Is DU Letting Barbara Boxer down? Answer ????

[moggie12]

Before January 6th, DU was full of hysterical posts about getting a Senator to "stand up". When one actually did (much to my amazement...), DU still wasn't happy. True, the outcome wasn't what many on DU were hoping for, but wasn't it still phenomenal that Barbara Boxer signed the letter? That took guts!! (And nobody seems to care, but 10 other Democratic Senators stood up too, adding their voices to her call for election reform.)

I just don't get this tendency on DU to see the glass as half-empty. I assumed Barbara Boxer would be seen as a hero on DU and that everybody here would be falling all over themselves, rushing to do everything they could to support her. There were several posts early on focused on supporting her, but they've since sunk to screen 7 on most discussion categories, buried under an avalanche of internecine squabbling ("Clark sucks, no he doesn't"; DLC candidates suck, no they don't", etc. etc, blah, blah, blah, blah....) It seems to me that 90%+ of the DU posts in the past two days have been about things other than Barbara Boxer.

Here's what I think: I think if we allow Barbara Boxer to be marginalized by the GOP and Fox News, progressivism in this country is dead. I think if we don't stand up for Barbara Boxer and lift her up as the hero she is -- and do everything we can to support her -- then we have no one to blame but ourselves for continued domination by the GOP. I think if we don't help Barbara Boxer and the Democrats in Congress achieve true election reform, then this country is going to hell in a handbasket and NOTHING ELSE YOU SPEND YOUR TIME ON IS GOING TO MATTER.

As I mentioned above, several DUers spent time posting information about how to support Barbara Boxer. I went through the DU pages and posted a message late last night containing a link to every such post I could find. In case you missed it, I'm putting it here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1478105&mesg_id=1478105

So here's a question: Please take a look at the links on my post. Have you done one or more of the things suggested on some of these? (e.g., write e-mails/letters to the media supporting election reform, send Barbara Boxer a postcard expressing your support, get involved in election reform efforts, etc.) If you haven't, in my personal opinion, you shouldn't be spending your time posting "Democrats suck" crap on DU. If you have, however, then by all means, go ahead, vent away...

Someone wrote an interesting response to my post that I ask you to think about. He basically said there are so many issues out there to focus on, the power of the liberal "blogosphere" gets diffused. If attention could be be focused on one issue at a time, however, the liberal blogosphere would be much more effective. My suggestion is this: How about we focus all our efforts on election reform over the next week, doing as many of the things suggested by DUers as we can find time in our busy schedules to do?

One last thought and then I'll get off my soapbox and shut up: "Progressives" begged Barbara Boxer to stand up and do the right thing. She did. No other politician is ever going to listen to progressives again if you don't support her. They will see that progressives are all words and no action, that they urge people to take courageous stands but then let them down when they don't get the pie-in-the-sky outcome they were hoping for.

And with that I will, as promised, shut up.

[Osamasux]

1. I think a lot more of her now than I did before.

I think a lot of us do. That is permanent and she'll always have more backing now than she did before. The only thank you I faxed was to a local congressman who was one of the 31 to stand up and be counted.

[Liberty Belle]

12. Heroines of Democracy--see the new website!

For starters:

http://www.voterr.org/boxertubbs.html

[moggie12]

14. That is great!! The recognition is deeply deserved..n/t

[Liberty Belle]

18. My colleagues at VOTERR set this up.

Voices for Open and Truthful Election Results & Reform, a San Diego based grassroots organization. VOTERR is the group that has been organizing all the Donna Frye rallies.

Good news, by the way, for those who haven't heard. A legal challenge was filed this week asking for Donna's 5,427 disputed ballots to be counted. These are the ballots with her name written in, but bubbles left blank. If they are counted, she wins by over 3,000 votes.

Miriam

[moggie12]

20. Good luck..

Good luck on Frye challenge...

There's a DU poster named "arnheim" that is trying to organize a grassroots movement -- his posts are one of those linked here in my post. I'm going to point him to your post -- your "Voices" group sounds akin to something he's trying to do.

[SemperEadem]

2. Having had the honor of being one of her constituents

I've always supported Barbara Boxer. During the 13 years I lived in LA, each time she was up for election, it was a no-brainer--I was voiting Boxer. Feinstein gave me pause in my consideration, but Boxer never did.

I watched her on C-SPAN during the senate debates about the Iraq war and hearing her speak so passionately about how wrong this war was made me so proud that this woman was there fighting for me and saying what I couldn't say to the lunkheads across the aisle.

My appreciation for this true American patriot grows every day. She is smart, articulate, knowledgable, brave and determined.

[knight_of_the_star]

4. Having the honour of being one of her constituents

I'll have to agree with you on that. I'm not so sure about Feinstein, but this past election Boxer was a no-brainer. Thankfully I haven't seen any serious bullshit levelled against her. If they try a recall on her, it won't be like with Davis, Boxer will knock the GOP pigs flat.

