I`m not a real Democrat, I just play one on tv.

[democrank]

I`m really fed up with the pathetic assortment of Democratic Party leaders we`re subjected to nowadays. Pitiful few can even remember what are party stands for. Goodness gracious, don`t mention poverty or homelessness. That makes you a dreaded liberal. Don`t say you`re against the war in Iraq. That makes you a freedom-hater. Don`t whisper that unions might be good for Wal-Mart workers, that means you hate anyone who owns a business. Don`t say Senator Hatch shouldn`t oversee your reproductive decisions, that makes you a baby killer. Enough already.

Democrats used to be proud to fight for the little guy. We cared about affordable housing, safety in the workplace, a living wage. We fought against polluters, bigots. We demanded justice in our penal system. We fought for civil rights. I remember those days. Now we seem to spend our time answering Wolf Blitzer`s Question of the Day or tuning in to Fox News to see what we did wrong yesterday. When are we going to get serious?

Many party leaders have transformed us into a collection of cowering apologists. Anything to the left of Lieberman is unacceptable and just about unAmerican. This is direct result of us turning the party reins over to the cats awash in corporate splendor...but devoid of connection with average people. We`ve done this to ourselves and it`s time to make it right. There`s a wide chasm between saying we have the power and finally using it.

The democratic base has nothing to apologize for. We stuck with these leaders through thick and thin, evening knowing they were taking us for granted. Where did that get us? A front row C-Span seat where we could watch them vote for the Patriot Act they never read, the torture-approving attorney general, the me too freedom-lover`s adventure in Iraq where soldiers have to beg for armor. This is unacceptable and the Democratic base knows it.

The Democrats who still uphold basic Democratic values have my support and respect. The ones who insist we should be more like Republicans don`t. If I wanted to be like Tom DeLay or Rick Santorum, I`d start bashing poor people, Gays, single mothers,anti-war activists. I`d sell my soul to the highest bidder, take the money and run. I`d want polluters to "self-regulate" and cheer for off-shore corporations. I`d rape Alaska then dump nuclear waste in Nevada.
I`d say conservation is for wussies and have Karl Rove get me some hand-painted backdrops. I`d have the oil companies decide energy policy and buy a couple more secret torture planes. I`d realize that workers are no more than a useful commodity and loyalty oaths trump opposition. No thanks. Not for me. I`m an old-fashioned Democrat. I won`t be supporting "leaders" who gush over the war criminal in the Rose Garden.

[lonestarnot]

1. EEEEWWW! Nomination!

[mattclearing]

2. .

[Nimrod]

3. Sing it, brothah!

Blind faith has got us where we are today. We can't afford the luxury of assuming the Dem leaders are on our side just because they're Dems.

Question EVERYTHING, even if only briefly.

[autorank]

4. You nailed it. This focuses a general feeling many of us have.

We need ALL NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. Thanks for the memories Clinton, Brazile, Carville, Begala, etc. but ADIOS.

Welcome DEAN, REID, PELOSI, CLARK, SCHWIEITZER, DU AND E-ACTIVISTS.

I'm from and for the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party (greatest words ever on Democratic party issues.

[Warpy]

5. The DLC aint gonna go quietly

if the posts on these boards are any indication. Dean et al are going to have the fight of their lives to dislodge those pudgy arses off the seat of power.

If they don't, the party is toast.

[autorank]

6. Warpy, I share your concern but BE HAPPY, we already won.

The fact that Dean's in is the first step. The fact that there is no revolt or major sniping now is great. If it starts up, that means they're desperate because they know they're history.

The DLC can go fuck themselves. Dean showed and we all showed that we can be competitive in fund raising with small donors. The DLC is, therefore, without a function if in fact they had much to do with corporate funding anyway.

When we win, the corporate money will show up enough to give us a majority to outlaw corporate money!

Be assured, the DLC is already irrelevant. They just don't know it.

[ZombieNixon]

7. No, I think they do know it,

which is why they've superglued thir fat asses to the tower o' power and they ain't coming down in a hurry. We've got two emperors who have no clothes: Bush and the DLC, and Dr. Dean's going to need every living, breathing Democrat's help to get them out.

