What? You mean Republicans aren't hi-fiving Democratic House candidate Alex Sink for proposing to cut Social Security?
Republicans are stupid because they can't seem to double-down on being unpopular and out-of-the-mainstream.
Democrats are stupid because they desperately keep trying to do the GOP's dirty work for them, thinking someone (the voters and/or the GOP) is going to reward them for doing the unpopular stupid thing.
Exhibit A:
Sen. Mark Pryor (Ark.), the chamber’s most vulnerable incumbent, has said he does not support the legislation. He does, however, back a pending plan in his home state to increase the minimum wage to $8.50.
Other Democrats up for reelection who have not co-sponsored the Harkin measure include Sens. Mark Warner (Va.), Kay Hagan (N.C.) and Mary Landrieu (La.).
Raising the minimum wage is
wildly popular, even in poor minimum wage states like Arkansas and Louisiana. So of course, those Dems are afraid of doing the popular thing. They think they'll get rewarded for doing the GOP's dirty job of protecting Walmart and their friends, but of course, they won't. Pryor is toast, and it'll be good riddance. Like Blanche Lincoln. Anyone miss her?
Exhibit B:
On Thursday, the NRCC bashed [Democratic House candidate Alex] Sink for saying she supported Simpson-Bowles.
Digby says, "I have never understood why Democrats who have to run for office are so wedded to the idea that they will be rewarded for being 'the adults in the room' and doing the 'hard stuff' like cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits". None of us understand that because it is stupid beyond words, and
objectively a loser. Forget about blue state Democrats. Jon Tester in Montana and Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota both won in 2012 on protecting Social Security, even as Romney romped in their states. Meanwhile, Bob Kerrey got trounced in Nebraska running on austerity and screwing over old people. The polling is clear.
Yet Democrats persist with the fiction that someone will give them a pat on the back. Scratch that, it's not fiction. The DC punditry will give them a pat on the back. BUT WHO FUCKING CARES?
Atrios wonders why Democrats don't promise seniors the farm. They vote! Promise to expand Social Security benefits, because not only would it be good politics, it would be good policy. Offer to expand health care services. Promise them a law requiring the grandchildren to call once a week. Who cares what, just promise to make their lives better, and who knows, they might do this thing called "voting for you". Because trying to do the GOP's dirty work for them (ahem, chained CPI) doesn't win votes and doesn't win GOP good will. It only wins critics at the polls.
Most political parties instinctively get this. Ours is the only one that can't seem to figure this out.