and you poor. It's that simple.

I pledge to hold my nose and vote for Michael Bennet in Colorado because the other choices are worse. That's our democracy in action!

[frylock]

11. maine has two republican senators..

if i'm going to be scolded, i'd prefer to be scolded by someone that knows what the fuck they're talking about.

[Jennicut]

16. Gee, should no one be allowed to post here if they have Rethug Senators?

Half of DU would be gone.

[frylock]

18. not at all..

but maybe they should get shit done in their own state before they deign to lecture others on how to do things. but thanks for getting RB's back. he's been unwilling or unable to address the fact that they can't elect dems in his home state.

[JNelson6563]

12. Amen friend, amen!

:toast:

[Warren Stupidity]

13. Want people to vote? Give them something to vote for. nt

[grahamhgreen]

14. Fear based choice - does not motivate Dems. nt

[CakeGrrl]

20. And with that, they'll default their way to another round of Republicans.

Simple arithmetic.

Until the numbers are there to get a 3rd party candidate to the WH - do you think that will be true in 2012? - there will be a Dem or Repub there.

I imagine you've heard some of what the congressional Republicans who are chomping at the bit to regain control have had to say. If you think they won't do any worse when they have majority power, sit back and let them have their go at it.

[grahamhgreen]

23. Does not motivate Dems in my experience is all. Real HCR would. nt

[Steely_Dan]

24. It's Called Principle

This may be hard to believe and rightly or wrongly, it is our belief that we would rather go down in flames standing on principle than to allow our party to abandon the very tenets that made us the Party of the People.

-P

[KakistocracyHater]

19. what are your plans not to go "bi-partisan" if Dems win & go rightward

anyway? what about that?

[rucky]

22. I will, but for the other 364 days...

I'll say what I feel.

[DemocraticPilgrim]

25. Exactly if ground zero is a scary thought wait till the GOP make the nation a ground zero.