The Democratic base has convinced itself that the problem is that Obama has not succeeded in passing health care legislation and other items on his agenda. The possibility that their agenda is being rejected by voters never enters their minds.
Here’s a pretty good analysis of where the Democratic Party stands, by Sam Stein at HuffPo:
Senator Evan Bayh’s abrupt announcement on Monday that he will retire at the end of his term has further united disparate voices within the Democratic Party behind the idea that legislative action is the only remedy to avoid future political calamity.
In the wake of the Indiana Democrat’s announcement, a host of figures — from the progressive wing of the party to devout centrists — have chimed in to warn that failure in jobs and health care legislation have sapped the party’s momentum and fortunes.
The ever reliable Steve Benen reflects the call in the Democratic base for a full steam ahead approach:
And what of Republican obstructionism and the Senate’s inability to hold up-or-down votes? Health care can and should be completed through reconciliation, so the GOP’s intransigence is irrelevant. Indeed, reconciliation has to be considered as much as humanly possible…. 2010 can, in other words, be a strong year. It just might take a little audacity.
Yeah, do reconciliation to pass overwhelmingly unpopular Democratic health care proposals. That’s the answer. It sure is easier than admitting that 2008 was not the mandate you thought it was, and that the American people don’t want what you are selling.
These people are so deep down in the ideological hole they’re willing to keep digging with their hands when the shovel breaks.
As I’ve said before, keep it up, we can’t do it without you.
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Hey Evan, Turns Out The Base Wasn’t That Into You
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