AFter observing and not commenting for a while - some not-so-random thoughts...

[T Wolf]

1) The lost opportunity for significant correction of wrong and destructive policies will haunt and hurt us for a long time. Those of us who are life-long veterans of a personal, decades-long battle against the reich know that this chance will not come around again soon - probably not for the rest of my life.

2) The lack of progress is not as important as the lack of a positive direction in most of what the Democratic House, Senate and White House have "tried" to do.

---- shielding the * criminals, bailing out Wall Street and the banksters instead of Main Street, placating the reich instead of left spring to mind.

3) Whether health-whatever reform is a net gain or not, the approach and tactics could not have been more self-defeating if they had tried.

---- would repuke/ConservaDem/corporate resistance have been any stronger if the starting point had been universal, single-payer, and immediate instead of piece-meal, insurance corp controlled & managed and delayed/incremental?
---- would liberal support be stronger if the starting point had been universal...?
---- wouldn't it have been easier to generate support from opponents of reform if the simple universal, single-payer, and immediate position had been taken instead of the overly-complicated, wrong-headed, easily-attacked mess we now face?

4) The escalation of the wars is wrong. Period.

5) The disappointment of us "leftbaggers" is real and will be felt in future elections. Only the degree (of electoral/financial/foot soldier effort) loss and fallout from the blame wars are still to be determined.

6) On any objective scale, Obama is better than what McPalin would have been - the extent of that difference is debatable.

7) The "wisdom" of supporting center-reich Democrats can be debated. What cannot be argued is the fact that those types do not advance a liberal/progressive/traditionally-Democratic agenda.

8) Political differences have escalated/deteriorated from the (relatively) benign debate between slightly-different points of view (e.g. marginal tax rates) to a visceral, emotion-driven morality play between good and evil as defined by each side.

---- you can compromise and "split-the-difference" with tax rates. that is harder (or impossible) to do when debating war, choice, and civil rights.

9) Health care - whether my wife can actually get a kidney transplant so she lives past next year - IS NOT A FUCKING PONY!

10) Each of us must decide for ourselves what we will do and how we will live our lives. Whether work-in-the-system-we-have or tear-it-all-down or drop-out-and-survive, we each are responsible for ourselves and our choices. And I believe also for the welfare of our fellow earthlings.

[City of Mills]

1. Couldn't have said it better if I tried...

Kicked and Rec.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Ditto

[inna]

22. ditto

[Fire1sKid]

36. Ditto

[JackInGreen]

47. Ditto

All praise the hive-mind on this one.
It's a damn shame that I have to agree that he's been a repeated disappointment, but I'll continue to be a shameless polyanna.

[bvar22]

113. Ditto....K&R

I generally don't march in parades, but I will sadly join this funeral parade.
It IS over.


In 2008, the American People gave The Democratic Party:

1)The White House

2)The House of Reps

3)The Senate

4)a HUGE MANDATE for CHANGE

There are no more excuses.
This once in a lifetime opportunity for REAL "CHANGE" has been totally wasted.


"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[tavalon]

119. Sadly, it's not over

We have to watch this slow, horrific train wreck for a while yet. I almost wish I had taken the other pill sometimes. Did I really know what I was in for when I agreed to wake up and pay attention? I had no idea how far down this rabbit hole went.

[tekisui]

3. knr.

[villager]

4. well put. Point #2 is especially trenchant, I think

What's frustrating is that this "hope" crew doesn't even seem to be trying, very hard..

[MNDemNY]

5. .

:thumbsup:

[Tailormyst]

6. Wow- really great post.

Sorry about your wife :(

[asdjrocky]

7. Man. Thanks for checking in T Wolf.

And yeah, it's about direction, and I can't help but feeling we're going the wrong way, or at least we're on the wrong road.

[ret5hd]

8. #9 Again: Healthcare IS NOT a fuckin' pony!

[salguine]

12. I'd like to see someone enter THAT in the next DU bumper sticker competition.

[Enthusiast]

41. Very important point. nt

[chill_wind]

9. Lots in there that resonates with me. K & R.

[eleny]

10. K&R with many thanks

[Birthmark]

11. Spot on, T Wolf

Thanks for putting it so well.

Good luck to you and your wife.

[tavalon]

121. In a just nation, it wouldn't be a matter of luck for his wife

It would be a right. But I'm preaching to the choir here.

[calico1]

13. You could have taken most of those words

right out of my mouth.

[mike_c]

14. rec'd-- thanks for posting!

eom

[flyarm]

15. Thank you! K&R!! eom

[laughingliberal]

16. Absolutely perfect! Thanks. nt

[nashville_brook]

17. The Belittled Pony shit has got to stop. It's revolting that life-and-death issues are MOCKED

in this way. shows the relative humanity of those using the term.

[Bluebear]

39. "shows the relative humanity of those using the term" - BRAVA!

