We have to reach across the aisle...

[dave123williams]

I've noticed recently that Bush's numbers are now just reflecting his religious right base; he's totally lost centrist Republicans.

I know; I used to be one. Now, I'm a registered independent, and wouldn't vote for those bastards if there was a gun to my head. My family's been GOP since it existed, and I won't have anything to do with that party, ever again. They've permanently lost my vote.

Maybe it was how they used a national tragedy to make a naked power-grab, while loudly telling everyone in earshot how moral they were.

Maybe that's what really pissed me off.

They're totally corrupted, and there's a lot of Republicans that feel that the party's been taken over by a bunch of zealot, religious nutjobs. I think it's all about greed; greed for money, and a pathological will-to-power at any cost.

Cloak that agenda in the flag and loudly thump on a bible while you're gouging the country a gallon at a time, and you've got the current state of the party.

But here's what you don't see if you're in to the GOP's talking points: they're weak and prone to failure, people are begining to recognize just how their arrogance is translating in to really, REALLY bad policy, and that spells opportunity for us:

2006 is right around the corner, Bush's coat-tails are shrinking daily (quack, quack, quack - oh, look; it's a lame-duck) and we need a cohesive and progressive answer to these lunatics, to take back the Congress and maybe save the world while doing it.

[Greeby]

1. I'll reach across the aisle

In order to choke em till they turn purple :evilgrin:

[dave123williams]

2. Winning back Congress means you need some of them to vote with us.

[nofurylike]

7. well, and for there to be a legal vote count. no matter how many,

as long as any electronics are involved in taking or counting the votes, we're finished.

still, they do need to hear from you.


peace

[bearfan454]

14. You said it all right there nofurylike

You said it all.

[nookiemonster]

25. As long as Diebold keeps counting the votes,

can we ever get a victory? The small rumblings of discontent coming from the Dem side is mediocre at best. In my opinion, therein lies their complicitness with this cabal and their guilt is equal.

When we finally do clean house, I will shed no tear for any Dem that is found to be in cahoots with these fascists.

[AmBlue]

28. Yeah, maybe we could get Cindy

to expand her agenda to include Election Fraud..... Now THERE'S an idea! :think:

[Libby2]

36. LOL ...I was just going to reply

without reading all of the posts, but that's what I was going to say.

[getmeouttahere]

3. There's still not much to reach accross to...

because when it comes right down to it, the vast majority of repukes and even a few dems support most of BushCo's policies - certainly the most damaging ones, anyway

[Festivito]

31. Worse, they run to their re-election money and ..

...and the funding of opposing candidates.

CONs have funded elections too well, put in lackluster persons who depend on central money, and further depend that central money won't start a different lackluster dupe to replace their stupid asses.

It's all one big scripted think-tank theatrical production run on our tax dollars and credit of our country, i.e. pur future tax dollars.

Reach out all you want. Don't be surprised if your hand gets a small shake just before it's bitten.

[xxqqqzme]

4. good to hear from the converted

every once in a while. Keeps us grounded. Wish I had a family that would wake-up!



BTW, congrats on your almost first anniversary @ DU.

[nofurylike]

5. well said. you would be a good one to write to republicans, then.

i think it would be great if you poured out your excellent reasoning in letters to the editor and op/eds! please! i know that you are right that many, many of them are questioning and ready to hear reason. please do that, reason with them.

you know the issues that are choking them right now. and you express yourself very well. and they need to hear it.

go for it! please!


peace!

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. I am all for reaching out.. but it won't do any good for elections

because they keep rigging them.

http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[KaryninMiami]

21. That's correct. And it will continue to happen again and again

which means we in Florida, are looking at Senator Katherine Harris (which might be the finaly event that makes me pack my bags and leave the banana republic. I don't want to give up the fight, but that would be too much for me to handle. I can continue to fight somewhere else!)

[GreenPartyVoter]

35. She's all hairspray and make-up. There is nothing under it except

for greed and a shrivelled little heart.

[bluethruandthru]

8. They need a little push!

I agree that this hideous administration is going downhill...but it's not fast enough! We need lots and lots of press letting the "head in the sand" righties know what a dangerous lunatic they elected. If we don't keep pushing the truth, demanding investigations, hounding the media, shouting from the rooftops...the nuts will keep believing in their buddy bush. I know too many "normal" people who fell for the "good ole bush" crap in 2000 and got sucked into "swiftboating" in '04 and they've never paid attention to anything remotely political since then. They still think that liberal is synonymous with terrorist sympathizer.

