If you had the ear of the Dem Leadership: what would you ask or tell them?

[Q]

Is there something you've been dying to ask or tell the Democratic Leadership? Here's your chance to sound off and be heard (in cyberspace). And who knows...maybe one of them will actually wander by and read it. (We can only hope..since we discovered that many of them don't even read the bills they sign into law.)

And that leads to my first question:

Most Americans weren't aware (until Moore exposed you in F911) that many of you don't actually READ the Bills you sign into law. Do you think this is wise? Couldn't you at least have your staff earmark the important parts for you to later speed read when you're having cocktails with corporate lobbyists? And speaking of Moore: is this why some of you seem to hate him so much? Did it make you mad when he exposed the fact that many of you rubber stamped Bush-sponsored legislation without reading it? Or how about when he showed that not one of you would stand up with the Congressional Black Caucus in 2000 and support an inquiry into widespread civil rights abuses? It really bothers me as a citizen that few of you even read the Patriot Act before signing it into law. And what about the Iraq War Resolution? Did you read THAT before signing it? Why is it that WE knew Bush* was lying and you didn't?

---------

Fire away. What would you like to ASK or TELL the Democratic Leadership?

[Lost4words]

1. what the hell happened to you spineless, gutless, establishment

whores. Who the GD Hell do you work for. I would be so proud if just one of you would stand up. I think you think the working us citizen is the GD enemy.

there is NO opposition to the criminals ruining this God forsaken country.
:nuke:

[chelsea0011]

2. After the holiday break

I expect you all to come out of the gate running. Crush Bush and his new/old nominations to the courts. You have gotten many more through than Clinton and you Dems should not sit by while right wing fanatics get nominated again. Halliburton is a huge scandal, in Iraq and when the VP was running things and doing business with "enemy" nations. Go on the attack with all your vigor. Don't let Waxman have to do it all. This war is illegal and immoral. Let's end it in Iraq and get out now. Any have the guts to call for troop withdrawal? I didn't think so.

[Demit]

3. I would like them to articulate to me why they think they are Democrats.

I would ask: What is your reason for being a Democrat? I would be very interested in how they each answer.

[NuttyFluffers]

4. come closer, come closer... closer! closer. closer still....

****AIRHORN TO THE EAR****

*hands them handwritten note, now that they are deaf* "am i a squeeky enough wheel yet to get your attention? i am your constituency, stop ignoring me for a pipe dream!"

[Q]

5. I have a question for the New Democratic Leadership:

The DLC has stated in their online magazine and other places that America is moving to the right because Democrats aren't centrist enough. Okay...but Gore ran a populist campaign in which he defended social security, worker's rights and lambasted corporations for their greed and unacccountability. Gore also happened to win the popular vote by a nice margin.

My questions: Why is it that you have never acknowledged that election fraud took place in 2000 and that the supreme court made an illegal decision? Why is it that you've never even hinted that Gore may have actually won with his anti-DLC campaign? Is it that you realize that you can't accept Gore as having a winning campaign because it would destroy your rationale for moving the party to the right?

[Q]

6. Another:

Considering that the Democratic party has never been in this sad of shape...losing everything to the GOP since 1994...what finally convinced you to move the party to the right? Have you taken into consideration that the 'left' (liberals and progressives) haven't had a voice in the party since BEFORE Clinton and that perhaps it's moving to the right that has lost us so many elections?

[bemildred]

7. "You're fired!". nt

[robbedvoter]

8. REVOTE. Not recounts. Revote. Ukraine, Romania got them, why

can't we?

[Deb]

9. I'll bite

Why should we trust that your election was valid when you continually fail to speak up against the '04 Election Fraud?

[Q]

11. A question for Deb:

On the other hand...why would you expect them to speak up against 2004 election fraud when they failed to do so in 2000? Should we detect a pattern here?

[Deb]

18. They've had almost 4 years to educate themselves

on election fraud, there is no excuse this time. A bigger reason is self preservation, by remaining silent they implicate themselves. You just have to wonder if they realize how they are being perceived.

