The Progressive bus has left the station

[DancingBear]

(Note: This is as honest as I can be. I am angry, and I hope that I am not pushed over the side by those who see criticism as a grounds for dismissal. If after today you don't think something is very very wrong with the leadership then I am truly at a loss)


Sorry everyone, but the last bus to Progressive America left the station early today and was last seen at the paint shop being covered in magnets and American flags. Now operated by Disney, it plans no further passenger service, but will instead act as the official Democratic Party Tour Bus for the ’06 “Gutless Wonders” midterm elections. It will, of course, be painted Chicken Yellow, as if anyone needed a reminder.

Aren’t we all proud today, fellow progressives, that the folks we used to try and cheer for now routinely sell us down the river for fear of being “labeled” by the other side? For fear of being labeled soft, they wipe their mouths with our civil rights, and for fear of being labeled weak they wipe their asses with the Constitution. The labels they fear so much make them cower in the corner like beaten dogs, afraid to so much as whimper for fear of being hit again.

What they failed to realize, however, is that this last little foray into Chickenshit Central brought with it a new set of labels, and here’s the kicker – they’re coming from within. They can’t hear them or see them, for with shuttered eyes and covered ears the world to them looks like a giant white rotunda, but they are there, and rumor has it that the people who used to buy the product have finally come to the sad conclusion that the marketing program they bought into ain’t worth shit.

They are the worst of cowards, for they abdicate their responsibility as stewards of democracy for a quick-buck paycheck and the well loved “wink, wink, nod, nod” later on down the road.

You get it now, don’t you? The whole bill of goods that is “you need us to protect our democracy” is bullshit, right? This “oh, just wait until <insert favorite Democrat of choice> is elected <pick committee chair of choice> why then it will be better – bullshit, the sequel. These absurd tomes about how it REALLY works in the Senate and the House – you know, the inside baseball horseshit that the Bobblehead Chorus reads and shouts “yes –give me more!” as if on the throws of the mother of all political orgasms? Sorry, wrong number.

How can you buy it after today? How can you believe that these same cowards who today were literally willing to give George W. Bush a free pass to lock ME up if he doesn’t like this post will all of a sudden find a moral compass if their new “leader” has a (D) next to his name?

They won’t – you know it, and I know it, and the tens of thousands of people who will stay home on November know it because neither Tweedledumb or Tweedledeath has a clue as to what their life is like, but at least Tweedledeath has no qualms at all about telling you how he’ll pull the switch if you piss him off.

I’m a progressive, and I am damn proud to be one. I watch Olberman scream, and the people respond. I watch Tester in Montana come flat out and say, “I want to get RID of the Patriot Act, and in Montana(!) people applaud. I KNOW what the truth is, and so do you, yet you kid yourselves into believing that Biden and Feinstein and the like somehow value your opinion, and somehow someday they will find a voice.

They already have one. It quivers and quakes and squeaks behind the wall, afraid to take a stand on anything. I don’t want that anymore. I want someone whose voice booms like a canyon echo whenever something is wrong, and I want a voice that is not dependent on how many others will think the same way. To me, truth is not dependent on a quorum, and courage doesn’t travel in packs. If that makes me an outcast here, then so be it.

We can go in two directions, people. We can have the courage to stand up and call them out when they do wrong, and we can begin the laborious process of weeding them out and finding the progressive voices that this country desperately needs, On the other hand, we can listen to the whimpering and pretend instead that it is the voice of everyman, and that in some never never land this is what passes for courage, and for truth, and for decency.

I want to be a Democrat again, I truly do, but I’ll be damned if I will whimper anymore.

I will, however, start looking for a new bus.

[Horse with no Name]

1. Great rant

I feel somewhat the same.

[European Socialist]

2. At least the powder is still dry--As it will be in November.

[scarletwoman]

4. Heh. I suspect the that truth is, there IS no powder. (nt)

[Individualist]

They kept it so dry that it blew up in their faces today nt

[KG]

26. oops

[grizmaster]

63. is that talcum powder for their diapers?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

82. Naw. The powder just got pissed on.

[scarletwoman]

3. Damn righteous rant, brother. I'm with you.

I can't think of anything to add just now, I'm too friggin' tired and discouraged.

But here's my k & r, anyway...

sw

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. There are good ones out there running...

