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 Now Is the Winter of Voters’ DiscontentPosted on Nov 8, 2007By E.J. Dionne WASHINGTON—The Democratic surge that began in 2006 continued in elections around the country on Tuesday. But how the Democrats won provides a cautionary tale for the national party. What you might call solutionism, not ideology, explained the Democratic victories. And an electorate in a decidedly bad temper did not always exempt Democrats from its ire. Republicans are still reeling from their party’s ideological obsessions and the unpopularity of President Bush. That was most obvious in Virginia, a state once considered a GOP fortress. Having won the governorship twice since 2001 and a U.S. Senate seat in 2006, the Democrats continued their forward march by taking control of the state Senate after a decade in the minority. Gov. Tim Kaine put his own popularity and fundraising ability on the line for his Democratic Party’s legislative candidates, and this by itself was significant. Typically, moderate Democrats in swing states keep their distance from party concerns for fear of alienating more conservative voters. Kaine’s risk-taking reflected his character—he could not see himself “sleepwalking through an election,” he said in a telephone interview Thursday—and his party’s growing confidence that voters want to buy what Democrats are selling. But the sales pitch is unexpected: It casts Democrats as the party of nonpartisanship and relegates Republicans to the status of partisan ideologues. The products in the Democratic line are the consumer durables of education, transportation and economic growth. “Voters have liked this focus on outcomes, good management and results,” Kaine said, sounding more like a business consultant than a politician, “and they’ve seen that contrasting pretty sharply with hard ideology and a focus on social issues.” Indeed, Virginia Republicans are paying a price for squeezing out their more moderate members. For example, in the Newport News area, Marty Williams, a moderate Republican state Senate incumbent, was defeated in the primary by the staunchly conservative Tricia Stall. On Tuesday, Democrat John Miller defeated Stall in what had been a safely Republican district. Democrats could also brag about their gubernatorial victory in Kentucky, where former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear ousted the Republican incumbent, Ernie Fletcher, who had been tarred by scandal. It would have taken a miracle for Fletcher to survive. But Beshear swept the state with 59 percent of the vote, running well even in traditionally Republican areas. David Eichenbaum, a consultant to both Kaine and Beshear, argues that in state contests, at least, Democrats have blunted Republican appeals on cultural issues and are now winning over formerly Republican voters impatient with ideological polarization. “Just as we’re now communicating with voters on more of a values level,” Eichenbaum says, “we’re also reaching them with a message of nonpartisanship with the goal of getting things done. But, we need to follow through and govern that way as well, or it ends up coming off as a political stunt.” There’s the rub: Governing can be hard. One of the few bright spots for the Republicans—other than the widely expected re-election of Gov. Haley Barbour in Mississippi—was the startling upset of Indianapolis’ Democratic mayor, Bart Peterson, by Republican Greg Ballard. Peterson was generally seen as a success in office, and Ballard was so much the underdog that he got little help from Indiana’s Republican governor, Mitch Daniels. But the establishment’s coolness may have only underscored Ballard’s outsider status, and he rode voter unhappiness with tax increases and crime to victory. Ballard’s triumph, observed Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., is a warning for all incumbents, including Democrats. “There is a strong discontent at all levels,” said Davis, whose wife, state Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, was one of the Republican victims in Tuesday’s voting, “and if you find the right seam, you can exploit it.” This discontent also felled a slew of incumbent mayors in Ohio, and gave Democrats a significant victory over a Republican incumbent in Canton, a race both parties had targeted in the nation’s leading battleground state. Democrats now dominate in Ohio’s largest cities. Moreover, Davis noted that President Bush continues to be “radioactive,” giving Republicans “a terrible brand name,” particularly among “educated, wealthy folks who used to be the backbone of our party.” That may well keep the Democratic tide rolling through 2008. But facing a president who shows little interest in making deals with them—and harboring doubts about whether such a strategy could work anyway—congressional Democrats are unlikely to join their state colleagues in finding deliverance in nonpartisan problem-solving. Washington is not yet ready for the Tim Kaine model, even if the country is. E.J. Dionne’s e-mail address is postchat(at)aol.com. © 2007, Washington Post Writers Group Previous item: Driving the Masses Mad Next item: Deconstructing Rudy Elsewhere: . CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment |
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By Conservative Yankee, November 12, 2007 at 5:17 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
112939 by driving bear on 11/11 at 1:54
“The problem is not the rage of the voters.
The problem is that the voters at the present time have no clear place to direct that rage. The problem is how do voters direct their rage at the system.”
