If the Black Caucus protests on 1/6/05 & Democrats dont....

[Sleepless In NY]

Will we be in real danger of losing the Black Vote too? We failed them miserably in January 2001, will we do it again? Thinking about Shirley Chisholm tonight, she never worried about what others said or thought, she did what she believed was right for herself and her constituents.

It is almost certain that the Black Caucus will rise to the occasion on 1/6/05, and speak up again, you can always count on them for that. But our Democratic Senators? I couldn't understand their refusal in 2001 and I can't understand it now.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know there is something radically wrong with our voting system. It's a mess. And after so many promises that it would be fixed, it still isn't. Listening to people testifying at Rep.Conyers hearings, so many, with legitimate complaints, it's something that has to be faced & dealt with it.

Yet our Democratic senators always avoid it like the plague. Why? Then they expect people to believe they will fight for them? Where is the proof they will?

If we have to go through a repeat of 2001, with them sitting there, well, its embarrassing to say the least. But this time around, I think it's going to cost them more then they know with our traditional base.

What do you think?

[tjdee]

1. Where the black folks gonna go?

I suppose the thing is that we may stop voting altogether, which IMO is a problem for every Democratic voter as it is.

But it's not like we're going to discover Greens or vote Republican.
So there's that.

I'm also unsure that the majority of black voters even know that this is going down. The MSM doesn't exactly do a great job of keeping us up to date.

[Darknyte7]

11. This Black person will go away...

I'll likely just become an observer to the process, much like George Carlin is now.

[EFerrari]

13. The Black voters who got screwed in OH don't need MSM to

tell them what happened, imo.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. I would not be afraid of loosing the black vote

why?

We don't do a thing, it is curtains for US Democracy for a long time, and it will take defeat or a major upheaval (either of which may be coming down the pike, or rather will be comign down the pike) to get it back.

We may still get "elections" but free and clean elections, you have to be kidding me. At least not for a long time... not a long time.

Remember it does not matter who votes, but who counts the vote.

[Hekate]

3. The Black Caucus? Can I join their party?

Seriously folks, I feel like the Democratic Party is leaving me, not the other way around. But I like the guts of the Congressional Black Caucus -- I like the way they stand up for American Values, like the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Do I have to be black to join their party? ;-)

Hekate

[il_lilac]

8. I'll join you

if they let us in! Better a rainbow coalition.

[coffeenap]

9. http://www.congressionalblackcaucus.net/

Randi Rhodes is an honorary member, y'know.

[mod mom]

10. I agree. I wear my Rainbow PUSH pin with pride.

I don't get it. If the dems stood up as a group, they wouldn't have to worry. They will lose a big portion of their progressive vote as well as black vote if they simply dismiss us. Why should we support a party that doesn't support it's voters. PLEASE ELECTED DEMS stand up and demand a full investigation before new president is seated. This is about DEMOCRACY.

[justiceischeap]

4. I saw a Representative from Oklahoma

on C-Span last night, a Dem, and he was asked if his party would fight the Supreme Court nominations, even if it meant losing re-election and I couldn't believe his reply. To paraphrase, basically he said in his opinion, the dems should just sit down, not fight it and let the repugs make a mockery of our government. Then people would see just how outrageous their ideas are and then re-elect dems in the next election.

I wonder how many other dems have decided to just sit on their haunches and not fight.

[Darkhawk32]

5. I really don't understand that thinking....

If they fight, they can seperate themselves more efficient from those repug ideas.

Plus, if the repugs go "nuclear", then it REALLY puts the focus on the repugs.

Just my humble opinion.

[SueZhope]

6. thanks for sharing that its sad they will not fight

I guess many want to just want to roll over play dead...
the repugs are already making a mockery of our country.
That sounds like a very foolish approach and cop out.
UGGG.

[SueZhope]

7. Sleepless In NY...very true

this says it all:
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know there is something radically wrong with our voting system. "

The frustrating thing is that most Americans if they actually studied the facts ,there is
a strong chance they would agree that something is wrong. I even believe that if Republicans took the time to study what has happened would be concerned that our system is not fair nor square.

The average person thinks you vote and those nice good Americans count it
then you have a winner.

The disenfranchisement by itself is enough reason to stand and fight .

[EFerrari]

12. The Black Caucus is going to do everyone's work for them and

you're worried about losing the Black Vote?!

What about your vote?

I didn't think 2001 was embarrassing, Sleepless. I thought it was obscene. If the obscenity is repeated this year, they lose my vote, too, and yours.

[katinmn]

14. Absolutely

Being continually disenfranchised will drive us away.

I met a number of people prior to Nov. 2 who were already discouraged and said they weren't voting.

I feel a personal obligation to keep fighting for those who mustered up hope and optimism to give it another chance. It changed me.