’)The Democratic party is surely the worst case of a battered spouse in the history of this country’s great national dialogue. No matter the indignities suffered at the hands of the media or the Republicans, the Democrats keep coming back and asking to be forgiven for their perceived sins. Stop it. Stop it now. For christ’s sake, stand up for yourselves and the people who voted for you. It’s got to stop now.
RIGHT…just stop it!!!
For God’s sake listen to Howard Dean and stand up to these guys that have never apologized for anything…
Apologizing to 1700 dead Americans would be a good start.
Democrats — the Rethugs have just given you a gift, after news cycles of Sen. Durbin caving in for being right and the DLC babies going after Howard Dean for wanting to win elections. USE IT GODDAMNIT!
I must say O that the country would definitely be better off if the Democrats would just heed your advice.
Dugger
Oliver,
Please keep using this analogy because it is completely appropriate. I am a licensed counselor and have worked in a domestic violence agency for almost eight years. I ve done weekly groups with both abusers and victims, men and women, and am now working in an actual shelter setting with abused women.
In other words, I have been immersed in observing the dynamics of abuse for years — and you are right. The current dynamics between Republicans and Democrats are EXACTLY the same. Democrats need to learn the same lessons as abuse victims:
* You can t work with people whose primary motivation is to WIN. Those kind of people don t respect you. They don t care about you. They don t value you. Your safety and well-being means NOTHING to them.
* Being nice to people like that doesn t work. They force you to to play into their win/lose dynamic — even if it s against your nature, and even if you don t want to or like to. If you don t play by the rules they are forcing upon you, you will be destroyed.
* When you do finally stand up to them and start playing by their rules, they will genuinely perceive you as being mean, unfair and abusive. And they will genuinely perceive themselves as the victim. That is their problem.
* When they get angry and upset at you, and start attacking you, it is a compliment. It means you are doing the right thing. It means you are winning the contest they are forcing you to play. Keep doing it.
If anyone reading this site has access to Harry Reid or Howard Dean, I am hereby offering to hold a crash course in abuse dynamics for Democratic leaders. Seriously. I will even do it for free if it means making our country safer and stronger.