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Cohn Concession: Liberals Should Not Clap If They Are Not Happy

In a strange reply to Atrios's point that if liberal enthusiasm is important to Democratic political success then maybe Dems should put some effort in sparking liberal enthusiasm, Jon Cohn writes:

Of course, liberals shouldn't be enthusiastic about the Democrats, let alone support them, if they think Democrats aren't fighting for liberal causes and at least having some success. But that's a different argument.

(Emphasis supplied.) How is that a different argument exactly? Cohn was berating "liberals" for not clapping loud enough -- Cohn is happy so they should be too. Atrios' point is that if liberals not clapping loud enough is a political problem for Dems, then maybe, just maybe, Dems (and Cohn) should be thinking about why liberals are not clapping loud enough and start to think about things they could do that would make them clap louder. Here's a tip - berating them as stupid and foolish for not clapping loud enough is not a good strategy.

Speaking for me only

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  • Display: Sort:
    I'm At A Complete Loss (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by The Maven on Tue Aug 03, 2010 at 09:00:08 AM EST
    as to what else Cohn would identify as a contributing reason for the dearth of liberal enthusiasm.  Last time I checked, it's pretty hard to muster up a lot of rah-rah feeling toward members of Congress and party leaders who keep telling us that there just isn't enough support for our preferred ideas without even bothering to properly gauge existing public opinion or -- god forbid! -- attempt to show leadership on the issue.  Being told that our principles are far outside the mainstream and beyond what's possible is a sure recipe for putting a damper on enthusiasm and generating cynicism.  It would be nice if folks like Cohn understood that.  It would be even nicer if Congress and the White House did, too.

    This is mostly a policy (5.00 / 5) (#2)
    by david mizner on Tue Aug 03, 2010 at 10:07:09 AM EST
    debate disguised as a debate about strategy. Cohn and Yglesias like the health care bill, so they can clap. I don't so I won't. Booman and Tomasky support the escalation in Afghanistan, so they can clap. I didn't, so I won't.

    Good for you (none / 0) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Aug 03, 2010 at 10:13:58 AM EST
    I clapped for the Afghanistan policy and was critical of the heath bill.


    Parent
    After being so berated in 2008 (5.00 / 6) (#4)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 03, 2010 at 10:55:40 AM EST
    it is just old and in the so-what category for me.
    I really enjoyed the brief moments of hope for change since the inauguration and assumed the clapping position . . . but time and time again, hopes were dimmed.  Now, as November nears, all of this blogger beratement just persuades me even more that I still was right, and they still are fools.  Two years has taught them nothing at all.

    It has taught them nothing (5.00 / 7) (#5)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 03, 2010 at 11:09:52 AM EST
    Because they don't want to learn.  Despite all their excuses about wanting to be bipartisan, about not having enough support for the things that many of us wanted (and still want), I've long ago come to the conclusion that they are doing exactly what they want to do.  Words are cheap, and I've not only stopped listening to them, I've stopped giving them money, and told all of them (the DNC, the DCCC, the DSCC, OFA, etc.) exactly why.  When I get a Democratic Party that starts to act like Democrats (old-fashioned Dems, that is), I will once again give my time and money.  I will continue to support individual candidates who support what I support, but not the various Democratic organizations and committees.  

    Parent
    Agreed; the only difference (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 03, 2010 at 12:32:53 PM EST
    between thee and me, it seems, is that I stopped giving them money before I stopped listening to them. :-)

    Parent
    LOL! (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by Zorba on Tue Aug 03, 2010 at 12:39:46 PM EST
    And I'm also sick and tired of being chastised by the various "New Dems" for my lack of support.  As I've said before, I didn't leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me.

    Parent