Wake up call for the Dems - MSNBC

[angusmcgee]

I stumbled across this column about what effect the Republicans passing the Prescription Drug Bill has done to the Democratic party.

It's all good.. For the GOP!!
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I especially liked the following snippets..

Should they be outraged or envious in the face of Republican audacity and discipline? Disheartened or energized by President Bush’s latest victory? This inability to choose a voice, to stick to one path, was a worrisome sign for many Democrats — especially after such a disorienting year for the party. They have been ousted from power at every level from statehouses to governor’s mansions to Congress to the White House; divided over Bush’s decision to invade Iraq; unable to coalesce early behind a presidential challenger.

Longtime party strategist Harold Ickes was at a loss to see any upside to a Republican victory in an area Democrats have always owned. He said he was flabbergasted that key Democratic senators, led by John Breaux (La.) and Max Baucus (Mont.), went along with it.
“It’s totally beyond me,” Ickes said. “I think it has seriously undermined our ability to change occupants of the White House next year. Republicans will make it sound like they invented Medicare. That’s a big piece of political real estate to give up.”
He paused. “I don’t know,” he said. “We just don’t have the discipline on our side that’s needed.”

“It’s an odd dynamic,” said Eric Hauser, a strategist on the party’s liberal wing. “When I came to Washington in the mid-’80s, the idea that Democrats ran things was just like the sun coming up in the east. Now, with each passing year, Democrats are less relevant.”

yeah, ber-ber!!

AMcG (on vacation in Cali)

[patti1]

You know, Angus, I can not consider this a victory for anyone except the drug companies. My parents have researched the bill extensively and it will be bad news for them. I can't feel too gleeful.

[angusmcgee]

Originally Posted by patti1

You know, Angus, I can not consider this a victory for anyone except the drug companies. My parents have researched the bill extensively and it will be bad news for them. I can't feel too gleeful.

Fiscally, it's another matter.

We're just talking plain ol' politics here.

Politically speaking, this is another win for the GOP. Another promise made and kept by George W.

the AARP endorsed it.. They've been in the Democrats' pockets for decades. To have them endorse a GOP bill is huge.

[patti1]

Originally Posted by angusmcgee

Fiscally, it's another matter.

We're just talking plain ol' politics here.

Politically speaking, this is another win for the GOP. Another promise made and kept by George W.

the AARP endorsed it.. They've been in the Democrats' pockets for decades. To have them endorse a GOP bill is huge.

I totally agree with you. It is a huge victory. I just hope at some time it can be amended a little to make it more livable for a lot of older citizens. But at this point, you are 100% right-an almost unbelievable victory.

[angusmcgee]

Originally Posted by patti1

You know, Angus, I can not consider this a victory for anyone except the drug companies. My parents have researched the bill extensively and it will be bad news for them. I can't feel too gleeful.

One other thing I was just thinking of.

You had said above that this would just be a victory for the drug companies.

I, as a strong capitalist don't think that a bill that would be beneficial to American businesses are bad.

To pass a law that benefits business benefits all of us in the long run.