The Democratic Party exists to represent us, the base

[CTLawGuy]

A political party is formed by those who are politically interested and in agreement with each other on broad, basic principles.

The Dem party exists because of us, those who consider ourselves its members. We made it, and we sustain it with our donations and activism.

Because it is OUR party, we have a duty to make sure it represents us and what we believe in. Why should people donate to and work for a party that does not believe as its members do?

Our "elites", as political scientists call them, (our elected officials and leaders) serve at our behest. We have a right and duty to make sure those elites are and remain committed to what we, the base, believe in.

When an elite strays too far from what we believe, we have the right to (1) criticize him or her, (2) to have him or her challenged in the primary.

If we do not do this, the party ceases to be ours. If we say, "they are Democrats, so we shouldn't criticize them" or "it's a waste of time to attack dems", then we give them permission to ignore us at their political convenience.

A party that ignores its base, and the principles and ideas thereof, is a party that ceases to have meaning. It's a party no one wants to join, because what it stands for is so incomprehensible that it might as well stand for nothing.

In our system, there are 2 giant parties that act more like political holding companies rather than unified political units.

Like the democracy in our nation's government, our party has a democratic process whereby the factions may deliberate and candidates may be chosen to represent us in an election. Our base does not agree. that is why primaries are held where Democrats are free to define what a Democrat is and nominate those who agree with those ideas.

So when people like me oppose Joe Lieberman and Zell Miller, we are not trying to destroy our party, we are trying to pull it back to its basic mission of representing us.

[WI_DEM]

1. I agree

we make up the life blood of the party and we want a party which doesn't help--directly or indirectly the Bush agenda. We should hold those who do accountable.

[tubbacheez]

2. Actually, I see it as a bargained deal.

The Dem Party (like any political party) wants power.

We the masses want representation.





The prospective deal is: we help them get into power, in return for representation.

If the deal goes well, the two entities are happy. If the deal goes sour, both entities suffer while the GOP laughs at us.

[Pepperbelly]

3. party leadership in government is the result of ...

elections.

Period.

If you are dissatisfied, beat them in the primary. This wailing and gnashing of teeth is silly, makes us into powerless victims, and is counter to reality.

[Kota]

4. Good post.

[CTLawGuy]

6. thank you

NT

[Radical Activist]

5. No. A political party exists to win elections.

That is their only purpose.
I agree that Lieberman should be challenged in the primary, but it isn't the job of the Democratic Party to support your opinions of Lieberman. Its the job of the party to elect whoever becomes the nominee.

[CTLawGuy]

7. then why is there more than one party?

if we just had one party, it would win all the time... thus accomplishing your goal. Forming other parties would be useless.


Of course parties want to win, but not at the expense of what they believe in.

[Radical Activist]

9. communist!

haha
Because it gives the masses the illusion of having broad choices. Or, if you want a more moderate answer its that yes party members have some general views that are similar, but in the end the basic function of a party is not about legislating issues. That is what elected office holders do. A party structure only functions to win elections.

[CTLawGuy]

13. if a party is structured only to win elections

then how does anyone know what party they should belong in?


People win elections because most voters agree with them on the issues (or it should be that way).


A party exists to make it easier for the base to put people who agree with them into office.

It is not a neutral machine that puts whoever feels like taking advantage of it into office. The candidates must be acceptable to the base. That is why only certain voters can nominate candidates for a party.

[DetroitDem]

8. The problem is

that party doesn't play us just look at Schiavo case. The Repukes played to theirs although it did misfire, but Democrats instead playing us they just went along for the ride. Just look at this recent Gallup 47% of people disapprove of the Repukes handing of this, but 42% disapprove of the Democrats this with 70% saying Congress overstepped it bounds. Basically, Americans are blaming the Repukes the most for starting this whole mess and the Dems are blamed to lesser degree it seems for just going along.

http://www.pollingreport.com/news.htm

[Dave Sund]

10. Criticism, sure...

I've got no problem with criticism. Express disappointment. Let them know you're disappointed. 21 active Democratic Senators voted for the IWR. We should never let them forget that.

But calling for their ouster from the party displays an ignorance of what it takes to win elections. Nebraska Democrats who say we should get a "real" Democrat to run in Nelson's place don't understand that Nelson's the only one who can win.

Even Lieberman is unlikely, but because he's in a blue state, has done so much damage to the party, and the GOP bench is relatively weak in that state, he's worth the risk, assuming we can find a viable challenger. There's no other race in the country that meets those criteria.

[CTLawGuy]

12. Each Senator is accountable to his or her own base

Ben Nelson's base is more conservative than Joe Lieberman's. I may not like that Ben Nelson is a senator. but if the Dem base in NE agrees with him then they should preserve him, even though I may not like it. I can send money to a primary opponent, but it is the Dems in NE which must make the choice.