Win or lose politicians must begin to see their personal stake in the Election Fraud issue. Written history won't be kind to those choosing silence.

The only pattern I see is an inability to connect with voters and understand how the Election Fraud issue can negatively impact political and private careers.

But hey, but what do I know?

[Sperk]

10. I would ask ..."Why did you sit back and let them steal another

election?" What happened in 2004 was COMPLETELY predictable. The Repugs NEVER would have sat back and let the Dems own the machines, write the software and count the votes. INEXCUSABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Q]

12. A very important and relevant question from Sperk...

That is...why does the Dem party allow the GOPers to walk all over them...KNOWING that if the situation was reversed...the GOPers would NEVER allow Dems to do the same thing.

It's a Twilight Zone reality: Republicans own and control the very process America uses to determine who 'wins' the White House. Yet we've only heard a few Dems speak up about it.

[TahitiNut]

13. "What's the going price on souls these days?"

:puke:

[0007]

14. Where's the cool aid? Cuz I seem to have a hearing problem.

[Z_I_Peevey]

15. What the hell is your problem?

Are you blind? Are you deaf? Are you stupid?

Why is it that a nobody from Podunk, U.S.A. cares more about the destruction of the goddam BILL OF RIGHTS than you, you overpaid, spineless, gutless, worthless pieces of GOP-kissing weasel-flesh?

Do you BELIEVE in anything? Is there ANYTHING that would make you stand up and say ENOUGH?

[Cheswick2.0]

16. Why do you think partisanship is a bad thing?

Why, when the republicans are so clearly partisan, do you think being partisan as a democrat is a bad thing? What's wrong with a little grid lock?

[Q]

19. Democrats need to stop acting like victims...

...and go on the offensive. That seems to be the general opinion among many rank and file Democrats. So why isn't this happening? Why do they back away every time?

And now the party leadership is considering conceding even more ground by softening their positions on core issues. What the hell is going on? Are we headed for a one party state as both parties give nothing but lip service to democracy?

[Upfront]

17. Listen To Howard Dean.

Name him DNC chair.

[snippy]

20. I would have one question that applies to many subjects.

Who in the democratic party is responsible for developing and implementing the national strategy for each of the following issues and what are the budget and staffing provisions for each?

1. Social Security reform.

2. Nationalizing the 2006 elections.

3. The specific issues to be advocated by Congressional democrats over the next two years.

4. Raising questions to put the republican party on the deffensive rather than allowing republicans always to be on the offensive.

5. Defining the republican party.

6. Planning for the elections in 2005 and subsequent years in state legislative and governor races with an eye on having greater control of the redistricting process following the next census.


I have the feeling that the answer always would be "no one."

[itzamirakul]

21. How much are the Republicans paying you to...

keep the Democratic party on the losing end?

How many of you are really DINOs?

Where do the salaries of the top officials come from?

How much do the top officials earn annually?

How many of the top officials have spouses, children or other relatives employed in lucrative positions in the corporate world based on the leadership's compliance to corporate demands?

[Q]

23. Many of us would like answers to those questions...

...because it would show a conflict of interest that's currently flying below the radar...with the help of the corporate media.

[OnionPatch]

22. It's the media, Stupid

If you guys can't get together some people to buy a cable news station and keep expanding liberal radio, you're hopeless and we will never win. Stop wringing your hands and sucking up to the right and wondering how we need to change our message. There's NOTHING WRONG WITH OUR MESSAGE! Fix the election process and get us some damn media and we'll start winning again.

[Q]

24. I'd like to know why both Dems and GOPers have stopped ...

...the public debate about campaign finance reform and public funding of campaigns?

