Democrats better do some soul searching.

[democrank]

Just like clockwork, Joe Lieberman appeared on CNN this morning to prattle on about the extremists` takeover of the party he so cherishes. So, given what Lieberman said, I must conclude that Mrs. Jones from Nebraska, who turned against the war after her paralyzed son returned from Iraq, is an extremist. Similarly, unemployed Mr. Smith from Vemont, who is against the shipment of his job to India, is an extremist. Ms. White of Oregon is an extremist because she believes the federal government should insist on negotiating for lower drug prices, and Mr. Robinson is one because he is against Bush`s failed energy policy. Right, Joe. We`re nutty leftists, hell-bent on starting communes in every American village. We never support our troops and couldn`t care less if Osama drops the big one on New York or if terrorists move in next door.

Talk about reckless! How much longer are we going to grovel? How much longer are we going to settle for scraps through a readjustment of our deepest core values? How much longer are we going to be willing to look the other way when a Democratic "leader" sells us out? Great. Just send in the campaign contribution, no questions asked and shut the hell up. Go away until they need more money or an envelope stuffer.

We either stand for something or we don`t. We can step over that homeless guy on our way to Starbuck`s or we can call our Representatives and demand solutions. We can run out and buy a yellow ribbon magnet or we can gather on our street corners with headline-grabbing clarity. We can sit back in air conditioned offices and order up lunch or we can get on the phone and demand an answer to why the grocery clerk works full time and can`t afford a 15-year-old station wagon.

This country used to belong to the people. Now it`s in the hands of disconnected politicians and their highly paid handlers. Some of them are in our own party. Unless we stand up and start being counted, we can plan on umpteen more years of tuning in to Hardball and listening to "Democrats" praising their "friends across the aisle." Face it. We don`t have friends across the aisle. What we have is a crew of Republican sharks who won`t so much as lend us one of THEIR rooms when we need to hold a hearing. If those are friends, I don`t want any. Time to grab a few million brooms and start sweeping.

[Atman]

1. NYT said it best this morning...

"the political discussion in Washington has become a captive of the Bush agenda. Traditional beliefs like every person’s right to a day in court, or the conviction that America should not start wars it does not know how to win, wind up being portrayed as extreme. The middle becomes a place where senators struggle to get the president to volunteer to obey the law when the mood strikes him. Attempting to regain the real center becomes a radical alternative…

Link to original

[democrank]

11. Thanks for posting this, Atman.

Months ago I opined about how that little center dot has been moved far to the right on the political spectrum. So far, in fact, that a church-going Girl Scout leader, caring for her sickly parents is labeled an extremist because she opposes the invasion of Iraq.

"AIDING THE ENEMY"
"SOFT ON TERRORISM"
"WEAK ON NATIONAL SECURITY"

In this climate, you could be a decorated Marine Corps combat veteran and STILL be labeled weak on national security. It`s sickening.

Democrats must gather up every speck of determination we can muster and bombard the local papers, corporate-owned media, our Representatives in Congress. Send the message: Ignore us at your peril.

[ananda]

2. Count me in..

.. as an extremist in the camp of those who believe in the Constitution and fair elections.

Sue

[marmar]

3. Couldn't have said it better, democrank. (great username, BTW)...

Based on my concept of what a Democrat is, Lieberman is the extremist. And he's shown that he's willing to sell his party up the river to benefit himself.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

4. Lieberman is clearly so pissed ...

...he can't think straight---one of his slams against Lamont, with special emphasis and anger, was about "not getting anything done," as if Lamont were the long time incumbent. Lieberman should put his pie hole in the shut position before he does further damage to himself.

[HereSince1628]

5. Like a swimmer in rip tide, the loser didn't notice his triangulation

on the right had carried him out away from the Democratic mainland until he was too far to swim back. We recognize it's swimmers, not the mainland, who imperil themselves by not knowing where the riptides are or how to swim out of them. The loser needs to git a grip on his own culpability.

[acmejack]

6. Amen Brother!

They declared war on us, the People of the United States. If we are working class, we are the enemy and that is how we have been treated, without mercy, victimized with every stroke of the Presidents pen, without many friends in the Capitol. Now is the time for retribution against those who have not been our friends.

Serve it up cold, voters!

[Nimrod2005]

7. I am already signed up....nt

[CrispyQ]

8. I'm fucking sick of being called an extremist for believing in

community values. Family values are easy, but community values are when you extend the care you have for your family to others - others you don't know & in some cases others you don't approve of.

If we take back any house of Congress this fall & --crosses fingers! the White House in '08, it will be a telling time for Democrats. You can bet I will be holding their feet to the fire to revoke some of the absolutely awful legislation that has been passed in the last 6 years. But will they? Or will we just continue down the same path, just not at breakneck speed? The dems have just a few more years to show me they can coalesce into a party that represents We the People.

Your last paragraph is outstanding!! Please, submit this piece as a LTTE.

k&r

on edit: I have images of Mickey & many, many brooms! ;)

[IndyOp]

10. Community Values - Me, too!

I think about that phrase a LOT - when Republicans are prattling on about "Family Values" I think about what a self-absorbed position "family values" really is - "community values" are other-centered.

I have the same thoughts/feelings about "personal responsibility" vs "opportunity" - "personal responsibility is about making sure I get, while "opportunity" is about making sure others have.

:hi:

[CrispyQ]

18. Have you read Lakoff's "Don't Think of an Elephant"?

He hits the nail on the head with his assessment of the differing world views of conservatives & liberals. Here's a link to a discussion of it on the non-fiction forum.

"Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate--The Essential Guide for Progressives"
by George Lakoff
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=209&topic_id=806

The combo of their behavior & the judgemental way they toss the phrase 'family values' about always leaves me with the impression 'my family is valuable, yours is not.' :eyes:

:hi:

[Virginia Dare]

9. I've stayed away from trashing Lieberman...

though I never cared for him as a person or a politician. I was extremely disappointed when Gore chose him as the V.P. candidate and I held my nose and voted for him anyway, like a good Democrat. But his conduct during this entire episode has really pissed me off, and I for one, say good riddance to you, Joe. You sealed your own fate. You dare to trash the voters for turning you out, when they were well within their rights to do it. You cannot accept an honest defeat graciously. That is outrageously contemptible on your part.

[Double T]

12. Extremists, liberals, communists, terrorists and other terms.......

of endearment for Democrats by the rethug neocon RW. Joe has confirmed his allegiance to the neocon RW by becoming one.

[KKKarl is an idiot]

13. I agree

Enough is enough. No more are we going to take this pandering to the right agenda because we do not want to be seen as terrorists. To Hilary Clinton I say beware. You are not a shoe-in for the democratic presidential candidate for '08. Your support for the war will not get you that automatic nomination. That goes for any other democratic candidate that is not willing to listen to the base.

[alvarezadams]

14. Takeover?

Surely the moron means "take back", cos the rw move of the DNC under the aegis of the DLC is a relatively new situation.

[LiberalEsto]

15. Are Kerry & Schumer also extremists?

Lamont is picking up a lot of solid Democratic support now.

[skeeters2525]

16. And Democrats all Ran to Nader

So don't give me no shit about the Democratic Party being out of touch.

[GeorgeGist]

17. Hopefully the 60% of Americans...

who oppose this repugnant war, will be 'extremists' and throw the status quo out.