Ponies

[Ineeda]

Sorry. I dislike that term too and only used it to get readers' attention. We all have our favorite issues and most of us have multiple issues of concern. We're Democrats and, as they say, it's like herding cats. But I think we'd better get it together for November. The alternative would be cataclysmic for our country. We would see each and every "pony" sent to the glue factory -- DADT, DOMA, jobs, abortion, the economy, healthcare, the environment, Social Security and Medicare, religious freedom and so on. The idiots are even threatening impeachment, for heaven's sake. Many of us are disappointed that the first nineteen months of a Democratic majority has not produced more or better policies/programs and that there has been too much compromise. Many of us are frustrated with the administration continuing to chase bipartisan cooperation on anything. It's simply not going to happen and we know it. IMO, we have to get over our disappointment and anger just long enough to retain the majority and then have a couple more years to hold Democrats' feet to the fire. If the repukes win big, we can kiss ALL of the progressive agenda goodbye, perhaps forever. As my dad used to say, "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face."
:hide:

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. As my dad used to say, "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face."

Which might hurt, but it is a form of self-expression. And after all, isn't that what politics, especially on the internet, is all about?

[LoZoccolo]

2. I don't even think it's necessarily self-expression.

Due to the somewhat-anonymous nature of it, and the fact that our interactions almost always lack social consequences anywhere but here, it can be manipulation and theatrics as well.

[Ineeda]

4. That's reassuring...

if what you mean is that all the huffing and puffing here on DU is only that. I hope that's true. Living in a very red area, I get most of my political feedback here and what I read often scares the bejeesus out of me.

[VMI Dem]

3. No votes for bigots. Don't care if they have a D by their name.

Been played too many times.

[Ineeda]

5. That's a big one for me, too, as is pro-choice

but the thing is -- each and every repuke is a bigot.

[pocoloco]

7. And that is the only hope for real change!

[mitchtv]

18. same here, but I'm luck most of my CA candidates are OK

I only have to bump one

[griffi94]

6. for me it's gotten hard to care

the ogga booga of "the gop will win" just isn't that scary after seeing longterm double digit unemployment, a jobless recovery, record high home foreclosures, and the prospect of being mandated to buy insurance that for many will still be too expensive to use.

it's not cutting off your nose to spite your face so much as it's a poke in the eye versus a kick in the groin.
i don't want to be kicked or poked.

[Ineeda]

8. so you think any of that will change if the repukes

regain (more) control? I don't disagree with your economic points. I, too, feel more despairing, but I fear it will get much, much worse. It is much more than 'ogga booga', IMO.

[griffi94]

11. i think for a lot of people

it can't get worse. no job, no money, old enough not to have time to rebuild their lives before they're too old to work.
i know a lot of people who voted for the democrats and obama, who normally vote repub, or don't bother to vote because "it doesn't matter who is in control"
they turned out in 2008 and voted and gave the democrats a huge mandate to reform the system.
the democrats tinkered around the edges and wasted their mandate.

now it's 2 years farther along and the people who were just hanging on have lost their grip and fallen over the edge.
the system is still rigged and after you've lost everything, how can it get worse.
the gop can't make it illegal to breathe.

[Ineeda]

14. Excellent points.

The disastrous economy makes it impossible for many people to care about anything else. I do get that, but I'm also incredibly worried about the fundies being in charge.

[griffi94]

15. i don't think it matters

all the crap in the rw culture wars is a distraction to keep 50% of the people fighting with the other 50% so it's easier to steal from us.
when the middle of the road voters reach the point where they're so economically fucked that they can't recover, they will no longer care if gays can marry. they'll be too worried about feeding themselves and maitaining a roof over their heads.
had obama and the democrats used their mandate to help out the working class, they wouldn't be in the position they're in now.

[Bluerthanblue]

19. wasn't it the gop that wanted to deny unemployment extensions?

I know people who wouldn't have a roof over their heads, or be able to feed their family without those benefits.