[autorank]

14. I'm on board to help Dean as are many of us.

The nice thing is that we're undergoing a paradigm shift -- the suck at the tit of corporate America is over. We are on the verge of something really exciting, a peoples' party based on a horizontal base of small donors rather than the corporate slime. In the 80's I watched corporate funds being allocated. To my surprise, the funding was tilted to Democrats. Little did I know, this was the problem, making them dependent on this source, compromising the Democrats objectivity.

The DLC is dead, they just don't know that they're supposed to fall over so we all know.

And you're right, we can help Dean with our voices and our pocket books, regardless of the size.

[ZombieNixon]

21. ...

>>In the 80's I watched corporate funds being allocated. To my surprise, the funding was tilted to Democrats.

There's a good reason for that. big corporations knew the Rs were going to give them breaks regardless, and when two parties working for you is better than one, wouldn't you take the leap?

[autorank]

29. Actually, I saw it as cash and carry on both sides. There were just

more Democrats at that time (and many of them what we now cal DINO's). I'm excited at what happened with Dean, Clark, and then K/E...we, the peeps, out contributed the corporations. Our party needs to get an inspiring candidate to draw donations and please the party faithful. But what the heck, that's what a party is supposed to do.

[Tigress DEM]

25. It's going to take more than Dean to get US back, Autorank

We are doing it though and no offense because I'm still thinking we have A DEM party and not all these factions in spite of evidence to the contrary, because that is the way it has to be.

We need strong DEMs like Dean, but it's really MORE important for the whole of the DU and like groups to pile on the pressure to the media and our "allegedly" elected officials to KNOCK this Bogus Shit OFF and GIVE US BACK OUR COUNTRY or we will PRY IT OUT OF THEIR COLD DEAD HANDS, their choice.

No matter how strong Dean is and no matter how much money he can raise to find this supposedly perfect candidate, WE THE PEOPLE are what Democracy is about - and WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER it and pass it on to our kids or through recorded words and deeds so NO ONE E V E R FORGETS Again.

This is our holocaust because our NATION DIED 11/03/04 and we have to resurrect EACH and EVERY American or WE WILL LOSE AGAIN. imho.

[Tigress DEM]

26. DEMS - ALL DEMS have to learn to work together respectfully.

We do ok here on the DU, but I am still surprised at all the bashing that goes on. Do we really have time to waste putting each other down?

Not that you're doing that Warpy. Just a rant.

:hi:

[fudge stripe cookays]

8. Reid and Pelosi.

No.

Boxer, yes!

FSC

[autorank]

15. Observe closer. Reid is kicking ass.

Supported boxer in the Ohio elector debate; encouraged Rice no votes; voted against Gonzales; party discipline on Social Security; attacked * after the smear memo (really named the RNC); signed the letter demanding a "Gannon" investigation. That's more opposition than we've seen since 2000 period. Undeniable. Get on board ...

Give em Hell Harry (He just tells the truth and they think it's Hell

[fudge stripe cookays]

20. He's also

"pro-birth", which is a deal-killer for me.

Sorry.
FSC

[autorank]

30. So is Kennedy, so is Kerry. Reconsider, if you will based on this.

Reid has about a 30% favorable rating on choice according to the groups. But when he got in, he said he was a leader and would work the party position, not letting his interfere. You're really going to miss out on some fun stuff if you pre-judge him. * crossed him and his family (they're going after his sons) and there will be hell to pay.

[Pushed To The Left]

22. Reid is a fighter

I don't agree with his abortion stance, but he actually helps the pro-choice cause and other progressive causes by fighting so hard to block right-wing judicial nominees. I think a good test of how strong a Democrat is is whether or not he or she is willing to participate in a filibuster against the right-wing judicial nominations.

[autorank]

31. Excellent point about fighting the nominees. More people need to hear it!

[welshTerrier2]

9. "awash in corporate splendor"

beautiful !!

i am currently actively engaged in trying to change the Party ... i will never again support candidates who vote more money for PNAC and more money for the corporatocracy ... i will never again vote for Democrats who do so ...

excellent post ... there are millions who agree with you ...

