Are you angry at the Democratic Party?

[kentuck]

Why?

Can you be specific?

[Matariki]

1. Parts of it.

Complicity.

[Shandris]

30. Sorry, posted in wrong place. darn misclicks!

[Drale]

2. I blame 100% of the current problems

on the right wing, whether it be "independents" who are really republicans or tea baggers or just republicans.

[yurbud]

112. even when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress and the White House and still

just nibbled at the edges of problems and continued some of the worst of Bush's policies?

[bluestate10]

136. I am a democrat, but Independents are NOT republicans.

In my state, Independents vote democratic in the last election and were the driving forces behind the re-election of our democratic Governor after extreme liberals and Greens decided that they would not support an impressively effective Governor. And Independents helped democrats sweep every Congressional seat and every statewide office. My message is that Independents are mostly non-aligned, give them a concrete message on why they should vote democratic and they will. Our challenge as democrats is to give that message. Your claim that Independents are republicans is wrong and without merit in fact.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. No. I'm disappointed, but not angry.

[Rabblevox]

4. lets see...Pro-war, Pro-corporate, cowards who have absolutely betrayed the people...

does that do for a start?

[Skip_In_Boulder]

7. Well like you say, it's a start. n/t

[HereSince1628]

8. I'll stand with you on that.

[Yuugal]

26. That sums it up nicely...

[defendandprotect]

42. How about: Koch Bros funded the DLC-corporate wing .... ???

Obviously, I wouldn't have voted for anyone I knew was DLC --

or in Obama's case "New Dem" -- but had no idea of this until recently!!


http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

[hfojvt]

69. unfortunately the voters voted pro-war, pro-corporate

and to give themselves the shaft in 2010. "The people" didn't exactly have the Democrats back.

Not that I approve of the way Obama is waving the white flag, nor the way his name could be used as a synonym for spelunking since he caves so much, but it was "the people" who allowed Boehner to become speaker.

[Bandit]

73. What exactly did the Democrats do to deserve the people's vote?

:shrug: At least the Republicans kept up a steady stream of information, faulty though it may have been. Every time you turned on the TV or the radio all you heard about was Obama Care and Socialist Democrats..Democrats put up zero fight IMO..

[Lorien]

82. Yep. Plus the whole "hope and change" line turned out to be one of the most vile

con jobs in history. He's just rubbing our faces in it by giving the Bushies medals and our public schools.

If you don't give the people something to vote FOR, only someone who "isn't quite as horrible" as the other guy, they won't line up at the polls.

[DireStrike]

78. There's no anti-war or anti-corporate party to vote for -nt-

[Joe Fields]

106. That is a ridiculous statement.

Try pointing your finger at our dem leaders. They are the ones who caused their own collapse in 2010.

[hfojvt]

107. by not being progressive enough, of course

which is why Feingold and Grayson lost? People just sat back and let Republicans win because they want a more progressive government.

[Leopolds Ghost]

108. Feingold lost because of Obama's corporate-written health care bill.

[BzaDem]

114. ROFL

Yeah OK then. I'm sure that's exactly why Feingold lost. Cognitive dissonance much?

:rofl:

[BzaDem]

116. How are they responsible? They didn't vote for the Republican in the voting booth.

Last I checked, the person at fault for an action is the person who took the action (not voting for a Democrat) -- not the people who did everything they could to stop the action from happening.

[woo me with science]

125. Trashing the Fourth Amendment; lining up Americans for crotch searches.

LYING about supporting a public option after already making a deal with for-profit insurance companies. Entrenching corporations even more into our healthcare system. Lying that the "Affordable Health Care Act" would control costs.

Installing corporate shills and CEO's into even more government positions.

[woo me with science]

126. Not only betrayed but kicked in the teeth and laughed at.

They are laughing and making jokes in public about the TSA, which gropes the crotches of Americans not accused of any crime and has humiliated them in reams of UCLA complaints, including drenching an elderly passenger in his own urine.

[Badfish]

134. lol

By "pro war" ...you mean ending combat missions and drawing down the troops in Iraq ?

By "pro corporate" ...you mean passing wall street reform while having the full force of the GOP and wall street lobyists fighting it all the way ?

I can see right through you.

[Zoeisright]

5. Yes.

Democratic politicians are not standing up to the bullying repukes. They didn't fight hard enough for single-payer health care. They should have bailed out the banks instead of the people. And they should have screamed loud and long last election about how the repukes ruined this country and should NOT be put in charge again. EVER.

[StarburstClock]

6. Why?

Can you be specific as to why you'd like to know?

