Retired Marine, & lifelong Dem shocks me yesterday by declaring he is

[peacebird]

now an Independent.

The Democratic party has lost his vote, and lost his dollars. This was at the gentleman's 80th birthday party.
He says he now sends money selectively to the candidates who are liberal, progressive and have true core Dem ideals.
And he sends money to candidates running AGAINST the DINOS in the primaries...!

I was stunned. Thrilled, but stunned. This couple are lifelong active Democrats - the type who work the polls, volunteer on the candidates campaigns, etc. These are NOT the "Dems on election day only" sort - these were stalwarts of the party!

The DNC and DLC do not undertand what they have wrought. Spit in the eye of your constituency and get abandoned. We went along with ABB in the last election. NOT ANYMORE.

Now - like this gentleman and his wife - my family sends money to people who walk the liberal progressive walk. People who speak out and tell truth to power. People who believe the common citizen matters more than the corporation. People who will fight for DEMOCRACY, and open government - not a government shrouded in secrecy.

The DLC and the DNC and the Democrats in DC have lost my vote. Oh - there is a chance that they can get it back, but this time - unlike the leap of faith with Anybody But Bush - THIS TIME they will have to EARN IT.

[opihimoimoi]

1. Yes, the Dem Party Peeps had better get their act together

Together we stand/prevail...divided we fail....

[Cocoa]

2. self-delete

[peacebird]

4. no - he has been a family friend since before I was born.

Served in WWII with my daddy and then stayed in Marines through stints in Korea and Vietnam. He and his wife are dear friends of ours - he and my mom share the same birthday also. Which is why we got together over the weekend.

I was stunned to hear him say that the Dems had lost him. Truly. We have had many political conversations (from my wilder days during Vietnam/high school til present).

He is one of the truly good guys.

[Cocoa]

7. I retract what I wrote

and I apologize.

But I wish I could discuss this with him. I would ask what he thought of Bill Clinton and why he stuck around through Clinton's presidency.

[peacebird]

9. I cannot speak for him, but believe it was because Clinton was

seen as a force for good with reducing the deficit, working for the environment, striving for peace in the middle east. Yes - Clinton had problems, and I'm not referring to blowjobs, but overall he was SO MUCH BETTER than Reagan and Bush 1....

[Cocoa]

11. but in the terms you describe above

the democratic party is so much more "progressive" than Clinton ever was.

Again it's too bad he's not here to discuss it, I'd like to ask him why he tolerated NAFTA and welfare reform, and his whole triangulation strategy.

[peacebird]

14. I saw Clinton as socially progressive (well not so much for gays but...)

and fiscally uber-conservative.

NAFTA and welfare are two of the things I found offensive - but the Clinton years smell pretty sweet next to this current regime....

btw - thanks for the retraction/apology. I appreciated it :hug:

[tabasco]

3. I understand his sentiments perfectly.

We were only able to fall as far as we have because nobody has stood up to fight for the working man.

We have been losing the class war for decades, and it is time for a change.

[graywarrior]

5. Yep, Mr. Gray already jumped over to Independent.

I'm holding out, but it's getting frustrating. I'm a true democrat, but those in office do not act like dems.

[kliljedahl]

6. The problem

Keith’s Barbeque Central

ERROR: There were errors. Please correct them below:

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[DanCa]

8. What's the alternative

A right wing court packed supreme court? I understand his frustration but you've got to keep your eye on the big picture. The next president will probably get to pick as many judges as Dubya did. We cannot afford to loose any more supereme court seats.
That is the reason why I stay with the Democrat party thru thick and then. That and to protect my disablity benefits and to have judges in favor of stem cell research so that one day I can walk without the fear of breaking my neck.
I know the party is in a slump right now but simply its the best thing we got going and the only weapon that we have to fight the wing nuts. And I simply wont abandoned the ship and vote for third party because imo a third party vote just helps the rethugs. (I am not insulting the third party voters mind you, I am just giving you my spin on things)
So in answer to your post unless you can give me a better alternative than throwing away my vote by voting third party, or not voting, I am always voting with the Donkey. Why because I want to walk.

[peacebird]

12. The alternative? Convince the Dems to actually be faithful to DEM ideals.

Hey - if they decide to be members of the DEMOCRATIC PARTY again - the party of the common citizen not the Repub-Lite party - then mea culpa - all is forgiven.

Just to vote for the donkey, without demanding the donkey live up to your ideals is also to throw away your vote. Lieberman is a donkey after all - and I don't think a vote for Holy Joe advances the cause of peace, freedom, equality, or democracy.... Even if he is a donkey.

[DanCa]

21. Well our first task is to make the Dem party bigger.

Senators are herd animals they'll vote in packs after all. Once we get more Dems in office than we can start prunning out the garden. Unlce Joe deserves to Go I'll give that much to you.

[pacalo]

13. I won't be throwing away my vote to a 3rd party, either.

Cutting my nose off to spite my face isn't a winning strategy. I will not be enabling the Repugs to get into office -- they have enough help with constant fundraising to buy Diebold's help in getting them "elected".

[radio4progressives]

16. the court is already packed with right wing.. Stevens is 85 ...

I don't want to fathom that he's at that age, and Ginsberg isn't doing too well either... anything could happen between now and 08. and the packing has already occurred... yes it could be worse, but at this point it's by a hair's breath and a heart beat or two away.

by the way, a weak majority isn't going to be the greatest outcome either. it will be better, but it won't be great, we won't be able to accomplish what we long to see occur.

the system has failed miserably. our party has failed us and i don't see any sign that they get it yet.

The Political Revolution is happening now.

[xxqqqzme]

10. Yep, I started giving locally only during '04

campaign. DCCC is NEVER going 2 support a Dem here in Orange County, so they get nasty notes back in their pre-paid envelops instead of a check. Howard better figure the rest out very soon or I'm stopping the monthly pay 2 the DNC. Seems his 50 state thing is working great in the red states but blue states - the DNC money goes 2 the state chairs. I don't know about other blue states, but the CA chair is as out of touch as inside beltway DINOs - still NO money coming in for our candidates.

[radio4progressives]

17. Are you saying that the DCCC is supporting a Republican in Orange County?

or are they just AWOL?

[radio4progressives]

15. Joe Trippi mentioned this on a panel discussion broadcast on C-Span

it might even replay today or tonight...

independent movements - internet bloggers and grassroots creating a "different third way" outside both party apparatus structures..

he was talking about both parties facing this same issue. said, that we have the power to override the Washington establishment,. completely outside of either parties radar's vis a vis the internet and national community meetings (initially organized on the internet).

after what we went through in 2004, after all of the incredible stupid, out of touch actions and inactions in the Senate and the House, on the entire range of issues - the spectur of a political revolution may come to fruition at any point now..

I think it is happening now... people are disgusted, people are not buying into the same ole strategy, people certainly are refusing to adhere to the 'shut the fuck up and fall in line' edit..

i think the revolution is happening right now...

[upi402]

18. I don't consider myself a Democrat anymore, the party left me

...and I've become more conservative!

[Mountainman]

19. I've done the same thing. I want to work to create an new progressive

movement in this country. I will not support a Dem who wants to take this party to the center or right. The is so much social injustice in this country and in the world that I want my taxes to help bring about a change. I don't want to support war or mega corporations. I want health care for all. A decent job and living wage for all. I want manufacturing to be brought back to this country. I want cleanr air and water. I want good education for all kids. I want women's rights protected and end to the march to a theocracy. All these things are now left wing when they are all common sense and should not need some kind of label.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

20. My Dad will be 86 in May....he feels the same way.