Bush has 91% support among Pubs, why can't we?

[question everything]

It would be nice if all of us, who call ourselves Democrats, unite behind our nominee, who is now Kerry.

There is a lot which is wrong with our leaders, a lot that can be changed, that should be changed. This is why we have 365 days (366 this year) and four years in between elections to really work on these changes, starting at the local level - if needed.

It is very easy to sit on a perch and to pout and then to say that I don't play or, like Nader, to decide to take the ball to go play someplace else.

For those who hate Kerry (and, BTW, I gave money and voted for Edwards) the question is: Do you want a Democrat in the White House or do you want four more years of Bush? Because this will mean the continuing deterioration of our civil rights with at least one new Supreme Court justice, continuation of the economic and foreign policy paths because, after all, this is what the voters "want." Because, keeping your virginity for the right mate will result in a path of no return. Is this what you want?

For those of us who wanted Dean, or Edwards, Gephardt or Lieberman, who still want Kucinich or Sharpton - we had our say. Now, let's unite behind Kerry. The Republican won in 2002 because they mobilized their voters to actually go out and vote. They certainly succeeded in a revolution in Minnesota. If we cannot do the same then what?

[RobertSeattle]

1. We aren't a cult

:evilgrin:

[Snivi Yllom]

rofl

Well, no, but certain factions certainly are 'cultish'.

[Webster Green]

2. That number looks like it got filtered thru the White House

I don't believe it. He's lost more of his base than that.

[mac2]

12. I agree. Like the polls in Iowa..they're way wrong.

[mistertrickster]

3. Well, democrats don't BUY their support the same way Pukes do,

for starters.

If I made two million a year and BushCo saved me 300K in taxes (and I didn't give a $hit about the country), I'd probably support him too.

Plus you've got all the poor whites (or black or hispanic) wanna-be Republicans who find the myth of "wealth just around the corner if I only listen to Rush long enough" more appealling than the reality of "Republican gov't continues to urinate on me."

[mac2]

14. Wait til their children are off to war and they don't have jobs....

except at MacDonald's and WalMart. Hey, isn't that happening now?

[prodigal_green]

4. According to whom?

If, for example, they mean that he won 91% of the Republican primary votes, I'd say that is not very good, as he is running unopposed.

[lancdem]

5. Democrats do strongly support our nominee

I've seen polls where Dem support for Kerry matches GOP support for Bush. Where Kerry really makes headway is among independents. (BTW, what poll has Bush with 91 percent support among Repukes? I've seen high 80s, but not 91 percent.)

DU is NOT a microcosm of the Democratic Party, so don't let infighting here lead you to think that's happening outside our little world. It's not.

[MadHound]

6. Because many of us recognize the system for what it is

The two party/same corporate master system of government. Therefore, why line up for more of the same ol' same ol', when we can devote our energy and effort towards making a real change in government. Why should we line up for a supposed "liberal" when we all know that he is going to wind up like Clinton, whoring for whichever Wall St. firm or K St lobbyist who will pay him the most?

Sorry, but while you folks go rah rahing for a percieved change with Kerry, some of us would rather devote ourselves to making real long term change. Your waving the Bush boogeyman in my face doesn't scare me. The same sort of things were made in reference to other 'Pugs through the years, and you know what, the sky didn't fall when they were elected. Besides, with Kerry we're going to see the same sort of policies we are now seeing out of Bush. We will stay for a long protracted time in Iraq, NAFTA will continue to suck jobs out of the US, the gap between the rich and the rest of us will continue growing to record proportions, the drug war will continue to victimize people of low income and color, the Patriot Act(with the possible exception of sixteen sunsetted provisions) will still strip us of civil rights, and other more draconian laws will be passed and the list goes on and on.

Sorry, but all a vote for Kerry is is a vote for a kinder gentler corporate takeover of our country. The underlying policies will continue, but there will be better rhetorical doublespeak in order to put a better face on the fact that we are getting screwed.

[lancdem]

9. If Kerry gets in

you won't see our courts being packed with RW judges. Just think about that, if nothing else.