Mr. Bear, History provides several wonderfully simple schematics on this issue.
I like the “French Revolution” model!
Report thisBy Douglas Chalmers, November 11, 2007 at 10:46 pm #
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas
Report thisBy Douglas Chalmers, November 11, 2007 at 10:44 pm #
#112939 by driving bear on 11/11 at 1:54 pm: “...Now is the winter of voters RAGE...!”
“Rage, rage against the dying of the light” is surely one of the most pathetic lines ever written. It is a total misunderstanding of the way in which our lives are so utterly based upon our hormones and that violent emotion is such a disrupting and exhaustingly useless force.
But as you say, driving bear, “...the problem is that the voters at the present time have no clear place to direct that rage. The problem is how do voters direct their rage at the system....”
This is the travesty of the voting systems in the world’s greatest illusion of a democracy. It is all covered beneath a farcical layer of a neverending presidential campaign which begins anew as soon as another encumbent takes office.
You are not given choice so much as the option to vote for a major party or have your vote wasted - and to fragment the votes that a reasonable major candidate might get. Do you want to discuss the alternatives???
Report thisBy cyrena, November 11, 2007 at 10:33 pm #
#112604 by driving bear
Cyrana wake up and smell the coffee , The democrats played you like a harp from hell in 06. Remember the truth of the old saying “fool me once shame on you, Fool me twice shame on me”. So in 08 I will go on record in saying the democrats might lose control of congress.
Sorry DB, the dems didn’t ‘play me’ like anything, because nobody does. Not a person or a political entity can ‘play me’, simply because I’m the only one who can do that.
That’s not something that I would expect you to understand, because you’re not a person in your own right. You’re only a person in conjunction with a group…in your case, a political party. It’s like you said, what would you have against anybody, as long as they supported the shrub?
And, so it is. You’re like the same morons who have gone on record as saying that they would vote for Mickey Mouse, as long as he was a repuglithan. So, I guess if I changed my name to george bush, and ran on the repuglithan ticket, you’d vote for me. (I would say that I might get away with changing it to Minnie Mouse, but something tells me you’re a misogynist as well – you’ll obviously have to look that up, but it’ll be good practice).
Isn’t that really all that matters? I mean, you obviously like to bet, and so you frantically examine poll statistics as if they actually mean something, and for you…they DO. You could care less who is taking your money, robbing you blind, infecting your mind and body, or destroying your homes and killing off your family. If they’re repugs, than hey…It’s all good for you.
Do ya see how we’re just not on the same level here DB? Like, not even close? So, just go back to your racing forms, and see if you can conjure up a horse that can’t run faster than a dumb bear. Besides, it’s winter now. Isn’t it time for you to go hibernate somewhere? Like maybe Siberia? Or…the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean?
I think there caves down there. Maybe you could take your best-best friend georgie with you. Send him an invitation. He’ll be SOOOO excited.
I think there are caves down there. Maybe you could take your best-best friend georgie with you. Send him an invitation. He’ll be SOOOO excited. Me too. Matter of fact, I’ll even drop you guys off. I’ll supply the plane and the petrol. We’ll cruise out to the deepest spot, (where most of the caves are) and then you two can just jump right out, (after I load up your knapsacks with 500 pound pieces of molten steal left over from the WTC catastrophe), and you guys can just have a grand old time there at the bottom of the world.
Then, in April or so, I’ll come back to check on you. If I don’t see you, I’ll know you’re having such a wonderful time that you’ve decided to stay.
Report thisBy driving bear, November 11, 2007 at 1:54 pm #
#112664 by Louise on 11/09 at 8:19 pm
(268 comments total)
“Now Is the Winter of Voters’ Discontent”
Oh no, no, no NO!
Now is the winter of voters RAGE!
Louise
The problem is not the rage of the voters.
Report thisThe problem is that the voters at the present time have no clear place to direct that rage. The problem is how do voters direct their rage at the system.
By G.Anderson, November 11, 2007 at 1:25 pm #
It’s so easy to see what you need to see in these results.
E.J., I think you need to see that middle of the road is the way to go. But is it?
Take a look around, the Mainland Chinese government owns the mortgage to this country. Our money is flowing like wine in Iraq. We’re exporting our jobs over seas, while bringing in millions of imigrants.
The products we buy from over seas are potentially dangerous. 80% of all pharmeceuticals are made in China or India, yet our government won’t let American’s buy their prescriptions from over seas..
It’s just so crazy all of it..What we’re feeling is that Americans, especially the middle class, that we don’t matter to our government, or to our political leaders, and that none of them on either side of the aile can be trusted. Their either too weak, too much of an ideologue, or feel the need to seduce us with unrealist political fore-play.
