So the Republicans will not let ANYTHING happen that will

[gateley]

help the jobs/economy situation.

What are we to do?

Seriously.

[Skittles]

1. get a president who will treat repukes like they are - RABID DOGS

[gateley]

8. Even if we had that President, what could he do when

nothing even makes it out of Committee in the House, and the Senate filibusters every fucking thing?

It was a serious question.

[Skittles]

22. LOL

I cannot IMAGINE what it would be like to force the world to see what fucking rabid ASSHOLES republicans are :rofl:

[jaysunb]

23. +1000 n/t

[Liberal Veteran]

2. Vote them back into total power to spite President Obama for his lack of "purity".

By the way, I'm not entirely happy with my face. I'm thinking that cutting my nose off will show my face it better shape up.


:P

[gateley]

9. It was a serious, sincere question. Thanks, though. nt

[Liberal Veteran]

16. I was only being sardonic, not facetious.

The only thing to do is throw all the republicans out so some progressive legislation can be passed to the president's desk.

[gateley]

19. Wouldn't that be nice! But even if we got the message out

somehow (which we suck at doing) so people "got it", that doesn't help NOW. And whether or not your neighbor has a job when it comes time to vote may be all that s/he cares about (understandably), so even if we were able to throw 'em all out, it's not in time to make sure more of 2010 doesn't happen.

And I just posted to someone, this isn't necessarily about Obama - our House and Senate are hogtied. He doesn't even get a chance to sign a fucking bill!

It's really a nightmare.

We're screwn.

[global1]

3. Make Sure That Their Every Move Against Jobs & The Economy........

is shouted out so all Americans can see that they were the cause of our initial demise and they are continuing to bring down this country. We need to point out exactly how they are undermining our Country and the President. We need to hammer that home until we can turn most Americans against them and make sure that we re-elect Obama and give him back the House and a filibuster proof Senate (not just 60 seats but more than enough to make sure we get 60 even if some of our DINO's in the Senate vote against our best interest. This is the way we get to bring back this Country from the brink.

[gateley]

12. I couldn't agree more on that point - we don't message well.

We don't get the truth across. We suck at that!

Don't know if we could get the votes for the House and Senate when ultimately, people will be voting "I still don't have a job! The other guys COULDN'T be any worse".

Even if we were to learn how to hammer it home, the majority of people don't pay that much attention. They only know how much money they have in their wallets, you know? That's why I'm just at a loss to identify anything that could turn this situation around NOW. :(

[TheKentuckian]

4. I think ceasing to pretend they are well meaning people we happen to have disagreements with

who have good points to make is a solid place to start.

[Skittles]

5. careful - someone will accuse you wanting "purity"

[TheWraith]

6. Really? Because that's the unstated premise of the purity trolling.

That if Obama just yells loud enough, the Republicans will do the right thing.

[Skittles]

7. omg

so fucking lost

:rofl:

[RaleighNCDUer]

10. Bullshit.

The premise is, that if he starts treating them the way they are begging to be treated, people will see them for the obstructionist assholes they are and vote them the fuck OUT.

As long as he plays nice with them, they stay in and get stronger.

NOBODY (except the President) expects the Republicans will EVER do the right thing.

[TheWraith]

21. Either you believe they'll do the right thing, or you can't blame Obama for not doing what you want.

Either they're obstructionist, or they're not. Pick one.

[gateley]

15. Aaarrrrghhhhh! That's the THIRD time 'purity' has been

mentioned -- what on earth are you guys referring to? Every one else seems to get it but me! Help!

[TheKentuckian]

39. No it isn't. I expect them to never do the right thing. In fact, I expect them to

pull out all the stops to prevent anything in the rough vicinity of the right thing.

Hell, I expect them to fight to the death against even some very wrong things (that they have always favored) if someone with a (D) next to their name supports it favor of some new heinous invention.

It is the "centrist" and "pragmatic" position that the TeaPubliKlans can be cajoled, out gamed, convinced, or bargained with to do the right thing.

What we need is for the President, Congress, Governors, Mayors, legislators, council members, and right thinking citizens to do is to boldly, steadfastly, and clearly map out a very different direction. Articulate plans to get there and fight to the last breath to make it so without apology.

[gateley]

14. That's the second mention of "purity" in this thread --

I don't know what you guys are talking about. Did I miss something? Thanks.

[gkhouston]

27. It's a term used to belittle anyone who believes that Dems should act like Dems.

As opposed to the so-called pragmatists, who don't.

[gateley]

31. Thank you - I just didn't get it. nt

[mazzarro]

11. +100% - BINGO!

No more illusion of bipartisanship that has bedeviled this administration and which the administration has refused to acknowledge. If the rethugs refuse to act cooperative, then call them out on the issue. Take them on a case by case basis and none of this meeting them 100% of their way and calling that a compromise - which they yet still regard as unsatisfactory.

[gateley]

17. That MIGHT work, but it has to be done immediately and

consistently. Too many would refuse to listen, though.

My major concern is turning things around (somehow!) NOW. Getting people jobs NOW. That's what's going to ultimately work against the Republicans, but my question was posed because I don't see what we CAN do now.

[gkhouston]

28. We can't do much of anything unless and until the Republicans

feel that the unemployment situation will hurt them more than it hurts the President. That's one of the reasons Obama should go big, IMO. If he can make people crave a big jobs program that the Republicans are blocking, it's going to hurt their chances in 2012. I haven't heard anything to indicate that such a program will be proposed, sad to say.

[gateley]

32. Excellent - you're right, that would work. I don't know what

else we could do. Take it to the people but he HAS to lay it out better -- citing examples (as McConnell is doing on the Floor right now), showing figures, really step by step taking us by the hand as though we're first graders. Seriously.

