A dangerous time for the Democratic Party

[welshTerrier2]

this election was different ... democrats rallied behind their nominee ... we were unified like never before ... we overlooked areas of disagreement ... we put a few of our "ideals" aside to take care of business ... we fought as one; we fought like hell ...

post-election, win or lose, there is no more room for business as usual ... those who were active came from all over the political spectrum ... many of us on the far left held out at least some hope that a Kerry presidency would move the party to the left after the election ... but the real issue, the essence of the battle we all joined, was not really an issue of moving left or moving to the center at all ...

We've missed this essence on DU ... we keep seeing posts about where on the political spectrum democrats need to be positioned for 2008 ... abortion, gays, Southerners, evangelicals ... the list is neverending ... but ultimately, if we look deeply into what this election was really about and if we look at the essence of those who fought so hard, we find that the soul of who we were was not so much ideological as combative ... we were anti-bush ... we were anti-neo-con ... we were anti-republican ... sure, the issues mattered ... but what brought out the fired up troops was sparked by a hatred for what the right-wing is doing to this country and to people all over the world ..

This is an extremely dangerous time for the Democratic Party ... many of us are looking to Washington, democrats in Washington that is, to show us that they are willing, ready and able to carry on our struggle ... we are tired of the appeasement ... we are tired of pretending that "we are all Americans" while the right-wing flushes the Constitution down the toilet ...

Each and every elected Democrat needs to understand that the expectations of its activist base (not just the "democratic wing of the democratic party") is at risk ... "standing shoulder to shoulder with the president" like Gephardt and Daschle did in our "nation's time of crisis" is just not going to fly anymore ...

We're mad as hell and we want to fight on each and every issue ... i'm sick and tired of hearing Democrats talking about the need to put our national interests above partisan considerations ... partisan considerations that involve stopping the neo-con agenda IS the national interest !!!

So this is a warning to the Democratic Party ... we are not talking here about a handful of disaffected left-wing Democrats who may fade away and join the Green Party ... we are talking about the entire activist base of the party ... we put our hearts and souls into the battle; we expect no less from elected Democrats for the next four years ... to do otherwise, will put the party, and the nation, at risk ...

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. kick

[jhain]

2. well said!!!

My thoughts exactly - for many weeks now.

Thank ytou.

[Demi_Babe]

3. excellent

[proudbluestater]

4. Indeed!

Not just a dangerous time for the Democratic party, but for our entire country.

Any Dems in Congress that don't understand that will get a clue in 2006, hopefully.

[DaveinMD]

5. I would like to suggest something

Instead of people complaining about our leadership, do something constructive. Parties are built from the bottom up. So people here should run for office on the local level. Part of retaking Congress will be having experienced candidates. So run for school board, county commissions, state legislature and so on.

[welshTerrier2]

11. disagree ... and agree ...

the one poorly chosen word in your post was "Instead" ...

I am in full agreement with you that we need an infusion of grassroots organizing at every level of government ... this is the most critical thing that WE can do ...

but this is not an either or proposition ... nor do I appreciate your characterizing my post as "complaining" ... in fact, I thought it quite the opposite ... it is intended as a "constructive warning" ... it is intended to properly reflect the mood of the activist base ... its goal IS to do something constructive ...

i agree with you on the positive things that can be done and should be done but i think your post was a bit too dismissive of a very important warning to the party elites ...

[DaveinMD]

14. I apologize

for some of my wording. I just have been arguing with a lot of folks here who seem to think that Dean is the only good person in the Democratic party.

After any election that is lost, the Party regroups. What's important is that we come together to defeat Republicans and not each other.

[welshTerrier2]

16. no problem, my friend ...

What's important is that we come together to defeat Republicans and not each other.

that is the very essence of my post ... the fear, the very real fear, is that if Democrats spend four years appeasing republicans, we will have our hope Daschled again ... it will be very difficult to rebuild this energy once it is allowed to dissipate ...

[DaveinMD]

18. I agree

I am calling for a new populism. We are completely out of power. Let's take advantage of it. Run against Washington. Run against the powerful people that encourage crony capitalism. Stress that our party stands for the people and will fight the special interests. Appeal to rural voters by attacking the immorality of crony capitalism. Talk about our policies in terms of right wrong.

Harris Wofford's line of if criminal have a right to a lawyer, everyone should have the right to see a doctor. Populism is what unites liberal dems and moderates. Clinton did this extremely well. We can do this and win.

[Cheswick2.0]

21. That is what DFA is doing

join us but beware... moving right on abortion is not an option.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Darn you missed the we love the DLC thread

earlier in the day.

they don't get it, business as usual will not work

Hell what they want us to do is repeat same, well isn't it a sign of insanity to do the same over and over again when it keeps failing?

Now as to the DNC, they don't listen, new leaders will emerge, maybe within the party, maybe outside (If you want to do it inside, TAKE over the party by taking over your local precinct, how do you think that the RW did take over the GOP?)

