I haved lived long enough to know.. Democrats always pay the price.

[Peacetrain]

FDR and the New Deal that saved the American Worker, and gave us Social Security etc.. people so love to take it and vilify it at the same time.. The support of the workers.. FDR did an amazing thing for the future of the country

John F Kennedy.. actually cut taxes for the very rich from 91% to 71%.. The rich whines seem to overlook the fact that it is the Democrats who tried to cut those taxes to a reasonable rate..all the great promise.. cut short by assassination

When Lyndon Johnson signed off the Great Society.. Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, Medicare.. on and on and on.. Lyndon Johnson said we would lose the south.. But it was the right thing to do..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Society

The above link is an amazing litany of what was accomplished by Johnson.. though he totally lost any credit because of the Vietnam War..

Womens' Rights.. Roe V Wade.. and Democrats have been paying a price with values voters ever since.

Gay Rights.. and DADT overturned... will cost Democrats support and well as DOMA with those same values voters who have been attacking on Roe v Wade.. but it is the right thing to do.

Very short list of things we have done and are trying to do.. Can you name any important social legislation done by the right??.. any Individual Rights protected??

We are the oldest Political Party.. going back to Jefferson.. and have the warts to show for it, because we have existed in such trying times.. but we manage to do the right thing for the country.

I am a very proud Democrat, and I often wonder what kind of country this would be without the Democrats doing the right thing.

[madmax]

1. Joining you as another proud Democrat

I grew up listening to my Mom's stories and of those who she knew whose lives were affected by the Depression and how much FDR did for them, our country and future generations. He was revered in our apartment.

Johnson did the right thing and he was right that Dem's would pay the price for a generation.

When I write to President Obama my thoughts on a particular issue I always add something along those lines. 'It may cost you, but do the right thing'.

[Peacetrain]

2. Yep.. we may hurt in the short term.. but doing the right thing by people is all that counts

My Mom grew up in the depression also.. they have quite the stories to tell!

Edit to add.. I was not kidding, I cannot think of one thing in the last 70 years that the republicans have done to promote rights of the individual

[madmax]

3. A friend told me that Nixon

wouldn't have been too bad if not for the major scandals and prejudices he harbored. He was for some type of public health care, higher taxes for the wealthy and a few other points which escape me now. I'd have to look it up and what with all that's happened this week - the election, KO and life in general I'm too burnt out and what good would it do, lol.

Mom passed away 4 yrs ago at 92, a diehard FDR Dem forever. 'there will never be another Roosevelt' Amelia (mom)

[demosincebirth]

6. He was for health care, but Ted Kennedy wouldn't run it through congress.

[madmax]

16. Now I will have to research that a little.

Carter recently said something about Kennedy opposing Health Care or HC Reform when he was President. What the hell is that all about? Need to look that up just for my own head.

I'll decide how I feel about Kennedy after I find out more of the facts. Thanks for reminding that Carter, too brought this up. So much to learn, so little time, running out of mental megs ;) I need a larger hard drive or maybe I can stick a USB drive in my ear. :crazy:

[demosincebirth]

21. Here is something else to research. Kennedy led the charge to deregulate

the trucking industry (in '78 I think) and within ten years it completely destroyed the unionized trucking industry costing upward of 300,000 Teamster jobs.

[madmax]

28. wtf! I can't believe it - what was he thinking and why?

Too much to post here. Google is my friend but, thanks for posting. To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement. I keep saying what I do know fills a thimble, relatively speaking. There's no way the aveage person can lead any type of life and keep up with what's going on.

I've begun to spend more time talking to my son and his family about the way this country is changing. The 15 yr. grandson listens intently and asks questions. He's a liberal, although at his age he's more intereted in sports and girls. He's working his way to finding his beliefs.

[demosincebirth]

29. People are not always who you think. I think Kennedy tried to ammend

himself by leading the charge for HC, before he died. Carter signed the trucking deregulation bill, so he also has to share the blame, plus many more who voted for the bill.

[iconocrastic]

30. Stupid Americans don't know what's good for them.

So they reject us.

[roguevalley]

14. My family are hard left FDR dems and have been since about

the time of Jefferson. I remember when dems could gut out the pugs and lay they down. Now we don't have a spine. Our party is the oldest in America and one with great things done. But now, they have these weezils, these quizlings and now a president that appears to be thinking more f'ing compromise is the ticket even though THAT IS WHAT GOT US TO THIS POINT!!!! I am sick of f-ing cowards pretending to be dems.

[madmax]

17. Don't hold back - you're on a roll.

^5 :toast:

[roguevalley]

24. smooches, madmax. SIGH! I am old enough to actually remember

when dems were feared and principled. :-)

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. What kind of personality did FDR have?

He was a tough guy, wasn't he?

[demosincebirth]

8. Republicans hated him and he "welcomed their hate." He never played footsy with them at all.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Why don't we make them like that anymore?

[demosincebirth]

12. He connected with the people and he explained in simple terms what

should be done and not done. He used those "fireside chats" very cleverly to do that.

[roguevalley]

15. he was awesome. read "Traitor to his class."

[patrice]

5. Principles also cost the Grassroots, especially in an "at will" and "right to work" employment

universe, reinforced by ChurchCo.

[paparush]

7. Will Rogers' Quote -

"I'm not a member of any organized political party. I'm a Democrat."

Ringing very true to these ears right now.

[madmax]

19. I was thinking of getting my son a book of Will Rogers

quotes for Christmas.

There are several books in the cart now I'll also have to add 'Traitor to his Class' and a WR quotes, if there is one.

Great thread, thank you for the fond memories.

[UrbScotty]

9. Hear, hear!

My grandparents were all Democrats. My entire family has been Democrats.

Even after last week, I wouldn't be anything else besides a darn proud Democrat!

[polichick]

10. I'm a proud liberal - these days those are extreme liberal policies. nt

[DeepModem Mom]

13. You're right, Peacetrain. Thanks for this post. nt

[Kind of Blue]

18. Hear! Hear! and There, there to us!

We can deal with the losses and dealt with worse. The very best OP I've read in a very long time. You've summed it up perfectly Peacetrain.
KnR

[madmax]

20. Wish I could rec this 10 times.

:grouphug: Peacetrain and to all who've posted.

[mzmolly]

22. K, B

and R. :hi:

[SeaLyons]

23. K&R

Great post!


:kick:

[ampad]

25. K&R

Great post peacetrain. You know Randi Rhodes made a comment a few years ago that stuck with me. "We are only as strong as our weakest link." That is something I heard over and over again in bootcamp. It rings true in society and today's politics. That is what the so called value voters and republicans cannot wrap their minds around. It is one of the differences between the two parties. We may lose the "value voters" once DADT and DOMA is overturned but at the end of the day the party will be stronger for it. The value voters may never get over it but hey many in the South are still pissed about the civil war and the civil rights movement. They will just have to get over it and allow the country to move forward. I say the sooner the better. Let's rip the band-aid off and get it done.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

26. I would add Carter's excellent work on energy. We learned that he was right and paid the price!

When I was a little girl growing up in Georgia, Jimmy was my governor, and for some reason, we Democrats of today wrongly believe that Carter is a champion of liberal causes. Back then as governor and eventually president, he wasn't. He was quite conservative. But, for some reason, the Republicans, led by the Moral Majority, took him down--a Evangelical and conservative Southern Baptist. And ever since the so-called Moral Majority has been on a pretty successful mission to destroy liberals, the Democratic Party, and social justice causes.

[Peacetrain]

27. I thought about that, but too late to edit.. He really tried to shine a light on

energy needs..