Debbie Stabenow, Nancy Skinner (voter her in Oakland Co.)! We can't give up. Not ever.

[DancingBear]

9. I do not advocate giving up

I do, however, advocate setting the condemend building on fire and rebuilding from the ground up.

This pisses off the rats and the roaches, but lets the sunlight in.

Good trade, I think.

[GuvWurld]

13. The good ones are not running, consenting to this broken system.

The good ones are saying peaceful revolution is necessary, NOW!

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. I'm going to disagree with you. There are those running who do

not consent.

[GuvWurld]

48. OK. Let's discuss.

I don't mean to say none and I'm interested in hearing about candidates who do not consent.

[ScreamingMeemie]

49. Nancy Skinner, running for House of Rep from Oakland County

Michigan. She ran against Obama and lost.

[GuvWurld]

73. OK, but tell me how she is not consenting.

I'm very serious about not reinforcing myths and perpetuating a system that needs to be entirely uprooted. How are your favorite candidates doing this? If they are not doing this, why are they your favorite candidates?

[ScreamingMeemie]

75. Here is the link for Michigan's group.

I wish I had the time to outline her stances on the issues, but I will tell you this...she is the ONLY candidate I have heard address the problems of NAFTA and what it has done to states like Michigan which rely heavily on the (almost nonexistant) auto industry. Tax breaks for hybrid buyers are great, but what about the workers?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=159

I will never be willing to lump every Dem into the same group. It's just that the so called "chess players" think it's worthy to throw us all under the bus if it will get them elected. My money, my time go to candidates who support LIBERAL values.

[GuvWurld]

90. I'm not buying this, at all.

First, and I can forgive this part, the link you posted is to the Michigan forum, not anything specific about the person you are touting. I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt so I Googled her name and found her campaign site:

http://nancyskinner.mediarica.com/index.php

But I started reading a little bit and she doesn't talk at all about the problems with our elections or torture or anything else that proves we are not living in a democracy or even the America we learned about in elementary school. Her ideas would be just fine, if she was running in a real campaign perhaps 10 years ago. But I don't see anything on her site that comes close to not consenting.

I don't want to sound like I'm attacking her or you. I think the important part of this exchange is that we find a way to agree about the nature of the problems we face.

We have an illegitimate government that has usurped power not freely granted by the Consent of the Governed; this power is wielded against us, lawlessly; we have lost our inalienable rights; and we are plainly not Free People. I am certainly aware of the environmental crisis and don't suggest we ignore it. But nor can we focus on it in a vacuum that disregards our lost self determination (bogus elections, indefinite imprisonment without charges).

As I said in my first post in this sub-thread, peaceful revolution is necessary, NOW! I find this to be an inescapable conclusion of any honest analysis of our current situation. The answer can't possibly come from Congress when it is so much a part of the problem. The answer is in us, We The People, saying We Do Not Consent and then taking steps to literally withdraw our Consent and our complicity in the aspects of society that do us harm.

[ScreamingMeemie]

91. Do your own research. I won't do it for you. I'm done convincing people.

I'm in it for the fight. FWIW, Stabenow can now fuck off over her vote. But I'm also not buying walking away from my party. Thank you.

[Individualist]

6. Excellent rant!

The only thing worse than a neocon is a neocon enabler.

[BuyingThyme]

7. Thank you.

[Generator]

8. The great irony

is that the Dems that refuse to oppose this are doing it for political gain. And this is the first time in my twenty some years of voting that I'm considering just leaving the names blank and not voting Dem. The first time. What else can I DO? It's my smallest denial of all the power they give me. They don't listen to me. Why should I support those that don't protect me? I don't understand that. It's just living in denial. I no longer feel safe not only from the party in power but from the one that wants it. When they said all these years, picking the lesser EVIl, I didn't think it was really true.

[leftchick]

78. I feel the same

we have no opposition party. Haven't since the Patriot act vote.

[LWolf]

10. Heh.

So much for the "wimpy liberal" propaganda. }(
:toast:

Thanks for saying what I'm often thinking, and thanks for saying it so well.

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Solly Mack]

11. k/r

[gully]

12. I feel your pain. But we can not forget that the VAST MAJORITY OF DEMS

Did not/do not support this "compromise" legislation on "torture."

[DancingBear]

15. The problem with that, of course, is this

NONE of them should.

