Posted on 11/04/2004 1:33:32 AM PST by kattracks
WASHINGTON - The day after getting their heads handed to them again in national elections, furious Democrats on Capitol Hill were pointing fingers at their own leaders and vowing war with Republicans.Several top Democratic aides blamed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and national party Chairman Terry McAuliffe for failing to win back the White House or either chamber of Congress.
Instead, they lost ground in both houses and their Senate leader, Tom Daschle, was knocked off.
Angry Democrats also dismissed any suggestion of a truce with GOP lawmakers.
"We'll be throwing a lot of grenades," said one senior Democratic aide in the Senate. "With only 45 members, there'll be times when we can't filibuster, and we'll have to shine the spotlight on their outrageousness."
Despite calls for unity following the bitter election results, Democrats were incensed yesterday over remarks by GOP leaders anxious to push President Bush's conservative programs in his second term.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) said in a statement that Americans must heal differences, but added he'll work with Bush and Senate leaders "to enact our common sense agenda."
White House press secretary Scott McClellan made a point to mention that Bush called several freshman senators, and, speaking about his agenda, told one, "Now is the time to get it done."
"If Republicans ... try to enact a radical right-wing agenda, they'll be met with opposition every step of the way," warned a top Democratic operative in the Senate.
An explosive issue could be Senate confirmation hearings if Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist steps down from the high court because of his cancer, or if Attorney General John Ashcroft is replaced, as is widely expected.
A nomination fight with Bush and Senate Republicans is "likely to seriously poison any aura of good will up here," said the influential operative.
In the House, where Republicans improved their majority by two seats, a senior adviser to House Democrats - who described the caucus' mood as "suicidal" - criticized Pelosi for not taking a page from GOP ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich's playbook and playing hardball this year.
"Nancy looks bad," said the adviser. "The only way to win this place is to burn it down."
Several of the Democratic sources said party boss McAuliffe should resign immediately, despite his plan to leave next year.
"McAuliffe is out - not a question," said one senior House aide.
A top Democratic operative in the Senate said it was time for a change at party headquarters.
"I can't imagine he'd be allowed to stick around, much less to try and further the ambitions of Sen. Hillary Clinton," said the top operative. "Nobody's going to allow that to happen."
But other Democrats defended McAuliffe, who sources say has raised an eye-popping $400 million since 2003.
"By any reasonable measure, Chairman McAuliffe succeeded at his two tasks: raising money and getting out the vote," said DNC spokesman Jano Cabrera.
Originally published on November 4, 2004
Well to them the very survival of Amerika, and their gravy train is at stake. The reason the election tilted so favorably for the Socialist's in the begining is the ones that had a job had to vote in the afternoon, the welfare socialists all voted in the morning.
I think the Democrats are not voting for idealism other than the ideal of having someone else support your excesses.
"Since 1980, Democrats have tended to blame their losing candidates for not being tough enough. They somehow believe that their attacks on Republicans were not sufficiently sharp, and that Republicans are more focused on winning and more willing to do whatever it takes to win.
"I think this is nonsense generally, but especially so this year. There is no question that on the shrillness meter, Democrats have won hands-down. Democrat friends of mine maintain that George Bush drives them to it and that shrillness is the only way of breaking through the political stupor in which most Americans live.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1269787/posts?page=1
Fine, so in 2006, we'll have 60 seats in the Senate.
"So much for Kerry's little speech."
The problem with the Loser Party is that it has genuinely BAD people in it. Hence, any change will be a fraudulent change because genuinely bad people don't become genuinely good people at the drop of a political hat. Too many voters will see through this like they saw through Kerry's new "conservative" persona. IOW, the Loser Party needs truly to clean house, get rid of its corrupt leadership, not put on a new suit. Not likely though.
"Several top Democratic aides blamed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and national party Chairman Terry McAuliffe for failing to win back the White House or either chamber of Congress."
I have secret data that proves this. I don't know how the democratic aides came into posession of it, but it's right on the money.
I don't care if we pick up one, two or even three seats by someone switching parties.
I just want to make sure that Jeffords gets nothing.
" the blacks"
That ought to be qualified. I know you are not a racist, but the statement appears to be that.
Some incredible quotes. These guys are melting.
Will Dubya and the GOP ever learn their lesson ... ?
I doubt it - given Arlen's "shot across the bow" from yesterday. Simply no party discipline in the GOP - too many prima donnas - very, very old prima donnas!!!
I guess he did help get out the vote. The President got the most votes, EVER! but then, as Juan said on BO last night, if W got the most ever, sKerry got the next highest votes ever. .... Juan, he lost.
We have lots of good people, including J C. We just need to get them plenty of face time on TV, so that everyone will know who they are, not just us.
Interestingly enough, after the 2002 "earthquake election "
( somewhat obscure reference here: http://www.freedominion.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7588&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=165
)
...the Left's answer seemed to be "America is not hearing our message-- we need to SHOUT LOUDER!"
They haven't realized that we are hearing them fine- we just aren't buying the message.
I laughed at Alan last night. Sean had a copy of the new Red and Blue map - it is much more Red now. Alan was almost pouting - he said people DO live in the blue part, too.
that's probably the sad truth. A Zell Miller truth.
No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See Spector bolt! He always bolts.
They just don't get it, do they?
The more "grenades" they throw, the more they alienate the American people.
These folks are too STUPID to hold office.
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