Guts, Balls, Cojones, Part 2

[Totally Committed]

With all due respect to Wes Clark who has asked us to support our fellow Democrats, as he has done, I'd must say this about Senator Durbin's apology (and, actually ALL Democratic Cowardice in evidence) or my head is going to explode:

Has George Bush ever apologized for taking us to war on a lie? Thousands of American men and women have died or been maimed for life, and there's been no apology for no WMD found, or the information in the DSM.

Has Dick Cheney ever apologized for war profiteering on the backs of American soldiers for Halliburton? Our soldiers are still underfunded, underarmed, and targets for an insurgence brought upon them by a lack of an Exit Strategy, but his beloved Halliburton, and his friends there have made billions.

Has Dick Cheney ever apologized for telling Patrick Lahey to "go Fuck <himself>" in the Senate Chamber? Imagine if it had been Lahey who had told Dick to go fuck himself. The Republican outrage would have made headlines for a couple of weeks.

Has Ann Coulter ever apologized for any of the abominations she has written or said? For her ungodly attack on Max Cleland, alone, she should have been villified, but has remain unscathed to vomit forth her stinking venom again and again.

Has Michael Savage apologized for his disgusting remarks about gays and lesbians and AIDS? He lost his job over those remarks, and yet... barely a ripple in the public consciousness.

Has anyone in the Republican Party ever apologized for trying to impeach Clinton over a lie about sex? How about implying he had people killed to protect his presidency? Nada.

Has Hannity ever apologized? -- For anything? He such a horse's rosette, it's hard to choose just one thing, so I'll just say, has he ever apologized for just being himself?

Has O'Reilly ever apologized? The Loofah episode was bad enough (imagine if it had been, say, Al Franken who had been caught sayong all those disgusting things on the phone to a staffer.)

Has Santorum apologized for likening Democrats to Nazis? Maybe I missed it. Did I?

You see where I'm going, and there are a lot more instances. Why in God's name are we concerned with APOLOGIZING and HUMILIATING OURSELVES this way time and time again? WTF IS WRONG WITH DEMOCRATS TODAY?

I am left shamed and angry at this turn of events. I am left feeling humiliated, impotent, disgusted, disappointed, and, did I mention really, really, really angry? DEMOCRATS ARE THE WEAKEST OF THE WEAK, THE MEAKEST OF THE MEAK, we appear to live in fear, on our knees, begging the Republicans to allow us to live. And, I, for one, am tired of it. Sick to death of it, in fact........ Gutless, spineless, no balls, completely devoid of any righteous outrage.

My fellow Democrats: No more groveling, no more sniveling, no more whimpering, no more cowering in corners! You need to get up off your effing knees, hold your heads high, and conduct yourselves like strong assertive adult human beings who know the destructive force you (and we!) are upagainst, and you need to start now. Even if you do it for no other reason than on our behalf, YOU MUST DO IT! Guts, balls, spine, cojones, golden ovaries, COURAGE, for godssake! ------- Show it to me now!

Goddammit, this is just too much!

TC

[irancontra]

1. makes me insane too.

[silver10]

2. I'm with you ...

Times have changed, and the Dems can no longer play "the nice guys" the intellectuals who can see both sides of the coin and need to negotiate and acquiesce so both sides win. Who would rather whip them selves on the back with a stick than to appear to insult anybody.

Too much is at stake and too many lives have been hurt or are being hurt right now due to repug greed and selfishness and ignorance. They don't apologize or hide their arrogant agendas one bit.

Remember, Democratic Leaders, when you try to please EVERYBODY, you please NOBODY!!! You know this is the better side because you picked this side, but if you don't want to be fully committed, go all the way, then don't bother wasting our time. Go to the other side so you can be voted out.

[political_aware]

3. I want to win elections.

not food fights.

[Totally Committed]

4. First of all, Welcome to DU, political_aware...

But, can you honestly give me a way that this sort of mealy-mouth, wimp-ass, tail-between-the-legs behavior on the part of Democrats is going to win elections?

Geez, Louise, we look life pitiful snivelers. Who the hell would vote for that?

GWB is as successful with most Red State voters... even those who do not vote strictly "Values" because, right or wrong, he appears to say what he means and mean what he says. He plays the tough guy well. Time for the Democrats to come out swinging!