[riderinthestorm]

18. I don't have a lot of time today to post but I do have time to K and R this! Perfect. nt

[Blue Owl]

19. Thanks for a thought-provoking post

And for the reminder that we live in complex, interesting times!

[Blue Owl]

20. Thanks for a thought-provoking post

And for the reminder that we live in complex, interesting times!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. 10) is particularly important on DU where some demand strict allegiance to the party.

[AndrewP]

23. Well said

[Hatchling]

24. Kicked, Rec'd and Bookmarked!

I probably will quote you frequently.:applause:

[loudsue]

25. This position INSURES more republican rule, and the quicker decline

of the United States.

Yes, I am as disillusioned as anyone on the planet. I'd STILL rather have fucking Rahm Emmanuel in the white house than Karl Rove.

[bertman]

66. Correct for sure, but it sure as hell is not the change I voted for and worked for .

[swilton]

69. Perhaps the decline of the US is similar to that of an alcoholic

The sooner they reach rock bottom, the sooner they start the real recovery:dilemma:

[Dragonfli]

80. Really? I consider them to be the same animal, just working different angles of the same scam

They both work for the same large money masters.

It may be true that one's style is to

1. Infiltrate an historically liberal party and promote corporate friendly policies from within.
2. Place people in positions of power within that party that are more in line with the corporate ideal than the party's actual platform.
3. Replace liberals with corporate "centrists" in any race he has the ability to influence.

While the other prefers to work directly with the party that has traditionally fronted for the corporate interests over the actual majority of Americans (that have had the misfortune of not being born to great wealth and have not been able to build the billions required to have influence over men such as these later on.)

These men are both "masters of meme", they both use language and political dirty tricks to convince the majority of Americans to vote against their own best interests.
The both represent the same driving force that has shipped our jobs oversees and our combined wealth into the pockets of the few.
They both would like to control K street and keep the money flowing to themselves and their chosen accomplices.
They both would trade our rights and liberties without a thought if/when doing so furthers their goals.
As I said they both represent the same masters

Without the advice whispered by these types of Iago into the ears of the D or the R "kings" that they have and will again advise, our leaders ears may more often hear the millions of voices that are typically ignored, fed upon and discarded by the few elite corporate masters that appear now to own most of the world (including many politicians).

[quakerboy]

94. Its a tought spot to be in

Watch as moderate republican policies are enacted, and be blamed for their failure, or watch as extremist republican policies are enacted and be waiting to pick up the pieces?

[tavalon]

122. Because he has a D after his name?

He is just as amoral. They are actually more alike than different.

[T Wolf]

26. Thank you all for you comments. I have made many enemies here with my sometimes(?)

overly-strident statements - usually coming from the profound sense of sadness and anger of "what might have been."

The old hippie in me bounces between the reality of today and the hope that I had of really making a positive difference. It's nice to see that many others feel and think along similar lines.

Maybe when I am less of an asshole, I can be a better communicator. Oh Christ, the 60's version is waking up. Time to go get angry again...

Or not.

[jwirr]

50. K & R The old hippie in me just cries. This is so frustrating.

[laughingliberal]

61. Fellow old hippie, here. Anger is one of the stages of grief

I think all of us on the left of the divide had great hopes for a rebirth of progressive government. And we are grieving the loss of the potential not realized.

[truedelphi]

74. K & R And If you can possibly get to a theatre or

Ask for it on Netflix (As one old hippy to another) see the Daniel Ellsberg documentary.

Something about seeing that movie brought that era back in full force. people thought about things and shared their feelings in real ways. I can remember sitting in the Student Union and having real conversations about current events/philosophies with others, and we were not all of like mind, but we were thought provoking to one another.

On blogs, you basically have little cliches, and although when those who agree with each other meet, there are nice exchanges. But if you are on a blog and those who think differently encounter you, it is aboutthe put down rather than the debate.

Anyway, I mention the Ellsberg movie because it really conencted back to that time and space. And helped me see the value of not selling out or giving up.

If Ellsberg could scrap his entire life knowing that he faced 117 years in Federal Prisons, but he had to do it to oppose that unjust war, then I can't ever give up either.

[amborin]

27. agree

and please read this:

all pretty shocking, but explains a lot:

"the "smoking gun" that links Barack Obama with Bob Rubin-Goldman Sachs, free trade
and cuts in entitlements. It’s the young Senator Barack Obama’s little commented on
and little-known speech to the Hamilton Project in April, 2006, well before he
became president.