The bush crap will have to hit them over the head day and night in order for these people to pay attention. They know all about Natalee and Michael...but they still think Iraq was behind 911.

If we don't somehow stop this power crazed administration, we'll be nuking Iran before we know it!

[deadparrot]

9. I agree.

Well said.

[many a good man]

10. Their flawed ideology has finally come to light

Its more than just crazies, crooks, and incompetents: conservative ideology just doesn't work. What more proof can you ask for? Time for centrists to open their eyes and question beliefs rooted in self-righteousness, racism, and greed.

[havocmom]

11. The problems facing America are too great and too numerous to be ignored

further while engaging in the ridiculous lock step mind set of the neocon agenda.

Problems have to be faced and faced as a people, not one party or another. There are decent people across the spectrum of personal beliefs. They must wrest the power out of the hands of those who work not for the good of the nation and its people but for an elite class of indecently rich people who have trod on the economic futures of millions to maintain their supremacy.

"These unhappy times call for the building of plans that ...build from the bottom up...that put their faith once more in the forgotten man at the bottom of the economic pyramid" FDR, April 7, 1932

More Americans prospered since the times of FDR's programs. Public works projects from those times are still used today. And the neocons are a wrecking ball, swinging blindly at anything in America which maintains vestige of FDR's efforts to build a strong nation by building economic security for its people.

It is not Capitalism the neocons work for, it is Socialism for the extreme upper layer of wealth. It is not a free market when they wish to bind the hands of the common man while granting immunity from responsibility to giant corporate entities. It is not democracy and liberty they export with invasions sold with lies. The troops do not die for a nobel cause when the real cause is profiteering from war. The world is not made safer by killing tens of thousands of innocents, earning the enmity of all their kin for generations.

The problems of the nation are too important for trite talking points and finger pointing at mothers standing in a ditch, holding a broken heart and asking one simply question.

dave123williams, I am glad you are here among us now. I reach out my hand to shake yours and tell you I am glad for your help in the work of restoring America. I offer friendship and fellowship to all moderate, responsible members of the GOP who need to raise their voices in opposition to the neocon, PNAC agenda of lies and corporatism. Our nation is more important than the individual differences of opinion between liberals and conservatives. It is time to recognize we can work toward common goals and restore our nation's economy and integrity.

I want to leave this country to the youngsters in at least as good a shape as it was handed to us. I want the young people to be able to maintain a real faith in their futures. I'll take help from any quarter in that effort. My good neighbors, DEMS and GOP, we have a nation to restore.

[kodi]

12. No! Not until they denounce their hate-mongering allies on the Right

As long as they associate with the scoundrels on the Right who lie and conduct campaigns in character assassination I wouldn't piss on them if their collective hearts were on fire.

they must reject publically the culture of divisiveness so well established by the right wing.

[havocmom]

13. Um that is the point of this thread I belive, to get past the partisian

attackes and culture of hate and move on to solving problems.

You can ask for apologies but don't hope for anybody kissing asses. The big picture, the bigger issue is to get to a point of not pointing fingers and start solving the problems we face as a nation and a people.

If you can't accept sincere help from others towards making the society work again, well, what is it we used to say? If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Are you expecting some ritual of attonement? Would you settle for the honest cooperation of resonable people from all political factions coming together to solve problems? Or are you just looking for some revenge?

I am in no way advoacting being a doormat. But it is not productive to insist the GOP "denounce their hate-mongering allies on the Right" when so many DEMS in power are just as guilty of going along with the neocon steamroller.

Wouldn't if be great if we could find common ground with moderate Republicans and those who truly think we should bring down the deficit by raising taxes on the top 1% while making adjustments to help working people? Wouldn't that be a grand thing? To make America strong again by promoting sound policy?

Or should be expend all our energy on rubbing noses in shit? Seems that is just more hate mongering to my old eyes.

[kodi]

17. partisanship is not the issue, the methods they employ to defend it is

you are speaking nothing but plain, illogical nonsense, and worse; by claiming that many on the other side are sincere in their desire to make society work again while dismissing that they have any responsibility for the actions of those they allied with whose actions reject any such goals.

you insist that the moderate republicans, those who sided with others in their camp who themselves acted in a manner of rabid wolverines towards their political opponents get as free ride for their behavior because democrats have acted civilly.

claims of wanting to "work together" with these people is a useless masturbatory fantasy if the moderate members of other side still align themselves with those whose methods are beyond the pale of civilized behavior.

i make no claim that the other side be forced to reject partisanship, nor would i accept a demand to do likewise. i do demand that they reject the methods of people whose partisanship leads them to use the methods of personal destruction to achieve their goals.

you ask us to break bread with cannibals yet dismiss that they have to disavow such practices before the meal is served.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[0007]

29. Call it like it is! The Neocons are a goddamn crime family

that is robbing this country blind.