TC

[Crunchy Frog]

32. Absolutely right TC.

I don't see how the American people will ever believe that Democrats can protect this nation and stand up for its interests, if they can't even stand up for themselves. In the current political climate, Democrats should never apologize, and when they are under attack by the Repiggies, they need to stand together and show a united front.

If our party can't do that, It's never going to be in power again.

[dajoki]

5. more noney for cheney&co.

don't know if anybody saw this in yesterday's NYT http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/19/politics/19gitmo.html?:wtf:

[Totally Committed]

6. It's criminal!

Where is the outrage? Where are the demands for apology?

TC

[ClarkUSA]

7. GOP now targeting Rep. Pelosi for calling Iraq war a "grotesque mistake"

Keep your fire in the belly burning, TC. :hi:

Apropos to nothing...

We need to keep letting the Congresspeople that do speak out know that we back them up 100%.

The Republicans are after Pelosi now. I've already called both of her offices today. Her aides were happy to hear from me. I asked them to tell Rep. Pelosi not to fold like a house of cheap cards, among other things.

Senator Pelosi's Contact Page:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/?id=447&lvl=C&chamber=H

Web Site: www.house.gov/pelosi
E-mail: [e-mail]

Washington Office:
2371 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0508
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Main District Office:
450 Golden Gate Ave., Burton Fed. Bldg.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[ksclematis]

12. I sent an e-mail last night.... eom

[ClarkUSA]

16. Good job.

:thumbsup:

[Crunchy Frog]

33. I just sent my email.

Thanks for the contact information.:hi:

[FrenchieCat]

8. I'm tired of this shit too.

It's not Senator Durbin's fault as much as it is the Republican noise machines and those (read--Daily) that fear it.

But why couldn't have Durbin called a press conference and addressed the issues of what he did and did not say...and done it in a forceful tone? Did he ask to appear on the Sunday shows...instead of the "where's the camera" Biden deciding to announce that he "might" run if he has "enough" support (how timid is that? Doh)?.

Why didn't Durbin have some Democratic Jewish Senators and Representatives standing at his side (Feingold, Feinstein, and some of the others)? They could have explained his statement and how they took it as well.

You see, there is no Dem team. They just seem to be out for themselves, and are not interested in a strategy to stop the party's bleeding.

Most here at DU understand that we are at War for this country's democracy, and thus far our required frontline elected warriors have been too far and too few to have effected us a strong defense....

Since Dems are always defending themselves, it is very hard to ever get us to the point of being on the offense (which is why I oppose a Hillary candidacy-2008 would be all about defense, defense, defense). How can the real issues, the Bush policies, ever get any exposure, if the topic of discussion always becomes a person rather than the subject matter at hand? How can Dems propose anything worthwhile if they are always on the defense or cowed in some corner?

If the majority of Democrats started to stand strong for each other, maybe then we would have a fighting chance!

I'm tired of watching the Democrats capitulating for the sake of their own electoral image. I'm tired of those playing it safe and trying to play Politics...when they don't even know the game.

I'm tired of seeing our Democrats react as though they are walking on egg shells......trying to protect their asses most of the time. We need them to throw "Caution" to the wind and we need them to get bold. They represent us....not themselves.

Like Wes Clark said.....if Dems can't demonstrate that they are willing to defend each other, then why should any voter believe that "they" will defend the voters.....and this country?

It's 'bout fucking time that these Democrats collectively stand for each other and for us....and not only stand for themselves.

Again, this is not about Durbin....cause in my eyes, most of them are doing the same thing....and at least he tried to resist the urge of bowing down. But where were the other senators and representatives on this? Scared and huddled in a corner...that's where. I'm sure a few believed that it was "his" problem, and not theirs (but they were wrong).

If more would have stood by Durbin, and used their Teevee time, not to announce their candidacy, but to explain what went down....we could have won this squirmish, or at least allowed it to fade away.

These elected Dems have until the 2006 election to show me what they are made of. If I don't see any progress, I'm up to talking about a goddamn Revolution.

One or two standing strong is not enough....we need the whole f*cking lot of them to show their teeth....and I ain't talking about showing their pearly caps while all the while pandering!