I'm on pins and needles, I'm not too sure it will be much different than he's done before, either. Bi-partisan, stimulus package (which they're ready for, you should have heard McConnell just disparage it), maybe another tidbit. BUT, we've been surprised before and I'm hoping we're in for another surprise this time.

Thanks for your response - it's excellent, and is something we COULD do now!

Go get 'em,i Obama! :patriot:

[gkhouston]

37. He needs to lay it out better, and Tweety was right when he said

that Obama should go into specifics, district by district. His message could be, "Your Republican representative wanted to do this project that will help your community and create jobs. Why's he/she trying to block it now? Don't you need this bridge? Don't you need the jobs?"

[gateley]

13. And what would that accomplish when a vote in the House

comes up? The Senate? Not being argumentative, just can't see what that would accomplish.

Look, I totally agree with you - I'd like to see some real blatant TRUTH, but ultimately, that doesn't change how those fuck wads in Congress vote.

[TheKentuckian]

40. Are you under the impression that being kind and gentle accomplishes anything on the floor?

The point is to stand for a competing vision for the American people and hopefully garner enough votes to change the dynamic in Congress.

We are not going to get them to do the right thing by hook or crook and assimilating or just not clearly opposing their ideology just makes us responsible for the fall out.

This approach has been tried with shitty and counter-productive results for a generation. It is time to oppose them and to oppose them boldly with brutal honesty.

[Blue_Tires]

35. +1000

They stopped being that in 1994, if not earlier

[dennis4868]

18. ummm, you're just realizing this now?

[gateley]

20. Of course not - I haven't been in a coma for Pete's sake!

It's just the futility of it all is weighing down extra heavy on me.

We go on tangents here about Obama needs to kick ass, take the story to the masses, etc., etc. but that's not going to do a fucking thing when we can't get a bill out of the House and the Senate filibusters whatever might somehow squeak through there.

It's horrifying that they are willing to put peoples' jobs and LIVES at risk just to play their political game.

And this goes beyond the elections - we need some legislation enacted NOW, but it's virtually impossible to achieve that.

SO -- any suggestions?

[dennis4868]

30. I agree with everything you say...

it's depressing...I wish more people here understand what we understand :-(

[coalition_unwilling]

24. Organize, organize, organize. I wrote the AFL-CIO yesterday to

suggest it start a Labor Party that will compete in all 50 states for the working class vote. No response from them yet, but today was after all Labor Day.

My answer no doubt violates some codicil of DU about third parties but you asked so I'm telling you.

On edit: After responding, I then read the full thread and realized you were asking only about the near term (pre-2012). I'm afraid there is nothing to be done in the way of legislation, so the next 18 months are the time to sharpen class concsiousness so that either the Democratic Party starts representing the working class or is swept into oblivion.

[gateley]

25. But that doesn't address the current, pressing problem we

have of the House not allowing anything out of Committee and the Senate filibustering everything.

Even if we could magically swap a Labor President and Labor Congress for all the sitting elected officials, it wouldn't help.

Even if Obama was a kick-ass, labor-friendly, environment-loving, Bush Crime Family Prosecuting President, we wouldn't be able to make any changes with this current group of Republicans. NOTHING can be accomplished!

That's where my frustration lies.

We are literally hogtied.

And thanks for your response, by the way. :)

[coalition_unwilling]

26. For the next 18 months, I agree that no useful legislation will emerge. This

is a time to sharpen class consciousness. The working class needs to set aside all false consciousness, i.e., racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, etc., and focus solely on the question of what its relation is to the means of production. And the working class needs a party that represents its interests.

If we swapped a Labor Pres and Labor Congress for what exists currently, you don't think it would help? I assume you're implying that the Senate would remain subject to filibuster. That's where a genuine Labor Party with mass backing can mobilize a general strike. Even the threat of a general strike should cause such ante-bellum fixtures as the non-democratic Senate to get out of the way. And anti-labor measures like Taft-Hartley would not be enforced, if we had a Labor Pres. There aren't enough Blackwater goons to enforce Taft-Hartley if the masses get behind its nullification.

Again, the key is 'Organize, organize, organize.' Anything less leaves the masses susceptible to demagoguery and charlatanism.

[gateley]

33. I sure don't disagree with anything you say, and good point

(one I hadn't thought of) about organizing a general strike.

But unless/until that occurs, the way things are going it's possible a Republican might gain the WH and I truly fear what would happen to us then.

I'm chomping at the bit for NOW. AFTER we keep the Repubs out, THEN it's time to organize and make the changes we so sorely need.

[coalition_unwilling]

36. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. I wish I had coined that

phrase. The surest antidote to fear is to "Organize, organize, organize."

[rucky]

41. I wrote them a month ago saying the same thing.

I wonder how many more they've gotten

[jeff47]

29. Propose actual solutions instead of watered down compromises. Then use the "no" votes to crush them

You won't get a fix before 2013, but properly managing the situation would destroy the Republicans in 2012.

Unfortunately, that would require this administration to acknowledge that they've made a mistake. They don't seem to be willing to do that.

[gateley]

34. Our proposals haven't even seen the light of day. Boehner

lets them die in Committee. It has to get on the floor before there can be a vote. What is there to manage at this point? Although I do see your point and what we have to do is call it to the peoples' attention and present it concisely - a la Rachel. That wouldn't necessitate any admission of a mistake on the administration's part, just point out how the Republicans are wrong. We suck at getting the message across. But we need to be able to vote on something!

[jeff47]

38. No, we don't have to vote on something.

I'm assuming you're saying bills have to actually reach the floor. They don't. What's needed is a spectacle of trying to solve these problems, followed by a spectacle when the Republicans block it.

Rinse, repeat, tie the bad economy to Republican stonewalling, and you get a Democratic Congress.