You folks really get it. Thanks.

[bigtree]

About a month or so ago, I was about as disgusted as I could be with the tenor of the discussions here. I wanted to see some indication that this community understood the fight we we're up against with republicans threatening to overwhelm us at the polls. Weeks later, I couldn't be more proud of the DU community as poster after poster has affirmed their intention to vote to keep our Democrats in majority control in Washington - even in their expressions of frustration and disappointment with the pace of change from this Congress and White House. You folks really 'get it'.

I personally think we're going to flood the voting centers today and make these prognosticators eat their predictions of a republican 'wave'. I hope every Democrat has experienced the attempts to tell them their votes have been made moot by republican 'enthusiasm'. If for no other reason than putting these political gadflies in their place, Democrats need to stand up and be counted today. I think we will, in overwhelming numbers. If we have any pride in ourselves at all, Democrats won't let the republicans and their media boosters dictate the outcome of these elections.

Thanks, folks, for supporting our Democratic party, and thanks for maintaining your principles and values as you do so.

[FSogol]

1. K & R. GOTV n/t

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Here's hoping the Republican Wave washes them out to sea.

Metaphorically of course

[BzaDem]

3. K & R.

[AllyCat]

4. I'm not happy with a lot of the Dems, but the cons will NEVER work with or for us

so we must keep up the hard work and effort.

[nolabear]

5. Let's keep that "WE" in "Yes we can"!

[Mortos]

7. Yes We Can

and Yes I Did. Keep hope alive.

[de novo]

6. I could never give up my vote against the repugs.

I often am frustrated with the Dems. But, I would rather be frustrated than terrified.

[zipplewrath]

8. Unfortunately you don't

"... poster has affirmed their intention to vote to keep our Democrats in majority control in Washington - even in their expressions of frustration and disappointment with the pace of change from this Congress and White House."

There are many who are frustrated with the DIRECTION of change, not just the pace. Tripling the number of troops in Afghanistan is the wrong direction, not pace. Telling the torturers over at the CIA that he "has their backs" isn't pace, it's direction. Deciding that bankers bonus contracts should be protected, and mortgage contracts shouldn't be forcibly modified isn't a matter of pace, it's direction. Deciding that breaking a campaign promise on mandates and cadillac taxes is okay, but keeping them on public options and drug price negotiation isn't pace, it's direction.

But keep throwing around strawmen if that's what makes you feel "proud".

And yes, I went in a voted a straight Dem ticket, while I held my nose. You should see the list of folks I had to vote for merely because there was a D after their name.

[Joe Fields]

12. we should be holding torches and pitchforks, instead of our noses.

[bigtree]

16. you're right, zipplewrath

There is a problem with the 'direction' of change. I don't attribute all of that to our party and President, but I take your point and agree.

Btw, I think most of what we 'throw around' here are 'strawmen'. This is primarily a discussion board, after all.

[zipplewrath]

19. I'm in violent agreement

"Btw, I think most of what we 'throw around' here are 'strawmen'. This is primarily a discussion board, after all."

I participate in the forum because it is the best of its kind, bar none. Its one overwhelming short coming, due predominately to the rules here, is that it discourages direct critical comparison (some times called confrontation) and ENcourages vague, strawmen like, attributions of others positions and ideas.

Which is why I often take advantage of specific postings and replies to make much larger points. 'Cause I have learned the weakness of trying to argue against "ghosts".

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Hi, Bigtree.

As one who has often expressed disappointment with the pace and even the direction in which our leaders are taking us, I want to make the point that my expression of my frustrations is an in-house thing. I post critically specifically because I'm among generally like-minded people here (in terms of our general goals, beliefs and values), and I have certain points of view that I wish to air in circles where I can get intelligent and nuanced responses, and where I can sometimes help to nudge the consensus of opinion in my favored direction.

I DO NOT put all my discontent out on the clothesline for all the passersby to see. I post things here that I would not say in other venues, simply because I would be feeding the trolls. I'm not about to give the right any notion that I don't support liberal/progressive views, or that I might (in their dreams!) be persuaded to opt for one of their crazy or psychopathic candidates. A clear example of this happened repeatedly when I was polled. For some reason, I seemed to be getting phone polled every 3 days in the 6 weeks before the election. I ALWAYS registered my support for Obama, for the health insurance reform legislation, etc., knowing that any other answer would be construed as support for rightward candidates and opinions, when my actual views were to the left.

