Today is not a new feeling for the oldtimers here at DU...

[kentuck]

This is the feeling that got this site started in the beginning. There was anger and frustration that George W Bush had stolen an election down in Florida. He stole it fair and square was the mantra. Just like Arnold stole California, fair and square.

This is just another battle in the war. We are fighting a powerful opponent. I recall the feelings that many people harbored during the first year or so. There were times that some of us had Karmic Exercises to assist us in our battle. After one of the "exercises", Dubya swallowed a pretzel that almost killed him. So we have had our down days but we have had our good days also. And they will be back.

Let's be honest, we were all disappointed with the California results. We thought California would finally defeat this machine. But it was too powerful for even they to wrestle. But it proves one point: that we, including California, must stand together or we will surely hang separately.

So let's not dwell on yesterday except to put it in the proper perspective. We have a bigger battle to fight. We have had many bad times in the past. California is no exception. So get in line. Fall into formation. We are going to fight these bastards until there is not one of us to fight anymore. We will be victorious in the battle that is looming on the horizon. Be brave. Be courageous. Speak up and challenge their fascism at every opportunity.

[ewagner]

1. Agree Kentuck

Somebody else posted a release from the Dean Campaign this morning which I think should be a message and strategy for all of us.

In paraphrase, it said that the voters took out their anger and frustrations over the economy and jobs on Davis and Arnold just took advantage of that anger. Further, he cited a nationwide anger over the general state of affairs nation-wide and urged the voters to take out their anger on the BIG INCUMBENT, GEORGE W. BUSH.

I think we need to direct both our anger and strategy to where it will do the most good.

I wasn't around here for the 2000 or 2002 elections. At that time I was spending about 12-13 hours a day on the road. I say that because I pay particular attention (and give great credence) to the posts of the "old timers". There is some battle hardened wisdom there that I have come to appreciate.

[diplomats]

3. Dean makes a great point

We need to keep our eyes on the prize!

[bearfartinthewoods]

12. wow, imagine...me agreeing with Dean...

amazing what arnie can do...:evil grin:

[PopSixSquish]

2. Amen Brother!!!

I had hoped that California would be the first to stand against this, but twas not to be.

Where do we go from here? Personally, I like to see DU get back to what I believe the site was created to do. How to get Democrats and Progressives elected. How do we counter the media? How do we get our candidates to fight back?

Both the Dean and Clark campaigns have proven that the internet and grassroots organizations are powerful tools. There is a great source of energy in this land and we must harness it.

And to all of our fellow California DU'rs who worked so hard to defeat this recall, I say Bravo! You harken back to those who started this great experiment called the United States. God bless you all.

[ignatius]

4. Yep, but it IS getting old. I hope and pray that after the primaries,

we get a burst of the big MO and we all get together and work our collective asses off to get rid of the bastards in the BFEE.

[jobycom]

5. Oh, you did NOT

just say that Bush choking on a pretzel was good day, did you?! Dayaammmmmm!!

Damn, that's good!

Excellent post, Kentuck. You will now be known as Old Man Wisdom. :-)

And have a "good day."

[Desertrose]

I had hoped we wouldn't have THIS deja vu....

but you are right Kentuck....I remember day one on here...a liberal oasis in a desert of neocon rw insanity.....

I had hoped that perhaps the spell was beginning to weaken....we know what we have to do....stronger.....clearer ...BBV...grassroots human contact to counteract the spin......

"Never give up! Never surrender!" (hey "Galaxyquest" had its moments :)

perhaps this will fuel more false bravado in bushwa and they will make the final fatal mistake.....sooner or later so many lies will be their undoing....

Peace
DR

[bring_em_home_bush]

6. ~

The great thing about democracy is that it gives every voter a chance to do something stupid.
Art Spander

[jmcgowanjm]

7. #1-Democratic "leadership" must be replaced

right now the Dems are the leftwing of the
Republican Party.

#2- Does anyone think that USsoldiers will
be pulled out of Iraq if Dem elected
Prez?