All I know is, for the most part, our leaders are MIDAs--Missing in Doggone Action.

That's why I don't respect politicians. They don't lead....they just f*cking follow. Now, if we could only have a leader that they could follow, maybe we would get somewhere!

[BeFree]

28. Good post, Frenchie

I hope the critters in congress are reading DU tonight, they just might learn something, eh?

As you said, Dems need to gang up or at least act as a team. The way they are setting themselves up in single file, the picking off of one at a time continues to be successful for the pukes.

I am curious about just what the good Mr. Durbin actually said in his apology. The thing we must remember is that the spin from the press will always be on the puke's side so we mustn't use words that allow them to spin our words so easily. I wonder how badly the spin has been set against Mr. Durbin?

We are in the final stages of a complete takeover and if our team doesn't start fighting hard and smart, we will continue to be smashed. Let's hope our team leaders are reading DU tonight.

[Uncle Joe]

9. One other apology

that I never heard from the corporate owned Goebbel's style propaganda machine known as "American Journalism" or the high minded Republicans, was an apology to Al Gore for the continous slander about a fictious qoute that he never uttered (that he invented the internet), instead of giving the man credit for being the primary champion of the greatest technological/cultural creation of the past 100 years (per CNN poll). I am sure they will be coming out with a mass apology just any day now.

[vdeputy]

10. Totally Agree with Totally Committed

I too kept thinking, "don't apologize, don't apologize" and was furious when the ritual apology was finally offered as Democrats always seem to do. Was surprised he didn't appear on the Senate floor wearing sackcloth and ashes. I'm sick to death of Democrat wimpiness.

[BamaLefty]

11. AMEN!

Awesome post TC. :headbang:

[ksclematis]

13. Why should THEY apologize???

They don't think they ever do anything wrong...

Excellent post, as usual, TC

[LandOLincoln]

14. Agreed TC, but as someone who grew up in Illinois, I also agree

with the poster who blamed Mayor Daley's kneecapping of Durbin for Durbin's "capitulation."

IMO, it was Daley's swine of a father who was largely responsible for the disaster that was the 1968 convention, and the subsequent victory of Richard Nixon and the Dark Side.

So how's about we all aim some righteous DU rage at Daley and his corrupt machine--and send Sen. Durbin some DU love and $upport so he can tell Daley to go fuck himself?

Remember what Wes said about Dems supporting Dems...

(edit for typo)

[Totally Committed]

15. Agree, LandOLincoln....

Mayor Daley is another example of the kind of Democrat that needs to crawl away and hide in a closet until it's all over. That having been said, isn't Durbin a grown man? Can't he tell Daley to take a hike? I am through cutting these sniveling cowards slack. It's as I said: The need for re-election and fund-raising has reduced Democrats to toadies to power.

I say, throw off the shackles and represent the PEOPLE! It's time to start speaking truth to power or the little guy will never matter again.

Durbin does not get a pass from me. And Daley needs to stick it where the sun don't shine, imo.

TC

[ClarkUSA]

17. City of Chicago "Contact Us" email form

http://egov.cityofchicago.org:80/city/webportal/portalPreContactUsAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1279573437.1119473567@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccaddemhdemkkcefecelldffhdfgm.0&logObsToolBar=true&topChannelName=HomePage

Is it me, or does Mayor Daley look the opposite of "innocent" in this photo?
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/home.do

[Totally Committed]

18. He's already heard from me...

But, for those of you still with a belly-full to give the Daley, please feel free.

TC

[LandOLincoln]

19. Yeah but, TC, it's not that simple. Durbin needs support and $$$$

from US, the grassroots--THEN he can tell Daley and his machine to stick it, as I'm sure he would have preferred.

Never forget, Wes and Howard are speaking out at least partly because they can --and they can because of us.

[Totally Committed]

20. That's what I meant when I said this:

"It's as I said: The need for re-election and fund-raising has reduced Democrats to toadies to power."

It's time for Durbin to stand up, be an adult man, and remember he represents the people FIRST. And, even if he did need to knuckle under for whatever reason... did he have to do it whilst crying and sniveling in the wekll of the Senate? Couldn't he just have said how much he supported the men and women in our armed forces, but not have apologized for the Gitmo stuff? He looked like a cowardly weasel, fercripessake.

