this is why the left keeps losing elections

[topaz]

"There was a protest by approximately 80 Obama supporters going on outside the Pavilion. They were loud, and clearly served their purpose of infuriating the 1,000-1,500 folks standing outside watching on the big screen. I watched as grinning University of Nevada College Republicans easily filled volunteer call time and canvassing sheets as the Obama folks did all the recruiting necessary.

Since it seemed so absurdly counterproductive to loudly chant “liar” over every speaker (bad manners backfire in many parts of the world, certainly in this one) I inquired with both the Obama protesters and with Obama’s field office whether this was coordinated in any way. Both told me no, and the Obama field office answer came with an eye roll. That gave me all I needed to know about what the campaign thought of the protesters spending a Sunday afternoon not making phone calls or knocking on doors and instead inspiring Republicans to work hard against them."

(From FiveThirtyEight.com, "On The Road: Carson City, Nevada")

Comments

[mangosteen]

That is the price of getting the Youth Vote(tm).

[mrf-arch.livejournal.com]

I'd be more inclined to agree if I thought the Right had ever made a point of being polite. I suppose that lies, slander, and bad behavior don't count as such when they're said on TV or the radio, as opposed to in person.

[kcatalyst.livejournal.com]

Well, but the point wasn't want "counts" as anything, but what *works*. I keep thinking the Right's bad behavior will bite them, and I'm still hoping *really* *hard* it'll happen soon. But so far, I've been shown to be an idealistic nitwit in that respect. Seems obvious that this instances of the Left's bad behavior bit them (even the non-idiots) immediately.

[noeltheone.livejournal.com]

While I can agree that this may not be the most productive behavior, I think I would need to know the context.

In any event, I don't agree that "This is why the left keeps losing elections." For one thing, as most here know Democrats!="the left." Personally, I think a huge part of the problem the Dems have at the national level (and I've been a Dem since I registered at my high school on my 18th birthday) is their refusal to stand for something real.

The Dems are not going to win elections long term by being 10% off Republicans. There are whole swaths of the Midwest and Appalachia that could be seriously in play if the Dems chose to actually have really progressive economic policies, and trumpet them. We wouldn't be talking about PA and OH being in play, since the most economically depressed parts of these states are the parts the Dems are losing.

And it's the right thing to do.

And yes, this is a somewhat simplistic analysis, as a lot of things go into a national election. But if one wants to look beyond just the current election cycle (something parties are notorious for not doing) it helps to stand for something.