Are Democrats wussies?

[Detroitdad]

I am watching this program on CNN that is saying that the Democrats suffer from the wussy factor, which makes them seem weak on national security, etc.
I assume that many will agree that the Dems have a wussy problem. My other question is whether a physical embodiment of toughness is enough to overcome this problem. If it is not, then what would it take for those who believe that Dems are wusses (and for whom this makes a difference) in order for them to breakthrough.

Another question, do ya'll think of the board Democrats such as Hoyacoug, myself, and now Tim (as wusses)? If we were able to beat you in a physical fight would it make a difference?

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

I am watching this program on CNN that is saying that the Democrats suffer from the wussy factor, which makes them seem weak on national security, etc.
I assume that many will agree that the Dems have a wussy problem. My other question is whether a physical embodiment of toughness is enough to overcome this problem. If it is not, then what would it take for those who believe that Dems are wusses (and for whom this makes a difference) in order for them to breakthrough.

Another question, do ya'll think of the board Democrats such as Hoyacoug, myself, and now Tim (as wusses)? If we were able to beat you in a physical fight would it make a difference?

Not seeing the presentation to which you refer has us at a disadvantage.

However, are you saying that being weak-minded is a disadvantage in the minds of some voters? I suppose one might say that.

However, the political landscape has morphed into something really indescribable.

Historically, Dems were not viewed as wusses, but for fighting for a populist viewpoint, i.e., labor, the unrepresented, the downtrodden etc. That's not a wussy point of view. Imagine the old time Dems, rolling up their sleeves at a labor function, where the participants could beat the crap out of any management types. That's not a wussy image. Longshoremen, not wussy.

FDR led us through WWII and Truman fought Korea.

However, as the landscape changed, with the anti-Vietnam era, Dems stopped representing something and became "antis". Dems don't have ideas any longer, or at least that's a popular perception. Where is the fight?

Is it a fighting man to simply mock Bush? I don't see anything tough about mocking somebody who will never hear the mockery and won't be able to defend himself.

The union laborer is no longer viewed as oppressed and the minority interests of the Dems is now viewed as whacko instead of mainstream. Another problem is defining mainstream. I'm not certain what that means nowadays and the Dems certainly haven't figured it out.

I think the constant "cowardice" in all matters and the lack of ideas creates the wuss factor, not physical prowess.

[il Padrino Ute]

Well said, Archaea.

[RockyBalboa]

I know Tim and consider him a good friend and he could easily kick my ass. lol.

Seriously if I were ever in a trench in a war, he's one guy I'd want on my side because he's a cool guy.

[Surfah]

Nice post Arch.

I could be an old time Democrat I think. But alas, I plan on being very wealthy so even if those ideals returned to that political party I am afraid I still wouldn't join.

[Detroitdad]

Quote from Archaea-

I think the constant "cowardice" in all matters and the lack of ideas creates the wuss factor, not physical prowess.[/QUOTE]

I thank you for your input. I will point out that I never said weak minded, and that I think that is not an accurate representation of what the party is, but I welcome other viewpoints.

However, I do agree with you that the party fractured in the post-Vietnam, post-Civil Rights era, as the tent big and all inclusive became the ideal of the party activists. I also think that this type of decay is typical in any organization that has achieved a measure of success,and I think that its echoes can be seen in the current stumblings of the Republican party that is beholden to different interests within the party that have helped it reach its apex, after a long dark night in exile (and in saying this I am taking the super long term view of decades and defining apex as control of COngress, the Presidency, the majority of governorships, and state legislatures).

Clearly some of the party's stature as being the anti-party is self inflicted damage. I have heard people say that it in many areas it is almost socially unacceptable to be a white male and be a Democrat (indeed, I have felt the sting of this phenomenon hundreds of times myself). This is a very legitimate criticism of the party activists, as they are to a large degree responsible for this perception, and I think that many of them are so isolated and insulated by geography and education from others that disagree that they are unaware of, or unwilling to accept the ramifications of this perception. Of course, I would also argue that this perception is a partly a result of an inadequate response in the form of national security policy and other issues that help bolster the wuss factor. Additionally, and perhaps most damaging is the loss of the rhetorical game to the Republicans. Liberal is a dirty word to many who don't really even know what it means. Conservative is not to the same extent, Reps have done a better job of branding the Dems as ineffective and idealess and almost laughable and puny, pathetic limousine riding, lesbian Peta members. With the public interest in substantive issues at such a low level this kind of branding can be devastating to overcome for even the most conservative Democrat.

It also seems to me that too many of the Dem activists would rather be morally superior (as they see it) than elected. The virtue of intellectual purity is prized above elective office, and if the voters don't vote correctly then screw them, they deserve the Reps attitude permeates many in the party (I used to feel this way when I was a young firebrand).

In summary, I do think that a few cool white guys that might be imposing physically or just outwardly tough would really do the Democratic party good. I am an optimist, although I could write a book about the party's weaknesses and faults, and I think that these new types have a real shot, beginning out West to remold the Democratic party. It may not be the party that satisfies all the intellectual purists within the party, but they really are a bunch of wusses anyway.