[w4rma]

11. And this is why the base *must* speak up better during primaries.

The Democratic primaries are where the base gets to show it's power via votes (and to a lesser extent, funding).

[LittleClarkie]

14. DU = "us" or the Dem Party as a whole = "us"

How are you defining the base?

[CTLawGuy]

15. the base is anyone who considers himself or herself a

Democrat and votes in the primaries

[LittleClarkie]

16. I guess I see the base as

the part of the party that represents the majority view. I'm wondering how you represent such a diverse group of people, from conservative to moderate to left. The only way I can think of is to figure out what a majority of them think and go with that.

[CTLawGuy]

18. yup

same way you represent a diverse COUNTRY, through majority rule elections.


You can use the marketplace of ideas to sway people, both in the country and in the party.

[welshTerrier2]

17. NO ... we should not wait until the primaries to be heard

this "the base has its say during the primaries" is total bullshit ...

first of all, most Democrats never get a chance to participate in a meaningful primary ... most nominations are won after only several primaries have been held ... so the argument is absurd to begin with ...

but more importantly, waiting for 2 years, or 4 years, or 6 years until a primary rolls around is not my idea of good representation OR good politics ... the Party has an obligation to maintain an ongoing dialog with its members ... when key votes arise or it's time to write a platform document, ALL Democrats should have a real opportunity to participate ... most Democrats never see the platform ... they have no idea how it comes about ... they have no idea whether it's even adhered to by elected Democrats ...

the current "you can vote them out at election time" system has resulted in tens of millions of former Democrats who no longer vote at all ... how many times have you heard someone say "the only time I ever hear from THEM is when they're up for re-election ... and all they want is my money and my vote ... they never ask my opinion" ... the "wait until the next election" crowd has cost us millions of votes ...

it is time to do all we can to reform the Party and find a way to give a real voice on an ongoing basis to ALL Democrats ... waiting for the next election to be heard has not worked ... it's a very narrow and harmful view of the Party's base ...

[CTLawGuy]

19. wait, is that a response to my original post?

I think we are on the same side.

[welshTerrier2]

20. i totally agree with your base post ...

i noticed a number of responses that suggested we should wait until the next primary "to be heard" ... i was trying to respond to all of them with a single post ... sorry for the confusion ...

your post was dead on the money ...

[ananda]

21. the party is over

The Democratic Party is -supposed- to represent us, the base.

However, it's members have been corrupted by big business and so attacked by media tactics that they have no teeth in their balls any more, or is that no spine in their backbone, only jelly...

Sue

[AuntiBush]

22. That's because WE THE PEOPLE are the HAVE-NOT'S!

Everyone should know these simple, basic Constitutional Words:

Source: The Constitution of the United States
by Floyd G. Cullop
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451627245/qid=1111638633/sr=2-6/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_6/002-4935007-7952838

A Democracy: A country where the people govern themselves.
A Republic: A country where the people elect officials to govern for them. (Explains a lot) Someone forward this to the FReepers.
The Constitution: A contract; a written agreement. (not to be messed with) Tell that to Chimp & ROver
The Preamble states "In order to form a more perfect union." Far from it!
To establish justice (fair treatment) where all men are equal under the law. Can anyone say Patriot Act I and II? Hate to see III.
To insure DOMESTIC Tranquility - nothing like turning the people against one another.
To provide for the common defense. Of who? Halliburton.
To promote the general welfare of it's people - like stripping of Social Security, Medicare, Pell Grants, not $$$ corporations.
To secure the blessings of liberty (freedoms) for ourselves and our posterity and to protect the personal rights of all US citizens for all times. I'm too choked up to respond to this one.

Ok, which founding father has rolled over in his grave more times then the rest?

[Turn CO Blue]

23. Dems eat their own. Yum Yum. nt

[CTLawGuy]

27. oh by all means

let's not criticize anyone with a D next to his or her name because then we'd be "eating our own"

:eyes:

[paineinthearse]

24. Take a moment to reflect on who influences party policy

This is from a ideological perspective, assume for a moment money has not influence (ha!).

Unregistered voters? No way.

Registerd Democrats? Hardly.

Registered Dems who are active in their town/ward committees? Maybe.

State committee members? A bit, at the state level.

National committee members? Getting warm.

National party leaders. Look how they have muzzled Dean.

It's still the "inside the beltway" crowd. I hear Dean talking about grassroots empowerment, but even as a town committee chair have not received any messages or literature. Maybe I'm not on the right distribution lists?

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jonnyblitz]

26. be a good STEPFORD DEM CWebster...

get with the program. :P