Just curious...about politicians

[gtp1976]

The general "gist" I get is that no one here trusts any politicians. They are all owned by the powers that put them there. I do not necessarily disagree.

If this is the case, though, what makes any of them better or worse than any of the others?

Don't get me wrong, I am not questioning the ideology of DU or even the Democratic Party, but if the Democratic Party is represented in Congress by politicians we don't trust, then doesn't it somewhat seem like an exercise in futility?

[WindRavenX]

1. I think...

I can only speak for myself, but old skool Democrats (Kennedy for example) stand up for what's right for the people- NOT for big Oil, big Pharma, and other special interest groups that would sell out American ideals for a profit.
I trust guys like Clinton, Kennedy, Kerry, Boxer, to stand up for the rights of the MIDDLE and LOWER class and those who are NOT white, christian men.

[CubsFan1982]

3. I don't think I could've put it any better.

I've often summed up the Democratic Party as a voice for the voiceless, a power for the powerless. You can trace it back to FDR, Truman, Stevenson, JFK, LBJ, Humphrey, Rayburn, RFK, Teddy, too many more than I can name. The Democrats have always been the party of the people, and the Republicans have always been the party of the special interests, and that's the way it will always be.

[gtp1976]

4. Clinton...a perfect example.

Didn't he betray a lot of Democrats with his welfare reform and his move to the center? (The era of big government speech)

That's kind of what I'm saying. I am a registered and proud Democrat. However, doesn't it ever seem like a losing battle?

[WindRavenX]

5. I don't know

Certainly Clinton was much more moderate than, say, Kerry or even Edwards on social issues (Kerry was one of 3 senators to vote AGAINST Clinton's DoM act), however, I see Clinton continuing the proud Democratic tradition of empowering the middle and lower classes ECONOMICALLY- which IMO is JUST as important as social issues.

[punpirate]

2. Most people...

... live in hope that their politicians will do the right thing. Many could, if they weren't attentive to big money interests. Right now, it's reached the point, as Stephen Labaton said in the NY Times today, that any deviation from the big business/conservative point of view on the part of a politician is cause for celebration (he uses Boxer's comments to Rice as an example).

I suppose it's a matter of keeping people in touch, getting people to try to sway their representatives, that keeps it from being an exercise in futility--democracy is one of those things you lose if you don't use it.

Cheers.

[Goldeneye]

6. I trust most of the democrats,

because they call themselves democrats. Well not exactly that simple, but my logic is like this: if they wanted to screw everyone they could take the easy road and be republicans. If you listened to the dems and pubs on 1-06-05, you know there is a difference, and its no little difference. The democrats are really the defenders of democracy.

I still keep my eye on how they vote and I am not at all opposed to bitching if they do stupid things. But at the end of the day if they have a fairly good voting record, especially on the environment, I am going to support them. We are in a tough spot right now and we need to stick together when possible.

*Stupid Lieberman and that damn zell are the exceptions. If any dem votes for SS privatization their on my shit list too. No real democrat could support something so detrimental to the middle and lower classes.

[KitchenWitch]

7. My sig line says it all

I would like to trust my elected officials to keep the interests of people in mind over corporations, but as of late, many politicians are shilling for the corporate interests (fewer democrats than republicans are in this category - which is why I am a democrat)

[Radical Activist]

8. I believe what RFK Jr. said

95% of the Republican Party is corrupt and 75% of the Democratic Party is corrupt by corporate money. When I find a Democrat in that good 25% I do anything I can to help him/her.