Obama stated:
"I think that if you polled many of the people in
this room, most of us are strong free traders and most of us
believe in markets. …So, hopefully, this is not just going
to be all of us preaching to the choir. Hopefully, part of
what we are going to be doing is challenging our own conventional
wisdom and pushing out the boundaries and testing these ideas
in a vigorous and aggressive way."

snip<

Senator Barack Obama ran a stealth campaign for the presidency in which he took
positions on issues that he obviously didn’t believe which explains why he
jettisoned them early on (FISA; NAFTA renegotiation; DADT; DOMA etc.). But
the REAL, unvarnished Obama was unveiled in a speech he gave as a Senator
from Illinois in 2006. He spoke at the request of "my friend" Bob Rubin
whose Goldman Sachs had just funded the Hamilton Project, a free trade
think tank embedded in the Brookings Institution..."

snip

Wall Street Dems Unveil Plan to Undermine Progressives

Here’s a big shocker – the Wall Street wing of the Democratic Party
today announced it would be beginning its new war in earnest on the
grassroots elements of the party that are demanding serious public
policy changes. As the Financial Times reports, Citigroup Chairman
Bob Rubin held a press conference at the Brookings Institution to
announce the formation of the so-called "Hamilton Project." After
paying lip service to various economic problems afflicting the country,
Rubin and his former Treasury colleague Roger Altman quickly let it be
known exactly what they are up to.

snip

<http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/17981>

<http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/17984>

[bbgrunt]

37. thanks for this post. People really need to understand

that the Hamilton project is an effort to destroy progressives. Obama is the trojan horse.

[bvar22]

114. "I am a New Democrat"---Barack Obama

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=254931&kaid=85&subid=900184



The DLC New Team
Republican Lite ONLY!
Working Class Democrats Need NOT Apply

(Screen Capped from the DLC Website)

[CrispyQ]

28. The best statement in your post:

"The lack of progress is not as important as the lack of a positive direction in most of what the Democratic House, Senate and White House have "tried" to do."

Sadly, I'm very close to the "drop-out-and-survive" option.

The best to you & your wife. :hug:

[ChiciB1]

108. That Statement Says Volumes... Thanks For Pointing This Out CrispyQ! n/t

[Mithreal]

29. Kick and Rec

[placton]

30. BECOME A PROUD FORTY PERCENTER

don't vote the partisan ticket in '10 and '12. Only leverage you have is your vote.

[Ignis]

31. "could not have been more self-defeating if they had tried"

No kidding. For all that our beloved Democratic representatives like to tout that they're "pro-business," they sure could use some rudimentary lessons in how to launch a new product.

Also, big K&R. Great clear-headed analysis of where we stand now and how we got here.

:patriot:

[bvar22]

116. Kabuki Theater.

Designed to fail.
"Health Care Reform" was NEVER about helping the American Working Class.
From the very start it was ALL about giving the Health Insurance Cartel (Wall Streets incestuous 1st Cousin) a $TRILLION Dollars of Public Money.

Mission almost Accomplished.

[DefenseLawyer]

132. They tried. n/t

[defendandprotect]

32. k i c k

[MissDeeds]

33. K&R

And thanks for your thoughtful post. First, I hope your wife receives a kidney transplant soon and without the red tape nightmare that so many in her position have had to endure. You're right, such important issues should not be trivialized by insipid tag lines like the "pony" nonsense.

In regards to #6 - You nailed it. It is sad indeed for us, as Democrats, to try to elevate our president by saying he's better than McCain-Palin. Frankly, either of my bichons would be superior to McCain-Palin, but do we really want to set the bar that low? It's like a freaking limbo contest. 'Better than' does not always equate to 'good enough'. We can and must do better.

Glad you decided to post again. Your voice is needed. Take care, and my best to your wife.

[CrispyQ]

125. "'Better than' does not always equate to 'good enough'."

Very well stated!! I'm going to remember that next time someone suggests that my disgruntlement with Obama means I must prefer McCain/Palin. :eyes: I've got to wonder if they even have their brains turned on when they spout off shit like that.

[swilton]

34. The best option that I see

is to work around stellar leaders such as Sanders to build a third party -

I know to many of you it sounds like heresy

and to many more of you the chances of doing that successfully are remote.

But I see there is about as much remoteness in turning the DLC influence around - in both the house and the senate.

The Democratic Party couldn't have had a greater mandate during this election if it had been handed to them on a platter.

[Goldstein1984]

44. A Third Party --Yes

The Democratic and Republican parties are dysfunctional. Well, the Democratic Party is dysfunction, the Republican Party has gone completely and imperialistically insane. Neither is capable of being a vehicle for a progressive platform. Both parties have sold out to Wall Street.

A third party is worth discussing...

We could begin with the rebuttal that starting a new party will cause the Democratic Party to self destruct like the Republican Party is doing.

[jwirr]

53. I wonder if any party that we are capable of creating is going to be

strong enough to buck the corporatism that exists in the world today. The last time corporations had this much power it took a World War almost 6 years to even bring it under control - never mind end it.

I started reading "It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis and stopped after the 3 chapter. It has happened here and now. Yes the repug and the dems are useless because they have been cooped by the corporations in their war against the people. Would a third party have a chance against this?

