When our left wing radio is bashing the Democrats...then why bother.

[madfloridian]

I had to turn off again the Laura Flanders show...he was saying the Democrats better get it together.

SO I feel like we have lost already when our radio turns against us.

There is nothing wrong with criticism that is deserved, but there is a hell of lot wrong with making general broad-bush remarks that they are not doing anything.

The congressional dems have their hands full...they have stood firm on many things now. The DNC is firmly taking hold and turning the party around.

And every time I turn on Laura Flanders or her guest host they are bashing them.

I think our radio hosts need to be informed of what is going on or just not say anything. I felt good yesterday and today seeing the Dems on C-Span, I felt good the show's host played Ted Kennedy words.

Now thanks to our left ring radio I don't feel very good at all.

[rockymountaindem]

1. It's never good enough for some people

And despite the fact that many Republicans only vote for RW candidates on the abortion issue, I feel that the Democratic party has many more one-issue voters than the Republicans have to contend with. It's the only way I can explain the large numbers of liberals who, IMHO, don't see the big picture.

[earthside]

20. Oh, We See the BIG PICTURE ...

How many Democrats voted for No Child Left Behind?
How many Democrats voted to give Bush the power to go to war?
How many Democrats voted for the Patriot Act?
How many Democrats voted for the Bankruptcy Law?
How many Democrats voted to confirm Roberts?
How many Democrats did NOT support the filibuster of Alito?
How many Democrats have voted to keep funding the immoral and Illegal war in Iraq?
How many Democrats have co-sponsored the Feingold censure resolution?

Lots of different issues -- Laura Flanders and Mike Malloy are correct to hold Democrat politican's feet to the fire. Too often they have let us, and the country down.

Let's just hope they get the message before November 2006.

[madfloridian]

22. They don't even know what the Democrats are doing now.

Half the time Laura totally ignores stuff they have done that week. Her fill in seems especially out of touch with the party. That is not fair.

They need to be informed.

[rockymountaindem]

27. The big picture is this:

If the Democrats had the amount of power the Republicans now possess, how much of that would even be an issue?

My guess would be very, very little. Thus, I wholeheartedly support the Democrats come election time, if not all their actions during the legislative process.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. Kennedy was awesome today

honest and understated and wise. He's come a long, long way.

[handsignals4theblind]

3. The problem is corporate lobbyists and fundraising for DEMS

The middle class, and working class used to alright by the DEmocrats. WAs it not Clinton that passed NAFTA, and the draconian welfare reforms? Have the DEmocrats made any initiative when in power to curb the effect of parasitical corporate lobbyists? Have the Democrats done anything at all to reduce spending at Pentagon welfare INC?--cut your defense spending and save a 100 billion to pay to control deficits or improve infrastructure.


They both go after the same money from the same elite corporate rich

[madfloridian]

Are you aware at all of Dean's small donor plan? That's what is is for.

Never mind, it does no good to explain anymore.

[WildEyedLiberal]

4. It's not just radio, it's magazines, blogs, the entire left-leaning media

It's as if they don't even PAY ATTENTION to what any Democrat is doing - it's always the same mantra: "Democrats have no plan, they are spineless, they do nothing" on repeat spin-cycle. It's really sad when I can pick up The Nation and National Review and read, more or less, the exact same things about Democrats in one as the other. Sad, sad, sad.

Blogs aren't a lot better. I think the terminal illness of the left-wing media/intelligentsia is this desire to look cool, hip, jaded, and cynical, and part of that means insulting Democrats, because they are "establishment" types. They'd rather ignore the good things that several Democrats do on a regular basis - Kerry, Dean, Feingold, Conyers, etc - and make broad generalizations about the "Democrats" using people like Biden, Lieberman, or Clinton.

It sort of reminds me of the American Spectator magazine saying that they LOVED when Clinton was in power because then they were able to attack him nonstop, and their sales revenue went up. I think the left-leaning media is the exact same way - they NEED something to complain about, or magazine sales will go down.

[Patchuli]

5. Complain to AAR

Laura & Co. will either tone it down or lose their show. That's crap just when we most need to stand together.

[KittyWampus]

6. Laura Flanders is mainly interested indemonstrating how smart she is

I've heard her with guests, spending a good 5 minutes everytime they came back from break reciting everything she knows about the guest and the topic on hand rather then actually INTERVIEW THE GUEST.