Because they’ve sold out the country and the people. Remember, both parties supported what we’ve got now. From credit card reform, to bankrupcy reform.
We’re looking for someone who is honest, not full of political B.S., who will truly lead and represent the best interests of Americans, not just the corporations.
And when we find them, it’s not going to matter what party they belong to.
Report thisBy Harry Palmer, November 10, 2007 at 9:44 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Dionne offers his only dessicated foreskin of reality in his closing paragraph, assuring readers that those DC big-city Democrats are not up to the high standards of their country counterparts. Regarding the State Demo parties, it’s “...casts Democrats as the party of nonpartisanship..” and “..the products in the Democratic line are the consumer durables of education, transportation and economic growth.”
Education: Pres. Clinton fights and succeeds in preventing competency testing for teachers, as in if you can’t prove you know what you’re talking about it’s hit the road, union or no union.
Transportation: From the mid-eighties, and all through the two Democratic terms, the nation’s interstate highway system and most bridges overall, have deteriorated to the point of at least potential calamity, if not downright embarrassment. No public works project to either repair the system or build a proper monorail for the East Coast.
Economic Growth: Like other advanced thinkers, Democrat national leadership pushes for and gets free-trade, NAFTA, World Bank and a finance-based economy, one built on borrowing money from one’s adversaries (China) to finance both our previous debt, new expenditures and foreign adventures. Beyond the obvious, that this was criminally insane, it was kind of dumb. Then there’s that loss of US jobs.
Notice I don’t mention the current occupants of the White House in all of this, since these inbred shitkickers cannot be held responsible for their actions.
Yes, Dionne, your Democrats are admirable, but compared to what?
Report thisBy William Ries, November 10, 2007 at 8:18 am #
Just remember the last 7 years of imperialism wrought by the bush admn. ALL politicians supporting anything like that regime, incumbent or not, need not apply. The job of rebuilding our country’s preeminence in foreign affairs, energy, and “globalism” (jobs) involves a TOTAL makeover.
Out with those who don’t support the will of the American people. Period. No more terror, illegal wars and imprisonment. No selling off the USA to China. And health care for those at home, who need it and can’t get it.
The country needs leadership that returns the USA to first place in human rights, starting at home by eliminating capital punishment, reinstating habeus corpus, and defending the constitution regardless of political party affiliation.
Report thisBy Douglas Chalmers, November 10, 2007 at 2:07 am #
Its the winter of higher and higher oil prices, economic recession, repossessed homes, unemployment, inflation then deflation....... A BLACK HOLE!!!
Report thisBy Louise, November 9, 2007 at 8:19 pm #
“Now Is the Winter of Voters’ Discontent”
Oh no, no, no NO!
Now is the winter of voters RAGE!
Get ready to deal with it, because if it even FEELS like votes and election outcomes are being rigged AGAIN, come next years election cycle, There will be angry, very, very angry people in the streets!
A lot of them!
And all the indifference and ignoring and not reporting of same will be to naught. Because even Main Stream Media, which loves to hold dinners and awards and tell each other how wonderful they are will be running for cover!
Postulating and guessing and regurgitating all the tired old theories about why we do what and how we do it has become meaningless.
Throw it all out. A new age is dawning and it’s called, we want our country back!
By the way, someone told me once bears couldn’t drive.
Does this guy have a license?
Report thisBy DennisD, November 9, 2007 at 6:05 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Lou Dobbs has it right. The difference between the Dims and Repugs is called “branding” and nothing more. It’s a Madison Ave. sales job to make you believe there’s a choice for you to make when in fact it’s heads they win, tails you lose.
Vote independent and get rid of everyone of these corporate shills that have sold this country out with a smile on their faces while stabbing the American citizen in the back.
Report thisBy Dennis Moss, November 9, 2007 at 5:41 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I think its an repudiation of the hard right, and their ideology. Not necessarily a promotion of the democrats
Report thisBy republicansscareme, November 9, 2007 at 5:35 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
The public rightly perceives the Repulican Party as a criminal organization.
Report thisBy Conservative Yankee, November 9, 2007 at 2:41 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
was the startling upset of Indianapolis’ Democratic mayor, Bart Peterson, by Republican Greg Ballard.
Peterson was generally seen as a success in office, and Ballard was so much the underdog that he got little help from Indiana’s Republican governor, Mitch Daniels. But the establishment’s coolness may have only underscored Ballard’s outsider status, and he rode voter unhappiness with tax increases and crime to victory.”