[democrank]

10. WelchT....Glad you said what you did.

I dredged the far corners of my soul after the 04 election and came up with this....

Nothing. Absolutely nothing will ever again stand between my conscience and my vote. Not even winning.

[SnoopDog]

11. We have to fight as well...

Good post.

One day, hopefully soon, we the people will realize that this is our America and will have to fight for what is right.

[Tigress DEM]

23. One day? Soon? Shee-at. It's done being brought....

Here is one recent take down.

Action Alerts like going to town on those Swift Boat dudes attacking the AARP. Now they don't even vote DEM, but the DU brought down their house of cards in O N E day.

Put them out in the light, had people sending off to TV stations telling them, "Don't you go there." People writing their DEM Senators and REPs, man if they will attack AARP, they will attack anyone. The gay's whose wedding picture was used w/o permission threatening to sue.

Then their wussie man gets on TV acting like it's some sort of joke:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/02/23.html#a1680

<snip>
Charlie Jarvis, chairmen of USA NEXT appeared on Inside Politics .....
Jarvis: We were testing to see if the left liberal groups would over react and they did. The hypothesis was that they'd focus on one single, tiny image on one website ..

[mopinko]

12. .

[mzmolly]

13. Were headed in the right direction though, with Dean as DNC chair!

Great stuff! :toast:

[acmavm]

16. These clowns who call themselves 'leaders' but ignore Dean are just

fooling themselves. They didn't want Dean but it was the real democratic party, the people, who put him where he is. They might talk a good game but without our support they're just blowing smoke.

[bvar22]

17. I'm with you!

We got in this position by buying into the fallacy that we MUST VOTE for the LESSER of TWO EVILS.

I will NEVER AGAIN fight for politicians
who REFUSE to fight for me!

There are still some old style Democrats in the Party.
You can find them here:

http://www.pdamerica.org/

[Cocoa]

18. too vague and boilerplate

this criticism could have been written at any unspecified time, there's no reference to recent events.

You don't mention that democratic governors are fighting Bush on Medicaid, or that dem leaders have clobbered Bush in the opening round of the Social Security battle.

[democrank]

24. Thanks for the critique,Cocoa

I`ll try to do better next time: references to recent events, less boilerplate, etc.

Perhaps you`re right. Perhaps we should dispense with the leadership crtiticism and simply applaud Democratic governors. On the other hand, don`t you find it a bit odd that anti-Iraq War democrats are treated like lepers...by their own leaders? Wasn`t that a Democratic senator that "introduced" (and praised) Ms. Rice at her confirmation hearing? Which Democratic senator went cheek to cheek with Bush after the State of the Union speech?

This "boilerplate" thing you brought up is important. Why, in the name of sanity and reason, should we sit back like programmed automatons and approvingly cheer the willful neglect of basic Democratic principles? If I sincerely believe that the Democratic leadership has played a role in the implementation of Bush`s nations-ruining policies, shouldn`t I stand up and say so?

[Cocoa]

32. there is a lot of good criticism of dems here at DU

I've done some of it.

What comes to mind is calling attention to signs that Joe Lieberman could save Bush's ass on Social Security privitization. What makes this criticism good, imo, is that it relates to something that is happening, and is accompanied by a campaign first to contact him and persuade him to stick with the dems, and also with talk of a primary campaign against him.

Then again, there's TONS that's less useful, and acutally destructive. No offense, but that was my point.

Like I said, what you wrote above could be copied verbatim and posted at any time imaginable, no matter what events transpire in the real world.

[Q]

19. Uninformed Voters: the corporate-backed politicians love em...

...which is why it's the responsibility of every Democrat to widen the information base about not only the Bush Regime...but those Democrats who work WITH them behind the scenes.

Good thread. There IS a difference between a Democrat and a democrat.

[Tigress DEM]

27. You are so right. Did you see Truth Out's Red State Tour?

These people voting for Bush are so uninformed.

[struggle4progress]

28. Hey! Bella Ciao picked you up!

http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=5390

:toast: