Don’t Worry, Be Happy
30 April 2009 6:50 pm by Taylor Marsh
There are a couple of just plain weird posts up about how Democrats could lose everything by overextending ourselves. That if we get to implement our fine ideas that are good for this country, people will grow, I don’t know, sick of them, annoyed at the progress, or something to that affect, so they’ll welcome the Republicans back.
See here and here. From Yglesias:
I think it’s very possible that Democrats could “gain so much power” that they implement at least some of their “crazy plans” and that the people, rather than revolting, will just turn their attention to other issues. For example, many Americans feels anxiety about their health insurance status. And the majority of these people vote for Democrats. But if Democrats deliver a health care reform plan that assuages those fears, those voters may start voting more on their hatred of abortion or love of torture and bring Republicans back into power.
Yeah, but if we let them forget why they have so much time to “turn their attention to other issues,” well, then we deserve to let the Republicans back in.
Honestly, Obama’s been in office 100 days, and we’re being treated to this, well, weirdness.
The fact is that the only way Democrats could lose is if our big tent becomes so big that we forget our foundation of F.D.R., Truman, et al., most of whom championed progressive ideas, including things like civil rights, Social Security, Medicare and the social safety net ideals that provide government its purpose. You know, like keeping us safe during the containment of an H1N1 pandemic.
It’s why I’m thrilled Arlen Specter left the Republican Party, because he made further fools of Republicans. Especially those who took to airwaves and pen to say they were glad he was gone. Oh, and take McCain and his daughter with you, opined Rush. Any time Republicans take a hit, especially in their current conservative incarnation, it’s good for all of us, regardless of party. But I’m not so thrilled that I wouldn’t support a Democratic primary (with my choice Rep. Joe Sestak).
It’s also why I’m glad Dems have a really big tent, which began anew in many areas with Blue Dog Democrats, compliments of Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy. However, with a big tent comes conservaDems, at least at the start. However, I have no interest in supporting “Democrats” who also don’t champion progressive ideas like believing that national security is much more about muscular diplomacy and civil aid than it is aggressive military action, as well as EFCA, a national health care referendum, and continuing to support Social Security and Medicare.
Leave it to Democrats, just 100 days into Obama’s administration, to worry we might “gain so much power” that it might be a bad thing in the end.
It sounds like an political inferiority complex to me.
