Instead of bitching and moaning about the DLC

[quaoar]

Why not form a separate group -- a progressive group -- to exert influence on the party?

That's how politics works, after all.

We can gripe about Democratic officeholders who don't do what we like, but until a progressive version of the DLC is organized, they won't listen.

Let's face it. In politics, money and numbers count. And everything else is background noise.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I'd just as soon work on the grassroots reform of the system

------------------------------------------------------
Election reform can help save this country!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[cheezus]

2. how are those things mutually exclusive?

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Oh they aren't, but I've got no money to give to groups, even if they

are excellent. I only have time and energy. :^)

------------------------------------------------------
Election reform can help save this country!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[xultar]

3. Isn't that what Democracy for America is? Dean's group?? n/t

[janx]

4. Um...Where have you been?

Democracy for American was formed last May! ;-)

http://www.democracyforamerica.com

[Q]

5. That's not how politics work in a two party system of government...

...and one of your intelligence should know that.

We have limited options. Those of us who have voted Democratic all of our lives will do our best to give it one more shot to reform the Democratic party from within. We have until 2008 to try to bring our party back to sanity.

[quaoar]

7. Sure it is

The DLC is a perfect example. On the Republican side, there is the Christian Coalition.

Organizations that form to generate support for different approaches or different policies.

[Q]

13. Well...we might as well get started...

...because it should be obvious by now that we've been sold a bill of goods that never materialized.

We DO need some kind of an organization to counter the DLC and the ineffective leadership...but I've been a Democrat for so long I don't know where to go at this point.

[quaoar]

21. I wasn't suggesting

that we get out of the Democratic Party. The DLC works within the party.

[madfloridian]

6. DFA is one.

Ever heard of it?

[quaoar]

8. Indeed

I contribute to it. Does that mean there is no room for any other organization?

[madfloridian]

17. Who said that?

I never said that. You must not read my posts.

[quaoar]

22. No.

That last part was a reply to comments made by others.

[Radical Activist]

16. DFA supports moderates too

Like Salazar who joined the DLC. If you want a group designed to just support progressives, that isn't it.

[fnottr]

9. Another vote for DFA here

What DFA is trying to do in the political off season, is start to take control of the party infrastructure at the bottom level - the precints and wards. This Christian Colition and their predicessors did this to the Republican party in the 80s and early 90s, and by 94 saw great success. What DFA wants to do is install motivated outspoken people to the lower levels of the party, and hopefully turn the party as a whole into a vehicle for progressive change in a few years.

[Bouncy Ball]

12. BINGO!

That is EXACTLY how the religious right did it. They network so extensively on a local level it is fucking ridiculous.

That's exactly what DFA is doing. And hoorah for them. I'm one of them now.

[fnottr]

18. I just went to my first meetup last night

and this was the main focus of the meeting, getting people to precint and ward meetings and getting them elected to the head of them. Around here a lot of the local leaders have been doing it for a long time and had gotten tired, we're trying to put some fresh blood in the system. This is how we will get a party that actually represents us.

[Bouncy Ball]

11. I just joined Democracy for America

and gave them a donation, and RSVPed to the next meetup for it near me, and wrote the organizer of that group an email to ask what I can do to help AND registered to attend Democracy Fest '05 in Austin in June.

DFA is now set as my home page.

I plan on being there more than here. They are progressive. They are populist. They are grassroots. THEY GET IT.

[Q]

14. I also just joined...

...no time like the present. I'll study the group and find out what they're all about.

[Radical Activist]

15. Like the Progressive Caucus

It's actually devoted to moving the party left during and after elections.

[RetroLounge]

20. Good. As they should

otherwise it's just more DLC Repug-lite bullshit.

RL

[DireStrike]

19. PDA - Progressive Democrats of America

http://www.pdamerica.org/

[Eric J in MN]

25. Yes, that was my reaction, too (nt)

nt

[IndianaGreen]

23. We are way past the time for "reform from within"

There is too much corruption, money, and greed for power to overcome with simple reforms. It is time for a permanent divorce between the Democratic progressives and the opportunists represented by organizations such as the current DLC.

Perhaps we need an American version of the UK's Liberal Democrats.

[desi826]

24. I think we're not looking at this right

1) This is the Dem Party's LAST chance to reform themselves.
They are under attack from the left and the right AND for the first time, the middle.
I have never heard blacks or Latinos talk so much of joining the Green Party than after this election.
Becuase of the Dems lack of leadership, this is the first time a minor party could gain MASSIVE new recruits, taking the two largest minorities away from the Dem, as well as their precious "swing voters" which, combined with the vote fraud they insist on remaining inactive about, they will, very methodically be voted out of office.
If they don't care about their OWN votes, what are WE supposed to do about it?

2)Bush wants a one party Congress.
They have the complete cooperation of the MSM now,(they are just as criminal as the behavior of the Ohio election board is) so why not give it to them?
Or, at the very least, why not let the DLC destroy themselves out of Congress? That's where they are headed anyway and while they are doing that, we could be grooming REAL progressive Dems who are not afraid of Repubs and are anti-DLC.
Once enough are gone(and between the institutionalized vote fraud now established with this election, I fully expect another 15 Dems "retired" by 2008) we can run our candidates against them in the primaries, win, and beat the shit out of the Repubs.

All I know is that the Dems are in very serious trouble, and they have NO clue about it because they are so out of touch with their base.
That means whether we like it or not, they are goners.
We should plan for it, and be ready when it happens.
Des

P.S.
The Dems should file criminal charges against Kenneth Blackwell for his multiple violations of Ohio Election law, as well as Warren County officials for their illegal shutdown of the election office after the polls closed becuase the FBI told them to(which the FBI denies doing).
But they won't, and the vote fraud will go on.
People will stop if they think they might go to jail over this. They'll never stop if they are openly doing it right in front of your face and you sit there and do nothing.