Is it time to stop playing fair?

[SoutherDem]

We know the tactics of the Republicans when they have any power at all. Yet, each time Democrats get in power they play nice then have their asses handed to them on a plate.

Why don't we take a chance and stop playing fair. Just see how that works for a change, everything else has failed, we really don't have much to lose.

[murielm99]

1. Successful Democrats do not play fair.

Look at state and local politics. There are always powerful people behind the scenes. Sometimes they are elected, sometimes not. ALL Democrats should behave like them: they should be ruthless.

[hrmjustin]

2. I agree , we need a war room that takes no prisioners!!! n/t

[revolution breeze]

3. I think we need to stop eating our own.

At times, there seems to be two warring factions in the Democratic party. But the repubs are very divided between the teabaggers, the religious right, the anti-Mormons and a few almost-but-no-quite moderates. We need to play up their differences and put forth a united front on our side. Yes, that sound conniving but you don't think they would do that to us?

[msider]

4. I think we "Play fair"

on purpose. Republicans politicians play the the bad guy and Democratic politicians play the inept do-gooder. As you say OP "we" really don't have much to lose, but our Democratic representatives do. A step in the wrong direction and they are facing a huge influx of $ in their next reelection campaign (see Allan Grayson). Our elected Dems are allowed to stay elected only if they aren't willing or able to beat the big boys.

[Beststash]

5. No Way

If we all acted that way imagine what kind of world this would be. There are more important things in life than winning.

[demwing]

12. Only some times, and then only regarding some things

This year, this race, winning is more important than "playing fair"

[ancianita]

13. This isn't some ethics class 'what if' situation.

We're not dealing with Americans who have all Americans' best interests at heart. We're dealing with people who are un-American enough to constantly, publicly insult a sitting president who was cleanly voted into office by the majority of Americans. We have to stop allowing their PAC-funded media distortions, misinformation and outright lies to slander the party of the majority of Americans, let alone its president. Most people in the country know which party, historically, has done the most for the greatest number of Americans. And so, to fight this arson fire with reason, facts and asking nicely is a fool's errand.

[Chan790]

15. Winning isn't the most important thing...it's the only thing. N/T

[Politicalboi]

6. We should play real dirty

Have an anonymous group send DVD's to the Christian beltway of the dangers of Mormons. Under President Rmoney, all will be baptized to Mormonism whether you like it or not. We will ALL become Mormons. If it makes them stay home good. If they think their choice is between a Mormon and a Muslim, they shouldn't be voting anyway.

[FirstLight]

11. +100

I like that ...I'd donate to that PAC

[bloomington-lib]

7. I don't think the Dems need to play dirty. They just need to hold the Cons accountable.

[ancianita]

14. Right. They don't "need" to. But

they should show that they can if they have to. Just to clear up some mischaracterizations.

[coalition_unwilling]

8. That's a slippery slope and once embarked upon it, not easy to

climb back to the summit again.

Take the current Repigs as a good case-in-point. Do you really think Eisenhower, Goldwater or even (GASP!) Nixon would have anything to do with this bunch of anti-intellectual demagogues and charlatans? The Repigs began this descent into the muck starting with Nixon but it really accelerated with Reagan and the two Bushes. To the point where one feels one must wash one's hands and one's laundry after interacting with the current crop of slime. To the point where people who vote Repig are ashamed to admit they do so becuase of how slimy the party is now.

Just rambling here and I'm sure there's an equally valid counter-argument to the sentiments I've presented above.

[SoutherDem]

10. You have a point but

I don't mind and would prefer a clean fight but it is obvious we won't get one.
We seem to have 3 choices;
1. Status quo - Play clean while Republicans play dirty. Causing us to lose when we should win.
2. Play dirty - Give them a taste of their own medicine.
3. Get them to play fair- but how?????

[meow2u3]

9. I called for the end of Queensbury rules long ago

You can't win playing by the rules of the Marquis of Queensbury when the other side is playing by the rules of the Marquis de Sade.

[Chan790]

16. Playing fair? When did I start playing fair?

I'm as thoroughly in favor of playing dirty as I ever was. "Fair play" is for ninnies and weaklings who deserve to be brutalized by the haves because they allow themselves to be forced to play a rigged game by oppressors who wrote the rules which they themselves feel no compunction to play within.

Saul Alinsky said the only thing the have-nots have over the haves is their numbers and their voices. I'd add that we have the right, ability and necessity to play dirty. He played dirty. RFK played dirty. Bill Clinton plays dirty. Tip O'Neill played dirty. Jimmy Carter and Michael Dukakis believe in fair play...and they're losers for it. John Kerry played scared and took the abuse when they played dirty with him. Al Gore hardly put up a fight. Obama plays cerebral and dirty half the time and folds like a $3 KMart lawn chair the rest of the time.

I like LBJ, he might have been a warmongering prick but he was a prick that the conservative opposition lived in mortal fear of because when he wasn't playing dirty pool behind their backs, he was bullying them to their faces. The only compromise he believed in was the one made on his terms. Where is our Lyndon Baines Johnson to save us from over-righteous selves?

The President says "We are the ones we've been waiting for." I know I'm the one I'm waiting for because I'm getting tired of waiting for the rest of you to get your warpaint on and pull out the "jujitsu" as Alinsky called it.

[Rosanna Lopez]

17. Democrats must be ruthless

The Democrats have to be ruthless when dealing with the Republicans. The Republicans are the most vile mainstream political party in the Western world, and will stop at nothing to win. If Obama and the Dems don't fight back, they will lose. They need to use every avenue of attack and not be afraid to get rough. Kerry let Bush smear him in 2004, and he lost.