What I think I've decided concerning "changing parties"...

[Ladyhawk]

Not yet.

Another poster gave me pause. If we use carrot-and-stick methods on our poor, whipped Democratic Party, maybe they will stand up for us more often in the future. Kudos to Boxer and the House Reps who stood up for Democracy.

I am going to write each and every one of them.

I may write a brief note to those who voted no or neglected to vote. I don't think such letters should be excessively negative.

I have trained my bird to do a lot of tricks. You can't punish a parrot. It doesn't work and besides, I think it's morally wrong. What you can use: positive reinforcement and shaping. Shaping takes the trick step by step until the bird is doing exactly what you ask.

Maybe we need to try to "shape" recalcitrant Democrats into representing us. Starting over may take too long. If the Dems won't "shape" or turn out to be DINOs, perhaps we should consider voting them out.

Do we have that kind of time? Or must we resort to more drastic measures?

(Dear Watching Reich-Wingers: I mean non-violent drastic measures.)

[Democrat Dragon]

1. I noticed a lot of people here

are over 35 years old and have some good backrounds....2006 anyone?

[Cleita]

2. I wanted to do a post on our real leaders, who are emerging

in a time of crisis, and those who run away with their tail between their legs when things get dicey. I just can't right now. I have too many personal problems. I think we need to identify our true leaders and send the others on their way by not supporting them anymore. We need new and committed blood in place of the DINOS and those too comfortable to be bothered by the real concerns of their consituencies.

[retread]

3. My line in the sand is Social Security. n/t

[Ladyhawk]

4. A lot of my "lines in the sand" have already been crossed. :(

Torture...that was about the last straw, eh? Now they want Gonzales on the cabinet??????

Unbelievable.

I'm a citizen of a country that OK's torture.

But we can find the Dems with a spine. Helen Thomas wrote me a quick e-mail in response to my lament that Democrats have been especially wimpy the last few years. She said we have to hold their feet to the fire.

Stick and carrot. Carrot and stick.

If that doesn't work, we can vote 'em out.

There are real leaders out there.

Californians: I'm not very happy with Feinstein lately...what shall we do with her? Some nice "shaping" e-mails?

[AlCzervik]

5. Dino Feinstein is retiring-or so the rumor goes

i'm hoping Pelosi will run for her seat but that would also mean finding a new house leader. I know people run hot and cold on Pelosi but i like her.

[Cleita]

6. You have come along lately, but welcome.

I have been pissed off with her since she signed on to the Iraqi war resolution and then found out her husband stood to gain a lot because he has ties to Bechtel Corporation.

[AlCzervik]

7. Feinstein? I thought she was a widow, no?

[Cleita]

8. Maybe since then.

:shrug:

But when the Chimp got Congress to let him invade Iraq, her husband whose last name is Blum (can't remember the first name right now) had ties to Bechtel.

[AlCzervik]

9. figures. It's maddening, she's already loaded.

how much more do they need? And if i had connections to Bechtel i would sever them right away.

[AlCzervik]

10. Well slap my ass and call me Irma-check it out

right you are.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/05/11/BU18813.DTL

[Buck_Fush]

11. 47 years of being a democrat is enough for me, i am going libertarian! n/t

[flaminbats]

12. careful...have you read the platform?

a key plank of the libertarian party platform is to repeal the existing prohibition on the commercial sale and purchase of body parts. It doesn't matter which donor has the right blood type, or which patient needs the transplant most..these creeps say kidneys should go to the highest bidder!

Libertarians also embrace the complete privatization of Social Security, and view all human beings..adults and children as nothing more than market commodities to be bought or sold. The LP also supports allowing corporations or other groups to secede from the U.S. government and enforce their own form of law.

"All rights are inextricably linked with property rights. Such rights as the freedom from involuntary servitude as well as the freedom of speech and the freedom of press are based on self-ownership. Our bodies are our property every bit as much as is justly acquired land or material objects. The owners of property have the full right to control, use, dispose of -- or in any manner enjoy -- their property without interference, until and unless the exercise of their control infringes the valid rights of others."

"We support the right of political entities, private groups and individuals to renounce their affiliation with any government, and to be exempt from the obligations imposed by those governments, while in turn accepting no support from the government from which they seceded. "

http://www.lp.org/issues/platform/

[Buck_Fush]

13. I didn't know that, I thought they were all about legalizing freedom n/t

[flaminbats]

14. just the opposite...

privatize the judge jury and law enforcement, then some contractor defines the rights of every individual.

[Buck_Fush]

15. thats not the way my daughter tells it,

she states their platform is all about having as little government interference in our lives as possible. Now, if we ask a freeper to describe the democratic party, we will also get something about as acurate as the blind men describing the elephant, so, I am not accpeting your description as necessarily accurate, and can only say, I do not know much about them. However, I know a great deal about the democratic party, and they have sucked since Clinton left office. Which is the point.

[B Calm]

16. They're more right wing than the Republicans.

They wrote the book on cheap labor cons!

[flaminbats]

17. don't accept our description of that party's platform..

read it and decide for yourself if libertarians represent any liberal principles. Both parties have sucked since Clinton left office, but which party is best positioned to change our screwed up government?

I don't agree with your view of politics. We need two parties because Republicans have a view of Democrats that is more accurate, just as Democrats have a more honest view of Republicans than themselves. Put together a critical and positive description of either party..an accurate image begins to form.

If you wanted a description of the sound or feel of an elephant, wouldn't you ask a blind man before asking someone who places more focus on appearance? The best description comes from both the blind man and one who can see the elephant.

[Buck_Fush]

20. yes, they have both sucked, and that's why i give up on them, we need

a new party. If the libs aren't really about liberty, and the greens aren't really about environment, and the dems aren't really about preserving democracy, and the repulicans don't want a republic anymore (but a fascist theocracy instead), then, we have truly entered the age of doublespeak, and are in need of tearing every damn one of those organizations down and replacing them with an upgraded cleaned up, polished version that actually stands for what they purport to stand for.

[FlemingsGhost]

18. "No, officer ... I don't want to press charges. I know he loves me. ...

and he's promised this was the last time he'll knock me around."

:puke:

[Lexingtonian]

19. Jeez, reregister as Green or Indie already

See how the shoe fits.
Maybe it'll do something good for your mental health.
It'll allow you to obsess with and against new people.

And it'll allow you to stay home during primary elections.
Which may or may not actually help Democrats.

[retread]

21. Nice attitude! You must be chairperson of the committee to increase

membership.