When this administration is taken to the Hague for war crimes and the right wing admits the mistake they made, then I'll relax and say we're all Americans.

[Eloriel]

15. Welcome home, friend -- a few more conversion stories

I like to collect them. :bounce: :party:

BTW, one of the thing I like best about them is that they confirm for me that there ARE honorable people on "the other side."

At least one Repub moderate getting scared.
(sees parallels to Nazi Germany)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2002674

I heard a gaggle of Republican women dissing Bush this morning...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4110293&mesg_id=4110293

Independents Are Having Buyer's Remorse
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1627590&mesg_id=1627590
Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_29/c3943060_mz013.htm

Heard some astonishing info today from a friend.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1920600

"As of today, after 25 years, I am no longer a Republican."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1890603
also: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1907487
Link: http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/06/26/ed.col.chaney.0626.html

I'm seeing a lot of changed minds about Iraq and Chimpy McCokespoon.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3939527

Pa. GOP honcho blasts right wing, switches parties
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1825375
Link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-06022005-497208.html

Republican says his party has been taken over by "a bunch of kooks"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1811231

Are we witnessing the collapse of the Republican Party?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3732175

The Good Republicans (Plaid Adder)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3729680#3733287

Post in this thread:
Voinovich is in tears on Senate floor!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1809081&mesg_id=1809207

A Voter Switches Party Affiliation
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1803102&mesg_id=1803102

Something in the air? Lots of converted Repubs....
(links to the following three threads)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3654563

New to DU by reformedrepub (14 posts at the time)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1780575

OMG - my parents LEAVE the Republican Party!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3652906

Hi, my name is Stacy, and I'm a recovering Republican...................
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3651186&mesg_id=3651186&page=

[dave123williams]

20. WOW; I'll enjoy these. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

[Guaranteed]

16. The best way to reach across the aisle in this culture today

is to beat the shit out of them.

We're polarized. People are going to take sides. We have to convince them that our side is right.

[leesa]

18. Can you help us then Dave? Can you and former GOPs like you start

writing letters to GOP Senators and Congressman and LTEs to show how strongly you disapprove of the Party's current insanity and corruption? Can you write to them all? It would mean so much because they can't smear you with the idiotic charge of liberalism. Thank you.

[Writer]

22. For this reason, we need Dem Centrists

We must keep our doors open for folks like you who no longer feel a part of the "GOP."

We ARE the party of mainstream America.

[leesa]

33. Dem Centrists are not centrists though. They are far right.

[Writer]

34. For some, anything to the right of Chomsky is "far right." n/t

[Raksha]

23. I think you're talking to the wrong people!

Tell the moderate Republicans (assuming there are any left) that THEY need to reach across the aisle if they ever want to be free of the lying, greedy, warmongering neocons.

[xchrom]

24. see you think someone has pulled the wool over the eyes

of the gop masses.

and that's where i go 180 -- the masses{i have plenty of redneck family members} are fully aware of their masters plans.
but these people don't care about the corporate intentions of these folk -- they hate the left, their religion encourages hate of their neighbors, they believe the poor are soaking up their hard earned money, they believe that gov. is a tool of liberal evil doers, etc.

the history of the u.s. is replete with the brutal character of the very people we're talking about -- and they haven't changed much in a 100 years.

we spend too much time talking about the ''good character'' of americans -- well it's pretty riddled with holes, if you ask me.

somewhere along the line -- america needs a long look in the mirror -- and now seems as good a time as any.

[Kahuna]

26. My new meme: If bush is such a good Christian when is he going

to repent for bearing false witness so that he could invade a defenseless country? A good Christian is entitled to error. But they are also required to repent. Bush isn't doing that.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[existentialist]

30. You have just begun the list of former Republicans

who have bolted the party on principle. I won't begin to try to be exhaustive here, but I do think I would have started my list with Joe Wilson.

I'm in no frame of mind to try to start a list today, but maybe we should do so. When the numbers that the neocons are swiftboaing gets into the thousands their credibility has to be shrinking fast.

[Finder]

32. What about Dems that voted for Bush?

There are many. I find it scary.