Why Doesn't Our Party Get It?

[Dave Sund]

Any of you who are familiar with my (relatively few) comments on Kos and here know that I tend to be a pragmatist when it comes to the party. I think that we have to make some concessions in order to build the party in red states, and that any Democrat is better than a Republican. But for every impassioned defense I make of the party, I am disgusted by something within the party every day. A growing list of members of the party who just don't get that they're supposed to represent their constituents, their party, those who have no voice, and not special interests and corporations.

Things like this - a memo from four Congressional Democrats urging the CDC to vote Yes on the Bankruptcy Bill, which will inevitably pass sometime tomorrow, with no fight from any Democrats, and only 30 minutes of debate.

It seems like there are only a few Democrats who want to stand up for what's right. The rest are standing silently while our rights are taken away, or actually helping them to be taken away.

I will continue to defend Democrats, and even campaign for them next year. But we need to make it clear to our Democratic Representatives and Senators... They need to be Democrats. They need to stand up for Americans, NOT corporations.

The sooner that they get it, the better off our party, and our country, will be.

[Carolab]

1. Send it to the DNC.

I'm sure Howard Dean agrees with you.

[PA Mamma]

2. Why do you think I'm a Progressive now??

Join Us --- We will love you
:grouphug: :hug:

[mikelewis]

3. Follow the money

There are a great many DINO's in our party who are sponsored by republican money. They have no shot at gaining their positions without this capitol so they take it and bend over. To some degree, this scenario is playing out in the Cleveland Mayoral campaign right now. The Republicans are prospecting several Democrats to run as Republican. The only way to find out is to foloow the money trail. Find out who supports thier campaign and you'll find out whose pulling thier strings.

The Democratic party needs some major house cleaning. Many people give them a free ride because they are a member of our party but they do not support our ideals. Now is not the time to attack them but that time will come. There will be a reckoning but for now we a reactionary force and we will gravitate towards the "good" democrats and eventually leave the weaker ones out in the cold.

[scarletwoman]

4. Because the Dems are just one head of the same plutocrat hydra.

It's all much easier to understand if you simply accept that BOTH parties exist to prop up the status quo for the benefit of the Owner Class.

sw

[Warren DeMontague]

10. "Plutocrat Hydra":

I think I saw Mickey Hart playing with them the other night. :hippie:

[omega minimo]

13. ...and a majority of swing voters the Dems need KNOW that!

So let's not pretend otherwise. Scarletwoman nailed it.

We don't need a third party, we need a SECOND party.

To their credit, it's good this week to see the (few) Dems in Congress up on their hindlegs and on the front pages in opposition to the Bolton debacle. Maybe we need more focus on what the good ones ARE doing.

While the Democratic party tries to recreate itself, it is imperative to realize that there are gazillions of people who would vote for solid, populist Democrats under certain conditions:

1. that such candidates exist
2. the voters can be convinced that the machines aren't rigged
3. the voters can be convinced that Dems aren't just as beholden to corporate power as Repugs
4. the voters can be convinced that Dems aren't lying and using the same dirty tricks as the Repugs

i.e. the voters have to be convinced TO VOTE.

If Dems keep wondering IF Democrats are perceived as corporate lackeys or not, we're spinning our wheels....

:kick:

[Montauk6]

5. "...any Democrat is better than a Republican."

Zell Miller? James Trafficant? Joe Lieberman? Al From?

[Dave Sund]

6. Yes, unfortunately.

Even they are better than the most moderate Republicans. It doesn't make them good Democrats, but the Republican Party is even worse.

That's not to say that we can't find Democrats to replace people like Joe Lieberman. Or just ignore Al From.

[Montauk6]

11. Mmmmm, can't ride with you on that one, cuz...

Not that this scenario would EVER take place, but I'd vote John Danforth over Zell Miller or Taxidermy Head any day.

But you're right on the money about downsizing the DLCellouts, this needs to happen yesterday!

[yurbud]

7. whoring for corporate dollars

I think they are waiting for business people to get sick of the toothless cousin fucking jethros and revival meetings and run into the arms of the Dems.

The problem is, that aint going to happen. The Dems are given just enough corporate money that they shut up when they are told to--they have become the Alan Colmes party.

We need an insurgency within the party from the grassroots, or someone like Howard Dean to start a progressive third party.

[PA Mamma]

9. WOO - HOO !

Now, How many times do you think that's been said here ?

[Dave Sund]

12. It must be from within

Starting a progressive third party only splits us further (look what it did to Teddy Roosevelt in 1912), while allowing the Republicans to gain absolute power.

How do we do it, though?

[yurbud]

14. Like the religious right did with Gollum's Old Party

run our own candidates, become the party infrastructure.

In our case though, we can't allow business to still make the big donations and call the shots.

[OneBlueSky]

8. there is no "Democratic Party" per se . . .

there are just a bunch of individuals who happen to have been elected as Democrats but who all adhere to their own personal agendas as dictated by their views of government, their religious beliefs, their corporate contributors and, most importantly, their fears . . . many Democrats have absolutely nothing in common with one another . . .

[Totally Committed]

15. I couldn't agree more!

What a masterpiece! Thank you.

TC