My Party has fallen....and it can't get up......

[Green Mountain Dem]

I have been a Democrat all my life and I'm not a youngster...will turn 60 on Feb 26. I never thought I would see the day that I would question the leadership or the direction of my own party. However, recent events have me confused and questioning my continued support for a political party that continually disappoints me by their actions (or more appropriately, their inaction) on matters which are a grave concern to me.

For example, and make no mistake about it, the recent House vote on the Administration's Medicare Bill was DEFEATED when called for a vote. Where was the Democratic Leadership demanding that the vote be gaveled and closed after the appropriate time had expired???
Instead of protesting, the Dems gave the opposition an additional 3hrs to threaten and intimidate their own members that voted "No" to the Bill.

I contribute a good deal of hard earned dollars to the DNC...I do so with the understanding that they will represent me, especially on issues that directly affect me, but lately all I see is concession after concession to the other side.

The same can be said about our US Senate...I expect Zell and Breault, and a couple of others, to sell the Party out...BUT Fienstein, Landreau, Bauchus too ??? Kerry and Lieberman not even there...Christ almighty even Jeffords caved on this one !!

I have had it!!! I could never join the repugs, and as far as I'm concerned the Greens have nothing to offer...SO where in hell do I go now ?? I will no longer financially support the Dems, and maybe for me the only alternative is to move 75 miles North of here...a little place called La Valle de Rapides, Quebec, Canada ...where my parents were born.

I am tired of fighting without the assistance of the elected leadership of my own party, and I am now convinced that it is NOT Bush, Rove, Delay, or any other of the "fundies" that are calling the shots...IT IS CORPORATE AMERICA with it's choke hold on all of our media....and everything else that touches us..and soon to become GLOBAL !!

Yep, Yep....I know...Canada will cave too...but at least I will get to see a few more hockey games and maybe even reclaim just a bit of my own heritage. Bless all of you who continue to fight the good fight, and I truly hope that your efforts are successful in changing the direction of this great nation. As for me....I am old and tired, and I think it's time for me to head to the fields, and do the rest of my grazing in pastural serenity.

In the words of my parish cleric...

GO IN PEACE !!

[CWebster]

1. Got that right

I hear you.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. No kidding

It is almost as if we are watching a war between ORGANIZED CRIME (repubs) and disorganized crime (dems)

I have been faithful to the party with my vote since 76 and with my labor and money for the past 22 years. I watched the California Dems go from a well oiled machine with this recall to suffering the same splits I have witnessed on the national level as well (Figures...national stepped in on the recall and helped SHITCAN the results)

Probably the BIGGEST faux pas the Dems suffer from is allowing their opposition to define them.

I have no idea where the breakthough moment will occur...I just know that it MUST!

[Myra]

12. "...a war between ORGANIZED CRIME (repubs) and disorganized crime (dems)"

Great observation and quote nothingshocksmeanymore.

[LSparkle]

3. God bless your heartfelt sentiments

I'm 45 and I wish more people my age had half the spirit you have -- I was thinking of emigrating to Australia but Canada has a much more progressive spirit ... maybe I'll land in B.C. I feel equally frustrated but will give the "system" ONE MORE CHANCE to work (in 2004). If this election has even the slight scent of scandal or stealth, I'm out of here!

[Iverson]

4. too bad you're giving up

I'm not 60, but I do remember 1968 and I have marched in Detroit's Labor Day Parade, and compared to the average voter I have pretty damn solid Democratic credentials. I reach your level of disillusionment a bit earlier and didn't write off the Green Party without another thought.

Maybe you should consider some of your alternatives before opting out. The reasons that you are, or were, a lifelong Dem still pertain, even if not in identical ways as before.

[fabius]

5. I sympathize...but we're not dead yet...

...and you have paid your dues and deserve to retire if you want.

I've considered Canada, at least for the future. For now though I figure if Chomsky can stick it our here I will too.

I'd like to see the Democratic leadership replace though.

[whathappened]

6. you are so right with this issue

we have been sold down the stream to big buiness and there money feeding our reps , i don't no what to do either , i have always been a dem as my father and his father , it seems unreal that our dem are being bought off at a fast rate and just a few have held on to real life in a america

[Myra]

7. Godamn right.

"the recent House vote on the Administration's Medicare Bill was DEFEATED when called for a vote."

And in a real country with a real gov't and a real
"free press" the stolen vote would be a huge scandal.