And I'm sure the ones who didn't will find something else to cave on.

Just give them time.

It is, after all, who they are these days.

[gully]

16. The problem with this train of thought is it lumps those who voted against

with those who did not. Conyers has never caved, nor will he or the many other fine Democrats representing America.

I am angry with those who voted for this, but I refuse to let the Republican Rovian tactic of dividing the left, while making us look week on terror effect my vote in November.

[DancingBear]

18. This is no Rovian tactic

Look at the history.

Give me the voices who are leading the opposition. See if you can find more than a handful.

Show me the filibuster votes.

The unity.

It is not there. It does not exist. It is afraid.

I am not dividing the left.

I am attempting to bring it back.

[gully]

42. I'm not accusing you of dividing the left, but I argue that this vote

was a design to piss off the left and call us weak on terror all in one shot. It worked, with the exception of Bill Clinton's appearance on faux news.

All anyone has to do is look at the voting record of R's vs. D's and one will see that there is a split down party lines on many if not most issues.

I know you're a Democrat, but we have to keep our eyes on the prize. I'd much rather be debating DEMOCRATIC legislation vs Republican.

[Skidmore]

52. If knowing that, why should the Dems in Congress

do anything but take the moral position and unite behind it? What freaking prize? Time and time again these people have VOTED for legislation that circumvents democracy and the Constitution and does not support the working person. Whether they could win a vote is irrelevant, as far as I'm concerned. At least VOTE the moral position.

[gully]

61. Eventually they'll end up like Joe Lieberman. If there is a

VIABLE non Republican alternative go for it!

[hatrack]

64. Oh, and in 2008 they'll suddenly become courageous and principled?

Is that it? After indulging in this projectile-vomiting-inducing exercise in "pragmatism", "pracical politics", "realism" or whatever else you want to call it, the next election will be different?

In what way?

Are the Pukes or ChimpCo going to stop attacking Democrats as "soft on terror/weakening our resolve/unpatriotic/not supporting our troops" the next time around? Call me crazy, but something tells me that, gollee, they won't.

And when the next obscenity comes oozing from the Republican-controlled Congressional Sphincter, choppping off another chunk of the Constitution, redacting another piece of the Bill of Rights, they'll stand shoulder to shoulder against the RNC juggernaut of slime we've come to know after all these election cycles? They'll boldly proclaim their principles and loudly shout "Thus far, but no further"? They'll throw caution to the winds and run the risk of NOT BEING REELECTED for the sake of the country as a whole?

Bullshit. They'll "keep their powder dry", "vote tactically" and "deal with the realities of politics" just like they always have, while gentle bleats of protest drift from the throats of the diminishing line of Beltway Lambs as they edge slowly towards the killing floor.

[bvar22]

76. Excellent summation.

:patriot:

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[krispifried]

66. It doesn't matter if the people all vote for the party

The representatives themselves are the body is effectively divided, and less by Rovian tactics than by their own poisonous relations with corporations and lobbyists and foreign policy ideas that scarecly deviate from those of the reich wing.

[newyawker99]

72. Hi krispifried!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[WillyT]

47. You're Absolutely Correct DancingBear !!! - They Should Have Drawn...

a brilliant bright line, stood together in unanimity, and said with one voice,

"The Democratic Party will never support torture and the destruction of the United States Constitution, no matter what sort of Orwellian double-speak the Republican Party uses to achieve these ends."

I'm so fucking pissed right now!

:argh:

[mtnester]

58. Can you imagine if every Dem congress person and senator

called a press conference, and IN MASS, released that simple, succinct statement?

Coulda, shoulda, woulda...opportunity almost gonna

[derby378]

14. Hey, there's plenty of room on my bus...

I'm a grassroots progressive Democrat, and I am the future of the party.

You are also a grassroots progressive Democrat, and thus you are the future of the party, too.

I'm up for a road trip if you are. Destination: Washington, DC.

[tblue]

19. This is PRECISELY what Karl Rove would want us to do!

I'm with you 100%. I am pissed and exasperated. My Congressman voted the right way this time, but my Senator, Dianne Feinstein, has let me down in more ways than I can't count. I voted for her opponent in the primary, and I wish I had someone better to vote for in November. But I would rather have Feinstein — as much as she infuriates me — in the Senate than ANY Republican, because more Republicans = more power for Bush.