[swilton]

54. On several levels I think that the far right wing

of the Republicon Party is destroying it - so you just end up with a big centrist co-moderate faction of Democrats and Republicons who are pro-war, pro-busines, anti-environment...

Perhaps the Green Party can be promoted - although I voted for her I wasn't a fan of Cynthia McKinney though - her views on the military (a la reforming it when it would be about as easy as abolishing it) were pretty wierd in my view.

As far as I'm concerned, one has to prepare to face the future of not winning any elections. But really, if the Democratic Party can't put some financial, health care and foreign policy reforms together after the 2008 election, I don't think it will ever happen. Again, I think there is about as much chance to change the Democratic Party from within as there is for a successful impact of a third (Green Party or Ralph Nader Party). Given the fact that the Democratic Party had their big chance in 2008, I'm ready to try something else.

[Goldstein1984]

57. And reality rears its ugly head

Time to start moving cash outside of the country. Cayman Islands. Off-shore corporation. Numbered account. Slowly load it up via ATM transfers during short but frequent vacations. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

[jwirr]

72. You are talking to the wrong party. Most of us do not have

enough money to move it to the next county let alone the Caymens.

[druidity33]

59. I think there should be 4 parties

and instant runoff voting.

Democrats, Liberals, Republicans, and Conservatives.


The "new Right" and the "new Left" should do this at the same time and with cooperation. They'd both have a shot at winning if the race was split 4 ways.

Just my 2 pennies...


:)

[Lorien]

85. I think the Right is headed in that direction with their luntic leaders Palin and

Beck at the helm. We need Sanders, Kucinich, Grayon and other true Liberals to form a party that represents traditional Democrats, not DLCers.

[CrispyQ]

126. Would a third party have a chance? I've wondered about that too.

I see the bat-shit crazy part of the republican party fracturing off & forming their own party & the more sane republicans joining the democratic party, which will drive our party even further to the right. Even if the liberal dems fracture off to form their own party, the republi-dem party will be so strong, with so much corporate support, that neither the bat-shitters nor the liberals will have a voice in our government. Sadly, for me, that's not much different than it is now.

[Lorien]

83. I would have disagreed a year ago, but not now

As you've stated; the Dems have a greater majority than they have had in a long time, or will have again. They've squandered their majority status completely, whice proves that they are either incompetent or corrupt. Neither is acceptable. The Right seems to have figured out that they're no longer being represented, so the time for TWO additional parties (at least) is now.

[gleaner]

35. Thanks for your post ...

You have it spot on. KR immediately.

[blindpig]

38. There never was a chance

unless you think you can win at three card monte.

[Enthusiast]

40. Excellent post, Mr. Wolf.

I feel almost exactly as you do. Now, what can we do?

This betrayal must be the result of long term planning.

[BrklynLiberal]

42. K n R seems so inadequate.

[20score]

43. Well said! K&R

[Lydia Leftcoast]

45. Yes, what T Wolf said

The history of the Democratic Party since 1980 has been a list of lost opportunities to make this nation a better place, whether such losses came in the form of failing to resist Republican initiatives, failing to undo Republican programs when they are in office, endorsing stealth Republicans, failing to develop or publicize coherent programs of their own, or running weak candidates.

[TheUnspeakable]

46. k and r

[democrank]

48. K & R

First, my best to your wife.

You`re right. It`s the DIRECTION, not the miniscule degree of difference that matters.

[AzDar]

49. K & R

[pleah]

51. K&R

[earth mom]

52. I'm leaning more towards dropping out and just surviving.

Whether my family and I move to a piece of land and get off the grid or simply leave the country, I really don't care. I'm just sick and tired of banging my head against the wall.

Things are just too FUBAR and CORRUPT AS HELL in this country for things to change.

The U.S. is fast becoming a 3rd world country and the powers that be don't give a flying fuck what happens to the majority of us.

[emmadoggy]

55. A hearty K & R from me.

:thumbsup:

[chimpymustgo]

56. K & R. Wish you and your wife all the best.

[Tanelorn]

58. I wonder how President Matt Santos is getting on.

Oh that's right the series ended just after his election.

[Techn0Girl]

60. I LOTHE saying K&R - But I'm sayin' it to you Man !

[dgibby]

62. Great post!

My very best to you and your wife.

If you haven't already done so, you might want to check out this group.

http://pdamerica.org/

I'm seriously considering joining.

[Canuckistanian]

63. TO HELL with the ponies

Just give me some of that "positive direction" and I'll be happy.

What I see from this administration is the status quo enshrined in concrete.

The John Yoo amicus brief sealed it for me. Either Obama is a true force for change or he's a full-blown corporatist and patsy for the Military-Industrial Complex.

My disappointment couldn't be more complete.

[gimama]

64. excellent, thought-full, post. thank You. eom

[emilyg]

65. k/r thanks

[bkozumplik]

67. perfect

Simple.
Well said.
Clear.
And delivered in a good tone.