The issue was outsourcing of Indiana’s manufacturing jobs, and Republican resistance to Amnesty. Missed that did you EJ?
SPELL JEFF SESSIONS!
Middle Class blue collar workers may bolt tradition if pushed far enough…
Report thisBy driving bear, November 9, 2007 at 12:42 pm #
reply to #112534 by cyrena on 11/09 at 5:05 am
If you had read the report which you are commenting on you will see the results of the election is not repeat not Anti republican or pro democrat but instead anti incumbent. Also a large percentage of the democratic pick up in Va were not democrats as you like to think of them but instead “Dixiecrat’s” who you would call a moderate republican.
Besides why would I mind if an elected official has a D after their name as long as they support bush.
Cyrana wake up and smell the coffee , The democrats played you like a harp from hell in 06. Remember the truth of the old saying “fool me once shame on you, Fool me twice shame on me”. So in 08 I will go on record in saying the democrats might lose control of congress. As far as presidential race I think rudi will just beat out Hillary.
Report thisBy hazmaq, November 9, 2007 at 10:35 am #
The dollar just fell to it’s lowest level in almost 60 years, and is at the BOTTOM of currency valuation lists.
Almost 75% of the country think the country is on the wrong track.
And we have a complete breakdown of our Judicial system.
E.J. I think you misread the tea leaves. As someone out here in the field so to speak, I believe the country, individually and on a state by state basis is rising up in protest.
This is one time when you couldn’t look to the norms in your analysis of events, because we are in a zone far from normal.
Everything, I repeat everything, has changed.
Unity is OUT. States are fending for themselves, and so is everyone else.
America’s nationalism has been fueled by the exact same injustices seen in the streets of Myanmar and India and Pakistan. The public will get their satisfaction, one way or another -and with whatever method suits their immediate fancies.
What -did Bush and Cheney and Congress just think we were going to all sit here and keep taking their shit?
Report thisBy KISS, November 9, 2007 at 6:41 am #
With the old hack like Pelosi, Ried, and Schummer running things dimmos are no better than the repugs.I now only vote for Non-Incumbents, either party, and now am registered Independent and I’ll write in a candidate if both are stinkers.
Report thisMulasky[sp?] is an example of the wusses that dimmos are. No way will I vote for a dimmo who voted him in as AG.
By mary, November 9, 2007 at 6:26 am #
Washington might not be “ready for change”, well hang on Repub and Dems ‘cause it’s coming! The Democrats better be ready to follow thru with nonpartisanship governing or they’ll find themselves in the same unemployment line as the defeated major of Indianapolis. That’s right, we’re cleaning house, and in a nonpartisan way. Being a hardcore Democrat, I am more than willing to sacrafice a Democratic incombent who isn’t doing his/her job. Listen up Nancy and Harry, because you could be next....
Report thisBy cyrena, November 9, 2007 at 5:05 am #
• #112504 by driving bear on 11/08 at 10:57 pm
I noticed that this report failed to mention that the approval numbers of the democratic controlled congress is lower than Bush’s. One poll put congresses approval at only 11%. So by comparison Bush’s numbers are good.
Well Driving
Keep reading those polls, your logic is really something to marvel. But, I would certainly agree that Congresses approval rating has been low, seeing as how they’ve been unable or unwilling to impeach the lunatic evil doer, the absolute worst in history. I think he’s gonna top Hitler and Stalin for chief evil of the world, before it’s all over. Actually, he already has.
Meantime, despite those low poll numbers for Congress, the election results (in the states that held them) gave gigantic wins to – yep DB, the Democrats. Matter of fact, the Democrats swept Virginia, and it’s pretty hard to get more historically republican than Virginia. So now, the Dems have control of the Senate, and maybe that’ll just pick up those numbers a bit. Or a lot.
And, george did indeed help. Did you read this part:
• Republicans are still reeling from their party’s ideological obsessions and the unpopularity of President Bush.
So, I guess those low poll numbers for Congress (that make georgies numbers look good as you say) were a real plus for the Dems, eh? And, you helped too!! Between the grotesque ideology of your right-wing radical cohorts in crime, and the immensely unpopular psychopath that is georgie boy, you all just managed to totally wipe out the continuing existence of anything repuglithan.
Whew, it’s been the absolute worse time in the history of the nation. (well the formation of it was pretty violent as well, but there weren’t as many people. So, comparing the numbers there, (by your logic) george and his crime team will go down as the absolute worse thing ever to happen to America.
Report this