[kentuck]

10. Because...

I like to know if people I am having a discussion with are mindless robots or not?

[StarburstClock]

12. So ask them if they're mindless robots

If they are they won't have anything to offer in any conversation.

[kentuck]

15. Are you being critical?

Perhaps you should start a thread of your own?

[erodriguez]

96. I prefer the term "Automaton"

[bluestate10]

137. Don't expect specifics, there are none. BTW, welcome to DU.

Posts can get testy on DU, but the site needs more people that ask critical questions.

[OHdem10]

9. I would characterize it more as resentment sometimes anger.

Often some Democrats(but enough to make a difference)
appear to either reinforce the Republican Party Policies
or enable the Republicans to get their policies passed.

Instead of the holding the line and playing in the
Center (Space between Democratic Party and Republican
Party) they appear comfortable on the Republican Playing
Field. We end up with policies helpful to business and
the Haves and hurting the Have Nots.

[closeupready]

11. I am angry at the collusion I see between the current Democratic Party and Republicans

to strip ordinary Americans of legal protections and rights, a process which has been ongoing since Bill Clinton took office.

I am angry about that. The Democratic Party should be a champion of the poor, homeless, working class - not the party of Wall Street and those who export jobs to China and India.

[creon]

13. Not really

My view is the party has trouble coming to a consensus about what needs to be done and how to do it.

They want to write and pass effecetive legislation - in principle - but the party just can't seem to get their act together.

The 111th Congress did not pass the legislation that I thought the country needed. The HoR id a decent job. But the Senate did not. Amoung other slipups, the SEnate never got to about 200 bills that the House passed.

I hope that the party improves their performance, for the good of the country.

[bluestate10]

138. You completely failed to mention one important fact. A selective memory?

The Senate in the last Congress had and still has a permanent republican veto. Maybe instead of being angry at democrats, the OP should work his ass off in his state to defeat the permanent republican senators that his state sends to Washington, election after election, after all, change starts at home. I will do my part to defeat a republican senator that the majority of my state voters election when given a choice between him and a pathetically disorganized and uninspiring democrat. The republican is going to have a tougher, more organized and focused opponent in 2012, if he wins which I doubt that he will, I will tip my hat to him.

[TheKentuckian]

14. Not so much just wrapping my head around the reality that they have become the

Republicans that I stridently opposed in prior decades and that the Republicans have become a no holds barred, anti-American, radical regressive, anti-freedom, anti-self determination, theocratic, warmongering dumpsterfucks.

[Stinky The Clown]

99. Well said!

:thumbsup:

[northoftheborder]

16. Angry at D. Party because it has become too conservative at the leadership level.

Also, I think it should have maintained a larger degree of separation in control and identity from Obama.

[DJ13]

17. Yes

The GOP was on the ropes after Bush and they caved and pandered to conservative ideals so much over the last two years that now the GOP is not just alive, they actually (rightly) believe they are in complete control once again.

[boston bean]

18. I'm heart broken.

They are weak, partly corrupt, and not looking out for the people at this time.

[theophilus]

19. Yes. Yes I am. With only a very few exceptions....Al Franken. But

even he is being too quiet.

My anger, and deep disappointed sadness, stems from the lack of progressive values being voiced by Dems. My Rep (Mike Ross) and "Dem" Senator (Mark Pryor)seem to be Democrats in name only. I connect the Democratic Party with FDR, JFK, LBJ. Fiscal regulation and recovery. Care for the poor and aged. Jobs, jobs, jobs. Science emphasis. Human rights. These things are important to me. I want to see the U.S. lead as a shining example of openness, fairness, tolerance, education, intelligent prosperity, and equal opportunity.

I voted for Mr. Obama because I believed he represented those things. He has yet to deliver strongly in any area, imo. I have voted straight Dem for years but I don't see my elected officials doing what is best for the country.

Mr. Obama's election, imo, said loud and clear, "Liberals fix this mess." We don't seem to getting any Liberal bang from our vote "buck".

That is why I am angry, disappointed, depressed. That is why I am rethinking some things.

Thanks for asking!

[kentuck]

21. I had a hunch ...

I was not alone. :-(

[PufPuf23]

38. My perceptions are similar

and disappointment grows to ever more to distress.

[BobbyBoring]

58. You're far from alone

The democrats had 2 years to do something and all they did was cave. A bunch of cowards if you ask me. hey, you did ask me! Obama spent his first year and a half trying to be "Bi Parisian" with people that would jump for joy if he fell off the earth or moved back to Kenya.

