Democrats launch scorched-earth strategy against Trump - Polidicks

[quote]What began as a high-minded discussion about how to position the Democratic Party against President Donald Trump appears to be nearing its conclusion. The bulk of the party has settled on a scorched-earth, not-now-not-ever model of opposition. In legislative proposals, campaign promises, donor pitches and even in some Senate hearings, Democrats have opted for a hard-line, give-no-quarter posture, a reflection of a seething party base that will have it no other way. According to interviews with roughly two dozen party leaders and elected officeholders, the internal debate over whether to take the conciliatory path — to pursue a high-road approach as a contrast to Trump’s deeply polarizing and norm-violating style — is largely settled, cemented in place by a transition and first week in office that has confirmed the left’s worst fears about Trump’s temperament. “They were entitled to a grace period, but it was midnight the night of the inauguration to 8 o'clock the next morning, when the administration sent out people to lie about numerous significant things. And the damage to the credibility of the presidency has already been profound,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. “They were entitled to a grace period and they blew it. It’s been worse than I could have imagined, the first few days."[/quote] [url]http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/democrats-trump-strategy-234206[/url]

Because attacking and ridiculing trump worked so well in the primaries :rolleyes:

[quote]What began as a high-minded discussion about how to position the Democratic Party against President Donald Trump appears to be nearing its conclusion. The bulk of the party has settled on a scorched-earth, not-now-not-ever model of opposition.[/quote] Unless I'm mistaken this is what the Republicans did after Obama was re-elected, correct?

[QUOTE=Zephyrs;51731502]Because attacking and ridiculing trump worked so well in the primaries :rolleyes:[/QUOTE] Trump is rocking a "either you're fully with us, or fully against us" mentality, so they really couldn't do any other thing anyway. Atleast they're honest about it instead of pretending to play along and then sabotage.

[quote] “They were entitled to a grace period, but it was midnight the night of the inauguration to 8 o'clock the next morning, when the administration sent out people to lie about numerous significant things. And the damage to the credibility of the presidency has already been profound,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. “They were entitled to a grace period and they blew it. It’s been worse than I could have imagined, the first few days."[/quote] sums it up really, doesn't it republicans get out REEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[QUOTE=Steel & Iron;51731507]Unless I'm mistaken this is what the Republicans did after Obama was re-elected, correct?[/QUOTE] Bingo

[QUOTE=Steel & Iron;51731507]Unless I'm mistaken this is what the Republicans did after Obama was re-elected, correct?[/QUOTE] yeah, and now they control all three branches of government lol

What other option do we have to be honest. We elected a reasonable man and they spent eight years fighting tooth and nail and screeching about him. Then they turn around and elect a drooling retard and we're expected to let him do what he wants? Lying down and taking it sounds like the perfect way to give complete control of the government to the exact kinds of people who shouldn't have it. I think obstructionism is scummy but if someone attacks you with the worst of intent, you're left with no choice but to take whatever action is necessary to defend yourself.

Welcome to the United States of Going Nowhere Fast where nothing gets done and the policies don't matter.

[QUOTE=froztshock;51731535]What other option do we have to be honest. We elected a reasonable man and they spent eight years fighting tooth and nail and screeching about him. Then they turn around and elect a drooling retard and we're expected to let him do what he wants? Lying down and taking it sounds like the perfect way to give complete control of the government to the exact kinds of people who shouldn't have it. I think obstructionism is scummy but if someone attacks you with the worst of intent, you're left with no choice but to take whatever action is necessary to defend yourself.[/QUOTE] this tbh

-snip-

[QUOTE=FinalHunter;51731504]So what the Republicans did when Obama was in office? wow it's almost like nothing ever actually changes[/QUOTE] It is funny how huge hypocrites the democrats are after what happened to Obama and how strongly they themselves denounced that type of tactics. But then again, they consider themselves to have the moral high-ground. History repeats itself! Just reversed roles this time!

[QUOTE=!LORD M!;51731577]It is funny how huge hypocrites the democrats are after what happened to Obama and how strongly they themselves denounced that type of tactics. But then again, they consider themselves to have the moral high-ground. History repeats itself! Just reversed roles this time![/QUOTE] This would be a valid comparison if the republicans had elected anyone other than trump. But they elected trump. I'd consider any politician on the dem side who doesn't put up a fight against him to be a spineless asskisser tbh. This is unacceptable.

