How do we define a Democrat anymore?

[kentuck]

There is something terribly wrong when we can have 22 Senators go along with the Repubs on a piece of legislation? Even the leader of the Democrats in the Senate votes with the Repubs! When was the last time we had that many Repubs vote with Democrats on such an important issue as Medicare?

We must ask, what does our Party stand for? Certainly not "privatization". They voted for that piece of crapola and did not even know what was in the bill. Nobody read it. If we do not stand against the corporate interests, such as pharmaceutical companies, and for the interests of the poor and elderly, what do we stand for? Perhaps if this is what we have to look forward to, we may as well start over with people that at least act like Democrats.

[ulysses]

1. welcome to the politics of meaninglessness

under which your party can, and will, stand for both any given specific position and its exact opposite, at the same time!

Neat trick, huh?

[La_Serpiente]

2. Good Question

I hope that Gonzalez wins in San Fran. It would be a wake up call to the Democrats for them to back to their roots, or else they will be another lame excuse for a national party.

The Democrats should have seen this coming, but they turned a blind eye to the evidence that stared them in the face. I think left-wing politics is in political restructuring mode right now. I am not sure what it would look like in the end, but I do think the Green Party will soon represent what the Democrats once stood for: progress, change, and labor rights.

[Hippo_Tron]

3. It's called politics...

Sometimes you can't stand up for principles and have to compromise. On the other hand, I think we could do a bit of a better job picking and choosing our battles.

[ulysses]

4. so which is it?

The issue is Medicare, not some yet-to-be-named government program. Medicare. Is "sometimes you have to compromise" the story, or is it "they should have fought this one"?

If the answer is "sometimes you have to compromise", is there *any* limit to compromise?

[Dagaz]

7. yup, compromise

There are a lot of good people who voted for this because they figured that covering seniors drugs was better than playing politics. It's just a start and can be amended in the future so names like Feinstein, Corzine, Daschle, Landrieu, Biden, Murray, Mikulshi, Nelson (both), Reid, Dorgan and others went along. I find it hard to believe that they all abandoned principle.

[Blue_Chill]

5. Whatever republicans aren't

That's why we keep losing elections.

[ulysses]

10. and defining ourselves as whatever republicans are

will win those elections for us?

[Scott Lee]

14. Our current definitions (or lack thereof) sure aren't winning us elections

.

[Blue_Chill]

16. How about defining ourselves and not giving a shit about the right

We need leaders that have a vision and can inspire the rest of us. The dems have done nothing but complain about Bush and haven't gotten positive in a while.

[Cha]

6. I got an e-mail from "Moveon" and they asked

me to thank my Senator Schumer for "filibustering" the energy vote from New York. Does that mean that Clinton voted with the repukes on that bill? Or she just wasn't key like Schumer obviously was? Thanks!

[Dagaz]

9. Hillary voted NO

The energy bill needs work before any compromise can be reached. It's a huge can of pork.

[Cha]

12. Thank you! I guess Senator Schumer just had a

Leading role in getting it killed! :)

[mmonk]

8. The opposite of Zell Miller

is what a Dem is.

As far as privatization, people need to understand business is not government. It is not designed to take care of society's ills. It's only purpose is to make money for the owner or owners (shareholders). If it can't turn a profit, it fails.


Government is not business. It is to promote the general welfare of its people (at least in a democracy). It is not designed to be a substitute for business.

Once we get all that straight in this country, we can make it work.

[izzie]

11. Well no one said Senators were smart.

Specially now that Bush is running as a Dem once more. He did this last time.Maybe we are going to get our programs in with the GOP as they will do anything to win. Now they are sort of putting in a half way drug program that will help a few and give to the conpanies and bankrupt the country.But it is also a Dem thing which shows they have to say they believe in our programs to get into office. Will he fund this program?It is aodd thing he is doing.A spending Rep?

[dusty64]

13. Starting over may be

the only solution. The Washington insiders ARE the problem and as soon as we are able we need to cleanse ourselves of them. Maybe term limits aren't such a bad idea as hanging in the capital seems to completely change once decent people and turn them into money grubbing whores completely out of touch of REAL people.

[TXvote]

15. Any Way We Want To

Last time I checked, it was a party. Anyone who has thrown a party knows you can plan all you want to, but it is the guests who set the tone of the party.....

I say, screw the dinosours at the DNC and the elephant they rode in on, let's take the party back in Boston next summer.

Peace,
Teresa
www.votervirgin.com