I'm especially pissed at Harry Reid for his underhanded, back door slap in the face to those brave enough to vote against TARP the first time around. That in itself was more instrumental in getting us in the mess we're in than anyone can imagine.

Here's the problem though. Until people learn to think outside the box and reject the 2 party system, we're stuck with it.

We REALLY need a strong 3rd party with teeth and the commitment of millions to it. Imagine a Tea Party like movement behind a 3rd party. Surely there are enough of us energized to perhaps pull that off.

[ixion]

20. Yes. For their support of things like

the so-called 'war' on (some) drugs and (some) terror, for enabling and supporting the destruction of our civil rights under the guise of these 'wars' and for being just as culpable as the GOP for the economic disaster we're now facing.

Specific enough for ya?

[slay]

33. +1

yes i am indeed angry at the Dems - and i'll add the cover up of WAR CRIMES committed by the Bush admin, and the failure to hold Wall Street accountable for the mess we are in, AND escalating an EXTREMELY costly and pointless war in Afghanistan to your list. And I'm angry at the Dems for having turned into little more than Republican-lite. AND for allowing the billionaires to keep the "bush tax cuts". if the OP would like to reply to this I can keep going, and going, and going, and going....

*on edit i realize the OP is angry at the Dem party as well - anyone who is awake should be as well IMO.

[kentuck]

41. My fear...

...is that the Democratic Party will piss off so many people that the Repubs will win even bigger the next time. Whose fault is that? The voters? Or those in the Party that don't give a big shit how pissed off their supporters get?

[slay]

54. I can not just continue to vote against Republicans if the Dems refuse to represent me

is the way I see it - so I think your fear is quite valid. I want to vote FOR something I believe in - and not just against the latest Republican boogyman. I would LOVE to see Obama do a 180 and become a great progressive Dem leader - but that will not happen. He's turned off a LOT of people - a LOT of activists who once supported him - but maybe that was the plan - use us for our votes then screw us. I don't know.

But if Obama was running on tax cuts for billionaires, escalating the war in Afghanistan, continuing many of the Bush era policies including the "patriot act", was for increasing charter schools, and after 17 days of protests in Wisconsin for teacher and other union rights - decided to go speak with JEB BUSH in Florida about education - would you as a Dem vote for that? Something to think about.

**on edit - in my subject line i say i can not just continue to vote against republicans - however that does not EVER mean i could vote for them. i just don't know how much longer i can - with good conscience - vote for (at best) ineffective Dems.

[Lorien]

88. We'll need to start with a clean slate at some point (soon). The party will need

to break into two with the minority (people like Kucinich) standing up for an old fashioned Progressive and Liberal platform and the DLC Dems labeling themselves what they are: the Reagan party (old repugs). The teabagger will split the already batshit crazy repugs in half, so we'll have a more level playing field soon enough.

[kentuck]

98. Brilliant!

I like that theory.

[jwirr]

59. That is my fear.

[tularetom]

22. Most of the time I'm just amazed at their cluelessness

They have the advantage of having a ready made contingency out there that knows exactly what needs to be done to fix things (tax the rich and cut defense spending) but they avoid dealing with these issues and constantly try to battle the republicans on their turf.

Maybe they aren't as dumb as I think. Maybe they're just republican lite and don't give a shit what we think.

[blindpig]

23. Not 'mad'

This is pretty much what I expected, though admittedly the trend of revision to pre-New Deal forms has been faster than I anticipated.
One can't get mad at the party of Woodrow Wilson and Harry Palmer, it is what it is, ya don't expect much.

[JoseGaspar]

44. Well, hmmm... lessee...

Wisconsin is burning. The Republicans get in and do the Roman bit. Ten minutes, and they are trying to kill the unions. They are even at the point of trying to arrest the Democrats. They lose their support and they don't give a shit. They all pile on.

Meanwhile, the sum total of the Democratic support is a handful of local politicians who are hiding out in Illinois. The Democratic Party runs the national government... but they ain't in the mood to arrest nobody. In fact, they aren't in the mood to be seen there... or even to say anything. The only Democrats in evidence are the TeeVee spinners: "look, Obama seems like he is staying out but did you notice how his right eye twitched when he said 'everybody has to sacrifice'? That means he really, really supports the workers."

All the while a whole lot of people talk about how "we are winning", or how to keep the Dems away because "we are winning already", when what they really mean is that they don't trust the big Pols to go anywhere near the thing because they will be talking about a sellout in about 3 minutes flat...

Mad? Why should anyone be mad?

[slackmaster]

24. The DNC turned me into a newt.

[Liberal Gramma]

25. I hate to quote Rumsfeld, but

we have to fight with what we have, not what we wish we had. No matter what its flaws, the Dems are head and shoulders above the Repugs. Infighting only strengthens the opposition.