For me, voting and giving money and putting in volunteer time on the phone were easy choices to make. Hell, I have Feingold to vote for!!

And of course, like any sane person, I'm voting against the Brownshirts.

[bigtree]

14. 'in-house' is a good strategy for anyone interested in keeping their efforts within political reason

. . . and wisdom. I'm with you on keeping my discontent out of the way of those who might exploit it to the advantage of republicans. I do think that DU does get some public exposure beyond our community from time to time. I think prudence is a good strategy when posting here, as well, but we're only human and this is our sounding board.

As for you, Jackpine Radical, I value and respect your input - as I do that of the many other posters who are looking and fighting for solutions to the issues and concerns that confound them in their personal lives and elsewhere. I appreciate that you've chosen to organize under our Democratic banner and I look forward to more agitation and insight from you and my fellow DU Democratic political warriors.

Best of luck to us today! :hi:

[madmax]

10. Somewhat like the last fundraiser

when Skinner didn't think we'd meet our goal. We all pulled together and we did it. I was not surprised. When it gets down to it, we Dem's get the lead out.

bigtree :hug: No funnies about being a librul treehugger either ;)

[Scurrilous]

11. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Joe Fields]

13. So, I guess those who disagree don't "get it?"

Chris Hedges gets it. I believe most here don't. Not yet, anyway.

[Joe Fields]

15. I fail to see how you can vote for todays democrats and still

maintain your principles and values.

[bigtree]

17. I know you do.

I tried to outline my reasons for voting Democratic here:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree/1376

I don't expect you to agree with me. I'm familiar with your pov concerning our Democratic party. At any rate, I do make my choice to support the Democratic party with a great deal of consideration and conviction.

[political_Dem]

18. K&R.

[Parker CA]

20. I'd love nothing more today than to see Andrea Mitchell and the rest of the naysayers eating their

words by the heaping spoonful in regards to this "enormous enthusiasm gap" and "category 4 hurricane" the Dems are fighting!!

[Stinky The Clown]

21. Tree ..... people are no less disgruntled than they've ever been. But ... and it is a BIG "but" ....

There is no way more than 1% of the people here would skip voting. But don't think there isn't nose holding. That is our "lack of enthusiasm" that has been completely misrepresented by the media (like *that's* a surprise!). The media is equating our lack with any right wing lack of enthusiasm. You can bet your bippy there are people holding their noses as they vote Democratic, but vote they will. Reliably.

I agree with your assessment. High turnout helps the Dems and the early indications are big turnouts.

[bigtree]

22. here where we live

. . . the Democratic party is alive and kicking. It can't just be this Democratic state which is enthused about voting. I don't remember a midterm with this much of a buzz and this much of a response from area voters.

At any rate, Stinky, it's great to live in a state with so many Democrats (even though we shamed ourselves - broke my heart - by voting for Bush over Kerry). At least we won't have to endure Ehrlich again.

Best of luck to us! :toast:

[Stinky The Clown]

23. We are, indeed, lucky to live in a blue state

My original reply to you was about the DU "population", not Maryland's.

With luck, Ehrlich will keep his word and stay out politics if he loses this election.

[bigtree]

24. you're absolutely right, Stinky

. . . we have a dependable voting community here at DU. Our folks show up and vote, election after election. That reality lends great credibility to our political arguments and discussions. Thanks for the reminder.

[kayakjohnny]

25. Thanks for your post. I was proud to vote today.

It was as much out of anger as it was from wanting to stop or at least slow the bleeding in this country.

But I was still proud to have made the effort.

Thanks for your thanks.

[kathysart_decoration]

26. good news in Milwaukee

I have written this in one other post already, but I will continue to post it. I worked as a poll watcher today for the Democratic Party in Milwaukee, WI and was assigned to a predominantly African American polling station - because that's where we have the problems. As early as 9:00 this morning the poll volunteers, who have been working this station for many years, said the voter turnout was higher than even the last presidential election. Until I left at 1:00 this afternoon, they were expressing shock at how high the turnout was. Never seen it this high before. There was a big push at getting Democrats to turnout up until today. Yesterday I worked a phonebank for the Democratic Party and Russ Feingold came by. When I met him I said, "It is my pleasure to meet you." He walked a few steps away, turned around, and said, "No, it's my pleasure to meet you." Thrilled and hopeful I now am that this could turn out OK. A Senate without Russ Feingold is unbearable to think about.