The Shutdown Is Republicans' Fault--So Why Are Voters Mad at Democrats?

[B.See]

Now, you see, this is the kind of thing that just burns my azz.

The shutdown is Republicans’ fault—so why are voters mad at Democrats? - Dailykos

... you’d think Democrats would get more credit—especially now. In the days leading up to the shutdown, the party pushed for stronger health care protections. Their proposal would roll back the Medicaid cuts in Trump’s tax and immigration law, and it would extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of this year. At a moment when polls show Democratic voters want their leaders to fight harder, this was Democrats putting up a fight.

In other words, Democrats trail Republicans by 11 percentage points on approval, even though voters overwhelmingly blame the GOP for the shutdown. That contradiction speaks volumes.

So, for all the work Democrats continuously do, ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE, Republicans are still getting (relatively speaking) a free pass at cruelty and policy-making THAT DOES HARM to even their OWN CONSTITUENCY.

Incredible.

I must've written the words, "Wake the fuck up, America" a million times. But, don't think I'll bother writing it again.

[ImNotGod]

1. Voters may or may not be blaming Dems, who knows, I don't trust anything I read but I do know that if they are stupid

enough to blame Dems they are too stupid to vote for their best interest, again.

[RandySF]

2. Who said the voters are mad at Democrats?

[Skittles]

3. Dems, like women and POC, are held to a higher standard

that is the "discrepancy"; it is nothing niew

[unblock]

4. It's pretty simple. The media has a marked right-wing bias.

Parts of the media are overtly right-wing, and the overtly and reliably left-wing media is down the maddow and not much else.

The rest of the media pretends to be "balanced" and does at least mention rotten things republicans do, but pretty much never condemns any of it, leaving any judgment to be merely a partisan democratic viewpoint easily countered by republicans insisting they're more patriotic or whatever.

Hell, we have to fight just to get basic facts out, even that the media turns into a partisan matter of opinion.

With the media refusing to mediate or exercise any control over the news narrative, Republican views dominate everything.

We will never win without major media reform.

[B.See]

5. I'd have to agree.

The MSM, imo, give WIDE berth to Republican narratives, even OUTRIGHT LIES, with little challenge (and perhaps also for fear of angering their base) while our message only gets an, often grudging, passing mention.

And it is precisely THAT which has enabled (if not empowered) such a party, such a maladministration as Trump's, to seize control in the FIRST place.

[question everything]

6. Sadly, Jon Stuart made it too clear. Wait for the clip to be posted here

Our side - Schumer - does not generate enthusiasm. When we see and hear Schumer there is nothing there that calls to climb the barricades, to protest.

But, frankly, as I am reading your post I am forced to wonder how many will be affected by these cuts in health care costs. Of course, we, Democrats always consider the most disadvantaged ones but perhaps, I don’t know, now it does not help us.

How many who are not paid, who cannot apply for Social Security will get out to protest.

Forget about the No King rallies, where are the people personally affected?

I am not even sure how coherent I am. Someone will probably alert that I “repeat right wing talks..”



Here is the clip

https://www.democraticunderground.com/132291279

[W_HAMILTON]

7. You shouldn't need someone to "generate enthusiasm" in you to stop fascism.

But while we are pointing fingers, Stewart and our other supposed allies on the left that have peddled that """both sides""" bullshit are much more responsible for where we find ourselves today than Chuck Schumer's lack of enthusiasm.

And I'm sorry, when the fuck have we had a Senate minority leader that """generated enthusiasm?""" Harry Reid? Tom Daschle?

This new social media generation needs to take a civics course or two and realize that posting memes and trolling on the internet may """generate enthusiasm""" in them, but we still need those that actually know what they are doing to handle the mechanics of leading our caucus, using their institutional knowledge of how the Senate works to the best of our advantage, recruiting strong Democratic candidates and helping them flip Republican seats (e.g., Roy Moore in NC), etc.

[question everything]

8. I hate to admit it, but it seems that Sanders does

Aren’t elected officials get to generate enthusiasm in their campaign rallies?

[W_HAMILTON]

10. Perfect example.

Sanders """generates enthusiasm""" but he'd be a terrible Senate leader.

You think Sanders could have pushed Obamacare over the line, with all the varying interests that had to be satisfied to get it passed and signed into law?