[no limit]

61. How did that line of thinking work out for Rumsfeld?

[Telly Savalas]

77. Where's the alternative that's getting us anywhere?

[no limit]

80. I don't know. But the status quo sure as hell isn't getting us anywhere, it is setting us back

[DireStrike]

81. I don't see that THIS is getting us anywhere

Aside from catching the pendulum occasionally and slowing our descent into a fundamentalist corporate nightmare state.


It's just not working. I don't know what the answer is, but something else needs to be done.

[Liberal Gramma]

102. My point is that dividing our base will weaken us

Clinton won his first term because Perot divided the Republicans. Bush won his first term because Nader divided the Democrats. A more liberal, activist third party will only result in a Republican win. We stand with what we have and try to improve it or we fall.

[no limit]

103. You know why Nader ran and got a chunk of support?

It was because it was becoming harder and harder to see the difference between republicans and democrats. Clinton was republican light, and many on the left were sick of that.

Democrats are refusing to learn their lessons and as a result are eager to piss all over their base every chance they get. So don't be shocked when the base decides to go elsewhere around election time.

[BzaDem]

115. And how did that work out for them?

You talk about Democrats refusing to learn their lessons, when in reality, the lesson of Nader's run and its consequences is perhaps the biggest lesson to be learned (for the few that pride themselves on being as irrational as possible).

Perhaps the lesson has to be relearned in 2012 or 2016. I hope not, for their sake mostly.

[Liberal Gramma]

117. Bingo!

The only way to change the face of the Democratic party is to elect more liberals to Congress. Running a more liberal candidate in opposition to the official one is a recipe for Republican success.

[no limit]

124. More liberals to congress and republican lights to the white house? Makes no sense

It is the white house that drives the agenda, not congress.

[no limit]

123. How did it work out for the democrats? It probably caused them to lose the 2000 elections

and gave us the worst president of my life time.

And what is happening today? This democratic president is continuing many of the policies that made Bush the worst present of my life time. And if you expect people to simply ignore that and fall in line then you might be in for quite a shock in 2012 and for sure 2016.

You can try to bitch and moan about this on DU all you want, but that won't change what much of this country is feeling. The only people that can change it are the leaders in the democratic party, but as I said, doesn't seem like they learned their lesson from 2000.

[gateley]

27. Frustrated - it doesn't fight for what's right, it doesn't know how to Message, it

acquiesces too easily (which falls under the 'doesn't fight' complaint).

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

28. Surprised. That they're trying to move from "not as bad" to "just as bad".

They're whittling away at the "Not a dime's worth of difference" to a wooden nickels worth of difference.

[swilton]

29. They Had a Golden Opportunity and Squandered It

How the Dems Allowed the Tea Party to Rebrand the GOP
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...



How to Squander the Presidency in One Year
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Lorien]

92. Yep. It really could have been Camelot

but instead it's as if we're in the third term of GWB. :grr:

[Shandris]

31. Downright livid.

The sheer amount of ineptitude, incompetence, cowardice, and corruption displayed (in varying parts of each) as a collective have only served to show that there really is no one truly looking out for the people. It's something we've mostly known - or should have - but always been reticent to admit. But to fail to do much worthwhile with a full mandate, control of both houses AND the presidency, while losing control of one, losing solid control of the other, and making the third a talking puppethead in the span of two years to a party who, by all rights, should have been on the verge of its' death throes is practically criminal.

As a collective, they are presently making the Washington Generals seem like a model of efficiency, focus, and success.

[emulatorloo]

32. I'm angry at the Supreme Court, Koch Brothers, American Crossroads, Republican Voters

Joe Liebermann, Chuck Grassley, Scott Walker and his fellow "look at me! I'm Reagan" teabag governors. Rep Steve King (R-IA), Roger Ailes, Murdoch and everybody at Fox News except Shep Smith. Dumbasses with "Obama is a Socialist" bumperstickers on their cars. The awful cable news media who are either too lazy or too corrupt to do actual truthful political coverage.

[bluestate10]

139. Ohh. You should not be angry at the right people. Get with the program, be angry at

democrats. What are you thinking? Lets just sit at home during the next election, or better yet, waste our votes on Nader like no-hopers. Once the election is over, we can protest in the streets, chain ourselves to fences and get dragged off to jail where we pay precious money in fines, and, and, and may be we can get laid by like minds that are impressed by our patriotism and forward thinking. Or, we can avoid wasting our precious time and money, pick the best, most electable democratic candidates and slowly move the democratic party to where we want it.