He needs to speak truth to power and money and tell Daley to stick it. The people woould have backed him.

TC

[LandOLincoln]

23. All due respect, but I think he needs the $upport FIRST.

I mean, last week when he was our hero, how many people wrote/emailed AND SENT MONEY so he could keep on being a hero? How many gave him the $upport he needed to be able to tell Daley to stick it when he needed to be able to do that?

Albeit, knowing Illinois politics as I think I do, I'd bet Daley made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Chew on that for awhile, then please cut the man some slack, and send $upport in any case.

And TC, don't mean to hack on ya, but I'm afraid you're too idealistic for the realpolitik of the real world.

[Totally Committed]

24. LandO... you and I agree on a lot, but we need to agree to disagree here..

I am idealistic. I know that. But, I don't think people should need to be getting $$$ before they do the right thing.

And, I also think that allowing Daley to pull your strings because he controls the $$$ is wrong.

So... idealistic? Yes. But, also, fed up to the teeth. There was a way for Durbin to handle this and it did NOT need to involve tears or a soggy apology. As I said, he could have simply stated his overwhelming support for the men and women in uniform, and stated that his remarks had nothing to do with insulting them... only getting to the truth of what was happening at Gitmo. Period.

It was the sniveling, whimpering, cowering, teary-eyed bullshit that sent me over the edge.

Daley should be as ashamed as Durbin.

TC

[LandOLincoln]

25. You're right about agreeing to disagree, but you know I have to

have the last word ;-)

1. Durbin DID do the right thing last week. How much $upport did he get then?

2. I didn't actually see his "apology," but from some of the things I read, I got the impression he was essentially apologizing to the people who really were Nazi victims....? Certainly didn't get the impression he was apologizing to Bush, Cheney, Halliburton & Co.

3. You may be missing the true meaning of "an offer he couldn't refuse." Here's Michael Corleone's definition:

"Luca Brasi held a gun to his head and my father assured him that either his brains or his signature would be on the contract."

[Totally Committed]

27. LandOLincoln...

I love ya! You rock.

TC

[LandOLincoln]

30. Back atcha, TC! n/t

[dansolo]

29. I think you nailed it here

The Chicago area has a very large Jewish population, with many Holocaust survivors. I grew up in Skokie, at the times when the Nazis wanted to march there. I know exactly how sensitive that issue can be. I believe that Durbin's apology was sincere, and was directed to these people. What appalls me is the lack of sensitivity by so many people here at DU about this aspect of the issue.

[DearAbby]

31. The thing about the Holocaust is to keep it in our memory So it never

happens again, If a man stands up and say this is simular to what happened...Isn't he doing exactly what was meant to be done? The whole reason for the Journals, the museums and memorials is to REMEMBER, So humanity never repeats it.

:shrug:

[demokatgurrl]

21. Thank you for saying it so well. I have long viewed our

party "leadership" as a bunch of spineless weenies, with the exception of very very few. Boxer, Dean, Clinton (Hillary), Maxine Waters, Tubbs, Pelosi at time, and used to be, Durbin. Why must we constantly bend over for those assholes?

Very nice post.

[Nikki Stone 1]

22. I think Hannity's mother should apologize for giving birth

:evilgrin:

[DemInTX]

26. Hmm, Are You Telling Us........

To Get Some Starch?

If so, you're right on the mark.

Thanks again, TC. These two posts of yours needs to be sent to our Democratic Congress, no doubt.

Anita

[1932]

34. I don't care that he apologized for being misunderstood re inconsequential

thing.

I'm reading God's Politics by Jim Wallis and he has a chapter about how it isn't enough to just complain. You have to give people something they can support. You can't just criticize. You have to offer solutions.

To extrapolate that, I would be upset if Drubin apologized for saying something that needed to be said that was actually a solution.

What he said might have some basis in fact, and he was probably understood. But, it's not like the guy is apologizing for writing the magna carta or coming up with the cure for cancer or telling the world the third prophecy of fatima, or anything like that. He's just apologizing for being misunderstood on something that's not consequential.

I'm not going to get worked up about that. Let's keep our eyes on the prize and not be distracted by things that are inconsequential.