Particularly in light of the blackmailed house members
speaking out:

"GOP pulled no punches in struggle for Medicare bill

During 14 years in the Michigan Legislature and 11 years in Congress, Rep. Nick Smith had never experienced anything like it. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, in the wee hours last Saturday morning, pressed him to vote for the Medicare bill. But Smith refused. Then things got personal.

Smith, self term-limited, is leaving Congress. His lawyer son Brad is one of five Republicans seeking to replace him from a GOP district in Michigan's southern tier. On the House floor, Nick Smith was told business interests would give his son $100,000 in return for his father's vote. When he still declined, fellow Republican House members told him they would make sure Brad Smith never came to Congress. After Nick Smith voted no and the bill passed, Duke Cunningham of California and other Republicans taunted him that his son was dead meat.

...

Feeney held firm against the bill. So did DeMint and Akin. And so did Nick Smith. A steadfast party regular, he has pioneered private Social Security accounts. But he could not swallow the unfunded liabilities in this Medicare bill. The 69-year-old former dairy farmer this week was still reeling from the threat to his son. ''It was absolutely too personal,'' he told me. Over the telephone from Michigan on Saturday, Brad Smith urged his father to vote his conscience."

http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak27.html
(By a media whore no less. Can't bring myself to print the name.)

I wish I had your family connections in Canada roninvt.
I really do.
But I'm happy for you.

[Green Mountain Dem]

8. I truly appreciate.....

all of your kind words. I failed to mention in my initial post that the final insult for me was having to attend the funeral of the 5th Vermonter to be killed in Iraq. The funeral was Tuesday and perhaps it is clouding my perspective...he was only 27 and newly married.
He was going to leave the military after this tour to become a teacher and join his wife in teaching our children.

Rest in Peace...Capt. Pierre Esprit Piche.

His wife received at the ceremony, on his behalf:

The Bronze Star
The Purple Heart

The world lost a fantastic human being with so much to offer..and I lost someone who had been entrusted to my care...Pierre was my godson.

[October]

9. I'm so sorry for the loss of your godson

[childslibrarian]

10. My heart breaks..

Where have we gotten ourselves?

[calimary]

14. My heart goes out to you, roninvt. What a heart break!

[Tinoire]

11. It's not much

but I just wanted to say that I'm there with you. I am younger than you but old enough (43) to see how low our party has fallen.

All I wanted to say was Peace to you and hang in there. There are so many of us trying to fix this.

We have 16 year-olds on this forum- like John Kleeb who piss me off to no end because they care and are trying to make a change while our politicians aren't.

Peace to you and I really hope we can make a difference!

Kucinich 2004

[Cleita]

13. I think we need to readdress the invitations to the party.

There are too many fat cats who have settled into their seats feasting at the table, letting no one else eat and doing little for their keep. It's time to vote the useless politicos out of office in the primaries and replace them with new blood. I want to start with Dianne Feinstein myself.

[calimary]

18. Well, here's something we can do:

Go to that link. Make note of the republi-CON congressmembers mentioned, who were strongarmed and threatened, and their families threatened and their loved ones' political futures threatened. Okay? Just skimming it (I printed out a copy), I see a Rep. Nick Smith, Rep. Jim DeMint, Rep. Todd Akin, Rep. Pat Toomey, Rep. Tom Feeney - and that's just a fast skim.

FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING, call that favorite number of mine: the TOLL FREE CAPITOL HILL SWITCHBOARD:

1 (800) 839 - 5276.

They'll transfer you, FREE, to anybody's office in the House and/or Senate. Call those guys and tell them you know what happened. Ask their staffers to examine their consciences and ask themselves - is this the kind of thuggery they REALLY, TRULY, DEEP-DOWN, want themselves associated with? Will they be proud to have this allegiance when they have to answer for it to the BIG VOTE-COUNTER at the Pearly Gates? Will they be proud to have to answer for it when their elderly constituents start asking why they sold out?

Ask if they don't want to switch parties now, because the Dems don't treat their own that way.

THEN: Make note of people like "Duke Cunningham of California" who "taunted him (Nick Smith - a fellow republi-CON) that his son was dead meat." Tell the staffer who answers that you know what they did, and cite this story - by Robert Novak in the Chicago Sun-Times. Tell them you know what happened, and you've made note, and that you're gonna remember. Remind them that they have to answer for what they've done. Maybe not in this life, but they sure won't be able to strong-arm or intimidate St. Peter or sic Tom DeLay on him!

