To the Democratic base: Get rid of the marionettes.

[democrank]

We can go on like this accepting the pitiful marionettes the DLC/DNC have trotted out the last few years or we can stiffen our spines and demand the winds of change blow through our party leadership. No true Democrat (those willing to stand for time-honored basic values) can abide our party being hijacked by the corporate interests of our malleable leaders.

The first thing we have to do is grab hold of the dialogue and define ourselves through the issues we care about. Right now we spend lots of time reacting....to Fox "News", or a foolish CNN poll or Chris Matthews`yo-yo views on the invasion of Iraq. One of the best things we could do is collectively agree that we`re done with these echo chambers, done and on to something constructive. What possible good can come out of tuning in every night to some Embed deep in the safety of the "Green Zone" to find out what`s really happening in Iraq? Like a $4,000,000 annual salary, a case of bullet proof vests, a limo and corporate restrictions are going to help Dan Rather bring the truth to his viewers. I personally couldn`t care less about Peter Jennings` intimate chat with a rabid General conditioned to spew military doctrine.

We handed over the soul of our party to "leaders" ill suited for the job. Day after day after day they line up for Bush`s roll call with a shallow Count-Me-In vote or statement. Gone are the inspiring orators with populist messages. Gone are the votes of conscience. Instead we have a collection of Gumby dolls willing to bend here and bend there as long as they can stay in power. Once in a great while a lone voice breaks through so we jump on that bandwagon with 20 posts titled How About So-and-So in `08? No. How about a real Democrat in `08? Maybe one who is brave enough to speak the truth and honor what we used to stand for.

Now we`re into this Red State vs. Blue State thing. No one in Wyoming lost their health insurance? This is what I`m talking about. Let`s not fall for the media`s phony ratings-inspired hoopla. Let`s be courageous and reclaim basic Democratic values with less thought to winning and more emphasis on principle. The winning will come, but not with any help from television personalities. Don`t believe me? Take a look at what`s happening with anti-war Dean. The fats cats in our party....the ones fighting for corporate interests instead of the people`s interest, are starting to look a bit stunned. That should be our message to these shallow "leaders".....PACK YOUR BAGS.

[rucky]

1. Dems: Just be sincere & Quit strategizing so much.

why does it have to be so complicated?

to quote a very wise man:

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

[orpupilofnature57]

2. I truly believe it's the word " progressive" , not only ambiguous,it..

Neutralizes the vim of the democratic message.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

3. You hit it dead on

"Instead we have a collection of Gumby dolls willing to bend here and bend there as long as they can stay in power."

The single biggest concern of the Democrats right now seems to be how they can position themselves so that they too can be viewed as part the "God Squad" in the next election. If that is all we have going for us to pull America back from the brink of destruction the future is looking real grim.

Support Ward Churchill's position paper. At least one intellectual had the balls to point out the pink elephant in the living room and will probably pay dearly for doing such. These are just the times we live in.

[flyarm]

4. thank you democrank!!

well stated..we should not be in total excitement of barbara boxer and the few with cajones..that should be the norm! its like we have become the wimps the same as the wimps who are supposed to be representing our values and principles..we give these representatives our hard earned money to run for office and we work for them and we do all the grunt work, and yet the majority get to washington and sell us out...this should not be accepted behavior..we should have them all running scared if they do not 100% support our values.
i wanted to throw up last night seeing lieberman kiss bush...i came close to punching a hole in a wall. why does he do it..why do we have zell millers in our party?? because we accept it, we have tolerated our values being crapped on..and until we stand up as one and say..no more..pack your bags and get the hell out..now...we will forever be the wanna be party.

we need to have the guts to cut the cords of those who do not stand up for what we believe in..we need to hold our checkbooks and do the work and research into the individuals we nominate in our home towns, all the way to washington.
we need to discuss each and every representative and debate about them..and we need to move to the top, those who stand up for us..without the constant dribble of "we are bashing them"...thats crap and thats what the repugs know keeps us divided..because while some may think it is constructive to not discuss people in our own party and to weed out the bad ones..we must discuss who we want to lead our party and our values and stand for our principles..or we will be like the dog chasing his own tail!

i guess because i am older now and i have a young man son..i see his idealism..but i also remember when we were the youth and we stood up to our government and we envoked change..we stopped a war, we saw a president removed..who was bad, but who pales to this criminal in this white house...but at that time we talked among ourselves..we talked on campuses..we gathered and we learned face to face with those who came back from war...
while i think this internet is wonderful in the speed we can get info..i think the young today are isolated in dorms and bedrooms..and they are with the internet alone...there is no screaming in the streets..because all are holed up on this machine...
i know the same youth is mad..but they are no longer sitting on the steps of their great halls discussing the problems and they are no longer in commuity centers sharing what they are learning and knowing who else is like minded..they are all sitting on this machine incognito..
i dont say this critisizing..not at all these are different times..but it will take longer to get the revolt i see coming..
i say this as a mother whos son just graduated college and i watched at the university no one getting together as our generation did...they didnt sit in the cafeteria for hours on end like we did discussing the state of our state...
of course now the kids are running from class to jobs..as it cost more now for that pigskin..
but we all need to get into our communities..to turn the machines off for awhile and educate ..you all are so knowledgeable..you have so much to give..but so many have no knowledge of whats really going on..we need all of you in communities telling people what you know..and standing up to our paid representitives..and make the demands when they come home and go to meetings.we need to hold all of them accountable..or remove them from office.
all the letters and emails and phone calls mean nothing in comparrison to standing up at a meeting with your reps and telling them they are not doing the job on your behalf, and that you are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!!

fly