[JuniperLea]

34. Very good question...

I'm not angry at the party, per se, but I am angry with some people in the party who claim to be Democrats but don't appear to have the desire to do the bidding of we the people. Blue Dog Democrats come to mind.

[nxylas]

45. +1

There are still some good people in the Democratic Party, but overall, I'm disappointed in the Congressional Dems for not siezing the moment when they had supermajorities in both chambers.

[JuniperLea]

46. Well said...

Exactly. I'm not sure what they were waiting for, but they wasted the moment.

[JoePhilly]

35. At times ... I think they tend to not fight hard enough.

But I think I know why.

Democrats tend to be problem solvers who look for common ground. We actively try to bring people together and not drive them apart, so that we can move forward.

The result is that Dems generally can not help but start any discussion with a description of where the right and left AGREE.

Meanwhile ... the right has ZERO interest in bring people together. Their view is "divide and conquer". The last place they want to go is "forward".

Its just one of the things that makes the left better than the right, even if at times it hurts us.

[pmorlan1]

95. Problem Solvers?

Well as I see it they have one helluva problem with a large segment of their base. They better start figuring out how to solve THAT problem because a lot of us are very angry and they're driving more and more of us away. If the Republicans want to divide and conquer then the Democrats are sure actively helping them do so by actively dividing their own base with their incompetent strategy to "solve problems".

[mdmc]

36. they can't sell ice to the eskimos

and I'm mad about it

[valerief]

37. I am. I want a progressive party that will beat the pants off Republicans.

They haven't done that. They've funded wars instead.

[damntexdem]

39. Constantly. But consider it a lovers' spat -- as I loathe the GOP.

Lack of spine. Caving on extending tax cuts for the rich. Not even considering single payer. Not writing a better health reform and finding ways to smash it through. Not reforming Senate rules, trusting GOP promises on filibuster and holds. Shall I go on?

[kentuck]

43. Except for the small incident, Mrs Lincoln...

...how did you like the play??

[defendandprotect]

40. Why not be "angry" ... ??

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

[Little Star]

47. Yep! You can bet your ass I'm angry.......

I'm mad that this administration is dragging our party more & more to the right.

I'm tired of every issue having to start off bipartisan instead of fighting for the policies this party has always stood for.

I'm sick that we are still in Bush's two wars.

I hate that we still have the office of faith-based initiatives started by GWB.

I am livid that Bush's tax cuts are still in effect.

I am beside myself that this administration wants to cut so called "entitlements".

I am pissed that they have done nothing to fix NAFTA.

I am offended that this administration speaks of the left like we are loony.

I am infuriated they have not put a all out effort to create jobs.

I am enraged that they have done nothing to fix free trade and make it fair trade.

Need I go on? Cause there is a hell of a lot more!

I've been a Dem my whole life and I have never been this disgusted with my party. Sure, there are always a few issues I didn't like in other Dem administrations. For the first time in my life I like less of what is being done/not done than I like!

Rant off.

[mochajava666]

121. Good rant. Well said.

[RandomKoolzip]

48. I'm a liberal but I have no representation in government.

The Dems do not represent liberal voters, by and large. There are a few exceptions. But there are tens of millions of liberal and leftish voters in the US and we have NO representation.

Yet, there are equivalent numbers of conservative and right-leaning voters and THEIR concerns are paramount - they are represented in government by all sortsa figures, even some in the supposeldy liberal Democratic party. The right and the corporations they serve have far too much power over our daily lives; it's a huge imabalance of power, money, and representation, and the Democratic party seems to think this is okay.

Something's got to give. Excuse me if this analysis is simplistic, but that's the bottom line. Liberals have no power or representation and many of us feel helpless and angry because it didn't used to be this way. That's why many of us are angry at the Democratic party. Either the party starts to wake up and listen to us and begin representing our interests or we continue down the road we're on - toward theocratic and corporate fealty.

[Romulox]

49. NAFTA, MFN China, Bankster Bailouts, H1B, Iraq, Afghanistan, War on Drugs

That about covers it!

[Lorien]

94. War on unions, war on the environment, giving the Gulf to BP, war on Women's

bodies, tax breaks for the rich, cutting services for the poor...they make Nixon look like a radical Lefty Liberal.

[MichiganVote]

50. What Democratic party?

[Jokinomx]

51. Yes... for caving on taxing the rich & not giving us real healthcare reform but insurance reform.

The problem we have with our healthcare is the insurance industry.... they should be taken completely out of the equation.

In my opinion.

