DU Optimists -- What drives you???

[Bleacher Creature]

Shrub has been President for 4 and 1/2 years. The number and seriousness of scandals perpetrated by him and his people is astounding. We had a chance to get rid of him last year -- and either we failed, or couldn't stop a well-disguised theft.

The media is completely asleep, unless there is a story about a missing white woman, a famous person's trial, or sharks. Worse yet, there are still a sizable number of people out there who believe that Shrub is the best person to keep us safe, and very few people really understand what is truly going on. And don't even get me started with the wacky religiosity that is taking over.

So here's my question -- what makes people honestly think that things will change?? We keep hearing stories, thinking that they will be the smoking gun that finally wakes people up, and it NEVER happens. I'm not trying to be a pessimist, I just want to know why people think that the good guys will eventually prevail.

[NoodleBoy]

1. because giving up is not an option

[slackmaster]

2. Eating lots of hot chile peppers

And washing them down with beer.

:beer:

[kliljedahl]

14. HERE HERE!!!

That's the ticket.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Tux]

3. Simple

Do we let democracy die or do we fight to protect what so many died for? Easy as that.

[bryant69]

4. '98 Camry

And the Gorillaz.

And because of what the guy above said. What else is there? In a choice between hope and no hope, I take hope.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Kurovski]

5. I love the ideas and principles America was founded upon

And one day we may achieve our promise.

I think this has been what's driven Americans from the beginning.

But the most important thing is that in a Democracy, it is our responsibility. A responsibility for each and everyone of us to keep watch on our government and hold it accountable.

[Justitia]

9. I'm w/you. But today, it's mostly masochism - ugh. -eom

[Kurovski]

23. Hehehe . It sure is painful.

When I think of all the parts of my life I've put aside over the past five years to regain some form of rational governance, well, I don't beat up on myself.

I direct it toward the culprits. Is that sadism? Not exactly to the level of a George W Bush mocking a woman he himself put to death, as in the case of Karla Faye Tucker. But I'm happy to think that justice might be served sooner than later, American history notwithstanding.

As your post implies, a little humor goes a long way. :-)

[doublethink]

6. Was it over when the Germans bombed Perl Harbor?

:rofl: sorry but I just love that line from Animal House, Belushi. Peace. :)

[shraby]

12. I owe it to my father who fought

at the Battle of the Bulge, my grandfather who fought in WWI, and all the rest of my ancestors back to the ones who settled in this country in 1662...kind of a family tradition, ya see?

[Blue_In_AK]

7. What's the alternative? Giving up?

I will NEVER give up.

[libertypirate]

8. If I stop then I must accept failure...

[knowbody0]

10. im an irish indian

it is in my blood

[BigBearJohn]

11. Because I was once read a book called "The Little Engine that Could"

[BigBearJohn]

17. WE ARE ALMOST AT 300,000 SIGNATURES -- THAT'S WHY!

[OKNancy]

13. Because I lived through Nixon and Vietnam

Along with the killing of JFK, RFK and MLK, and the riots and demonstrations and the Chicago Democratic Convention and on and on.

We will have an election in 2006 and the Democrats will make gains, I have no doubts. In 2008, if we play things right, it will be a victory for us then too.

[Career Prole]

15. I've got kids and grandkids.

Even if it kills me I'm not leaving the country in this kind of bullshit mess for them.

[tallahasseedem]

16. My children's lives.

Plain and simple.

[AuntiBush]

18. First off, it "was" a well-disguised theft (Elections 2000 & 2004)

So, what drives me, huh... let me count the ways (on note, I'll certainly leave a lot out w/this gang in power):

My DISDAIN For Republicans because they stand for...

LIARS, LIES & PROPAGANDA
Hypocrisy, Hypocrites
No Tolerance for any other human being if they act, feel, think, dream, love, look differently!
Prejudicial Beliefs
Total destruction of Constitution & Bill of Rights
Total destruction of everything our country was founded on.
Total irresponsibility for our own and future generations.
False/Fake Christians. Talk about using the Lord's name in vain, well.
Halliburton
Enron
Bechtel
Lockheed Martin
Bethlehem Steel (did not really go out of business last year, no they're worth at least 10 billion bucks here in the US of A).
GE
CNN
ABC
NBC
PNAC
Robbing Americans blind!
Brainwashing our children and pitting American against American.

