When is the DNC really going to kick some ass?

[TexasLawyer]

Ive been waiting and waiting and waiting for Reid, Pelosi, Clinton, Dean, any of the BIG Democratic names to get behind the importance of the Downing Street Memo, and call the Bush war pimps on their crimes. So far-- nothing. It has made me almost ill with disappointment. Who is it who said "at some point silence is the same as betrayal"? I'm feeling a tad betrayed here lately. I wrote up this e-mail to the DNC. I want to see some bravery, particularly anything that will bring the Bush cabal to justice.

Here's my e-mail:

I see a "Kicking Ass" on the DNC logo, but that is not what the Democrats are doing these days with most of the issues that REALLY count. The biggest case in point: When are the Democratic leaders going to stand up and demand that George Bush explain just how he got this country into war with Iraq? The Downing Street Memo is the proverbial smoking gun showing that Bush cooked the intelligence to lead us into a war that he thought of as "inevitable." Except for John Conyers, and the representatives who have signed his letter demanding an investigation into the information presented in the memo, I have not heard a peep from the men and women in charge of the Democratic Party. Nothing.

It sure looks like Bush lied to Congress and to America when he promised that war with Iraq would be a "last resort." I know that many Democrats voted to give Bush the power to attack Iraq in reliance upon the sanctity of that promise. Who could possibly lie about such a thing?

Well, now we have it in black and white that Bush DID lie. He should be in jail! WHY are we not screaming about this? Must John Conyers do everything?

PLEASE, PLEASE start talking about the Downing Street Memo. Please fight harder and more vocally about Republican thuggery and overreaching.

Many good and faithful Democrats are starting to question their party allegiance. I am a lifelong Democrat and activist. I've recently been asked to become a Democratic precinct captain here in Houston, but I am on the verge of saying "no," since I can't knock myself out for a party that will not speak out on many of the issues that matter most. Democrats have been looking the other way on the issues that will bankrupt our country and destroy democracy if not addressed--

like why we initiated this war against Iraq,

like why we have no exit strategy,

like why we have no strategy, period,

like why we are getting ready to bomb Iran and no one is speaking out against that madness;

like how $8.9 Billion can simply be "lost" by the coalition authorities;

like why U.S. taxpayers are paying for propagandists to shill for the RNC;

like why the Bush administration thinks it can get away with nominating unfit and unfair judges;

like why this Administration is able to co opt the media so that they parrot RNC talking points; and

like why blatant election fraud can take place without a whimper by the Democrats. (When Kerry/Edwards failed to contest the fraudulent Ohio 2004 election and recount, it shows something is very wrong with the party.)

Come on Dems, start kicking some ass again! Make us believe in you again!

[mzmolly]

1. I agree, perhaps we need to organize a calling campaign?

Taking it one issue at a time?

:shrug:

[mmonk]

2. Sometimes, it seems,

DNC stands for "Do Nothing Confrontational".

[TexasLawyer]

3. Good one!

Yes, it does seem that way sometimes. They have done a good job defending Social Security, but on most other important matters they often roll over and play dead.

[PowerToThePeople]

4. The DLC is an ass

[Dr Fate]

5. They want you to get all excited about the "safe issues."

But they want you to give them a pass on the "difficult issues" that they think will somehow drive away swing voters.

The top DEMs are thinking twice now about the Grass-roots they courted- they never thought we would actually want INPUT- they just thought we were there to just give money and volunteer time.

Sorry- but the "top issues" that we are supposed to get behind don't involve talking about the memo. That is "Micheal Moore stuff."

The same DEM "strategists" who lost the last three election cycles will define the "important issues" FOR YOU.

Gannon? The memo? Stolen Elections? Sorry. No can do.

[BigBearJohn]

6. You know, I betcha if EVERYONE on DU pushed this for a week

what do you think would happen? I mean, DEDICATING ourselves to do the most that each one of us individually could do (within our own limits). I bet you we would have an impact... a HUGE impact.

I am recommending this thread for the greatest page.

[mmonk]

7. I'm game

but it will take an effort from lots of us collectively.

[BigBearJohn]

9. Come on, how hard could it be? just takes a little ENTHUSIASM

determination, and "WE CAN DO IT" attitude. A group of ants can take down a huge buffalo.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right!"

[TexasLawyer]

12. I'm game

I e-mailed the party, but I'm going to e-mail the individual big-wigs and try to do some convincing. Then I'll do another round. I'm going to ask my friends and family to help.

It's pathetic that we have to beg our own party to do its job, but... there we are!

[Dr Fate]

8. DNC KNOWS about the memo and they KNOW we want them to speak up.

How can they not?

Having said that, it wont hurt to continue begging them to utter a sentence about the memo.