Our goal is still to take back the House and/or the Senate. The Dems who voted this way should be bitch-slapped and canned, but not right now. We're gonna have to hold our noses and vote for every Democrat we can or we will have truly and ultimately lost. Once we have a majority in either house, we'll see more Dems behave like Dems.

Don't forget for a second that THIS IS KARL ROVE'S PLAN, and he is playing the House Dems and all of us voters like a violin. Trust me, he is reading this post and laughing his little pink hiney off. He fully expects a bunch of Democratic voters to turn off and stay home on eleciton day. Don't let him win! PLEASE don't give up now. Too much is at stake.

If you think Bush is doing crazy sh*t now, just imagine what he'll do with more Republicans in the House to back him up.

Please reconsider. Let your Representative know you are angry if you want, and then go work your tail off to win back Congress and accountability, and then we can work together to overturn this BS torture bill.

[DancingBear]

24. That would mean, then, that I am just his pawn

and am unable to see with my own eyes what is actually happening. That is not the case.

These folks have become totally emasculated with no help from either me or Mr. Rove. Returning them to "power" merely continues the ascent into hell, but the road is smoother so no one really notices.

By holding your nose, two things happen:

1) nothing changes

2) your nose hurts

[tblue]

28. And what do we gain by letting Republicans win?

Don't you believe we need to win in November? Yes, we should cuss these suckers out. I don't give a damn about them. What I care about is US and this country and all of our children.

I do think holding your nose and voting in a Democratic majority will result in substantial changes, any one of which would be worth it. I fear that with a Republican majority after the election, with a lame-duck Bush, we will see this country change in ways that are worse than our worse nightmare. We cannot let that happen.

Karl Rove and Bush won this round. The Dems were outmatched and they are fearful of the political price they'll pay if they are painted as 'weak on terror.' That's bull, and you and I know it. Believe me, I hate supporting a candidate with no principles as much as you do. But giving up the election when we are so close, and allowing Republicans to remain the party in power will only only make things worse. MUCH MUCH WORSE. Capiche?

[Individualist]

29. Jesus H. Christ on a trailer hitch!

You're wasting your time spreading that DLC bullshit around tonight. (See my sig line.)

[tblue]

30. Just trying to be constructive. I'm not big on negativity.

[DancingBear]

32. Here is the mistake you make

You equate not voting for a Democrat as giving up.

Why?

If they are as bad as you say - and they are - under what possible scenario will it get any better?

I can agree with the scenario that removing bigots like Allen (in my home state) is paramount, but that is a vote to remove a cancer, not find a cure.

Therein lies the problem - we never find a cure, and people still die.

Oh, Karl and Bush win EVERY round.

We let them.

What makes many of us delusional is that we think that THIS time it will be different, and that no matter who we elect he/she has to be better than Bush. That is because we attach ourselves emotionally to a cause, and we allow ourselves to believe that our "side" is supportive of said cause, whether it is or not.

I'd buy that, if I saw any displays of true opposition within the ranks of the Democratic Party - as an entity.

Or if we behaved like a true opposition party, and embraced a set of true Democratic Party ideals.

However, if they/we can't call "bullshit" on terror then where do we go next?

Does it matter if we don't drill in ANWAR if half the population is locked up?

(P.S. Apologies if I don't get back to you right away - I think it's time to get off this @#)#_#+ chair and put the heating pad on a very sore back)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

41. Karl Rove controls the spineless variety of Dem by

saying, "You're going to be viewed as 'weak on terror' if you vote against this."

That's who Rove controls. The politicians who are afraid of their own shadow, the ones who want to be liked more than they want to be right.

Those 34 who voted to give Bush unconstitutional power signed a pact with the devil, make no mistake.

"BWAHAHA, just approve a little torture, and you can keep your seat in Congress."

At what point do you say "This principle is more important than my political career"?

If they can't draw the line at TORTURE and flushing the Bill of Rights down the crapper, then where will they draw the line?

What's more important, their pathetic little careers or the right of human beings to be safe from fear of the kind of repression that occurred in Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s?

And you know what? When the Republicanites paint those unprincipled little sellouts as "soft on terror" anyway, I won't weep for them.

[Jcrowley]

37. Funny

Accurate

K&R

[NotGivingUp]

45. absolutely right...ascent into hell...smoother...nothing changes

[mtnester]

59. 3) the stink creeps up on you without warning

So when you do stop holding your nose, the stench is so bad it nearly kills you.

