A Voice Crying in the Wilderness

[welshTerrier2]

i have, for some time, been extremely critical of the Democratic Party for failing to show any leadership on the Iraq issue ... i think what the Party has done is not only bad policy but bad politics as well ...

i have decried the failure by the Party to represent what is now an increasing majority of Americans ... it's just plain crazy ... where is the majority to turn to for representation? you know the old saying "if the people lead, the leaders will follow"? guess that's wrong ...

and criticisms of the Party result in all sorts of infighting here on DU ... well, it's nice to be joined in my criticism by someone as prestigious as Gary Hart ...

here's an excerpt from an article he wrote in today's Huffington Post as a tribute, a great tribute, to Cindy Sheehan:

source: http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0815-28.htm

If democracy only works when there is open discussion of opposing ideas and policies, and if the opposition party, in this case the Democrats, has hand-cuffed, blind-folded, gagged, and hog-tied itself to a failed invasion and occupation in the Middle East, where will the expanding majority of Americans look for a representative, a spokesperson, a voice for their anger, frustration, and distrust at being misled?

The circumstances suggest it should be a Senate or House Democratic leader, a recognized authority on foreign policy constantly seen on the Sunday talk shows, certainly one of the many “leaders” lining up to seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for president in 2008.

Strangely, no one in any of those categories comes to mind. Their voices are silent. Thus, both they and the party they claim or presume to represent look dumbstruck, awkward, pitiful, and timid. Where the single greatest issue of the day, and one of the most potent issues of our time, is concerned, there is no courageous opposition.

Meanwhile, the caskets keep coming home…with no public official to greet them or to respect them. They are the forgotten dead and they represent thousands more of the even more forgotten wounded.

more ...

[RevCheesehead]

1. Politicians are too worried about getting re-elected.

We need a "Bulworth" dem to stand up and speak the truth.

BTW - where's Howard Dean been lately? He's about as "Bulworthy" as they come.

[welshTerrier2]

3. "where has Howard Dean been lately?"

Dean appeared on Sunday's Face the Nation ... here's an excerpt of the discussion about the formulation of an Iraq policy:

Schieffer: "Why do you suppose it is that people are not buying what Democrats are saying?"

Dean: "I think they are buying what Democrats are saying. People believe that we need a plan to get our troops to come home."

Schieffer: "Sure you need a plan but do you have a plan?"

Dean: "You can't expect a particular Senator or a particular Congressman to have a plan (for withdrawal from Iraq); Only the President can do that."

[Eloriel]

4. He was on Face the Nation on Sunday, speaking the truth

Dean on Iraq: "We need to leave."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4357735
Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/face_81405.pdf

Transcript of Howard Dean's Face the Nation interview
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2008592#2008676
Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/face_81405.pdf

[shaniqua6392]

5. The MSM has not

been extending too many requests to hear from Dean. He was on CBS Sunday morning and did an awesome job. Remember he can not get the message out if they do not ask him to come on their shows.

[TomInTib]

6. Yup...let's get Hackett on board too.

and Obama, and every other Dem who didn't vote for the war and knows how to talk straight.

Saw Biden yammering on about his plan to end the war...two things:

1 - he voted for it
2 - Senators almost never get elected president

At the very least, can we get one Democrat who voted for the war to stand up and say "I voted for the war because my president LIED to me"? Kerry, Hillary, Biden, anyone...?

[shaniqua6392]

2. I completely agree!!

I keep waiting to hear from the Democrats in power, but I hear nothing. Now is the time to jump on the failures of this administration. That is the reason Paul Hackett was so popular. We are all desperate to hear some forceful, straight talk from someone who is not afraid to criticize bushco. Any Dem who would come out swinging would instantly have a large following. If they do not do this soon, many Dems will not even bother to vote. We may give up in frustration.

[wli]

7. they're probably all terrified of getting Wellstoned and/or anthraxed n/t