Turn a light on the cockroaches. They'd rather operate in the dark anyway. Did they not take these people behind closed doors and away from view to do their dirty deeds? And if they weren't so dirty, why did they have to be concealed? GET MY DRIFT?

Then, what MUST HAPPEN: PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!! I KNOW it takes a little time and a little work, but PLEASE, GUYS!!!!! APATHY WON'T WORK HERE! YOU MUST write a letter to your local paper, or to the Chicago Sun-Times, or wherever, and indicate you know, you know who did what, and you're appalled and won't forget next time you see these vermin coming up for re-election.

Then, SPREAD THE WORD TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. If you're a (reluctant) constituent of these people, MAKE SURE YOU DO! YOUR LIFE MAY DEPEND ON IT. The sad Vermonter who started this thread should know - his godson just recently had to pay for these people's follies with his life.

I know we're disheartened and dis-spirited here about all this utter shit. But PLEASE remember something: If you are, you are fulfilling the republi-CONS hopes and dreams. They want us to feel like this so we'll keep caving in. The bully wants people to stay scared and cowed. Less work in the long run for the bully. The bully counts on people staying like that. Therein lies his power. The first time that bully is actually stood up to, challenged, called on it, or force-fed some of his own bullying, HE'S the one who caves. We all should have learned that in the kindergarten play-yard. And those of us who did, hopefully, never forgot it. IT APPLIES HERE, JUST AS MUCH.

[beevul]

15. My heart goes with you.

"I have been a Democrat all my life and I'm not a youngster...will turn 60 on Feb 26. I never thought I would see the day that I would question the leadership or the direction of my own party. However, recent events have me confused and questioning my continued support for a political party that continually disappoints me by their actions (or more appropriately, their inaction) on matters which are a grave concern to me."-roninvt

Thats me as well, though I am somewhere between your age and a youngster, though it sure doesn't feel like it sometimes, depending on how hard "today" went.

This sure doesn't seem to be the same AMERICA that it was when I , or moreso you, were growing up. There have been alot of changes since then, the great majority for the better, but "CORPORATE AMERICA with it's choke hold on all of our media....and everything else that touches us" sure isn't one of them. It is indeed hard not to shake ones head and give up. As someone else eluded to, you HAVE paid your dues, and are ENTITLED to peaceful retirement, should you decide that would be best for you.

My verry best wishes to you, wherever your travels take you.

[Deja Q]

16. Then don't vote - makes no difference anymore, does it?

Don't vote, leave the country. Hell, I've thought of that as well. Let America rot. Just go, forget the bit about peace.

</sarcasm>

I honestly don't know what to say as much as honestly as you don't know who to support.

[Kanary]

17. Your post could have been mine

I'm just a couple of years younger than you are, marched in countless marches, rallied for years: all the good stuff. In a just world, we would have come to the time when we can honestly say "I'm tired... it's time to hand it off to the next generation", and go smell some roses somewhere. We not only get tired, but we get discouraged. In youth, one can keep reading all the information, and keep up with the current shenanigans, and still retain the energy to fight (as long as one has the support of those around them!), but by the time we've spent this many years in it, continuuing to do all the "homework" has the effect of creating enough depression that it's just not so healthy anymore. That's when we really do need to conserve our energy, think of ourselves, and find a way just to rediscover that joy in life. It's not a matter of needing a cheerleader on the sidelines.... it's a matter of needing to find a peaceful direction for that natural introspective time of life.

I'm there, too, so I can truly not only relate to what you are saying, but feel it in my bones, and even taste it. I've done my part. I want to rest. *My* problem is that I'm in a situation where I *can't* rest. You see, I envy you your ability to pack up and leave. That's what I want at this point. But, since I'm on disability and have nothing to offer, there is no place that will accept me. How's that for a hopeless situation. There was talk about ice floes here a while back, and that's exactly what it looks like to me... searching out my ice floe, because I sure as heck can't see much hope for the future.

I just now read your update about your godson, and I'm so sorry. I can only imagine the effect that has had on you. You do deserve some peace, and I hope that you can carve out a space for yourself that gives you that peace. I only wish you could take some of the rest of us with you! You'll probably hear us banging on the doors, trying to get out of this place!

Be good to yourself!