(and I agree with every point, 1000%)
perfect blog post.
10.

Hooray for old hippies.


And best wishes to you and your wife. I hope everything goes quickly and well.

[bertman]

68. Just perfect, TWolf. All the best to you and your wife.

#6: "the extent of that difference is debatable."

Man, that struck a chord. I just imagined what WE DU'ers would have been screaming if McCain had presided over the transfer of NINE TRILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS to Wall Street--no strings attached. Or how about doing nothing to investigate Woo or Bybee or stopping the publication of the torture photos.

And GREAT GOD IN HEAVEN (that I don't believe in) sending 30,000 more Americans to kill Afghanis!!

The roar of outrage would have been overpowering.

[NRaleighLiberal]

70. Perfect summary of a terribly unperfect situation we find ourselves in.

[Old Codger]

71. absolutely n/t

[varelse]

73. I've got nothing to add to this but another rec

Thank you for this post.

[Indenturedebtor]

75. I agree on all points. Thank you for posting K+R n/t

[unapatriciated]

76. This is why I have become increasingly depressed with each wrong turn.

"Those of us who are life-long veterans of a personal, decades-long battle against the reich know that this chance will not come around again soon - probably not for the rest of my life."

K&R

[bluestateboomer]

77. Yeah!

We still have to live everyday making the best decisions we can, but it seems regardless of those decisions, we will first have to watch the whole mess fall apart. Then we have to hope that whoever tries to put things back together is smarter than we all are now. I'm older so I won't be around as long as some, but I am sad for the mess we have left our children.

[winyanstaz]

78. Bravo..well said...K & R

My heart goes out to you and your wife.

[change_notfinetuning]

79. Bush had us on the wrong track, but Obama derailed hope and change. To

paraphrase another DUer who said it best: Hope and change has gotten to where I hope he gets something right for a change. (I'd give them credit, but I don't remember who it was.)

[Blue_Tires]

81. well said

[Oldtimeralso]

82. K & R

All of the above points are great, but we must take action now as spelled out in #10.

[d3m0l1sh3r]

84. Built up thoughts are usually bad, but-

this wasnt

[Dragonfli]

86. Many of us are reaching the same conclusions independently.

We have a very serious problem with this current congress as well as with the current administration.
It has become glaringly obvious that they are not even trying to govern as Democrats, but rather as employees of corporations and neocons.

There reaches a point when more damage can be done under a false flag of liberal speeches and agreeable platforms (think NAFTA). We reached that point when the efforts of the party began to betray the very history and platform of our party. When the results of their work benefit the wealthy at the expense of the majority of Americans (some of which are barely surviving) we are supporting a party that is literally working against our own best interests.

Change must begin somewhere, if it can or will not come from the party we worked and voted for in the hopes of change, we should not give up, without change among other things people will continue to die for the sake of profit.
People are dying right now for this "reason".

An insurance company contributed very strongly to the death of my wife 4 years ago and since that time hearing how many will die for NO OTHER REASON THAN LACK OF INSURANCE or those that will die due to IC's refusing a treatment, a drug, or an organ - I do not hear numbers, but rather the groans of pain of real people loved by real people who will scream in mourning as their soul dies along with the one they love.

I worry for your wife, and I worry for you (I know how it feels to feel helpless while being consumed by concern and empathy)
I hope so much more than you might realize that she will be well and healthy and grow happily old with you.

This betrayal of our needs, this theft of our resources that are funneled to the top, this systematic destruction of our rights and our liberties must be fought, I think the only thing that will change the direction of our party from it's current (frankly Republican) policies is to help a third party to offer competition by becoming a home for the workers, the poor, the as yet unequal citizens that the Democratic party has deserted in it's blind rush to the corporate troth.

They only feel they can brazenly ignore the needs and wishes of the majority of Democrats because they think we will vote for them no matter what they do. It is our fault they feel this way, we keep doing exactly that no matter what they do, so screwing over it's base has actually become smart politically for them.

[sabrina 1]

87. Beautifully said ~

You have smashed the 'pony' talking point into pieces. The way party loyalists on both sides so blithely talk about what are life and death issues for so many people, is despicable. Thank you for your post, I wish for you and your wife whatever you both need to get her the care she needs ~

[tomp]

88. excellent points, thank you!

your first point is the best of a great bunch. this is my chief complaint against obama and one which i can never forgive him for: the lost opportunity to directly address the crimes of bush/cheney, inc. i firmly believe to not address those crimes is a crime in itself.

on #5, i will not vote for obama in 2012 and i hope many join me. i would support a primary challenge against obama by a progressive.

0n # 6 barack obama, better than a stupid crazy person...what an endorsement!!

On # 10...you are absolutely correct, each must decide, and each has responsibility for their choice. frankly, i'm not convinced anything can be done but change ourselves from within and hope it impacts on the world.

thanks again.