And don't get me started on Rhandi Rhodes.

[madfloridian]

9. Randi is pretty respectful of the party overall.

She has said lately she refuses to take part in bashing them anymore. She has been good on that.

Radio Nation and The Nation have been ignoring the things we send about what the Democrats are doing. It is deliberate. I wrote about something the other day...they had an editorial with wrong stuff again.

Never got an answer.

[KittyWampus]

14. about 2 weeks ago she went on with Susan Sarandon about third parties

that's the last I recall. Don't listen to her that often.

[leanin_green]

7. Bless you madfloridian, your such a loyalist.

That isn't a criticism BTW. Although I don't hold to your POV, I admire your continued belief and support for what is important to you. I hope your awakening isn't too filled with disillusion.

However, I caution you on wanting to apply a muzzle to left-wing radio. Even though you have your political perspective all staked out, please allow for the many others who aren't as steadfast as you. If we can't allow for an open critique of what passes for the progressive party in America, then, just how progressive are we? I just wonder how much of your depression is based on not wanting to hear negative comments about what you hold dear, or if it may be beginning to ring true.

[madfloridian]

11. My belief is that we don't have a hell of lot of choice right now.

I trust about 3 party leaders, and that is all. I am tired of lies. Aren't you tired of hearing lies about what they are doing when they are actually doing stuff?

[leanin_green]

17. Yes, and I'm disappointed in a party I've held dear all my life.

Therefore, I've opened my mind to other possibilities other than blind party loyalty. As Al Gore said after the 2000 debacle, "If you think your vote doesn't count, think again." I will always entertain what those of my party are saying. However, I must see results and a record of results before I cast my vote their way anymore. From here on my vote will have to be earned. Of course, they'll have to fix that pesky problem with vote fraud for me to think my vote will even count.

[madfloridian]

19. I do not have blind party loyalty. I am putting my money into change.

I trust Dean to bring that change by trying to get the small donors built up.

You are sounding like no one in the party is speaking out at all. That is not fair.

[leanin_green]

29. No, there are those that are speaking out.

Gore comes to mind. Fiengold is another. But they are quickly marginalized and their voices are left crying in the wilderness. Am I wrong about that? I don't think so. If these voices were being headed then the rest of the party would be clamoring to endorse their views and make them a part of the party vision. I don't have an answer for it, but it distresses me very much. So much so that it now behooves me to challenge them all.

[glitch]

26. "If you think your vote doesn't count, think again." Ouch. That one is too

ironic to not hurt, coming from Al Gore and considering all the elecion fraud, from the Supreme Court to Diebold tabulators.

But don't get the wrong idea, VOTE ANYWAY, if only to MAKE THEM STEAL it, otherwise we'll never catch them at it.
And a republican in an office they didn't have to steal is just too goshdarned unAmerican.

[leanin_green]

30. Oh I'll always exercise my voting right. Even in futility. n/t

[OldLeftieLawyer]

8. That sucks. But.............

.......... what we Democrats need - and I mean we need this desperately and soon - is one leader to emerge and start talking sense, start making plans, start telling the citizenry what he or she is going to do to fix this horrid mess, what we need to do now, and how - this is the most important part - we need to follow him RIGHT NOW.

We need a charismatic, powerful, confident, and visionary leader.

Frankly, I don't see anyone like that around, and that just breaks my heart.

[Faygo Kid]

12. If only this leader weren't Canadian. . .

[earthside]

25. The Canadian Version ...

... of our current "leader"?



Except that Mike Hamer is smarter.

[Faygo Kid]

10. I think an occasional butt kicking is in order. The past as prologue?

I for one am tired of taking it in the teeth. Give me a Paul Wellstone, with conviction and firmness in the face of evil, every time, and I have not seen it often enough from this crowd. Principle wins. The Dems need better leadership. No more votes like the one on the Iraqi war. Flame me, but we are on the same side. I will not, though, be an uncritical voter, even though I pull the Dem lever each year I vote.

[madfloridian]

15. How about butt kicking without telling untruths.

I have nothing against that. I am tired of the mantras...the dems have no balls, they have no cajones, they are not doing anything, they are afraid, they are not listening.

It is just not true. Butt kick, but do it truthfully.

I am very tired now to come to a board that says Democratic and find so much condemnation for our party.

[yurbud]

13. many Democrats need a kick in the pants--if they had been doing their job

we wouldn't be where they are today.