Kanary

[calimary]

19. Dear roninvt - I can understand your feelings. OVER AND OVER I POST

about the TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard number and how you can be transfered for free to anybody's office in the House and/or Senate.

OVER AND OVER I POST about what to say, how to fend off arguments, how to broach the subject, and even particular lines, memes and buzzphrases to plant (I figure I'm pretty good at it by now, with credibility I've earned. I've got numerous awards for writing, I'm a published author and now online commentator - beyond just here at DU, and I learned to think up and manipulate choice and memorable turns-of-phrase from my late father, who was a very successful advertising guy).

OVER AND OVER I POST about going to www.congress.org for info on fax/email/snail mail specifics, and how and why to make use of them.

OVER AND OVER I POST about going to takebackthemedia.com and pick up some of the email/snail mail/fax/phone contacts to the newspapers and TV/radio/cable networks to let them know your views.

OVER AND OVER I POST about looking at the bottom of news reports and op/ed pieces for the email address of the writer - AND TO USE IT TO WRITE TO THEM!!! Because very often they write back (I know this, personally, for a fact). Plus, I offer repeated suggestions of words and phrases to insert, to further drive your point home and make sure it's memorable enough to stick in their brains - maybe they'll like it enough to turn around and use it themselves.

Most of the time, my posts die a fairly quick death. I'm no Will Pitt, so I don't garner the dozens and dozens of replies and comments he routinely does. And sometimes I feel like giving up, as a result. I feel like I'm talking into a vacuum. Because my ideas are good and they work if they're tried, and if LOTS OF US tried 'em, we'd very likely get somewhere. And most people are probably either too busy or - more likely - completely disheartened by what's happened. I can understand the what's-the-use mentality. I succumb to it myself.

But in the long run, I always try to snap myself out of it. I always try to remind myself that, if I give up, the bad guys REALLY WILL have won. And I can't live with myself if I allow that.

Finally, I will re-post this quote that a fellow Dem friend and colleague sent me, that he uses to buck himself back up when he's feeling unconsolable:

"The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you are going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose and lose and lose until someday, somebody who believes as you do wins. In order for somebody to win an important, major fight 100 years hence, a lot of other people have got to be willing -- for the sheer fun and joy of it -- to go right ahead and fight, knowing you're going to lose. You mustn't feel like a martyr. You've got to enjoy it." -- I.F. Stone.

Yes, I posted this quote by itself a couple of days ago and it, too, died a quick death. But I am NOT willing to die a quick death along with it!!!!!!

If we give up, brothers and sisters, the republi-CONS (another of my ideas I'd like to see quoted all over the place) really HAVE won.

Blessings and peace and solace to you, roninvt. I hope your anguish subsides, and leaves you vulcanized like strong, transformed, hard, cured rubber. So you can bounce back. Scarlett O'Hara said "tomorrow is another day." I hope we realize that, too. It's not over yet. Unless WE decide to throw in the towel.

[Green Mountain Dem]

23. I agree with you completely...

BUT..if you can tell me what to say, or do, to stop our own party leaders from throwin in the towel on core issues that are the very foundation the Democratic Party....I'm all ears!!
I never said I was giving up, but I am tired of playing my heart out for the team and having the coach ram the bat up my ass.

I have no problem fighting the bullies on the other side..but how do you fight members of your own Party ??

I am not as concerned with losing my vote to a black box as I am in having it traded away to corporate interests on the floors of the House and Senate.

I do enjoy reading your posts even if you're not Will Pitt....you certainly share his passion.

[Scott Lee]

20. You are so right. That's why The Doctor is gonna fix it!

And he can.

[TankLV]

21. I hear you and feel the same way....

I've never missed a chance to vote since I could at 18 in 1972.

The party is moving further and further to the right, and I am left - where?

At 51, I'm getting pretty tired.

Walked precints - was precinct captain - etc, etc.

I will give no more money to see it flushed down the drain accompanied by praise for king george jr.

I could never vote repuke, but there is fast becomming almost no one I could campaign for.

Harry Reid is but the latest example of my so-called "choices" - anti-abortion, anti-gay, pro-mormon thru and thru. Used to put up an occasional good fight on a lot of issues, but when push comes to shove - votes with the reupukes more and more a lot of the time on issues I care deeply about.

[UTUSN]

22. It Ain't THAT Bad n/t

[UTUSN]

24. & Another Thing -------------Why Would You SAY That? n/t