Closer to Common Ground

So the 2010 Election season has kicked off and is quickly shifting gears. The theme this year crosses both parties: "Throw the Bums Outs!"

Just over one-third (36) of the Senate seats are up for elections. All of the seats in the House of representatives are open for election. The Democrats and Republicans alike face challenges. Some of the more contested races will be no race at all.

Chris Dodd, Moving to Montana, or Iowa,

Byron Dorgan is retiring

Marion Barry - Duh!!

Parker Griffith - Switched Parties

Colorado Gov Bill Ritter, not seeking re-election

Michigan Lt Gov John Cherry has ended his bid

Truth be told, this is better for the Democrats than trying to run as an incumbent. In Connecticut, the State AG, Richard Blumenthal will run in Dodd's place. He is a strong candidate who can not be married to the current tit-for-tat that is going on inside the DC Beltway.

The Democrats need to work on a message. The problem is, the Republicans are much better at creating effective sound bites than the Dem’s. Always have been.

But all is not lost for the Democrats. The path to capture the drifting Independent vote may best be provided by the Republicans themselves.

The Republicans are facing a a tough incumbent challenge too. As Obama pointed out at the Republican Caucus last week, a Republican who makes any measurable compromise with the Obama Administration, puts themselves at risk to be challenged by their own fringe base. So the Republicans can not afford to meet Obama in the middle of any ideological issue. Equally, they can not appear to be the “Party of No” as the left has made claim. This would paint them as Obstructionists.

So the day-to-day political tactics for Republicans is now a double edge sword. Offer no middle ground for any legislation, less they risk the backlash from their own base. Make enough progress or create enough static background noise, so as not to be labeled an Obstructionist.

The 2010 election-cycle strategy for the Republicans boils down to semantic and word play. Regardless of the actual result or effect of a policy, bill or idea, the Right will colour every solution as more of the “Bank Bail Out” or more of “Socialist Obama-Care” plan. Even if the proposed plans would reduce deficit spending and limit how big, big-banks can be, and limit the risks banks would be allowed to take with tax payer money. Or how these plans would eliminate “Pre-existing” conditions as a reason to refuse benefits. With indifference to the actual content of the legislation, the Republicans will spin every policy to the negative, and stop all legislation.

Lets be clear,.. this is NOT because the Republicans are evil, or because they want to see the country fail. As we go through this election cycle, the Left must be consciously mindful, not to make wild and unfounded statements. The Republicans are simply trying to retake as much control of both houses as they can. No one can fault them for that. I’m pretty sure the Democrats are doing the same.

Unfortunately, the conservative engine that powers the political resistance is driven mostly by the hard-right media. This has created a hostile climate that makes it almost impossible for any Republican to openly cooperate with this administration. Somewhere between, Glen Beck, Bill O'Riley, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and other conservative hosts, they have taken control of the Republican Party. Any move toward the middle, yet to mention the left, will be met with full retaliation from all the right wing media.

Don't get me wrong, the Democrats are faced with a similar problem. They have had several seats filled by the "Blue-Dog" Democrats. While we did have that "Super Majority" until the MA election, the Blue-Dog Democrats have been problematic for Obama because these Blue-Dogs won their seats in conservative districts or states. Advantage: Democrats, They are in power. They don't have to go on the attack. They do have to play nice. Actually, they can even do better than nice. The Democrats now need to pull together all their most conservative policies and put them to a vote. This is a WIN/WIN strategy for 2010 because it forces the Republicans to the front.

If the Republicans approve or agree, they have to fight their base. If they reject it, the Democrats can prove that the Republicans are obstructionist who are worried about their jobs, the jobs of their constituents. And finally the best reason for this strategy is this. The Democrats never have to risk their integrity or their ideals. They just need to shut-up and play nice.

While I am obviously left of center, my hope for this year is not for sweeping power shift to the left or right in the mid-term elections. If I can hope for any change, I hope that we can temper the rhetoric and find a way that makes our elected officials understand that we are watching. We have expectations, and we demand better. Also, reassure them that we can start somewhere new, somewhere closer to common ground.

Final Note: As seen on Meet The Press this weekend, the executive from FOX News Network clearly articulated that their News Cycle is driven purely by Rating. And in his own words, He is winning. If that is true we should be able to agree that "Fair & Balance" is more of catch phrase than it is a model for reporting the news. The reason FOX stopped covering the President during the Republican Caucus Meeting last Friday was not motivated on weight or worthiness of the news. It was because it did not meet expectations of its viewers.

Think about that for a minute. They are not bringing you "News You Can Use". They are not interested in news for news sake. They are covering news that their viewers want to see.

I watch NBC, CNN and other News. If any of those broadcasts would have delivered the News the way FOX does. And if all other news Media outlets are liberal media, we would have last seen GW Bush on 9/12. But I don't think they ever pulled away from Bush in the middle of a speech.