I am with you all the way on this.

[gully]

43. You got it.

Welcome to DU.

[bonito]

20. WOW !!!

Time heals all wounds, things will turn, and the slow cure is the strongest, these truths I know because I have lived them. Peace to you

[LiberalUprising]

21. Bravo

Very well said!

K&R

[shadowknows69]

22. What he said

100 fucking percent. K+R.

[Junkdrawer]

23. I saw this one coming a mile away...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2070962

[DancingBear]

25. To paraphrase the old saying,

"They might be cowards, but they're OUR cowards."

Not mine, though.

I can hardly wait to see how far they bend over next week...

[krispifried]

68. Simply

a failure to reject the premise that there is sucha thing as a just war, or in the cases of communism and terra-sim a *real* one...

[KG]

27. remember the first rule: the right thing should only be done when it's

convenient for the democratic party. :eyes:

[BeFree]

31. Well

Everybody has one congress critter. One out of 435.

The majority of the democtratic house members voted no, so the bus you are on is still livable. Don't look for a new bus, work to see that a new driver is elected and work to see that your critter will help get that done.

There is good reason to be mad about the vote today, but to take it out on the dems is bad shooting. Aim at those who voted for the damned thing, and don't blame the dem party for the 30+ dems who voted with those 200+ damned repukes.

[DancingBear]

35. If 30 Dems voted to bring back slavery, but the rest did not,

explain to me again why black folks should be happy?

[Generator]

40. Yeah and you'd want the other however many Dems to have a wee

talk with those 30. (BIG TENT,my ASS!) See here..you 30-our core principals are against slavery you see. You don't get to call yourself a Dem and BE FOR torture (slavery). Goodbye now. If we had any leadership that's what would happen. Or any principles. Which this vote today told me we did not. Yes, vote your conscience my dear, but if your conscience is pure evil, we don't want you in our party. I suppose that's too tough huh? Let's have a big tent for slavery/torture! Winning is all that matters!

[BeFree]

44. You got that right

About 30 dems would vote to bring back slavery.

But don't expect that black people would get off the bus. Heck, the only other bus is the slaveholder's bus.

I understand why you are angry.... I am too. It sucks. But I aim my anger at the pukes, not my party. Heck, my puke voted for it. He's gonna pay for that.

[Tigermoose]

33. K & R for the people!

nt

[bobbolink]

34. Beautifully and wonderfully put!

:cry:

Today, I gave up and changed my affiliation, after all these years, to UNaffiliated.

I'm 60 and have never ever before not been a Dem.

Today tore it.

Thanks for a beautiful (and horribly SAD!) piece!

I think we're in need of a wake....

[Name removed]

81. Deleted message

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

[Gregorian]

36. Amen.

Amen.

There is only one truth. But there are many agendas. The truth is, we are human beings. We need food. We need shelter. I have not been conned. Even though I have what I need, I know there are those who do not have. And that is the truth. And they are who I am fighting for.

[PassingFair]

38. Ted Rall Award Winning Post!

[unkachuck]

39. kick....n/t

[tomreedtoon]

46. The Green Bus is leaving. Be under it.

And you might as well stay in the mud so the Nader Bus can run over you as well.

You know where you lost me? When you called yourself a "progressive." You talk about Democrats living in fear. You're in fear of calling yourself a LIBERAL.

I am not a "progressive" or a "Toll House Cookie" or what anyone wants to call themselves as a matter of self-pretense. I am a liberal. And you're not.

[LWolf]

53. Uh...

progressive and liberal are not synonymous.

"Green," and/or "Nader" are also not synonymous with "progressive."

:eyes:

[DancingBear]

56. Quite an interesting response

I haven't the faintest idea what it means, but it is interesting...

[tomreedtoon]

79. To understand the "interesting response" see below.

Basically, like other people who used to be proud of the word "liberal" you're running from the word. When you start running away from the opposition, you are living in fear.

Don't you realize that you're agreeing with Karl Rove that "liberal" is a bad word? And therefore, no matter what you call yourself, you're going to be labeled as a liberal anyway?

My point - if it needs any further clarification - is that instead of standing your ground and defending your beliefs, you're slapping a label over them and running away from anyone associated with "liberal."