[ooglymoogly]

3. i think most people here are now big time supporters of

boxer and the fab 29 and the rebellion which we helped orchestrate; and i for one will never forget barbera boxer.

[senseandsensibility]

5. No!

My hubby (a fellow DUer) called Barbara's office on the sixth to thank her, and I just sent her an e-mail!! Woo-hoo, Barbara!! We're both proud and grateful constituents.

[cry baby]

6. I wrote her several times and asked for courage...

She came through! I find it incourging that it took 2 women, no offense to you courageous men here on DU, to stand up against the machine. Gutsy Ladies!!!!! Steel Magnolias, perhaps?

[proud patriot]

7. Well I've faxed a thank you , submitted a LTTE

and will continue to dedicate myself to
Election Reform . I hope I'm not letting
My Fabulous wonderful Senator down .

I will vollunteer for any action she needs
to help with election reform .

[noamnety]

8. Not everything we do is visible on the forum

I emailed and signed petitions beforehand, and afterwards sent an email thanking her, and letting me know that next time she runs, she'll be getting a contribution from me.

[wildflower]

15. Exactly...

There are many actions people take that they may not happen to mention on DU.

I faxed her a thank you shortly after the challenge and wrote to the media networks asking them to cover the story fairly and accurately on the evening news.

-wildflower

[jaime_176]

9. Yes, we should show our appreciation.

Probably most people are doing so, just not talking about it. I wrote her about 3 times, and yes, I told her she could count on me. I also wrote to Conyers and other Congresspersons. I wrote to my senators about not voting with her, and wrote to my Congress person thanking him, Rep. Olver, for voting yes. Then I wrote to all my local and state media about her stand for democracy and voting rights. Yes, our appreciation is very important. Of course, one of the times while I was thanking her, I did ask her not to confirm the Gonzales nomination. This is important, too. I do not have money, so I cannot donate at this time.

[moggie12]

16. You are great..

What you did was BETTER than donating money, so don't even give that a second thought. If everybody donates their valuable time to writing letters/emails to the media and politicians like you did, we'll be in great shape....

[Eloriel]

10. Support her?

Is she being attacked somewhere? If so, I haven't seen it.

As for calling her a hero and lauding her to the high heavens, I've seen plenty of that.

As for myself, I was more than disappointed. It was a non-event, barely making the broadcast news at all. Peter Jennings had one or maybe two sentences on near the end of his broadcast. I don't think Rather mentioned it at all -- if he did, it was quiet enough and short enough I missed it entirely.

Do you know WHY there was barely any mention on the news at all, no dust up, no traction much either in the media or politically and probably no damn traction legislatively either? Really, I'd like to know. Have you thoought about it at all?

It's because every single one of them went out of their way to NEUTER THEMSELVES and good before they ever lifted a finger to object. They made damn sure NO ONE felt the least bit threatened. They made damn sure there wasn't anything in the least objectionable (from the other side's POV) or controversial or even fucking newsworthy before they ever got there, and CERTAINLY went out of their way during nearly every minute they had the floor during their symbolic but utterly toothless little "protest." They just as well might have saved their breath and everyone's time, IMO. I see so little "good" tht it did -- not having made the news, even, in any substantive way, that it's just a yawn. Ho hum. Who the hell cares?

Historic? Well, maybe. But this one won't even merit a footnote in most of the history books. It was ... I'm sorry, a total waste of time.

And it's annoying, disappointing, disheartening and ENRAGING to me that our supposed "leaders" are so stupid, so willing to give away their power and bargaining/negotiating ability, so wimpish, so bootlicking, so spineless, so utterly defeated and defeatable, so willing to give away the store rather than take a cross word or cross look from the other side of the aisle or, god forbid, perchance a little strong reporting that they couldn't do better than to neuter their damn selves before they even arrived.
'
For the life of me, I just don't understand why they all don't just go home and sit it all out. They are almost no more use than that.

And the other thing I found utterly depressing -- I mean it really nearly destroyed me -- was to hear so many of the commnets from our good Dems continuing to be utterly and completely clueless. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones suggesting perhaps more early voting is an answer. Early voting scares the bejeesus out of me because it can so easily give people who want to throw an election just the kind of information they need about how the votes are running. It's also awful damn easy to "lose" those votes, in one way or another.

Then there was Debbie Stabenow saying we need to spend more HAVA money on these new machines. I nearly tore my hair out hearing that. Dear GOD what can we do to get these people's attention? Even Hillary Clinton -- at least she was complaining that the Dems couldn't get their voting reform legislation to even have hearings, BUT it's not like her damn bill was any damn good. I was just as glad HER bill didn't go anywhere.

I almost can't take any more, and I mean that. You can't reach them -- literally can't reach them, can't get heard, and even when you do, they don't fucking get it. I don't even think Conyers fully gets it. But even if he does, and Maxine Waters too, they're only 2 people. After all this time and effort, we barely have 2 people who MAYBE get it. What's the fucking point?

Yeah, yeah. Hooray for Barbara Boxer. She and some people here think she did good. Too little, too late, which is about the best the Dems can do for years now, and most of the time they can't even do that well.