You think Sanders could recruit a top-notch candidate like Roy Moore from a red state where Republicans run -- and often win -- against """communist, socialist""" blah blah blah boogeymen like him?

If you thought those like Manchin, Sinema, and now Fetterman were thorns in our side, having Sanders as Senate leader would probably guarantee they'd vote more with Republicans than us.

And as Senate leader, would Sanders stick to his agenda exactly? Or would he compromise his position to get the votes needed to actually pass a bill? And do you think that same crowd that he """generates enthusiasm""" with would still be such big fans when he isn't able to deliver single-payer/Medicare For All and instead -- in a best case scenario! -- passes a bill that further expands on the healthcare reform started by Obamacare?

Hell, do you think Sanders could even get a majority of his Senate colleagues to vote him in as their leader?

Like I said, if you don't have enthusiasm to save our democracy against fascism, go listen to another of Sanders's speeches to """generate enthusiasm""" in you and let those that have the skills, knowledge, experience, and ABILITY required to lead the Senate Democratic caucus do what we need them to do.

PS - How many in the Democratic caucus have called on Schumer to step down as our Senate leader?

[valleyrogue]

15. Samders isn't a Democrat. People forget that important detail.

He can pretty much say what he wants despite caucusing with the Democrats and such.

[question everything]

18. I do. And this is why I prefaced my comment that I had to admit it

Even on DU “do not attack Democrats” includes him…

[betsuni]

9. The popular attack this year is bashing leadership. Turn strengths into weaknesses.

Democrats' strengths are governing, policies that work to help the American people, so bash them for not being activist celebrities acting like they're running for office. As if personality makes legislation pass, not votes or having the majority. Again, who was hanging on Nancy Pelosi's every word expecting her to lead The People into righteous battle? Harry Reid, the guy who never said goodbye on the phone, everyone looked to him for the revolution?

All the Democrats who got things done, long lists of introducing and passing legislation -- ignore it all because people in comment sections bash Democrats for not "fighting." Look right here and you'd think Jeffries and Schumer's daily schedules are Monday: do nothing. Tuesday: don't fight. Wednesday: cave. Thursday: do not stand up. Friday: fail to meet the moment.

[B.See]

11. Yes. I'm inclined to judge politicians by

what they do, and what the continuously TRY to do. For example Biden, who tried and has done a LOT for people, both sides of the aisle.

How it was too many didn't see it, how IS it so many can't see it now, is for me, a continuous revelation of the abject fecklessness on the part of many Americans.

Which is why I've grown weary of writing wake the fuck up. One might even argue that PERHAPS America (as a whole) is reaping what it's sown.

[W_HAMILTON]

12. Then why would anyone shortchange Schumer for what he accomplished as our Senate Majority Leader?

Pretty much everything that Biden was able to accomplish during his term, Schumer had a hand in.

[B.See]

13. I guess you'd have to

ask that of someone trying to shortchange Schumer.

[marble falls]

14. All Speaker Johnson has to do is reconvene Congress like the laws say, and swear in one Congressperson.

[Coventina]

16. "THE PEOPLE" are idiots.

We are living in Idiocracy. Except worse.

[betsuni]

19. The Will of the People is idolized as always being right, righteous and pure but hell no, people are idiots.

[EdmondDantes_]

17. It's on us to sell our values

It's easy to say America has to wake up, or blame the media. But the environment is what it is and we have to adapt to it. If we can't sell people on abortion access and higher minimum wage and the other things we're for, that's on us as a party.

[QueerDuck]

20. Well, there are a lot of folks who continually amplify the false message that "Democrats Suck."

At almost every opportunity, it's almost guaranteed that someone will be complaining that Jeffries or Schumer lack leadership skills. And that usually morphs into complaints about their age, or that they are "centrists" (gasp! the horrors!)

And then, adding to the lies and mischaracterizations, there are others who have the mistaken belief that Jeffries and Schumer have some sort of magic wand that will cure everything if they would just deign to wave it and say the magic words. This belief, of course, is absurd because the harshest critics seem to not realize that the Democrats are NOT the majority party and our "magic wand" options are limited.

Yet, the griping and whining continues, thus creating a false belief that Democratic leadership could solve this "if-they-wanted-to" but for some reason (as the story goes) they're just refusing to do so... and as a result, they are "bad leaders" (ugh) and therefore, the Democrats "are to blame" (double-ugh!)