Talk here - is reminiscent of the 1980 campaign - which fractured the party and paved

[Ninga]

the way for the Republicans for 12 years.

Our history as a party is a living organic thing, and unless all of us know our history, and where we came from, how do we know where to go?

I am very concerned that all of the infighting is headed in a direction that will take us so far down the road, that we will lose our way. It is feeling all to familiar to me, and I am worried.

The infighting of 1980 created the Regan Democrats. The 1980 Democrats were so busy being power hungery, they lost power to the Republicans. Ted Kennedy single handedly helped in the demise of the party.

I for one, do not want to live 1980 all over again.

Suck it in, buck it up, set aside your idealism for another day, find a reason to vote, keep the news on, and understand that this election is not about you in the sense of you personally.

That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. And we need as a progressive people, to find a way to get up off the ground, back on the horse, and fight for the greater good.

Valor and loyalty given freely only to be withdrawn because of pride, diminishes us as a people, and makes our vision shortsighted.

I have had a lifetime of political disappointments, and by many standards written here, i would not be a participant today, if I held onto my disappointments.



check it out here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Democratic_National_Convention

[TexasBushwhacker]

1. The thing is, the GOP is fractured as well

The delegate for McCain is misleading, because so many of the GOP primaries are winner take all. So far, he's won less than 40% of the popular vote. That means over 60% didn't vote for him. How that will translate in the GE is anyone's guess.

[Horse with no Name]

4. Rick Perry won the Governor race with 34%

That is how it translates.

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. Actually it was 39.3%

and that was almost 19% less than he got in 2002. To me, that still translates to a fractured GOP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Perry

[bpeale]

2. great post Ninga! makes me look differently at the election. thanks.

[Horse with no Name]

3. Bush divided the country

the obama supporters divided the party.
I don't know about you...but I certainly hope that a solid Populist Party emerges from the ashes of what used to be the Democratic Party when it is all said and done.

[raincity_calling]

6. I agree with original poster

Now is not the time for infighting - now is the time to join together - united we stand divided
we fall. Who cares what is going on in the GOP. It is America we are fighting for and we MUST
take back the WH from the GOP. We MUST. We will not do it if Obama supporters, and Hillary supporters and Edwards supporters and Kucinich supporters do not unite!!

The GE is not going to be easy. The GOP plays dirty, they are crafty, and they will stop at nothing to win.

We need to also worry about voter suppression and voting machines. We need to focus our attention
on these critical areas and stop the infighting that is dividing us, destroying our spirit, and diverting our attention from the areas that desperately need attention.

I think all of us, where ever we live, need to begin looking at our local voter files and determine who is getting knocked off the voter rolls, who are listed as "inactive" which means they may be knocked of, or will not recieve an absentee ballot, or may not appear on the voter list. We need to track new registrations to make sure the people we and the Dem party register actually make it on the voter rolls. Then we need to contact these people and tell them to re-register and to update their voter registration information. As grassroots we need to educate all voters about updating their information on a regular basis and verify, two months before the election, that their registrations are current.

We have a lot of work to do it. Bickering and developing hard feelings will not help us to win in November.

[MissDeeds]

7. I agree

The party put forth the two most divisive candidates of the "top tier", and look what has happened. We are a party divided and at odds. How can HRC or BHO bring the country together when their own party is so fractured? Much of the discord we are feeling is the responsibility of the candidates themselves.

I too am waiting for a populist party to emerge. I need something to believe in.

[saracat]

8. I think I am on board with you. But I have no "realistic" expectations of it happening.

[saracat]

9. I remember that in 1980 and I think Ted had a lot to do with the divisiveness today.

and I disagree.This election is very much about me personally. A certain candidate has drawn a line in the sand.He has made it clear he does not represent my interests or any interests I care about.Whether I am able to cast a ballot for such a candidate and indeed whether I "should" even do so will have to be settled in the voting booth. I will however not "support" such a person. I will not however, do the following.

"Suck it in, buck it up, set aside your idealism for another day, find a reason to vote, keep the news on, and understand that this election is not about you in the sense of you personally."

I think it is very wrong of anyone to suggest that another go against their conscience.There is more to life than Party Politics and nothing wrong in contributing through other avenues. Many folks have decided to do just that and their decision ought to be respected as a valid choice.

I will remain involved on the periphery of "local " politics because my personal situation requires it, but the bulk of my contributory activities with be "outside" the party.

I will not "check my idealism at the door" and support one who is against my interests.If I do that, I am actually betraying not only myself but all those whose interests I share.

[bobbolink]

11. You've very well described me, and very many just like me.

Maybe it's time for the party to go ahead and die.

Maybe this is it.

It's happened before.

They get too fat, and fall of their own weight.

Ohhhh welllll :shrug:

[saltpoint]

12. I was a strong Kennedy supporter in the 1980 Democratic primary.

[bobbolink]

10. Just how long do you expect poor people to continue to "suck it up"???

I find that quite offensive.

Do as you wish, but don't expect the rest of us to continue working and being stabbed in the back and left to shrivel.

[Ninga]

16. I didn't write my OP very well. I apologize. What I had in mind were those posters who

continually argue and bash. What I had hoped to get across, was that we need solutions, and to find a reason to vote for someone, rather than not.

I will work on better writing skills. I am truly sorry you were offended.

[saltpoint]

13. Ninga, I don't know you personally, but your posts on DU over the

last several months here have suggested somebody who "got it" in Life's lessons early on.

I'm guessing you had some fiercely loyal friends while you were growing up through schools, etc.

And I'm jealous of them.

I think the 80 nomination race wasn't what killed the Carter presidency. I supported Kennedy in that one, although I think the real immeasurable force for 1980 was Reagan's rise and not Kennedy's challenge.

[raincity_calling]

14. I just don't see it as being about the party.

It is about America. It is about our country. We need to do what we need to do to take back our country. Yeah, our choices in the Dem party poor and not much better than McCain, but they are better than McCain.

In 2000 people were saying Gore and Bush were the same. We know now that they were not the same! Let us not make the same mistake again.

I am telling you, it is us who needs to turn around the country. We can't wait for the perfect candidate. If we expect a candidate with whom we agree on every issue, then we would be the candidate.

I am deeply saddended by JRE ending his race for President. I, like you feel I no longer have a candidate to support, but I am also pragmatic. And I will not give away my vote to John McCain.

I urge you all to work with the Dem party and to volunteer your time to develop a program (as I described in my earlier post) to protect against GOP voter suppression tactics. If we don't do this, we will end up with another stolen election like those in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 (we would have had a larger majority).

Please. Let's not get demoralized. Let's fight.

[balantz]

15. Look, I'll plunk down my silly little "X" in November for the "D",

but the corporations will STILL own our government. Little much we can do about real change with this kind of system locked in power. I have no enthusiasm to rally behind yet another corporate-owned politician who will do their bidding. I will vote Dem., but it will NOT get our country back to us people by a long shot. We are screwed in that serious matter once again. The fascists run the show in Washington, even if it will appear to be a kinder, gentler administration.

[raincity_calling]

17. I agree with you Balantz

I am just saying that we have even less of a chance with GOP in the WH and we will have a GOP in the WH if we don't step up and try and protect our votes.

[balantz]

18. I'm sorry, I can be a little dense, but I'm not sure I understand.

What do you mean by protecting our votes?

[bobbolink]

19. I will "work with" and "volunteer" my time if and when, and only THEN, the party decides

we poor people are IMPORTANT, and make us a priority.

Until then, the party has made it clear I'm not only NOT important, I'm not even welcome.

So, screw it.