Heritage Foundation and all their sister companies.
War always occurs under all Republican Presidents!
Wars that Republicans "profit" from while our men and women die believing their fighting for honor and justice, sadly, sadly so!

Republicans are the worst ever! Bushies hate FDR America because FDR took grand pappy Prescott and great-grand pappy out of business! They profited from Nazi Germany! Google it if you don't believe this historian college student!

Always corruption (like Nixon!), and who killed JFK?? BFEE Sr. had inside info after all he was the CIA big guy I mean come on.

Oh the list is certainly bigger. Anyone wanna add to this?

So, I hate Republicans and everything they stand for and that's what drives me "and" my love for the my country that was absolutely great till November 2000! Actually, it all began under Reagan and we just didn't see it coming.

Shew! :rant:

[Pockets]

19. About every Repug I've spoken too...

...has totally lost hope in government.

They literally say "ALL politicians are crooks" and those are the ones who vote republican. I guess they figure they will destroy government by voting republican.

So when people lose hope, that's when we end up with incompetent leaders.

We must spread hope, and spread optimism so people will get up in the morning to vote, and do whatever it takes to get the job done.

[kansasblue]

20. justice!

[annabanana]

21. It's my duty.. It's my job.

This is what a citizen of the United States of America does. We have to take responsibility for what this country does in our name. When they dishonor and disown the Constitution of the United States, they become my enemy.

[cally]

22. because others have persevered and won

I look at the lives of Martin Luther King, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and all the lesser known heroes. They had a dream while facing daunting challenges that I don't face. If they can have hope and see a better America then I must. I see today as my generations (and all the rest of you living today) challenge. It's my turn to fight for my country. I either hope and work or give up hope. I refuse to let them win without a fight.

[Mist]

24. I don't know if this is "optimism" exactly, but I'm familiar w/the

cycles of history. Something rotten that's eating itself up cannot last.

[Beam Me Up]

25. WE are to write the HISTORY of the American Revolution!

From a recent speech by Bill Moyers: http://www.ourfuture.org/projects/national_conference/2005/index.cfm

<snip> ...But I want to say, they're back, my friends. They're back in full force with a lock on all the three branches of government and most of the media and their goal is to take America back – back to their private garden of Eden in the first Gilded Age, when the strong took what they wanted and the weak suffer what they want. Look no further than today's news. Donaldson is out at the SEC. He was trying too hard to look out for the interests of shareholders in the public, so the president's big donors, the captains of industry and finance who manipulated the first Gilded Age cashed in their IOU's and Donaldson is out, replaced by a right wing Congressman who takes a dim view of shareholder suits and supports eliminating the estate tax, the dividend tax, and other taxes on the idle rich. Once again, they've sold the chicken coop to the fox.

So what do you do? What do you do? Well, progressives have to be like the Irishman who was walking down the street and saw a brawl and said, is this a private fight or can anybody get in it? Well, you've got to go home and jump in. You've got to tell the truth about the other side. You've got to fight the corruption of the system. But don't stop with reporting how bad they are. It's not enough to say how bad they are. Show us a new vision of globalization with a conscience. Stand up for working and middle class people and those in the middle and those who can't stand alone. Don't be cowed, intimidated, or frightened. You may be on the losing side of the moment, but you're on the right side and winning side of history.

And I remind you, history could come tomorrow. Have some fun while you fight. Americans are more likely to join the party that enjoys a party. Come to think of it, go out there and argue that working people should have more time off from the endless hours of tedious work that devours the soul and the long commutes that devastate families and community.

And one last bit of advice, don't forget your homework. I'm giving you some summer reading as it used to be said. My book next week comes out, as Bob says. But, more important than my book, I want you to read this book. It comes out in late July. It's called Thomas Paine and the Promise of America by a historian at the University of Wisconsin named Harvey J. Kaye. Thomas Paine was the journalist of the American revolution who called forth the better angels of our nature, who imbued us with our democratic impulse, and articulated our American identity with exceptional purpose and promise. It was Tom Paine who argued that America would afford an asylum for mankind, provide a model to the world, and support the global advance of republican democracy. This is tonic for flagging spirits facing great odds, for it is Thomas Paine who insists that it is too soon to write the history of the revolution. You, you, you, and you, and you, and you, and you Patty, and you, you're going to write the history of the revolution, and that is what's at stake.

Thank you.

[firefox]

26. What else is more important? nt