I've been asking DUers for weeks to do this- so please continue that effort- I'll help too.

[BigBearJohn]

10. Let's write to the f**king publicans too! Let 'em know we are WATCHING

[mzmolly]

16. Yes indeed.

:hi:

[TexasLawyer]

11. Thanks, Dr. Fate

You were the one who alerted me to the fact (unbelievable as it is) that the senior Dems were really not doing anything about the Downing Street Memo. I was defending Reid, Dean, etc...on your thread, thinking that surely they had been speaking out on the Memo since it is so staggeringly, devastatingly important.

I looked, but I couldn't find any discussion by the big guys on the subject. On the DNC website I even did a search for "Downing Street Memo" and found-- NOTHING. It's as if they are afraid to admit it even exists!

There are a lot of people who don't know anything about the memo. It's time to get the DNC kicking again!

[mzmolly]

13. I agree. If we put up a link to "contact our senators"

and did so on the "memo" for example ... we'd make headway.
We do need to focus on one issue at a time though.

[BigBearJohn]

14. I like that idea.Mzmolly. Especially focus on ONE Project

but push hard, hard, hard
Be consumed with it.
I think the Downing St Memo is our ticket.
We need to rally all OUR troups!

[mzmolly]

15. I agree. We should have a weekly action alert or something?

We can post a template with talking points and go for it. Perhaps a team would be willing to work on various talking points first and then we'd vote on various actions to prioritize?

I don't want to head this up, but if some one else does ... cool!

To contact the Senate:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Congress:

http://www.house.gov/writerep/

I agree start with Downing street. Let OUR REPS know what we want from them, and we can contact the DNC as well:

http://www.democrats.org/contact/

And heck, lets toss in the DLC too.

http://www.ndol.org/cobrand/contact_us.cfm

In an ideal world, we'd get a team together and mash it out weekly, then we'd have skinner pin a post in GD weekly? But, we'd have to consult for that last one. I think every DUer should PERSONALLY advance the agenda they wish to see.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. ~ Mahatma Ghandi

[BigBearJohn]

18. Wow. Great message. I will do what I can do but I head the thing.

[mzmolly]

19. Great.

We have a leada!

[BigBearJohn]

23. Sorry. I mistyped. Meant to say I CAN'T head the thing

But I will do whatever else I can

[mzmolly]

35. Darn.

:hi:

[Lannes]

17. I believe their approach is (right or wrong)

"Lets give them enough rope to hang themselves with it".In some cases it works some cases it doesnt.

[Dr Fate]

32. Yes- obviously the same "strategists" who lost the last 3 elections...

are still running the show.

[La Coliniere]

20. Actually heard...

Bill O'Slyly say in response to an email that the reason he won't give the DSM any credence on his miserable program was because it wasn't a primary source document. Let's hope the DNC isn't following that blowhard's rationale for keeping this smoking gun a non-issue. Dean didn't mention DSM to potatohead on MTP last Sunday. That would've been the perfect opportunity to bust this wide open. Potatohead would've probably said, "Howard, you know that memo is not a primary source document and noboby can verify its authenticity". Would Dean have challenged him? Who knows what the *uck is wrong with these folks? These media narcissists are all of the same cloth and the DNC had better start getting in their faces or it's doomsday for the Dems. They are handed this smoking gun and nada.

[TexasLawyer]

22. Not a primary source document???

First of all that's wrong-- the memo is a first-hand description/report of what was said by George Tenet, et al. at their meeting. It was written shortly after the event took place by a participant in the event. The memo clearly IS a primary source.

From the U. Berkeley web-site:

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/PrimarySources.html

WHAT ARE PRIMARY SOURCES?

Primary sources enable the researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period. A primary source reflects the individual viewpoint of a participant or observer.

Undergraduates are sometimes allowed to use a broader definition of primary sources, which may include some of the types of materials listed below. If in doubt, ask your instructor.

Diaries, journals, speeches, interviews, letters, memos, manuscripts and other papers in which individuals describe events in which they were participants or observers.

Memoirs and autobiographies. These may be less reliable than diaries or letters since they are usually written long after events occurred and may be distorted by bias, dimming memory or the revised perspective that may come with hindsight. On the other hand, they are sometimes the only source for certain information.

Records of or information collected by government agencies. Many kinds of records (births, deaths, marriages; permits and licences issued; census data; etc.) document conditions in the society.

Records of organizations. The minutes, reports, correspondence, etc. of an organization or agency serve as an ongoing record of the activity and thinking of that organization or agency.

Published materials (books, magazine and journal articles, newspaper articles) written at the time about a particular event. While these are sometimes accounts by participants, in most cases they are written by journalists or other observers. The important thing is to distinguish between material written at the time of an event as a kind of report, and material written much later, as historical analysis.