Our job is not just to be cheerleaders, but to act like these people work for us, not the other way around.

Please get your head out of your ass. If we just donate money and sit quietly on the sidelines, the DLC types will think we all want Liebermans, Chamber of Commerce toadies without the religious nuts (or at least a lighter dusting of them).

[meganmonkey]

16. When the Democrats ignore the needs of the people

and think that lip service is enough, then why bother voting for them?

:shrug:

on edit: I mean this rhetorically and semi-sarcastically, but there is a lot of truth to it. I just fear the day we stop being critical of any of our politicians out of party loyalty. And for the record, there is almost nothing 'left-wing' about the vast majority of Dems in Washington so I don't think it should be surprising that 'left-wing' radio hosts should criticize them.

[Jane Austin]

18. They don't all think lip service is enough.

We've got to honor the ones who are out there working for us - - and who take it on the chin from the RW media every day - - and not lump them in with the do-nothings.

As for a charismatic leader who can speak for us, until we have a national candidate, I don't see that happening.

What we desperately need - - and I see some possibilities out there - - is charismatic, smart, progressive, plain-spoken Congressional candidates. If you have a House or Senate candidate that knocks your socks off, the people in your district or state are going to associate those positions and that attitude with our party.

One Congressional district at a time. One Senate seat at a time. One Governorship at a time.

If our candidates are people you can admire and feel great about supporting, that's going to work its way up through the party.

[meganmonkey]

21. Right, there are probably a dozen total

between the House and the Senate that I have faith in.

And the rest of the party either ignores or actively discredits those who speak the truth.

It's frustrating. I don't know how to support a party which actively works against the interests of the people :shrug:

That isn't to say that I won't support individual candidates who are Dems...I just worry about the party's big picture.

[Jane Austin]

24. I think if we really support those 12 or so, and find

local candidates like them, those numbers can grow.

[stillcool]

23. Part of the problem/ part of the solution...

I think we all know that we didn't get to where we are without the cooperation of a majority. I think we also know, that the sins of the past, while still sins do not compare to the current state. It seems to me, the page turns from one of the ideal, to one of what could be acceptable...or the compromise page...and a work in progress. The money, the corporations, and the secrets...all...have to go. But how?
Finding hope in a candidate seems so fool-hardy in relation to the juggernaut of power and influence we face. But, unless the solution is a complete dismantling of all government agencys...the hope does indeed lie, with that one candidate. Which, is why, the onslaught of derisive comments concerning the personalities is so exasperating. The principles are left out of the equasion. It seems eerily familiar to the villifying of the victim, that is the preferred exercise of not only the powers that be, but the masses that follow.

[undeterred]

28. Its easier to tear something down than to build something up.

Its easier to sit in an armchair and criticize than get off your butt and do something.

I am sick of all political discussion that consists entirely of negative bashing. That goes for radio, democratic underground, and other political groups on the left that have no power of their own.

If people are unhappy with the way things are they should run for office, start a movement, work on a campaign or an issue, i.e. FIND SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO DO. All the bashing contributes exactly nothing to making the world a better place.

[LaPera]

31. I switched to Green---There are more Greens in my town than republicans

I had been a registered democrat since I turned 18 --- I got six others to switch to Green so far, and I'll get many more frustrated democrats to do the same...Until the democrats speak up and loudly, about the republican owned electronic voting machines---I'll stay Green...If the easily hacked electronic voting machines issues, discrpencies & slime are not addressed & nothing is done, democrats will obviously always be the minority party.

Like most people concerning the easily manipulated electronic voting machines, owned by republican corporations, the democrat's have their heads in the sand and most don't believe there's much of a problem...Just look at Florida, Ohio, Georgia, Alaska, etc...

Private companies should NOT be allowed to own our voting machines -- our tax dollars pay for them.
The Greens may NOT win now, it's important to me at this stage to have more options then Dem or Repuke...and the Green party does speak up and challenge (they were the only one who challenged in Ohio where ten of thousands of votes still haven't been counted.)

Of course I will vote Dem in every race where there is no Green running (which right now is most of them)...

I'm an FDR progressive liberal democrat in my heart and always will be...the democratic party has left me and my ideology and I would welcome it back in a heartbeat!!!

But it's important to me to make a statement (my registration) that the Dem's too are abusing our trust with all the corporate money, frills and donations...It does affect how they vote only an idiot will believe otherwise.