:shrug:

[Bluerthanblue]

17. believe me, it can always get worse.

look at where 8 yrs of Bush have left us.

The "huge mandate" you speak of, was different things to different people. Most of the
republicans I know who voted for Obama/Biden were voting against the religious, conservative, neo-con mentality that had overwhelmed their party. They were also voting against Palin.
I'm sorry, if people hadn't "bothered to vote" before, then they really need to look at their own responsibility for where this country has gotten.

Apathy is no excuse. If you don't attempt to bring about positive change, you are making a choice to bring about what-ever ultimately happens. Those who didn't vote against Bush helped bring us to where we are today.

The gop may not make it illegal to breathe, but they can poison the air so that you become chronically ill, and then deny you any hope of care.

:shrug:

[Bluenorthwest]

9. You place the threat of impeachment above religious freedom?

Above equality? Wow. And how do we have religious freedom now? The government dictates who can and cannot participate in marriage rites. So, you have religious freedom, at the expense of others. I have no equal rights, no religious freedom. I'm not scared of being impeached, not at all. Not sure they can impeach me. I'll have to google that.

[Ineeda]

12. Wow, yourself. Where did you get that impression?

Did I fail to include "your issues"? They're mine also. Again, it will NEVER happen under the repukes.

[mmonk]

10. All our ponies are dying including the ones we already have.

Just ignore it?

[lib2DaBone]

13. I changed my Party Affiliation today.. to Independent.

I would NEVER vote for a Repuke in a million years... but

I will not vote for Blue Dogs. I will work to overturn Kent Conrad, Max Baucus, and Bill Nelson from Nebraska.

I want the most far-left, populist, hard fighting Dem I can find. I am sick to death of Nancy Pelosi and Harry "Spineless" Reid.

Mr. Obama's assault on Social Security can not be allowed to happen, and if he renews the tax cuts for the wealthy... it's the last straw...

[Iggo]

22. So you joined the Independent Party?

And you think they support Dems and Dem policies?

[LWolf]

16. To use your metaphor, my pony was sent to the glue factory

by the Obama administration.

My pony is public education. The glue factory is part of his "blueprint" and RTTT is the truck hauling the poor dead pony off.

[defendandprotect]

20. Unfortunately, the FEAR we have of GOP is now being transposed to DEMS ...

that's the problem that has to be acknowledged --

Yes -- we're talking about the difference of GOP destroying us in 6 months --

and Dems destroying us in 9 months --

No one is planning to go backwards -- but rather than throwing FEAR in our faces

we need a plan to push thru to the left --

and that doesn't happen by trying to shut down criticism of Obama/Dems --

The best plan for moving forward is to begin to acknowledge and come to terms with

the criticism -- because it is real.

And, sadly, the occasion for criticism keeps increasing as this administration

continues to move to the right!!

THAT'S where the attention has to be . . . how to stop this DLC/New Dem Administration

from moving government and the party further to the RIGHT!!

[Bluebear]

21. 'and then have a couple more years to hold Democrats' feet to the fire'

And be ignored further. That's how I feel anymore.

[LAGC]

23. All the more reason for the Democrats to use the lame-duck session of Congress...

Assuming they lose the elections, to really push forward a progressive agenda.

Of course, had they simply done it BEFORE the election, maybe they wouldn't have to worry about time constraints before the Old Guard takes back over.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

24. I was forced to sell my pony to a rich neighbor because I couldn't afford to keep it and

the money I got will barely put food on the table for the next month.

[tnlefty]

25. Welcome to DU and whatever....

I'll be voting for the first time ever for the green candidate for Gov. here, and I will gladly work for the candidate in the 3rd congressional district here.

As far as the Gov. is concerned, if I wanted a race-baiting, gay-hating, stupid mofo who will push creationism in schools...I'd be looking to vote for a repuke here, but I have that choice as a dem candidate for Gov. No way will I vote for that, no way, no how....just no fucking way.

Sorry, but just NO. Enough already.