Atrios has been writing much about expanding Social Security because most Americans will have to live on it when they retire and it's impossible to do it. President Obama has been talking about using chained CPI to suck in Republicans to help craft a bipartisan bill on on the economy. Gun control has been defeated by a cowardly Senate. The Republicans are obstructing every appointee Obama makes. It's f*&king ridiculous, but unfortunately there is a basic principle at play that could reek havoc over us in 2014. It's called "Kick out the bums." You remember the tea party revolt in 2010?

I really like what brooklynbadboy has to say on the faltering Democratic Party and he uses the 'kick out the bums' theorem to make his point:

This isn't going well, and Democrats are in charge. 2014.

That's what our folks in Washington need to understand. That is going to be the overwhelming assessment we get from the public unless we turn this shit around and at least appear to be fighting for the average person. Because in 2014, nobody is going to give a shit that we didn't change the Senate rules or failed to reform campaign finance or that chess moves are being planned out for 20 years from now. All they're going to know is this shit isn't going well and Democrats are in charge.

So, to the White House and the Senate leadership: You all are about to get creamed. Again. I know the GOP will obstruct everything. Good. Use that as your springboard. Just dismiss this foolishness of trying to craft a bipartisan legislative agenda and go for the full on political combat. So just get rid of the filibuster, stop fucking around trying to balance the budget, and just start doing shit for regular people who are broke.

Do shit for regular people who are broke.

DO SHIT FOR REGULAR PEOPLE WHO ARE BROKE.

Stop trying to feed into the beltway fetishism of bipartisanship because it's not going to happen with these R's so get with it and act like real Democrats. Help the American people. You know, jobs, jobs, jobs...(h/t Digby)