So YOU support her. I'm tired. And if I can find any energy, it'll be spent trying to figure out how to reach these deaf, blind, dumb but probably very nice and always oh-so-earnest, utterly worthless people.

:puke:

[moggie12]

21. No, not saying that, I just don't write as well as I wish I did

I didn't mean to imply Senator Boxer was being attacked by progressives and/or Democrats. I was trying to say that even if many DUers think that what they Democrats did on Jan 6th was lame, they should still work hard to keep the election reform issue alive. (I'm one who didn't think there was proof of fraud to justify all the Democrats voting against certification, so this colors my thinking -- please don't hate me.)

As I read your reply, I can see why you're so frustrated. It's true the Dems didn't make even a blip on the radar screen. I still think, though, that we can "win" on election reform -- if the Dems play it right and engage in an all-out media effort I think they can force the Republicans to act (e.g., Republicans won't want to vote "in favor" of people having to stand on line for four hours to vote).

You depressed the heck out of me with your other astute comments though (for example, even Tubb-Jones advocating early voting). I have to admit that I had no idea until after the election how complicated voting issues are. It's a cruel joke that the 2000 fiasco resulted in more localities buying "paperless" electronic machines that only make the voting integrity problem 10 times worse. And Stabenow wants more!! You're right -- talk about an uphill battle.... Since you've apparently been waging it for quite a while, I admire your resilience in still wanting to try to reach the "deaf, dumb, blind" people.

One question: In your opinion, which is the best source of reliable information on these topics? "VerifiedVoter" or is there something better?? Thanks for your reply to my post and for any info you can steer me too -- I need to better educate myself on these issues.

[wildeyed]

11. I am deeply grateful for what Boxer did.

I don't like the petty squabbling, either, so I largely ignore the threads where it goes on. Dems may or may not suck, but they are the only hope right now. I choose to bite my tongue and work for change from the inside. Besides, having never held public office, I don't know much about what it actually takes to win and hold public office. So I try to cut some slack, too.

Thanks for the reminder to support Boxer, I haven't been doing enough.

My suggestion for voting reform, promote same day voter registration. I live in a 'red' state, but ironically, the Governor is a dem and both state houses are dem controlled. So I think if the grassroots works hard in my state, we can get this reform through! I am collecting petition signatures already. Also, I think this reform could have a big impact on the prez race in 2008. Voter turnout is significantly higher with this system, mostly helping the young and historically disenfranchised voters. Gotta focus now on winning in 2008!

Here is a link for more info http://www.demos-usa.org/page18.cfm

[Liberty Belle]

13. Heroines of Democracy webpage--a tribute to Boxer & Tubbs-Jones!

http://www.voterr.org/boxertubbs.htm

[sarahlee]

17. I don't think so.

And not just at DU, but everywhere i've been on my Internet travels.

I sent orange roses to Boxer, Conyers and Tubbs-Jones immediately (and believe me, I could not afford that)and am writing handwritten notes of thanks to all of the reps who voted for us and democracy.

Does that mean I am pleased with the other Dem Reps or Dem Senators who did not stand with these Americans? Nope. I have every right to continue letting those others know how I feel about that as well.

Last night at Daily Kos, I found a diary, "Those who stood for justice, Jan. 6" ; http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/7/12258/32457

Sorry, but there are not near enough faces in there for me when the right to vote and have your vote counted is essential to democracy. But I certainly have (and have expressed) gratitude for every single one that is there.

[Liberty Belle]

19. Maybe you should send dead flowers to the ones who voted for the electors,

and didn't even bother to speak up for Democracy. Actually, you'd have to deliver them to their local offices, I think, because the anthrax scare means anything delivered to DC offices get nuked first.

[Leilani]

22. If DU was the Catholic Church

she'd be up for Sainthood.

I think it's a little over the top.

[cally]

23. I attended a local (in CA) Dem meeting today.

Everyone was buzzing with how much we support Boxer. We passed a resolution supporting her and will write letters to local papers in support. She has asked for letters of support sent to CA media.

[moggie12]

24. Does she want letters from Californians only?

Would letters from out-of-staters to California newspapers help, or does she want just letters from California residents?

[cally]

25. I don't know

I think any letters help. She would probably appreciate letters of support published in other states or the major 'national' newspapers.

[moggie12]

26. Aha!! Great idea. Why didn't I think of that (slaps head)

I've been trying to get everybody on DU to focus on Boxer and election reform. Maybe tomorrow I'll post a request to DUers who haven't already written letters of support to newspapers -- ask them to write letters to their local paper. I've seen a site that provides links to all the major newspapers -- will try to find it.

What do you think? Have you seen this request on DU before? (I donlt want to duplicate something that's already been done)

[kerrygoddess]

27. Boxer and Jones Deserve Credit, Not Scorn

The Boston Globe says "fix the problems"... "Boxer, Jones deserve credit, not scorn for advancing a cause fundamental to the union."

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=195