what does it mean to be a Democrat in late 2007?

[ulysses]

[Kutjara]

1. It means to be...

...accustomed to bitter disappointment.

[snowbear]

10. Kutkara, what a PATHETIC response.

WTF party do you belong to and where were you in '06?



========== YOUR ANSWER IS JUST PATHETIC ==========

- -

[Kutjara]

11. I haven't seen Congressional Dems handing much of anything to the Repugs.

Aside from everything they ask for, of course.

A lot has happened since last November, and very little of it has given me cause for optimism.

[snowbear]

12. So what is your solution? Put the THUGS back in charge again?

The asswipes had 12 straight years of complete power and look what happened.

You're upset because the Democratic Party hasn't solved the problems of Bush's war within a year or less and have removed our troops?



What is YOUR solution for getting them out in a swift, safe manner?


- -

[Kutjara]

14. Not at all.

The fact that the Repugs are scum doesn't mean that I'm blind to the fact that the current crop of Dems appear pretty impotent.

My fear is that, if the Dems don't take some kind of stand stand against BushCo soon, voters are going to see them as just the kind of ineffectual "libruls" the right constantly accuses them of being. That could lead to a big swing toward independent candidates, which would virtually assure a Repug return to power.

What's you're solution?

[snowbear]

15. My solution is to QUIT dissing Democrats and elect a =REAL= majority...

...So that we can actually get something passed without Mistah Bush's Veto threats!


"I gonna Veto you!"

[Kutjara]

16. It's appropriate to criticize if criticism is due.

The only way the Dems are going to increase their majority is if they engage the Repugs, right now. They need to fight every important battle, even if they know they can't win, to make it crystal clear to the American people that they have the drive and character to fix things. The current strategy of being dignified and accommodating makes them look weak. And nobody's going to vote for more weaklings.

Everyone but the most blockheaded 28%er can see the country's in dire shape. Yet there's the Democratic-led Congress playing "business as usual." All the excuses in the world about "if we only had more Dems" aren't going to impress anyone. I want a clean Democratic sweep in '08 as much as anyone, but all I see at the moment is the momentum of '06 being dissipated away.

[rwheeler31]

2. Wow is this what you tell your kids?

Get a grip.

[ulysses]

4. I don't tell my son questions.

On what should I get a grip? Be careful here.

[rwheeler31]

6. What do you want your child to learn?

[ulysses]

8. 1. how to respond when someone tells him to "get a grip".

2. how to critically evaluate what he's told.

What do you want *your* child to learn?

[EST]

3. Right now, it means this bitter, hollow feeling in my gut

(you know, the one that shows up with the death of a loved one or the sundering of a trusted relationship?) continues to eat away at my peace of mind.
It means momentary flashes of joy or enthusiasm instead of the bleakness of three years ago.

[illinoisprogressive]

5. progressive ideas: jobs, health care, our country. Fighting against the greedy

and the elite corporatists on both sides. people power, grassroots, force for good. ideas.
working and middle class. community.
the good things.

[rwheeler31]

7. I know it is hard

but it has to done. A hug

[ulysses]

9. "a hug"?

?

[valerief]

13. It means waiting for the second 9/11 to happen any day now. nt

[LWolf]

17. It means

that belonging to a group is a higher priority than working to move issues forward, than working for change, than moving our own evolution as a peaceful species forward.

It's about group identity.

Here are the things I would like it to mean:

Being a Democrat today should mean that you are someone who values, supports, and protects democratic principles and our Constitution. It should mean that you support a government that puts the needs of people before the demands of corporations and the careers of politicians. It should mean that you are determined to work for social and economic justice, for peaceful relations with your neighbors, for a healthy planet. It means you It should mean that you elect representatives who have a record of doing just that, and that if your elected reps are not doing that job, you work to get them fired. It should mean that you are willing to hold the group accountable for all of the above, voters and elected reps both.