[ScreamingMeemie]

57. "And you're not."

The best part IMO of liberalism? The lack of labeling others... Guess you blew that one. If I were a judge of people I would say, you, dear, are no liberal. :hi:

[krispifried]

70. Liberal

Suburban Driving, Upscale, White, scared of the minorities in the inner city and interested in taking away bubba's guns in the countryside? Interested in choices like organic food and clean green hybrids but far less so in Completely Solving the rampant poverty and homelessness that plagues this nation?

That kind?

[tomreedtoon]

77. In other words, you're letting Rove define "liberal"?

My point - which seems to have bypassed everyone else who responded - is that people are afraid of being called "liberal" because they're afraid to stand up for what being a liberal really means. Mainly, using the power of government to improve the conditions of everyone, not just a selected class of rich people.

Do you know what calling yourself a "progressive" means? It means the next round of attack ads will say "He calls himself a progressive, but he's really a LIBERAL!!!!" Every time Democrats wimp out, they continue to lose.

There's a Republican candidate for governor of Florida - Charlie "Jesus" Crist - who slams his weak-kneed opponent as a "Washington Liberal." Well, to begin with, there ARE no liberals left in Washington. Second, the opponent is so timid he hasn't tried any counter-ads. Like most Florida Democrats, he runs in fear. I'll vote for him (holding my nose) but only so that Mr. Jesus doesn't get ny vote.

Were I him, I'd stand up and say "Yes, I'm a liberal. I'm a Florida liberal. I believe that the people in this state who are hurting - from homeowners to Wal-Mart workers to people without jobs - should have the government working for them, not just the rich. Liberal is a noble word, Mr. Crist. Sellout isn't."

But that will never happen, either here or in any other state.

[DancingBear]

80. Semantics are nice, but they don't feed the bulldog

I could care less what people call themselves - liberal, progressive, the nine of clubs - doesn't matter.

It is how people act on their core beliefs that matter.

If these folks are letting Rove define them, as you say, then they must have also let Lee Atwater define them, since Rove sat at his knee.

That, as the Airplane used to say, doesn't mean shit to a tree.

They are letting the labels define them, rather then letting their deeds define them, although in a bit of delicious irony their deeds (or lack thereof) have defined them in a way they never expected.

Or maybe they did.

When promises match results, and positive change becomes clear, labeling becomes immaterial and is forever useless.

You are right when you say that will never happen, with this caveat - within this Democratic Party, because what the schoolyard bully calls them still matters. Rove only gets credit for recognizing the obvious and playing the Chicken card. Any card player worth a damn would do the same.

It can only work if you let it.

I think we both know that.

I read you much better now - thanks for the conversation.

Peace.

[Dem2theMax]

50. I'm right with you.

Would you give your permission to send this to every Democrat traitor who sold us out today?

If every DU'er who had a traitor in their midst today would send this - well, heaven only knows if it would help.
But it certainly couldn't hurt.

(God, I can't even sleep tonight. I'm so pissed it's beyond words in any language.)

Pills to calm me down didn't work. A glass of wine is trying. And here I am.

I've recently been reading books on John Adams and Abraham Lincoln.
God we need men like them right now.

[DancingBear]

54. With pleasure

I wonder how many of them can read?

[leftchick]

51. echoes of "V" there DB.....

:applause:

Very well said. I myself want to get the fuck out of this former Democracy. I can see no resemblence of what it once was.

It is T O A S T!

[eridani]

55. Proud to say--

--that the entire WA state Democratic delegation voted against this abomination. I'm trying very hard to focus on the very solid majority of Dems that is right with us.

[mmonk]

60. I'm reminded of what someone from the Center for

Constitutional Rights said: If Democrats retake congress, hold their feet to the fire. I agree with that assessment. We will have been the train they rode to power. If they don't correct this situation, they need to be reminded that we got them into the majority and thus we can turn them back out if they don't do the right thing.

[lazyriver]

62. Where have all the heroes gone?

Our so called democratic representatives in the House (they don't do a good job of representing THIS democrat) so disappointed me yesterday (as they have been doing more and more lately) that today I feel very little hope for the future of ths country. Not only do they side with the evil that is the republiklan right, they do so on the most heinous of bills. If ever there was a clear place to draw the final line in the sand and say "No Fucking More!", to stand up and throw everything they had in the path of this illegal, immoral and unconstitutional piece of shit legislation and have the support of the American people behind them, this was it.

