# What's Wrong With the Democratic Party? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 1, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-the-democratic-party/324299 "2005-10-01T03:35:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-the-democratic-party/324299/81 "2005-10-04T13:18:46Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Ohio this time? Bush won Ohio by over 118,000 votes in 2004. That’s hardly “a couple thousand.” Yeah, right. [http://www.harpers.org/ExcerptNoneDare.html](http://www.harpers.org/ExcerptNoneDare.html) ---
**Author:** ![Twin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@Twin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twin)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-the-democratic-party/324299/82 "2005-10-04T13:46:49Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > As far as you know. As far as everyone knows. > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Care to address the actual topic of the thread instead? Judging by your post, I would say an unwillingness to face the truth. **BrainGlutton** has an interesting cite. [This cite](http://www.ac4vr.com/reports/072005/ohio.html) is interesting, too. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-the-democratic-party/324299/83 "2005-10-04T16:17:55Z")
There is nothing wrong with the Democratic Party. Much of the Democratic initiatives have become mainstream so there is less left to do on the liberal agenda. Voting rights? Check. Social Security? Check. Abortion rights? Check. Desegregation? Check. Creation of EPA? Check. Women’s Rights? Sort of. There was that insane rejection of ERA. But what were at one time liberal Democratic platforms are now firmly entrenched as part of American life. The right shift in America is a myth. The Dems can’t directly exploit the Katrina debacle, that would be seen as unseemly. They can and should exploit the corruption of the Republican party. They can and should articulate the differences between themselves and the other guys. There is plenty of time for that in 2006. In the meantime, just pop some corn and sit back and enjoy the Republicans shooting themselves in the foot. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-the-democratic-party/324299/84 "2005-10-04T17:16:29Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Newt Gingrich didn’t take control of Congress by sitting back and criticizing Democrats. **Cough\*Ahem** > [@](#): > > [**Language: A Key Mechanism of Control**](http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4443.htm) > _Newt Gingrich’s 1996 GOPAC memo_ > > …This list is prepared so that you might have a directory of words to use in writing literature and mail, in preparing speeches, and in producing electronic media. The words and phrases are powerful. Read them. Memorize as many as possible. And remember that like any tool, these words will not help if they are not used. As for the OP, the problem is twofold: 1. The Democrats still think politics is a gentleman’s game, like fencing; you play, you keep score, and at the end of the day you go out for drinks. They haven’t noticed that their opponents have tossed aside the foil and have broken out the brass knuckles and switchblades. 2. The Dems have as much organizational cohesiveness as a flock of cats. See Will Rogers’ quote about unorganized parties again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-the-democratic-party/324299.md?page=4)