Yeah, this just seems like a dumb, childish move neither side should stoop to, regardless of whether they've done it or not. There are already plenty of Republicans against Trump, why can they not reach over to them and go, "Hey, you agree this shit's fucked. Can you help us out in drumming up some support against it?" Having hardline fuckheads like Trump on both sides is going to get this country nowhere in a fucking hurry.

[QUOTE=OpethRockr55;51731602] Having hardline fuckheads like Trump on both sides is going to get this country nowhere in a fucking hurry.[/QUOTE] Except with Trump, Nowhere seems a real destination. Trully, amazing times.

[QUOTE=!LORD M!;51731577]It is funny how huge hypocrites the democrats are after what happened to Obama and how strongly they themselves denounced that type of tactics. But then again, they consider themselves to have the moral high-ground. History repeats itself! Just reversed roles this time![/QUOTE] Please. The Democrats are mostly scumbags but that's just false equivalence. Republicans obstructed things we desperately needed and more importantly what the American people [I]wanted[/I], like gun reform and Obamacare (which was a right-wing healthcare plan from the start). Dems had the people behind them on a number of issues they just didn't fight hard enough because they're spineless sellouts. But I'm not going to stand in their way if they want to fight Donald Trump's insane policies and hold him accountable for the things he says, because he's a moron with shitty policies.

I hate how people are going to call Dems hypocrites for this. Not all Presidents are created equal.

[QUOTE=!LORD M!;51731577]It is funny how huge hypocrites the democrats are after what happened to Obama and how strongly they themselves denounced that type of tactics. But then again, they consider themselves to have the moral high-ground. History repeats itself! Just reversed roles this time![/QUOTE] imagine being so delusional you think Obama and Trump are somehow equal

You know. Instead of name calling. How about thinking of ways you could actually win over and convince Republicans voters to vote for you in the next election?

Maybe if the republicans hadn't used up every ounce of good will I had for them over the course of these past eight years I'd have a different opinion. Hell, I didn't even have such a dim impression as I do now a few months ago. But I'm becoming convinced that they have absolutely no shame, and will do whatever they can to win regardless of the cost to the health of this nation's politics. Their preferred candidate behaves in a way that is directly counter to what I believe this nation is about, and is not only an affront to American fucking values, but a danger to our economic stability and foreign policy. It would be downright irresponsible to allow his administration to run roughshod over the political institutions of this country. [editline]26th January 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=MissingGlitch;51731626]You know. Instead of name calling. How about thinking of ways you could actually win over and convince Republicans voters to vote for you in the next election?[/QUOTE] Literally just push economic policy that benefits the working and middle class. Put effort into explaining why these policies will benefit the majority of citizens. Help get people who are stuck trying to find fading factory jobs through university or trade school rather than making some idiotic attempt to create a zombie manufacturing industry in the United states. [editline]26th January 2017[/editline] Literally all the fucking dems had to do was push economic policy and middle class renewal, but I guess that Clinton's corporate masters wouldn't make her leash long enough to do that and thus she ran a flaccid ass campaign.

[QUOTE=froztshock;51731535]What other option do we have to be honest. We elected a reasonable man and they spent eight years fighting tooth and nail and screeching about him. Then they turn around and elect a drooling retard and we're expected to let him do what he wants? Lying down and taking it sounds like the perfect way to give complete control of the government to the exact kinds of people who shouldn't have it. I think obstructionism is scummy but if someone attacks you with the worst of intent, you're left with no choice but to take whatever action is necessary to defend yourself.[/QUOTE] Hey now, let's not forget the Republican party did not want Donald Trump as their candidate. The DNC in all its ineptitude used their media influence to make him win the primaries. I hate the GOP too but let's not pretend the Dems are much better.

I don't understand. The whole spiel during the campaign was that Trump was completely unprecedented in every way, but now that it's convenient, his supporters want to gauge reactions to him based on every other president. Is he or is he not like everyone else? Truly mind boggling

literally just tossing bodies into the meat grinder

[QUOTE=Zukriuchen;51731656]I don't understand. The whole spiel during the campaign was that Trump was completely unprecedented in every way, but now that it's convenient, his supporters want to gauge reactions to him based on every other president. Is he or is he not like everyone else? Truly mind boggling[/QUOTE] This is their world of alternative facts.