We have Keith Olberman putting his career and now, maybe even his life, on the line night after night for true progressive ideals and true patriotism and our spineless democratic leaders can't do the same. The Big Dog pointed his finger in the face of Faux news and counter punched them HARD with the truth. You could see several moments were Chris Wallace's face gave away the secret that he was pissing his pants as Clinton tore into his scrawny weaselly hide. He and KO show the strength and courage and tenacity that we need RIGHT NOW to stop the fascist takeover of our country and did the dem's get behind them and ride the wave? No, of course they didn't. They are cowards and traitors to their cause, their constituents and the ideals on which our shaky democracy barely stands. It's time to throw them out with the right wing trash that has been stinking up our government.

Yesterday's disappointment (and the one that will surely come today from the Senate) assured me of one thing: If by some miracle the dems come out on top in this election (maybe a radical liberal hacker 'unfixes' the Deathbold machines on election morning), we the people have little hope of winning anything at all. There will be no impeachment of any of the criminals who have been running amok these last six years. There probably won't even be any investigations. I see no reason why we won't see more of the same. Where have all the heroes gone? Al Gore, can you hear me?

I wish I could recommend the OP, but still too new from what I hear.

[krispifried]

65. Fuck the Big Tent for OILigarchs

Time to clean house

The Big Tent is the poor *not* for the bazillionaire, conflict of interest, corpwhorate would-be monarchs who have screwed the party - and more importantly, the people - time and again.

There is NOT ONE Success the corpwhorate moderates can point to for this party. Not One.

Read My Sigfile A Hundred Times Over.

Too Bad that is so seldom recalled and practiced by either party...

[underpants]

67. Printing for later read

[KharmaTrain]

69. Crawl, Walk, Run, Fly

Excellent points, but let's face a little reality here...and how things can change.

Progressives have only begun to come together over the past several years. I remember going on message boards in the late 90's and enountering a lot of liberals and "liberatarians" who never had heard of the term. Thus we haven't just started from nothing, we had to define ourselves within our own party...and in many cases to ourselves.

Now we're starting to see there are many of us out here. The netroots have created the network that hate and christian radio long ago provided for the Repugnicans and the right wing. It took years of organizing and slowly pushing their agenda within the party to get into the position they did. We can't expect Progressives or Democrats in general to overcome a nearly 20 year effort in one or two elections. This is a long-term struggle that first has to correct tons of misrepresentations and lies and then to work toward creating the atmosphere where Progressive ideas aren't only accepted but are positively received and then we really will start making a difference. But time, patience, determination and hard work is required. Losing track of the long-term objective makes it easy for our opposition to wedge us and we're back to where we once were.

I'm strongly encouraged by the number of Progressive who have emerged this year and that some will be elected and pave the way for the next round to come forward in 2008. The Democratic party needs a lot of revision, but it's the most convenient and best platform for us to have a positive effect...but this isn't an all or nothing war. It's a long-term PR offensive to create positive images and messages and then support the candidates who subscribe to that agenda. This country isn't ready to swing from one extreme to the other...but the pendulum and begun to swing in our direction and while it is heading this way, we should prepare to take advantage of this change and make the most of it.

Right now, we're going with a team that is still rebuilding. Progressive voices are on the rise, but we're still just getting our feet wet. The challenge here is two-fold. First to is work for the short-term change that is desperately needed...that is to expell the Repugnicans from power and putting people in who we agree with more than the ones who are currently in power. The second is to keep working on promoting Progressive candidates and issues. We'll have a bigger seat at the table when we can deliver votes and control seats than from outside the walls.

Peace...

[DancingBear]

71. Some salient points there

My one quibble is the vehicle we use to make the point.

My argument is that, as presently constituted, the Democratic Party is a) hopelessly corrupt and b) so far removed from its ideological underpinnings as to be almost unrecognizable.

By pouring clean water into a cesspool the only result one can hope to achieve is a diluted cesspool. This is what is happening now. There IS a progressive component within the bowels of the party, but it is tolerated, not embraced. Big difference.

This is why I say that the whole "just wait until Conyers is Chairman" argument is a canard. Who is standing with him now?

No one - and if there was EVER a time to stand with him, it is now.