[Skittles]

89. my anger was blamed on my childhood

unfuckingbelievable :mad:

[girl gone mad]

90. Speak softly..

and carry a big stick, you will go far, my friend.

[Greyhound]

91. A K&R for "drop out and survive", although if any progress is made on tearing it down,

I could be swayed.
:evilgrin:

My thoughts and energy to your wife.

[jonestonesusa]

92. K & R!

Great points - agree 100%. Mainstream Dems have parleyed a huge election victory into half-measures and gridlock. They couldn't even muster the guts to strip Lieberman of his chairmanship after he campaigned for the other party! I guess we should have learned more from that simple fact alone.

Well, the struggle continues. What else can you say? Thanks for posting!

[rtassi]

93. "well met"

[JDPriestly]

95. Thanks. T Wolf

[totodeinhere]

96. I'm sorry to hear about your wife. The same thing happened to my grandmother.

But she went on kidney dialysis and while she doesn't like having to do that, at least it keeps her alive. Perhaps your wife should consider that. Medicare will pay for 80% of her treatment regardless of her age.

[mmonk]

97. Very good and very direct.

Recommended.

[midnight]

98. k&R.

[Hubert Flottz]

99. "Don't look back"

When I go in the voting booth next time should I not "look back" and think about the party that I have supported all my life.

A party that through their cowardice has not tried to see that justice was served? A party that FAILED to go after the criminals who tortured and murdered in my name, using my tax dollars to do so?

[Echo In Light]

106. Institutional collusion, not "cowardice." They WANT you to believe it's the latter...

... b/c it IS the former, 110%. All part of broader two (one) party ruse. "Spineless" Dems, and "incompetent" Repubs are establishment-approved, safe 'criticisms' since neither speaks to the truth of the matter.

[leveymg]

100. KNR

[PuraVidaDreamin]

101. To ALL who have kicked/ recc'd this heartfelt and important post- PLEASE

Consider a Real plan of action to allow the Obama administration to witness the growing discontent of their liberal base.

Peace of the Action was born from the fact that marches with permits on weekend can draw many, but unless
you are a right wing funded group of misguided zombies you won't get coverage from the corporate media.

We will turn to peaceful civil resistance to start demonstrating our long suffering frustrations. We take to the streets of DC- 1000 willing participants per day-
committed to shutting down various aspects of the capital of capitalism. On weekdays! While congress is in session. We will be arrested, We will clog up their jails,
and court systems beyond anything they have ever experienced.

Check out Peace of the Action- http://peaceoftheaction.org / We begin this spring in March, the timing to coincide with the 7th anniversary of the United States
illegal and immoral invasion, and on-going occupation of Iraq. We are looking for 5000 committed activists to start this action with. We are also looking for
videographers, photographers, and bloggers to bear witness to these planned actions.

For those who are physically unable, or financially unable to attend, we need help spreading the word. If you can donate to the cause, please do.
I'm taking my own vacation time- and my own limited funds to assist in this bold vision, so I can at least tell my children that I tried.

Please consider joining us.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

102. ps-Kicked

and Recc'd

[OneGrassRoot]

105. Does this have it's own OP? It should. :) n/t

[ChiciB1]

110. I Myself Am Trying To Figure Out A Way I Can Be There... But Financially It's

get harder for me. My mother-in-law recently passed away and we've had to take on the operating expenses of the upkeep of her home! We could sell at a loss, but much work is needed for an upgrade before it could possibly put on the market. Florida has been hurt by foreclosures a great deal and since she was in Hospice & then a Nursing home, we been paying the upkeep for a while.

One thing I can do is pass the information along, but Oh How I Wish I Can Be There! Good Luck and keep the "fires burning" for all of us who feel the same way! Maybe we can keep this an ongoing reminder in some fashion here at DU!

Thanks for mentioning this again! I have a post it note on my PC and will do what I can!

[ixion]

103. spot on, that

kicked and recommended.

:applause:

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

104. I'm in agreement with every point. Thanks! nt

[ChiciB1]

107. GREAT ANALOGY, And Well SAID! I'm Most Certainly A Liberal & Can Not

understand MORE WAR at the expense of the overwhelming needs here in this country! I could go on, but you put into words what so many of us are feeling, and why we won't simply follow along "blindly" behind issues we disagree with!

I stand up for what I believe in and I will objectively speak out against what I feel as certain betrayals I feel by ANY POTUS, even IF it happens to be a Democrat OR Obama! I'm sorely disappointed with a lot of what has happened and so wish Obama would not be so passive and would like to see him actually take on these out of control Repukes. They are NOT willing to work with him, it's evident to me and I don't understand why he keeps courting them at the peril of losing "his base!"

Thanks for speaking your mind, and I wish the very best for the help you need for your wife! I know this must be extremely distressing and perhaps a constant worry for you. My heart feels for you.