[QUOTE=froztshock;51731628]Maybe if the republicans hadn't used up every ounce of good will I had for them over the course of these past eight years I'd have a different opinion. Hell, I didn't even have such a dim impression as I do now a few months ago. But I'm becoming convinced that they have absolutely no shame, and will do whatever they can to win regardless of the cost to the health of this nation's politics. Their preferred candidate behaves in a way that is directly counter to what I believe this nation is about, and is not only an affront to American fucking values, but a danger to our economic stability and foreign policy. It would be downright irresponsible to allow his administration to run roughshod over the political institutions of this country. [editline]26th January 2017[/editline] Literally just push economic policy that benefits the working and middle class. Put effort into explaining why these policies will benefit the majority of citizens. Help get people who are stuck trying to find fading factory jobs through university or trade school rather than making some idiotic attempt to create a zombie manufacturing industry in the United states. [editline]26th January 2017[/editline] Literally all the fucking dems had to do was push economic policy and middle class renewal, but I guess that Clinton's corporate masters wouldn't make her leash long enough to do that and thus she ran a flaccid ass campaign.[/QUOTE] Well fucking said. The Republicans resisted Obama because it was the first time a black man was in the Oval Office, and because they wanted to win votes by mirroring the outrage of degenerates in the South. The Democrats are resisting Trump because in his first days in office he has tried to suppress the flow of information from government-run scientific institutions that is politically inconvenient to his campaign, has declared war on the media, and has insisted that he has a monopoly on truth. He is trying to raise hatred towards immigrants, has appointed a cabinet of the most corrupt and sycophantic ideologues in American society, utterly unqualified for their roles (Except for Mattis) and has insisted that the votes by which he lost the popular vote were illegal. He has done his best to clear the way for Russia to expand into Eastern Europe, and has damaged the US's relationship with some of its largest trading partners, essential to prevent economic collapse. He has set himself against the American way of life, he has set himself against democracy, he has set himself against truth and science, and he has become an enemy of the American people. So the Democrats are goddamn well justified in using those tactics against his government.

As the days pass I'm more and more inclined to learn Swedish.

[QUOTE=froztshock;51731535]What other option do we have to be honest. We elected a reasonable man and they spent eight years fighting tooth and nail and screeching about him. Then they turn around and elect a drooling retard and we're expected to let him do what he wants? Lying down and taking it sounds like the perfect way to give complete control of the government to the exact kinds of people who shouldn't have it. I think obstructionism is scummy but if someone attacks you with the worst of intent, you're left with no choice but to take whatever action is necessary to defend yourself.[/QUOTE] Enjoy playing democratic flip flop for the next three decades as congress is literally frozen by the opposing party every time the other parties leader gets elected and essentially becomes so useless that the only way to enact any form of change is through presidential executive orders. I can see it now, there is going to be a government shutdown every time congress tries to budget something.

[QUOTE=archangel125;51731674]Well fucking said. The Republicans resisted Obama because it was the first time a black man was in the Oval Office, and because they wanted to win votes by mirroring the outrage of degenerates in the South.[/QUOTE] Got any facts to back up that retarded ass claim

[QUOTE=-nesto-;51731696]Got any facts to back up that retarded ass claim[/QUOTE] No, only circumstantial evidence. I'm aware it's a bit of a strawman, but when the biggest objections I saw being raised to Obama in conservative media were whether he was really born in America and whether he was Muslim because his middle name was Hussein, I assumed that the right wing didn't have much ground to stand on.

[QUOTE=ultra_bright;51731681]Enjoy playing democratic flip flop for the next three decades as congress is literally frozen by the opposing party every time the other parties leader gets elected and essentially becomes so useless that the only way to enact any form of change is through presidential executive orders. I can see it now, there is going to be a government shutdown every time congress tries to budget something.[/QUOTE] We were already headed there. The republicans opened that Pandora's box on their own accord.If Clinton had won, the Republican obstructionist policy would continue, and probably would have flared hard during her first few weeks anyways. If there were a way to convince them to stop, that'd be nice, but I don't think there is. It's either let republicans do whatever the hell they want with government forever while the left is blocked every time they go to do something in office, or hit back. We didn't start this fight, and maybe we can stop once a reasonable fucking candidate gets into office, but until then we're a contender.