But if they don't, they keep doing the same... they are in for a surprise

[The Sushi Bandit]

7. Right on!!!!

[Pastor of Deaniacs]

9. Keep on

Pushing!

[GHOSTDANCER]

12. That photo was taken right after georgie got his Unibrow removed.....LOL

[shrub chipper]

8. I just want ONE of the Senators or Representatives to

express the outrage that is voiced daily on this forum.

I know they have to be just as outraged as we are, but will someone just express that anger for us?

I, for one, am tired of this appeasement bullshit!!The first one that provides us with an honest voice of righteous indignation (like the Ohio Rep's speech about the Draft, right before the election)is going to have a whole raft of loyal supporters.

NO DANCING, PLEASE!!

[GHOSTDANCER]

10. Join the Darkside Luke!!!!!!!!! Everbodies doin it!!!!!!

CNN says we can be friends now!!

[Randypiper]

13. There are no checks and balances

They are changing the rules and the fourth estate is theirs.

[consciousobjector]

15. partisan considerations that involve stopping the neo-con agenda...

IS the national interest!!!"...couldn't say it better. Are you listening DNC?

[welshTerrier2]

17. welcome to DU, CO !!

rest assured, the DNC is listening ... i'm afraid they just aren't hearing though ... that's the problem ...

[Lady Sonelle]

19. RANT! The Democrats, As A Party, Are FINISHED!

I have voted Democratic almost all my adult life.

I voted because I BELIEVED in voting. I'd been raised to believe in it. Vote for *this* party if you want *this* and *that* party if you want *that*.

So I voted democrat.

I wanted them to fight for My interests. I gave them money, I gave them what time I could, I gave them My faith, my hope, My vote.

MY VOTE!

They (promised* Me. KERRY promised Me. Everyone promised Me. THIS time will be different. It will NOT be a repeat of 2000.

And the check's in the mail.
And I'll really respect you tomorrow.

HORSE SHIT!

The democratic party has had FOUR YEARS to get behind vote reform, To put their soft fat wallets where the cuaterised stump of their honour used to be!

Kerry looked Me in the eye... looked the NATION in the eye and said
I will fight for you!"

Then he ROLLED like a coward spavined BITCH!

Angry?

You don't KNOW!

Over and over and over I have *vowed* that I would NEVER miss an election! That My vote was SACRED to Me and to America and to My party.

HORSE SHIT!

The Democrats have shown their true colours and they are as YELLOW as the fucking CHICKEN HAWKS!

And today, as I drag Myself up from the muck in the political alleyway, My anus still bleeding, the STINK of My assailant still clinging to My torn garments, I realise that I KNOW My rapist!

I CANNOT vote Republican and I WILL not vote Democrat EVER again, UNTIL this fucking shit is DEALT WITH.

I am an AMERICAN ands that is the most horrible shameful thing I can think of to BE today! I will not vote again.

I have been fucked over for the LAST TIME! The Democrats... and JOHN FUCKWAD KERRY are dead to Me! That white livered, slack-jawed, underslung, lying WHELP can go get a REAL job as a bootlick for the Repubs!

I will not vote again.

GOD how that HURTS to realise!

I will not vote again.

The raw, bleeding wound that WAS My PRIDE in this country will NEVER heal! Not until the LAST craven, spineless Democrat who passively PERMITTED this rape to happen is dead, in jail, run out in disgrace or raped in the ass by a Republican prison guard!

Will the democrats FIGHT this fraud? Hell NO! The time for that is PAST! They fucking HAD their chance! They pulled out of America's asshole before they came and got us RIGHT in the bleeding FACE!

My family has been IN this country since 1536! Two branches of My family FOUNDED Groton CT. I am DAR on several lineages and have ancestors on the dawes Rolls. My family's very BLOOD is in this country's soil and it SCREAMS when Republican feet touch it!

It is so very hard NOT to break down weeping EVERY DAMN DAY when I realise that...

I will not vote again.

Lady Sonelle

[welshTerrier2]

20. Senator Corzine joins the love fest ...

i really thought Corzine was one of those who "got it" ... but now, he's indicated he will just go along with the Rice nomination ... it's disgraceful ...

Rice covered up ... forget that ... Rice lied about the clear warning bush received in the 8/6/2001 PDB ... she's an absolute disgrace ... it couldn't be more clear that her appointment is a move to put a militant, radical neo-con agenda in the State Department ... does Senator Corzine not understand that a State Department we've had under Colin Powell is going to become much different, and much worse, under Rice ???

The appeasement better end soon ... Democrats ARE the opposition party ... I just wish someone would tell them ... frankly, i don't think i can take much more of this ...

[kentuck]

22. Let's just make it unanimous so they have no doubt...

where we stand....they are followers - not leaders.

[welshTerrier2]

23. the problem is ...

they are following the republican script and not hearing those who fought so hard for them ...

[Walt Starr]

24. BINGO!

Well said!