Never Underestimate the Democrats' Ability to Blow It

So President Obama comes into office with higher approval ratings than Ronald Reagan and almost the highest ever (just shy of JFK). Our economy is in the crapper, and the masses have given the new president a mandate to do something - and do something big - about it.

As he promised, Barack Obama has "reached across the aisle" for Republican input, and continues to do so. What seems pretty clear to me, though, is that the Pubes have been in power so long with a our-way-or-no-way attitude toward governing that they don't understand what it means to negotiate anymore.

This is to be expected. What in the past eight years has demonstrated that they would behave differently?

But the Pubes are superb at PR. Soundbites. Lowest common denominators. Dumbing shit down. Black and white. Right and wrong. Simplicity is easy to remember and easy to believe.

So Rush and Fox News and right-wing Senators and Congress members are attacking. More tax cuts! Less spending! It's a handout! Pork! Some of the information is wrong, but it doesn't matter. The message is getting out. A poll (yes, I know, polls) out today actually shows that more people oppose than support the stimulus package.

The economy is in free fall, and once again, the Democrats can't get their shit together. Maybe it's Obama's role as party leader, but I tend to think that his job is to keep schmoozing. People really do want to see the President work in partnership.

During the House negotiation, Obama met with Republicans and actually said in a very nice way, "I hear you, but I debated these issues with John McCain throughout the campaign, and I won." That is, the people actually prefer his approach to the economy over the approach that's caused this meltdown in the first place.

Hear that? You fucking won! So where the hell are the attack dogs? Yo, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid! Dick Durbin! Other Democratic leaders, particularly in the Senate! Speak up! Tell the Republicans to get the hell out of the way if they just want a Republican-looking bill. The Democratic Party approach is preferred by a majority of voters. Governors are desperate for the money, and even Republican Governors support the stimulus package.

I say call for a vote. If the Republicans threaten to filibuster, make them actually filibuster. Make them read from the fucking phonebook to demonstrate what they're willing to do to keep the economy in the crapper. Make them show the American people how far they'll go to kill more jobs, foreclose on more homes, bankrupt more cities and states.

Grow some balls, you feckless Democrats. The people of this country are on your side, even if they don't know it. Stop dicking around and pass this fucking thing.

You guys are an embarrassment.