PEACE TO YOU AND TO ALL!
:hug:

[Agony]

109. Thanks for posting! It is amazing how many of us feel and think alike. This is

why I can never bring myself to a full commitment to the "drop out and survive" approach, even tho frustration and anger often drive me there for a personal recharge.

Volunteering in the community and other just plain selfish "withdrawal" to the joys of the world bring me back again and again to the long slow hard battle slog toward peace and justice universally applied.

Cheers!
Agony

[shadesofgray]

111. K&R

[MsLeopard]

112. Well said

and thank you for the concise expression of what so many of us feel. K&R a thousand times, if I could.

[Name removed]

115. Deleted message

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

[freddie mertz]

118. I'm sure you are frustrated, but this goes more than bit over the edge.

I am sure some of the statements you have read from the people you call "left-baggers" seem (or even may be) inflammatory and angry. Some people are genuinely upset and/or outraged at the way things have been going as of late, and sometimes the expression of that anger and frustration can be pointed.

But to go from this to what seems (to me) to amount to an across the board, ad hominem attack on the personal character and motives ("back-stabbers" seems especially unwarranted) of so many of your DU colleagues, in a thread whose OP, while certainly opinionated, also reflects the true desperation that citizens without access to health-care face everyday, seems more than bit inappropriate.

I wish you had considered your words more carefully, given the context.

Or did you not read that far?

[Cary]

135. The OP used the term "left baggers"

No, I'm not frustrated. I don't agree that my post was over the edge.

The <adjective omitted by you know what it is>'s want to throw people who are advancing our agenda under the bus. I want to throw the <adjective omitted> under the bus.

It's simple math, really. I don't think <adjective omitted> are going to get us anywhere, as the wingnuttery isn't getting the conservatism anywhere.

I think the vast majority of us will be just fine without the <adjective omitted>.

Now push the alert button and have this post removed too, because you <adjective omitted>s can't discuss this subject and God forbid I should express my viewpoint.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

139. Using "under the bus" is worth an alert alone. (n/t)

[freddie mertz]

141. Indeed. Also heartless.

[freddie mertz]

140. The OPer has a sick spouse.

And no insurance.

That is what I was attempting to point out.

Are the concerns of real people of no interest to you?

[freddie mertz]

143. Actually, the term "left-baggers' was coined by an anti-dissent OP a while back..

As an ad hominem against any and all who dare to question the wonderful policies of the present administration.

It has been taken up, ironically and with due contempt, by some of those very same critics.

Just correcting the record on that one, too.

[sallyseven]

124. Amen Right on target

We have to keep moving. We will overcome slowly but surely. Step by step. People do not like sudden changes. I won't give up on Obama unless he does something blatant. He needs to get Holder, Summers, Geitner and Emanuel in line. He has to understand that the repuks are all alike. He should listen to what the dirt bags are saying. They are evil and would wreck the country further if allowed to go unchallenged.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

130. LOL

Obama IS "Holder, Summers, Geitner and Emanuel" -- you and everyone else who fail to see it need to grasp that. And don't you think he should have figured out by now how "repuks" operate? Hell, the vast majority on this board have it figured out.

[freddie mertz]

144. Is this meant as irony? nt.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

128. Your tone is accusatory and obnoxious.

The problem is that the "leftbaggers," time and time again, have been proven right on numerous issues, only for "moderates" to finally WTF up and come on board years later. I'm sick of it. The disastrous policies of the Bush admin and the illegal invasion of Iraq (advanced by complicit Dems) are glaring examples. I lost friends and had strained relationships with a number of co-workers over this; eight years later, many of them said "you were right." No fucking kidding I (and other DUers) were right...you should have listened in the first place. The carefully orchestrated financial collapse and Wall Street bailouts are other examples. Americans are progressive on a number of issues, but we're up against the constant discord fomented by the ruling class, Corporate Media, and many religious leaders. Consider the progress in this country on civil rights, choice, women's suffrage, workers' rights, etc. -- do you think "let's get along" Dems advanced those causes? Even the men and women who helped establish our national parks system would be considered radical, and for that, I truly thank them.

"Inpatient"? How much more loss of time, treasure, and life do you need? (When do you deploy, by the way?)

The sheer number of recs and positive responses to the OP give me hope that "leftbaggers" are the majority on DU. And don't flatter yourself, you're not that "unusual" -- any number of us are happy to engage you and anyone else.

[bvar22]

134. LOL.

Post #115 Name Removed/Post Deleted.

Name calling is ALL the "Centrists" have left.
They certainly can no longer engage on The Issues.

[Political_Junkie]

117. Best to you and your wife.

Well said. I couldn't agree more.

[freddie mertz]

120. Is there somewhere your wife can go, where you live

That can perhaps find the assistance you need?

I am thinking Medicaid, but I know the eligibility for that is difficult.

I shudder to think what my family would have gone through two years ago, when my wife had a very severe and difficult to diagnose nerve condition that came too close to rendering her paralyzed in one arm.