I can only guess: are you so busy sharing the loot from corporate lobbyists that you don't want to change the status quo?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

25. Ooh, would I ever like to get Pelosi and Reid as a captive audience

Here's what I would tell them:

1. Grow spines. Send any stubbornly spineless members of Congress/the Senate to assertiveness training.
2. Draw lines in the sand on certain issues, especially Social Security and other aspects of the social safety net. Anyone who votes with the Repiggies on these issues should be out of the party. Period. If you can't stand up for these basic principles, you should just fess up and become a Republican.
3. Draw up proactive plans for meeting the true needs of this country: health care for all, affordable housing, repairing the nation's infrastructure, saving jobs, reducing dependence on oil. Present the bills in Congress. Have all the Reps and Senators talk them up when they're back home. They will probably get voted down, but this is no reason not to try. You have to become the party that doesn't follow current trends but starts current trends.
4. Treasure your grass roots instead of blowing them off. In suburban areas, the Dems should form alternative social networks to balance the effects of the fundamentalist churches. Start with inviting registered Dems and independents to a picnic or a movie night. Organize neighborhood groups to work on local issues such as school funding or land use.
5. Never shut up about voter fraud. If there's a single person in the U.S. who doesn't know about the problems with the 2000 and 2004 elections, make sure it's not your fault.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

26. Oh baby would I give'em an earfull...

I would tell them that they are in grave danger of losing a lifelong Democratic voter for the 2008 election, but that there are things they can do to keep me:

1) Pick a fighter for the DNC chair who reflects the strong, traditional Democratic values that made our party great.

2) Fight any attempt by Bush to fuck with SS to the death.

3) Fight any attempt to widen the "war on terror" to the death.

4) Don't run from the "liberal" label like it has cooties.

5) ACT LIKE DEMOCRATS, you know, that party of folks who is for the people not the corporations, who work to protect and expand civil rights for all, who recognize that without a clean planet we have no real future, who recognize that a separation between church and state makes our country strong, and who understand that security is a must but that war should be a last resort.

[Q]

27. I'd also like to know how the Democratic leadership can...

...'represent' both the people and corporate interests at the same time? Isn't there an inherent conflict of interest in taking money from corporate lobbyists and then writing legislation that would favor their industries? Words that come to mind: payback, collusion, bribery, payoffs...

It used to be that politicians were embarrassed to be caught taking money from the industries they're suppose to regulate. Now they brag about it.

[Zhade]

28. "Why are you abandoning your principles?"

Succinct enough, Q? ;)

[blm]

29. Expose the GOP-controlled media and bbv machines or permanent minority

will be all you will EVER be.

[ieoeja]

30. Forget soccer moms

City: dirty
Country: dirty
Suburbs: clean

City: blue collar
Country: blue collar
Suburbs: white collar

City: cops busy fighting real crimes
Country: what cops?
Suburbs: jaywalking should be a capital offense

Having grown up on a farm then suffered intense bigotry throughout college and during my two years living in the burbs, I finally discovered that in the city (Chicago) hillbilly is just another ethnic group. And as one that speaks English (sort of), more welcome than most.

[The Flaming Red Head]

31. Why do you act like you’re ashamed of the people who vote for you?

If you don’t like all of US we can find another party.

[Q]

33. The leadership...

...seems like they're trying to disavow the past of the party. They don't WANT to be associated with civil rights or unions or any kind of 'entitlement' program.

Why beg for dollar donations from the 'rabble' when they can wine and dine with industry leaders and lobbyists. When Rupert Murdoch wants to buy up more American radio, television and print markets...he does it the old fashion way: bribes a politician or two or three that can push through legislation to make it happen.

But all the little people have to offer is their vote. Not a very valuable commodity in a nation where millions of votes are 'lost' or not counted at all.

[ieoeja]

32. Read the damn campaign finance laws.

Given that the corporations have been banned from donating large sums of money, why are you still cozying up to them? I understand why Clinton did this back in '92 trying to even things up with the competition. But it no longer makes any sense. And even then it probably did more harm than good.

Blue collar workers voted for Democrats because the Democrats worked for their interest against those of big business. When we stop doing that work, what reason does the blue collar worker have for continuing to vote Democratic? You don't find a whole lot of enlightened individuals working in factories or in the building trades, so you're not going to get them on social issues. Democrats, like Mayor Daley in Chicago who has embraced privatization, are removing any reason for popular support of the Democratic party.

Given enough time this idiot is going to swing Chicago to the Republicans. Considering that his son has proclaimed himself a Republican while the mayor himself admits to having voted for W this last election, that may be his intent.