2010 makes Democrats nervous
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/08/22/art.capitol.dome.cnn.jpg]
Julian E. Zelizer
Special to CNN
Democrats are getting nervous about the way that events have been unfolding this summer.
Although few Democratic officials have concluded that it's time to start panicking, there are disturbing political trends developing right at the time that members are starting to think seriously about the midterm elections.
The outlines of a significant political problem have emerged: the possibility that the White House simultaneously disillusions liberal Democrats and angers Republicans.
The situation is of course very much in flux. Much of what happens will depend on the decisions of the White House and Congress in September and October.
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Filed under: Democrats • Julian E. Zelizer • Raw Politics |
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Republicans you better start listening, your smoke is not that thick that the people don't see what you have done and are doing. You big fish, when it's all said and done. While this lake drys (America) up, you will soon being laying on the wasted shore lines, with no other ablility to consume us little guppies no more.
Kaiser from Northern California sent out over 200,000 letter to tell their members that they can get after hour medical advise on the phone from a doctor and was closing there after hour clinics. Once the newpaper got it out to the public, Kaiser said the letters was a mistake and was a mailing error. We are talking about 200,000 letters, which took 400 cases of envelopes @ 500 in a case, 40 case of paper @ 5,000 pages in a case, 200,000 stamps, 20 toner cartridges @ 10,000 pages a cartridge at 5% of the page cover, not counting the man hours to produce this mistake, which was over a quarter million dollar tab. The members will pay the tab out of there insurance payments and what a thought; what they could of done for the uninsured, by donating the quarter million to the free clinics. The only mistake is they got caught and the members blew their tops. So when Obama says; if we do nothing it will only end up costing us more as we will get less for our medical care.
If we do nothing and let things go on as they have been, we are doomed. Health care is a serious matter, it is a need that is life and death. We are up against a, "New Age Mafia", the insurance companies. If we don't stop the bleeding it will get worse. You can't tell the wolves to slow down the consumption, when they have been feeding freely and plentiful. We need to be protected from the wolves and our only protect is, if our government stops the bleeding, whatever, however, but get her done.
Democrats that will be up for re election should be concerned. Tax payers are beinging to see what the Pelosi/Obama socialistic agenda is all about. The government can run social security or medicare in the ground. All we hear is how bad off both social programs are finanically and what a bleak future awaits.Why would anyone want to trust them with our healthcare when they are proven failures with medicare % social security.
The uninsured can be insured very easily. If Pelosi and Obama want to require healthcare for everyone, just give the uninsured a governement paid medicade card. Force them to pay 5% of their pay and add a 1% user fee on anyone or entity that buys anything with no exceptions. We would have everyone insured, it would be paid for 100% and have money left over. But that would not give the government more controls over our lives which is the untimate objective. This country can't afford any more taxes or deficit programs.
So many Americans feel rightly or wrongly that Democrats are little more than special liberal interest groups vying among themselves for control. While this goes on, little gets done for the people.
As gallup shows, there are more citizens calling themselves conservative than liberal in all but a few states.
One way or the other, liberals have lost again. Democrats may keep their hold on Congress but it will be a more centrist Democratic party after the next elections – more representative of the nation – Obama needs to keep this in mind.
Julian,
Where do you people get these silly notions from, the Republicans?
The Democratic Party and base are sound. They know where they are going, and where they want to take the country. They are not making it up as they go, operating without a plan or clue. Voters came out by the millions to see change, not the same old political hackers and extremist of the past. We want to move forward as a smart progressive country of change and world leadership, not a country of the dark ages. The Democrats definitely get it. They are just fine.
Now if you said 2010 makes the Republicans nervous, I would understand. They have no plans, no clear leadership, no vision, and it is badly divided. I don't think anyone wants to go back to Bush days, and I don't think anyone wants to gamble on a future with this Republican crew either.
It's simply amazing how Congressmen and Senators forgot they are supposed to represent us instead of telling us what to do. They finally remembered they are to be re-elected in 2010.
Hopefully it's too little too late. Maybe our next representatives will remember just what their job is. " We the people" are the ones to be represented and are not going to put up with their lack there of.
The whole Government forgets just what their job is. They think they are just like the CEO's that they bailed out with our money. Guess what? We are like elephants and we won't forget how they have treated us.
Maybe their next job will include health care, because it is time they lose their option and are put on the same plan they proposed for us. The majority of the United States is tired of the liberals running amok!
It seems like every time there is something substantial to vote on there is an election coming up and the Congressional representives have to worry about those. There doesn't ever seem to be a good time for a big bill that needs hashing out like health care. I think that is one reason there has been no vote yet – the more conservative Democrats are not firmly in place because of reelection concerns and they may not vote for health care reform while facing a re-election. I don't think we will see anything on health care materialize until after this next Congressional election.
Credibility of US government is becomming a good laughing joke. I can give one example, President Obama said, he will make the world a better place and who oppose will face the consequences. But, former President Bill Clinton visit to N Korea and resently Senator Jim Webb visited regime control country Burma is proving that the people who are taring this world and make humanity suffer are rewarded. For Sen Jim Webb visit to Burma, Jim asked Aung San Suu Kyi (Noble Peace Prize Laurite) to allow the lifting the senction impose by US and EU. Aung San Suu Kyi got 18 months sentences of under house arrest and Burmese democracy battle will face more hardship because of Sen Jim Webb visit to Burma. Obama administration want to ignore front line battle of Huminity and Democracy. Cyclone Nagis in Burma proved that Burmese regime is only interested in power and not to govern the country proper way. Why is Democratic leader Jim Webb went to Burma? Just to get back half crazy US citizen and let the unfortunate 55 million of Burmese citizens and Aung San Suu Kyi suffer? Some time I am thinking white house is taking over by Communist believers and pushing huminity into the darkness. Obama should practice what he preach. I used to admire him, but all my admiration to him wash away like the writing on the beach with the tide. Democratic preaching for Democracy is just empty.
O.K. DEMOCRATS LET'S NOT GET NERVOUS ALREADY!
Things will clam down, don't WIMP OUT! The Republican's are trying so hard to scare the public WITH THE HEALTH PLAN THING DON'T LET THEM! And it's kinda working but don't let it! Get your mess back together and fight like HELL! THINK OF HARRY TRUMAN!
What that saying again, oh, I will CARRY A BIG STICK AND I WILL USE IT! Something like that.
Democrats nervous?! If supporting abortion doesn’t give them night sweats..?! If idolizing Borak Obama and making him their president doesn’t.. But political forecasting and polls do??? Can members of the Supreme Court, Senate, Congress, and Obama’s staff ever claim.. Didn't know what I was doing... Not guilty for reason of insanity????
2010 can't come soon enough for the country!! They know they will be booted out of control in 2010, that's why they are working so hard to cram all the crap through NOW!
If the Democrats can't make hay out of their chances right now, then they shouldn't be in politics. We are in a generational reform cycle of the type that comes around once a generation, which means that the conservative party should be on the defensive for at least a decade. In addition, the Second Gilded Age of the last 30 years has crashed and ended up in a depression, as such Gilded Ages always do. Right now, the Republican free market ideology should be totally discredited for a generation.
I agree that the Democrats are fumbling this opportunity, in part because they have no consistent message to offer. That's too bad because this chance won't come along again for a long time.