[walldude]

52. Well I have nothing specific...

unless you count the pre-schoolers prostitute ring... or all those times they sold dope disguised as a nun.... Hanging's too good for em'... Burning's too good for em', they should be torn into little bitsy pieces and buried alive!!! STERN!!!!! (Cue Cheap Trick!)


Or for something a little closer to reality:

Wall Street Bailouts. Thats a good start, give money to the people who sunk the economy so they can keep up their lavish lifestyle and then play the Republican game of billing it all to the workers.. Good Plan.

Extending the war in Afghanistan? Yeah

Drone Attacks?

How about the right to execute an American citizen without a trial? That's a good one.

Guantanamo? Still open and going to stay open.

Torture and Rendition? Yeah hated those when Bush was doing it. But I'm on the fence now :eyes:

Tax breaks for the wealthy? Love em'. Especially those capitol gains taxes that remain at 15%. Yeah can't be taxing free money, only the money earned with actual sweat.

Now the worst of it, playing nice. Here's what Obama said about the Bush family:

"Like the remarkable Barbara Bush, his humility and his decency reflects the very best of the American spirit," Obama told the audience in the White House East Room, which included the former first lady and the Bushes' sons Jeb and Neil. "Those of you who know him: This is a gentleman."....

Babs and HW represent the best of the American spirit? Yeah and don't you worry your pretty little mind about such things, you are better off with your new digs...

Oh and all these comments about how we must "fix" Social Security when it's 100% solvent for the next 25 years and 75% solvent after that? Yeah real good. Play nice with the crooks, it's a hell of a plan.

Oh and how about that comment about those 9 kids we killed in Afghanistan, "That's one of the big "Gripes" the Afghanistan people have, collateral damage.... Another great plan, call the murder of 9 children a "gripe" why didn't he just call it a "pony".

These are just the big ones. The ones that violate the Constitution, the ones that violate decency, the ones that make the Dems look no better than their counterparts.

[kentuck]

66. What's a little disagreement amongst friends?

Huh?

[walldude]

68. LOL.. apparently I'm running out of those...

and I'm also quite disappointed that the obscure Heavy Metal reference has gone un-commented on.... :toast:

[Scuba]

53. The reason for the Democrats is so there is no alternative to the Republicans. n/t

[blindpig]

60. Not yet.

But there will be, events will make it inevitable.

[Arkana]

55. I think they've gotta show more spine than they do, but I mostly blame Republicans

because they have proven time and time again that they're the party of anarchist sociopaths who are more than willing to shoot the hostages to get what they want.

[dkofos]

56. More like REALLY FUCKING PISSED.

They had the power to do the RIGHT things for WE THE PEOPLE.
They went with the big money instead.

[liberal N proud]

57. No - why should I be

[Pisces]

62. No, just underground trolls.

[bvar22]

63. Angry is an understatement.

44 years ago, I joined the Party of FDR/LBJ:

"In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

*The right of every family to a decent home;

*The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

*The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

*The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

Americas own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens.

For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world."---FDR, 1944

I will FIGHT for those traditional "Democratic Party" values.
Today's Centrist, bi-partisan Republican appeasing "New Democrat" Party?....not so much.

When the Working Class and The Poor realize we have NO representation in either Political Party,
we can DEMAND "change".
Until then....status quo.





"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone


"By their works you will know them."

[slay]

89. +1

i'm right there with ya

[woo me with science]

129. +1000 nt

[LWolf]

140. +1

[jwirr]

64. Someone further up said "heart broken". I think that says it for me.

Born in 1941 I do not remember a time when democrats (with the possible exception of LBJ) were not working in our best interest. Many of them still are but they do not seem to have any more voice than I have. I feel alone down here on the street miles from DC and helpless. I cheer what victories we do have but then I open a post about a death penalty for Manning and I get literally sick to my stomach. This is not the country I love. Somewhere along the line they have lost touch with us.

We are in what may be the most crucial time in our history with climate change, oil depletion, food and water shortages and they are doing God only knows what about any of it. Leaderless comes to mind. If it were not for DU and people like you I would just quit. As it is I often lay down at night and just cry. Where are we going - does anyone know?

[Imagevision]

65. The political parties are just for window dressing and distraction, or haven't you figured that out

[Desertrose]

67. Pfft. Why be angry....Dems are bought & sold just like any one else.

If you make it into office you no longer belong to the people. The one with the biggest checkbook can buy whatever he wants...sadly, its all about money. At least that's the current system.

Maybe someday we can change it...a little hard though when our votes are counted by crooked voting machines.

