# Did the Democrats Dodge a Bullet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 10, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-democrats-dodge-a-bullet/274045 "2004-11-10T17:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-democrats-dodge-a-bullet/274045/41 "2004-11-11T12:26:53Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > There’s a lot of noise being made about nominating Hillary for '08. There’s a lot of Republican noise being made about nominating Hillary, and they’ve been doing it since 2000. I haven’t heard a Democrat even hint at it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-democrats-dodge-a-bullet/274045/42 "2004-11-11T13:34:38Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > …In spite of the fact that Libertarians are WAY over-represented here on the SDMB… Boy, you got that right! How many times have we seen posters driven away by the relentless hectoring, pile-ons, and general bullying by wild-eyed libertarian kooks? For instance, **december** … > [@](#): > > …most Americans don’t want a libertarian government… As the recent landsliding mandate clearly shows, most Americans are in total agreement with GeeDubya in every regard, down to the last dot and tittle… ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-democrats-dodge-a-bullet/274045/43 "2004-11-11T19:51:40Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Boy, you got that right! How many times have we seen posters driven away by the relentless hectoring, pile-ons, and general bullying by wild-eyed libertarian kooks? For instance, **december** … I’m guessing you’re being sarcastic, but the point you are trying to make is unclear. > [@](#): > > As the recent landsliding mandate clearly shows, most Americans are in total agreement with GeeDubya in every regard, down to the last dot and tittle… Uh, Bush isn’t a libertarian. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-democrats-dodge-a-bullet/274045/44 "2004-11-11T20:03:11Z")
A joke explained is a joke murdered. But anyway… Taking off on the theme Some Posters have of whining, sniveling, and cavorting about how they are so woefully outnumbered on the Boards, and the clarity and light they bring is scorned and piled upon, as evidenced by the dreadful conspiracy to hector **St. December** to his tragic martyrdom at the hands of mods and admins subverted and seduced to this end. Woe! Woe! Whoa! ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-democrats-dodge-a-bullet/274045/45 "2004-11-11T20:07:34Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > We already have a Libertarian party, and last time I checked, they aren’t doing so good. In spite of the fact that Libertarians are WAY over-represented here on the SDMB, most Americans don’t want a libertarian government. For the Democratic party to become the party of “individual freedom” would be a complete 180 from what it has always stood for. The Democratic party is the party of civil rights legislation, social programs, and worker’s rights - government helping those who can’t help themselves. It makes no sense for them to suddenly become the antithesis of that. Right…but the reason the Libertarian party does bad is because its not one of the big two. If the Dems adopted some of the Libs stance I really do think they would reach a larger crowd, taking a lot of the center from the Republicans. Of course, if you think this would be opposite to their stances then I guess I can see why this would be distasteful to you. Personally I don’t think it would be…you’d only be allowing individuals to make their own choices instead of forcing them to your world view. Take abortion. A Libertarians view is that this is up to the individual…pro choice. The caviot of course is that a Lib wouldn’t support the GOVERNMENT getting involved (i.e. clinics doing abortion on the governments dime)…however, there would be no laws to PREVENT a woman from going to a doctor willing to preform abortion from doing so. Gay marriage would be the same thing…it would be an individuals choice. However, I see your point…if you have to change then its not worth winning. Its my own wishful thinking anyway that ONE of the big two actually supports stuff I’m personally in favor of. C’est la vie I guess. Hope going left works out for the Dem’s in '08 but I have my doubts unless the situation completely tanks under Bush’s second term. > [@blowero](#): > > Uh, Bush isn’t a libertarian. Gods no! Bush is like an anti-libertarian. -XT ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-democrats-dodge-a-bullet/274045/46 "2004-11-11T20:18:23Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > A joke explained is a joke murdered. But anyway… Well if it had been clear in the first place… > [@](#): > > Taking off on the theme Some Posters have of whining, sniveling, and cavorting about how they are so woefully outnumbered on the Boards, and the clarity and light they bring is scorned and piled upon, as evidenced by the dreadful conspiracy to hector **St. December** to his tragic martyrdom at the hands of mods and admins subverted and seduced to this end. Woe! Woe! Whoa! Who’s doing _that_? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-democrats-dodge-a-bullet/274045/47 "2004-11-11T20:26:13Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > Well if it had been clear in the first place… > > Who’s doing _that_? 😕 I agree. I didn’t understand the “joke” the first time, and the explanation doesn’t make any more sense… ---
**Author:** ![GomiBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@GomiBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GomiBoy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-democrats-dodge-a-bullet/274045/48 "2004-11-12T08:26:21Z")
Sorry for the late response to this one, > [@Ravenman](#): > > If one is a leader, one will take the helm in foul weather as well as fair. > > A political party whose members honestly believe that their party’s leaders should not be called upon to tackle the big problems in our country is a party that is not deserving of the reins of power. I think you’re the only one making this statement. I am _ **not** _ saying that I am “glad we lost” because “our guy wasn’t up for the task.” John Kerry would have been a good President, I think, but as he’s not President I am attempting to look for a silver lining and also looking for why it happened and how to Win next time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-democrats-dodge-a-bullet/274045.md?page=2)