Democrats used to stand for principles

[MADem]

107. PASSIVE. "Are promptly told..." -- and what do you do? Tug your forelock and say Yessir?

Listen to yourself. You're painting yourself as the victim, as the person who is being taught, told, ordered about. But you aren't that--unless that's what you, yourself, are willing to accept.

Stop looking to a leadership you apparently despise, and make your own way. That's what Howard Dean did, and he damn near made it, were it not for Unreliable Orange Hats who promised and did not deliver, and that unfortunate scream. But he built a fifty state strategy that he has RETAINED to this day, and he'll be using it to help the candidate he's endorsed.

You can whine and say "TPP" like you "know" what is going to happen with that process--but you don't, because it hasn't HAPPENED yet--but it's a great distraction from doing that hard work. And if you're so distracted that you've got to point to WAAAH TPP and WAAAH--Banksters, and this complaint, and that, you're never going to get off your (collective) asses and actually do the w-o-r-k to organize, fundraise, create a groundswell, and get somewhere with a candidate and a platform.

Enough with the "they" won't let me complaint. I think that's an EXCUSE. "Waaah, I complain but they don't listen to me!!" Maybe because you (and that is a collective you) aren't putting your money and energy and time and talent where your mouth is...?

It's way easier to sit in front of a keyboard and gripe...tear down, criticize, find fault--let off steam, accomplish nothing. The Kochs pay people to do that--so why would leadership even listen to that kind of stuff?

If you are sincere about your dissatisfaction (and I've every reason to believe you are sincere), and aren't just shit-stirring or rabble rousing, this is what I would recommend (NB: you are free to ignore my recommendations, of course): Get off the computer, get on the phone, and find out where your favorite candidate needs you. Then volunteer your time, your talents, your cash if you have any, in any way that candidate can use you. If there's fundraising to do (and there always is), get in touch with the principals around your candidate who are working that angle and fundraise--become a bundler; throw a few house parties, film nights, sing-alongs, whatever your set likes to do, collect donations to the cause and send them along to the candidate's PAC. Meet up with like-minded people, ORGANIZE. Stop trashing the candidate(s) you don't like, and start working for and talking up the one you DO like. Stop being passive, start being positive.

The "tear down" and "they don't listen to meeeee!" approach doesn't work--it doesn't change hearts and minds, it just sounds like petulance.

If you've got a better candidate, work FOR that candidate. The worst thing that will happen is you will gain experience, and that experience will stand you in good stead. The best thing that will happen is that you'll be in on the ground floor of a groundswell. But griping on DU is not being in on that ground floor--it's just, well...griping on DU.

As for "being more supportive," that's not on me. I think Clinton is a fine candidate. I'm supportive of her candidacy. It's not my job to be supportive of other candidates--that's what the people who support those other candidates need to do. I think that it is way past time a woman was in the White House, and there is no woman in the USA with her skillset--she has seen how the Congress works as a worker bee on the impeachment committee during the Nixon years, she's had a front row seat to the management of a state and the federal government executive branch, we all know full well she acted as an unpaid advisor as well as First Lady, she's been a twice elected Senator and served as Secretary of State -- recently enough for her experience and contacts to still be very useful.

If you want your candidate put forward, you have to work. Clinton's supporters have been at this for YEARS, her organization wasn't built in a day. And an organization doesn't just grow up out of wishing and hoping and complaining on the internet--it takes hard, unglamorous, crappy work, long hours, fundraising, donations, and dedication.

What I'm trying to tell you is this--it's on you. You want it? Go get it! Seek out the organizational structure that supports your favored candidate, and offer up your time and talent.

And may the best person win!

I will vote for the Democratic nominee, no matter who he or she is. As I say, over and over again, the worst Democrat is better than the best Republican.

Sorry this is a bit long, but I had a lot to say!