[kentuck]

70. How is it possible not to be angry?

My Party, right or wrong? How do you do it? What rationale keeps that anger under control?

[Tatiana]

72. If you're doing well financially under this administration then you're

probably not angry at all.

If you're one of those "Reagan Democrats," you're probably quite happy with the party and the current administration.

If you fancy yourself a social conservative or fiscal conservative, the party's leadership and positions on the issues are likely applauded by you.

If you aren't underwater on your mortgage, haven't been foreclosed on, or don't live in a home that's lost half its value, I'm sure you'd think the party is A-OK.

If you don't think about clipping coupons or how much the price of a gallon of milk has gone up or how you will stretch your food budget for the week, you probably don't see what everyone is complaining about.

That's what I notice about the people who aren't angry. They haven't lose anything. They haven't sacrificed anything. They haven't watched their 20-year career get flushed down the corporate drain and find themselves facing personal and financial ruin. These are the people that tell these middle-age, 50-somethings to just be grateful that we're in the midst of a glorious "recovery." Nevermind that the new jobs being created are pretty much all in the service sector and pay a fraction of what that 50-something was making prior to losing his or her job.

[Little Star]

76. +1

[Lorien]

90. Or if you're a Republican who is hellbent on destroying the party from the inside

out because you hate "liberalism", then you're positively gleeful. Notice the dripping disdain that the Obama/ DLC apologists have for liberals? 'Nuff said.

[DJ13]

91. +1

[Tatiana]

97. Good point. n/t

[xchrom]

71. At least a couple of posters don't get the neoliberalism that

As crept into the dem party.

Cheer leaders to every one elses detriment.

[Lorien]

84. We all know why they cheer, but we aren't allowed to point out the obvious

maybe we should pity them instead. Times are tough. Gotta make the bills somehow-even if it means destroying your party in the process by turning it into the New GOP.

[MzNov]

74. I passed anger when Big Dawg was president

continued to a horrified slow burn with the Bush Crime Family, and now have no lining in my stomach probably because O'bama is just kicking the can down the road.... what he is doing and not doing in all aspects of his term is just all kinds of wrong, and no need really to list everything. We've all gotten the message. (except the Obamapologists of course)

[DeadEyeDyck]

75. KnR

[robcon]

79. Not at all.

I think we're destined for greatness. The president will be re-elected, and we'll regain control of Congress soon - 2014, if not 2012.

[Lorien]

83. Yes, I'm furious, disgusted and heart broken that they've stabbed those of us who worked for

them and donated what we could to them in the back over and over again. They stand for nothing. They're just the Reaganite party of greed and death, while the GOP is the party of greed, death, hate and religious madness. No one in D.C. is on our side or the side of the rest of the people that we share this planet with. They think that we can strip the earth of all biodiversity and still survive. They're wrong, of course, but in the meantime we and the rest of the bottom 98% will pay for their plunder...and most here will continue to elect their abusers again because "the other guy is worse." It's insane, and it won't end well for us.

[NoPasaran]

85. No

Should I be?

:shrug:

[Dappleganger]

86. Who is the Democratic Party?

On a local level they are practically non-existent, and where we see them they are not all that different from the other side of the aisle (Florida).

On a national level it is hard to say, because there is no coherent message from either the Democratic Party leadership or the President. No, I am not angry at them--I am angry with myself for believing that we could have had real change for once with a new lineup and all we got was the same old regurgitated shit.

[grahamhgreen]

87. Yes. 1) Still in Iraqistan even though 60+% of Americans want us out! (more)

2) Failed to prosecute Bush, et al for torture or lying us into war.

3)Bailed out the banks instead of prosecuting the boards of directors and management, even though the majority of Americans want us to do just that.

4) Passed tax cuts for the rich when 81% of Americans want to tax them like we did in the 1950's.

5) Continue with outsourcing of American jobs using slave-trade agreements when most Americans want us out.

6) Failed to try to pass a public option or single-payer, when the majority of Americans support those programs, instead passed mandatory crapsurance.

6) Buy into every right wing talking point about the cause of all of our ills, and the solutions, such as austerity.

Basically, for continuing the Republican neo-con agenda when it comes to economic and war issues.

[pmorlan1]

93. Yes, I'm angry.

I'm angry that the Democrats refuse to stand up for what they say they believe in. THEY ARE WEAK. They compromise before negotiations and give away the store and pretend that they did the best they could when anyone with half a brain knows better. If Obama does what they criticized Bush for all of a sudden they support it and defend it just because a Democrat is doing it. They are unprincipled, spineless cowards and I'm very angry that they think that we should support them when they don't support us or the rule of law. Hell yes, I'm angry. Stop going after whistleblowers tooth and nail and giving war criminals a pass. FIGHT FOR US. Stop responding to the Republican agenda and follow your own agenda. Make them respond for a change.