<snip>

Second, the contents of the memo are corroborated all over the place by people like Paul O'Neill, Richard Clarke, Joseph Wilson, etc... It's legitimacy has been accepted and we know it is not a fake.

Third, what the hell counts for proof these days? Bill O'Liely would not even accept a confession by George Bush himself signed in blood in front of rolling TV cameras. Sheesh. Give me a break.

[Dr Fate]

31. Dean's answer: "That would be a good question for you to ask Bush..."

...or a top Republican. I think Team Bush is the one who needs to be splitting hairs over whether he lied or not, not me."

"By the way, why did *I* have to bring this up? I thought that was your job."

That would have been an effective way to handle it.

[autorank]

21. Screw Shakespeare! I like lawyers! Especially you!

:kick: RECOMMEND

NEW LEADERS FOR A NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Let's open up a can of whup ass on 'em, and soon!!!

[gemutlichkait]

24. When Your ASS is in IRAQ. you won the war

Kicking the red out state by state. Good thing you have money. Don't worry we will take care of America from sea to shining sea. To bad on Non for "President" of france Chirac.(bush's guy?) I guess Prime Minister Raffarin (kerry's guy) won oui? To Bad for EU(Bush,Blair,Shroeder). Good for the people of the EU though.

[TexasLawyer]

28. Say what?

No comprendo.

[gemutlichkait]

25. Blue in Texas, who are you blaming? U

You got Mexico right there Texas. Canada's minister was just in DC stating how he got power for the whole east coast. It was the most quiet I've heard Washington. "Paul Martin, the Prime Minister, when does he need the minister's vote?" True Equality at work.

[tk2kewl]

26. Probably letting it simmer so it boils over around this time

next year.

[Dr Fate]

30. Thus giving Rove plenty of time to formulate a counter hoax.

I dont think waiting is smart in this case.

[lateo]

27. Never.

It is going to be up to us.

[Norquist Nemesis]

29. I don't want anyone kicking ass!!!

I want them to fling the elephant dung!!!! I want them to force the Republicans to pack their trunks and move on! And while they're at it, they should have a White Elephant sale (fundraiser idea!).

[pberq]

33. Open Letter to Howard Dean by Tom Hayden

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut?bid=7&pid=2356

<snip>
April 26, 2005

Dear Chairman Dean,

Thank you kindly for your call and your expressed willingness to discuss the Democratic Party's position on the Iraq War. There is growing frustration at the grass roots towards the party leadership's silent collaboration with the Bush Administration's policies. Personally, I cannot remember a time in thirty years when I have been more despairing over the party's moral default. Let me take this opportunity to explain.

The party's alliance with the progressive left, so carefully repaired after the catastrophic split of 2000, is again beginning to unravel over Iraq. Thousands of anti-war activists and millions of antiwar voters gave their time, their loyalty and their dollars to the 2004 presidential campaign despite profound misgivings about our candidate's position on the Iraq War. Of the millions spent by "527" committees on voter awareness, none was spent on criticizing the Bush policies in Iraq.

The Democratic candidate, and other party leaders, even endorsed the US invasion of Falluja, giving President Bush a green-light to destroy that city with immunity from domestic criticism. As a result, a majority of Falluja's residents were displaced violently, guaranteeing a Sunni abstention from the subsequent Iraqi elections.

Then in January, a brave minority of Democrats, led by Senator Ted Kennedy and Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, advocated a timetable for withdrawal. Their concerns were quickly deflated by the party leadership. . . (more)

[pberq]

34. Woolsey Rocks The House

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050526/woolsey_rocks_the_house.php
<snip>
It is a tale of a GOP maneuver gone horribly wrong—for them. The House leadership gave Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., 30 full minutes for the debate of her amendment that would require President Bush to plan and implement an exit strategy in Iraq—a pullout.

Not only was this the first time the House debated withdrawal, but when the smoke had cleared, 128 members, including five Republicans had voted in favor of the amendment. Most notably on the GOP side was Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., who, you may recall, was the member behind the "Freedom Fries" resolution in the run-up to the war. He's now completely changed his tune, saying he was deceived into supporting the war.

Of course, we know the entire Congress was lied to by President Bush in order to launch this war.

The question is, why have more members not backed Lynn Woolsey? The latest Greenburg/America's Future poll reveals that 57 percent of Americans say that the Iraq war was not worth the cost in lives or treasure. That is a huge blow to the administration. And with that kind of support in the country, there should be 248 members voting in favor of this resolution.

[in_cog_ni_to]

36. I REFUSE to give the DNC any of my money,

time or efforts until they grow some BALLS and kick some ass! It's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay past time.