The idea that treatment for such problems should rely on the criminally negligent, Russian-roulette healthcare system that will remain in place AFTER Obama's so-called "reform" akes effect (in what, 2013?) makes me personally ill.

[scentopine]

123. Obama is the best republican we can hope for,...

Obama sees rich people. Listen carefully and you will always hear Obama talk about extremes on both sides. As if the right wing juggernaut has a left-side parallel. It doesn't.

The right wing has done a brilliant job of transformational politics. They've put their shock troops out front to soften us up with ideas that institutionalized fraud and criminal activity is OK by virtue of cultural acceptance. That's why we have no justice for the criminals who started a war based on lies and continue a war based on lies. We have torture, outsourcing, hate against immigrants, hate against liberals, hate against gays, on and on.

Obama and his legion of triangulators have decided republicans win elections and winning is everything. So, another heartfelt fuck you too all the extreme "centrists". Stop cloaking your cold black and unprincipled politics around the popular movement of the moment. The "realist" illusion you shit out your "free market" sphincters is nothing more than neo-con turds painted up in the momentary glory of hope and change.

For the realists progress is not as important as protecting the graft and corruption and politics so contaminated with Fortune 500 cash, Washington should be declared a super-fund emergency, evacuated and buried in concrete to stop the accelerating damage to middle class.

I don't want a Pony. I do want to stop the horseshit.

[scentopine]

127. Tear it down! Need new party. Both parties work only for corporate citizens. -nt

[olegramps]

129. What are you bitching about; he gives pretty speeches and has a nice smile.

Very sorry to hear about your wife. Now if you had a billion dollars I don't think you would have any trouble buying a kidney. Damn sad isn't it? I do have a bit of a problem about the ground swell of disappointment with President Obama. Isn't it a fact that during his campaign he didn't promise to pursue a single payer system and that he told people that he was going to escalate the war against radical Islamists in Afghanistan? Regardless of many people's disappointment, isn't it a fact that the Republicans have opposed every measure that has been proposed by the democrats and this administration. Just yesterday every Republican present voted against the bill to help to better regulate banks. The only thing that I have seen that the Republicans have supported has been the build up in Afghanistan most likely because they all hold millions of dollars of stock in arms manufacturing companies and Halliburton.

You want real reform? Then push for a constitutional amendment for term limits and public financing of all federal elections. Two terms and you are out.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

131. Rec #264

Good - I feared I might be too late to rec.

Soldiering should NOT be the only career option for young people. And I'm starting to get very nervous about the next Supreme Court appointment.

[scentopine]

138. Jobs in Afghanistan - The Stimulus Package for the Rest of Us -nt

[Sy Kopath]

133. It's Gone Downhill So Quickly

Just one year ago I was actually excited and optimistic about the direction our country would finally be heading. I was a little scared that it might take awhile for things to actually progress but come to find out it has taken a much shorter time for things to almost get worse.

I'm pretty fed up with the politics of both parties and the teabagger party is not "my cup of tea."

[philly_bob]

136. "Whether my wife can actually get a kidney transplant ... is not a fucking PONY."

Well said.

[freddie mertz]

142. Indeed. It is heartbreaking and infuriating to have the read that "pony" crap

I wonder sometimes if people have any heart.

[bvar22]

137. Quick Review :

*WARS fully funded and EXPANDING. Bill sent to our children…...Mission Accomplished !

*Trillion Dollars given to friends and campaign contributors on Wall Street. No Strings Attached...Mission Accomplished!

*Military Spending INCREASED....Mission Accomplished!

*Trillion+ Dollars given to the Health Insurance Industry. Token, easily avoidable, symbolic only strings attached....Mission almost Accomplished!

*Kill the possibility for a REAL "Public Option" or REAL Universal Health Care for at least another generation, and begin the “Entitlement Reform” defunding of Medicare (-$500 Billion)....Mission almost Accomplished!

*Block ANY re-regulation of BIG BANKS and Credit Cards....Mission Accomplished!

*Protect the Bush War Criminals and Torturers from JUSTICE....Mission Accomplished.

*Throw the Dirty Hippie Peaceniks, Liberals, and GBLT under the bus....Mission Accomplished!

*Reinforce the worst Police State provisions of the Patriot Act....Mission Accomplished!

*Protect the very richest. Tell the Working Class that they CAN will be forced to compete with 3rd World Slave Labor.....Mission Accomplished!

*EFCA (Employee Free Choice Act) killed in the crib....Mission Accomplished!

*More Anti-LABOR "Free Trade"....Mission almost Accomplished!

*Jobless Recovery....Mission Accomplished

*The next generation buried under such a debt burden that they will never be able to afford any social or economic programs that will benefit their Working Class....Mission Accomplished.

Oh YES!
I LOVE this DIRECTION and can't wait to vote for MORE of this.
/sarcasm