[eridani]

100. Republicans are sociopaths and Democrats are cowards. However--

--cowardice can be fixed (see Madiscon, WI for instance), and sociopathology cannot. It's true that most Dems are not currently standing up for ordinary people, but on the other hand, the only politicians who DO stand up for us are Democrats. (Yes, Bernie is an independent socialist, but these days that just means he acts like a New Deal Democrat.)

[azul]

101. Fell into the despair well after 2006 when the Dems had the voter's mandate

to end the illegal wars and return us to the rule of law, and did nothing because they were afraid of the media.

The first order of business then should have been to fix the corrupted voting system, and to correct the media ownership and corporate/military propaganda problems. The media controlled the narratives on all the issues, including that of the media's problems, with the result of knocking down all efforts at change.

I was angry with what the president and congress and the courts did after Sept. 11, 2001 to this country. Mad enough at our elected officials' criminal behavior to want justice and loudly vote for change. What we got was an opposition party elected that not only did not follow the voter's mandate to end the war, but continued in the criminal behavior because it was afraid of the CIA and FBI and media's power to frame themselves.

Unverified voting, media dysfunction? It was shocking when they could do nothing about these glaring problems, when they had all the tools and backing of the public.

[SOS]

104. What's to be angry about?

There are no politics in an oligarchy.

Powerful financial interests purchased the federal government a long time ago.
They get the gold mine while the average American gets the shaft.

The outcomes are so utterly predictable, I barely even pay attention anymore.

[Hugabear]

105. I'm angry at our political system in general - military and corporations have far too much influence

That goes for both parties

[tnvoter]

109. No. I'm angry with the REPUBLICAN Party.

The Republicans are playing politics while working men and women suffer. They are pulling out all the stops to keep the country from progress. Actually, I think the Democrats are doing more for me in the last two years than the Republicans did in 8 years.

[doc03]

110. Yes NAFTA, WTO, MFN for China, taxing SS payments. to name

a few reasons. We have a choice Republican light or Republican nut jobs and they are far worse..

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

111. yes. for reasons stated above.

will add, for shoving public financing of campaigns under the the rug, as I personally think it would solve 92.36% of all our problems.

This month - for the appearance of joining the hate and blame the teachers movement.

[oldlib]

113. I'm Angry.

Because they aren't supporting the causes that the Democratic Party should support. They appear to be ignoring Democratic principles in order to be re-elected. The problem is, is that there is no alternative. We can't vote republican.

[lib2DaBone]

118. Liberman, Kent Conrad, Max Baucus, .. we are so screwed.....

[Earth_First]

119. Angry? Nah. Stark-raving-mad? ABSOLUTELY!

Can I be specific?

Exhibit A: See Obama visit to Florida...

Exhibit B: See Obama visit to Wisconsin...



There you have it!

[jpak]

120. No - considering the GOP/Teabaggers are fucking assholes - Dems look pretty fucking fabulous

yup

[mitchtv]

122. yup

nope

[DaisyDeedles]

127. I'm mad at the Democratic elite in DC for being oblivious to the rest of the country

I read recently that the DC area has a very low unemployment rate and that college graduates in general have about a 4% unemployment rate right now. I think that's why they're putting the deficit ahead of jobs and why they think we're "recovering" because Wall Street is doing well.

OTOH, we have some awesome Dem elected leaders where I am locally so I'm not going to castigate the whole party.

[southernyankeebelle]

128. Because many are in bed with corporations and many aren't out in the streets with the

working people. They see the wrong of the health care but they didn't push for a single payer plan. We had to many sellout with the blue dog democratics.

[mmonk]

130. Who? Me?

[eridani]

131. Yes. For being cowards. Still, that's better than Republican sociopaths n/t

[mod mom]

132. Establishment & corporate Dems-absolutley, Progressive Dems NO

In Ohio, the establishment/corporate Dems attacked a very viable (then SOS Jennifer Brunner) Progressive Dem who was running for Senator during the primary. Their candidate couldn't even muster 40% against a bu$h appointee in the general. I will no longer work/contribute to the corporate wing of the party.

[cali]

133. I prefer to focus on my anger at republicans

[bluestate10]

135. Know your true enemy. You should be mad at the republican party and it teabagger ally.

Your question, on it's face, is pure wrong.

[deacon]

141. Irritated at the dems - LIVID about the GOP. n/t