Politics Use It or Lose It
posted by on January 4 at 13:58 PM
The conventional wisdom that bipartisanship is the watchword of the day is misleading local Democrats—and making them scared to “overreach” and alientate mainstream voters.
However, overreach only happens when you don’t have a mandate, but arrogantly govern as if you do. That was George Bush’s mistake.
Locally, the Democrats scored a bona fide mandate this year: All the conservative initiatives, like the pseudo populist, blustery takings Initiative 933 and Frank Blethen’s estate-tax repeal, got walloped; the progressive renewable-energy initiative passed; local Democrats on the surburban Eastside won by fat margins (hello Roger Goodman!); and GOP frat guy Mike McGavick couldn’t break 40 percent. This is a mandate. The Democrats should govern accordingly. They’re more likely to lose support if they underreach —and disappoint voters.
So, I was psyched to see DailyKos point out the mandate facts and beat the same drum yesterday about politics on the national congressional level.
Amen, Kos! I'm glad someone said it.
No. Overreach happens when you assume that the opinions of the people that didn't vote for you don't count, just because they are the minority.
"Mandate" is a dirty word, no matter who is using it. Unless your support was unanimous, you don't have one.
Did you see this:
http://www.komoradio.com/news/local/5083641.html
"The question of allowing - or banning - gay marriage or authorizing civil unions also will take a backseat as lawmakers try to come up with legislation that can clear both houses, leaders said."
WHAT THE FUCK? Clear both houses? THE DEMS HAVE SUPER-MAJORITIES IN BOTH AND THE GOV'S OFFICE.
Oh, for fuck's sake.
What the hell is wrong with them?
Unfortunately, not all Dems think alike or represent safe districts. Ergo, not all Democratic legislation can easily pass the legislature.
Safe districts?
That means that it's more important for them to keep their own jobs than to do the right thing. It's such a pathetic cop out. And that's sure as hell not how most Rethuglicans operate.
I'm so sick of donating money and voting for do-nothing-Dems who jump at their own shadows and are too afraid to stand up for, or just don't give a damn about equal rights.
The fact that we can't get marriage or civil unions passed in Washington, the bluest of the blue states, is truly pathetic and symptomatic of a leadership vacuum.
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