#3-I want the carpenter who was quick
enough to grab/shoot fire extinguisher
at Roy Horn's tiger to get him loose.

This is the guy I want for Commander
in Chief.

[MrBenchley]

8. Great post!!

Also remember that Ah-nuld, like Chimpy before him, had to pretend to be liberal to get what he did...

[Tinoire]

9. So right... And the Storm Troopers are back

working on the White House... I shall NOT sit by idly nor shall I go quietly.

We must stand together or we will surely hang separately.

But we must stand for our principals and for our Democratic, Progressive candidates. Hell will freeze over before enough Centrists and Repulbicans vote for the DLC version of a Republican and Progressives and Liberals will keep abandoning the base.

Things fall apart
The center cannot hold!

[remfan]

10. Amen, kentuck...I'm ready to move on to Traitor White House!

I believe they're "fair game". ;-)

[KoKo]

11. I woke up to Kucinich on C-Span..and my day is bright! I didn't watch the

CA, coverage last night in the media or here in GD Forum. I went to the Lounge and looked for non-political posts like AR Walden's "Old Spice......Aqua Velva," then I moved over to Meeting Room and checked out some Astrology links and then went to Editorial Forum and read some articles I had missed. Then I went to bed.

I had no idea what happened in CA until this morning. And, that was from headlines in my morning paper. I turned on C-Span and there was Dennis Kuchinch, talking about what Bush has done, how he has caused this terrible debt because he couldn't wait to invade Iraq, and how the country hadn't healed from the 9/11 attacks and Bush didn't allow us time to heal because he had to start wars. (I'm being very simplistic in my loose quotes of Kucinich)

What was surprising to me, is that not having seen him speak, except in the debates is how calm a person he is. How well he expresses himself and how what he believes shines through when he speaks. He answered the call-in's questions with responses that made sense....that explained the situation we Dems find ourselves in so rationally, I can't imagine any listeners who didn't say to themselves "hey, who is this guy? He's making so much sense!"

I know that Kucinich doesn't have a chance in hell of making it as the final nominee. And, frankly, when he declared I thought he was the weirdest looking candidate, and I didn't even bother to listen to what he was trying to say. As the debates when on, I watched him get better, and saw the sincerity shining through when he speaks. I hope he stays in for awhile longer. He is a breath of fresh air. And he started my day happy!

We have some good candidates. We don't have "Aunold" and I'm glad we don't. Those who are looking for a Celebrity or
a tough guy Macho Imagine will still think that's the way to beat Bush. I think better ideas are the way to beat bush.
I'm going to stick with the ideas.....over the macho.

So, I'm not so freaked about California. Because I didn't have high hopes there when I saw the free air time the cables gave him. I knew he would win. But, he may have won nothing, in the end. I think more will sort out from this. And, maybe some folks are going to start to wake up to the Media Control in time to do something before 2004.

It's a hope.

[kentuck]

14. I agree KoKo01 that we don't need a "macho" image to beat Bush..

It is our ideas that will reach the people. And ideas grow stronger as people's conditions worsen, economically and psychologically...

[edzontar]

13. Fight Fascism

That should be our one and only goal.

[waywest]

15. Thanks, Kentuck !

You have helped me to put this in perspective and get on with the fight.

[prolesunited]

16. Thank you as always for your perspective

An appropriate quote for the day:

The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.
— Robert Green Ingersoll

[Cha]

17. I think Dean said it best...

"Today's recall election in California was not about Gray Davis or Arnold Schwarzenegger. This recall was about the frustration so many people are feeling about the way things are going. All across America, George Bush's massive tax cuts for the wealthy are undermining state budgets, causing cutbacks in services and increases in local property taxes. Were recalls held in every state, it's quite possible that 50 governors would find themselves paying the price for one president's ruinous national economic policies. Tonight the voters in California directed their frustration with the country's direction on their incumbent governor. Come next November, that anger might be directed at a different incumbent...in the White House."

[absolutezero]

18. please God, let dean be right n/t