No one needs to stand with him, for the invertebrates are perpetually comforted by those voters who will ALWAYS say "well, he/she is better than a Republican."

Why stand out in the rain if someone is always foolish enough to give you their spot under cover?

As I have stated before, cowards are always cowards, no matter who blows the bugle.

Peace right back at'cha :hi:

[KharmaTrain]

74. I Feel Your Frustration

...but I also have learned to accept the realities...as much as I have worked for different.

It's easy to dismiss the corruption within the Democratic party...and to deny it is to either be naive or on someone's payroll...but this is a seperate problem than the current situation. It's easy to intertwine the two and in the process hurt one's cause or come away with jaded or hurt feelings that only hurt short-term efforts and delay long-term gains.

After years of calling the shots and bringing in the lion's share of the money, the DLC is seeing their world change. More specific, Progressives, Liberals and other Independents have found a voice and vehicle in the netroots that first manifested itself in Howard Dean's 2004 campaign and has grown steadily ever since. With it come money and power...and damned if this isn't starting to chafe these fat cat's ass. But, again, we play with the team that's currently on the field...and work to make roster changes as we move along.

Ned Lamont's primary victory was one small step in what will be a long battle for the soul and purse-strings of the Democratic party. Depending on the outcome of the November elections, I expect to see more Progressives challenge "establishment" Democrats in 2008. There are several on my hit list. Votes and past actions are being noted and there will come a time for some payback...but right now I feel we have a far bigger foe out there to take down and then we can see who is "with us" and against us.

We have a far greater battle with the corporate media who has ignored Cong. Conyers work and are the ones who spread the Repugnican astroturfing that has created the toxic atmosphere that has kept many Democratic Congresscritters from being more supportive of his fine work. It's spineless...but then it would require a steel spine and brass balls to stand up to the GOOP slime machine and its corporate media toadies. Change the majority in the House and watch how things change. You may even be surprised at how some DINOs will show some resolve as well as the money and power starts to flow from our direction.

It's great to be an idealist. I've spent a majority of my life being that way, but I'm tired of standing out in the rain...especially when we're on a runaway train with the Three Stooges at the controls. All I hope we can achieve right now is to find a brake pedal.

Cheers...

:hi:

[Vidar]

83. Great post K&R.

[patcox2]

84. The idealogical purity bus went over the cliff years ago.

The pragmatic democratic bus is the only one you have. Get used to it. Win elections first, then win the war.

The japanese detention camps of WWII did not last. Neither will this.

[DancingBear]

88. Since when did Democratic ideals go by the name "ideological purity"?

I must have missed that meeting.

Win elections - yeah, that's the ticket.

And the ball-less wonders shall lead them...

Straight to Dinner With The Dictator, but with politically correct placemats!

Will voting still be allowed?

Geezus are we ever fucked.

[Individualist]

85. kick for integrity

[Jacobin]

86. We. Have. No. Leadership.

And puhleeze, spare me the usual suspects lined up with their faces covered so their identities can't be seen, to parade around as if they are 'leaders'. They are sniveling nits.

Well said, recommended, kicked, and goddamnit this is an awful day. Reminds me of the IWR vote when we all gnashed our teeth, screamed at the 'leadership', made forking excuses for the 'leadership' and just wallowed along like faithful cur dogs, just whining to be kicked the next day.

[GeorgeGist]

87. Progress isn't dead yet...

but the definition is changing outside the beltway. It may get messy ... but progress usually means removing obstacles.

[carolinayellowdog]

89. My solution: vote Dem, but define yourself as Independent

I fear that the vast majority of Democratic officials think that when we identify as Independent that means we want them to be MORE LIKE REPUBLICANS. Whereas if a survey was taken as to why people ID themselves as Independents, 3/4 would say the Democrats are TOO SIMILAR to Republicans, not too different.

On one hand, the majority of Congressional Dems voted against the Iraq authorization. On the other, most of the Dem Senators voted for it. Kerry, Edwards, Hillary, I admire you on other grounds but CAN NEVER FORGET that you made the single worst vote you could possibly have made in the entire history of this country.

Every time the Dems try to please the Republicans they TOTALLY SCREW the people of the US and the world. So here's one I who will never be a D again until the appeasers of authoritarianism are no longer in control of the party. Despite Dean, apparently that is not the case today.

CYD