[MadHound]

13. Gee, during the ninties, and up through today

We didn't need RW judges to fuck this country up. Last I looked there were a lot of Clinton appointees who made decisions supporting such issues as corporate personhood, relaxing of enviromental standards, the legality of no knocks, the ongoing trashing of this country via "free" trade, the pursuit of ever larger media, banking and other business conglomerates, deciding that free speech zones are constitutional, and the list goes on and on. Why put in RW judges when the supposed LW ones are doing the job for you?

[redqueen]

18. Exactly!

:toast:

[mac2]

15. Hope so....

[BeyondGeography]

11. Feel better now?

You want long-term change, let the Pubbies control everything, including the White House, run by an unaccountable George W. Bush for another four years.

You'll lose ground on everything you profess to care about.

Cool!

[OneBlueSky]

17. I disagree . . . the only way to get fundamental change . . .

if for progressives to do to the Democratic Party what the neocons did to the Republican Party -- take it over . . . let's elect Kerry, and then work from within to refocus the party toward more progressive and liberal positions . . .

Taking Back America, From the Radical Middle
by Thom Hartmann
Garlic & Grass: A Grassroots Journal of America's Political Soul

http://www.garlicandgrass.org/issue5/Thom_Hartmann.shtml

"The nation I love is confronting a crisis no smaller than those faced by Roosevelt, Lincoln, and Washington: a crisis that will determine if American democracy survives to the next generation. So-called 'conservatives' are turning our government inside out, trying, as they say, 'to drown it in the bathtub,' killing off regulatory agencies, ripping up the Constitution, cutting funding to social services, and turning pollution controls over to industry. Government expenses in the trillions of dollars are being shifted from us, today, to the shoulders of our children, who will certainly have to repay the deficits Bush's so-called 'tax cuts' (which are really tax deferrals) are racking up. War is being waged in our name and without our consent.

(snip)

"Another person answered my now-form-email by saying, "I want to participate in producing a detailed plan for the future of America, rather than just joining a corrupt and tired-out political party."

"My response was that if there were enough of us in the Democratic Party, it could become a cleaned-up and powerful activist force. It's possible: just look at how the anti-abortion and gun-nut folks took over the once-moribund Republican Party."

- much more . . .

http://www.garlicandgrass.org/issue5/Thom_Hartmann.shtml

[MadHound]

20. Friend, I've been doing the work within the party route for years

And you know what it has gotten me? Zilch, zero, nada, for thirty years of hard work, hard earned money, and my ever more reluctant vote. The party has had two erroneus slides, one to the right side of the political spectrum, and the other towards ever more dependence on corporate money, finally becoming just another corporate whore like the 'Pugs.

Don't try to pump me up with the "work for change from within" bullshit, I'm through with falling for that line. Sorry, but I'm going to be working for a real change in this country. Granted, it is a long term goal, just like the last time we had to free ourselves of a corporate controlled government. But we had better start now, or else we're going to face a crisis that will make the Depression seem like the Post WWII boom. The Dems aren't leading on this issue, but more and more are starting to follow as they are increasingly disillusioned with more of the same ol' same ol'. I think this is why we are seeing these bully boy tactics on the rise. The leadership of the Demcratic party realizes that there is little substantial difference between itself and the 'Pugs, thus it is trying to stampede it's followers through fear and intimidation. Sorry, but I'm not going to fall for it.

If you wish to continue to bang your head on the wall of Democratic insanity, feel free. But when you wake up and realize that all you did was for naught, then come on over and join in the effort for a real change in this country, not just the faux one the Dems promise you.

[mistertrickster]

19. You have a point, but still Clinton's bad policies pale to nothing

compared to President War-monger.

First things first.

[pansypoo53219]

7. we don't blindly support who the party says we should vote for.

too much critical thinking and everybody has their issue.

[Blue_Roses]

8. Because the Democratic party

is a big tent! That's what makes it so great. The GOP gets it's cues from the WH, not from their own consciousness. We allow diversity--they don't. We like change--they don't. We believe in seperation of church and state--they don't. They can be very bigoted and narrow-minded--we allow progression and "free-thinking."

Just to name a few...

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. The nomination process isn't over yet

That's why.

[mac2]

16. I'd like to see Progressive issues at the convention..

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. You bet. That's why

Dean, Sharpton, and Dennis are still in this. They care enough about certain issues, ideals, and standards to see this through til the end.

And thank heavens for that.