Which political party should I join?

[ihaveaquestion]

I consider myself a very progressive liberal and I'm thoroughly disgusted with the Democratic Party. These guys used to be tough, coming from labor unions and all, but in the past 20 years or so, they've mostly been gutless wimps. Is it too much to ask for politicians to be honest servants of the people and be hard-nosed as well?

So what's a liberal to do? What political party is there for me? Anybody know?

[swag]

1. The one with the coolest jackets.

[KansDem]

5. Yeah! Like the "Jets?"

When you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way
From your first cigarette
To your last dying day
When you're a Jet let them do what they can
You've got brothers around
You're a family man
You're never alone
You're never disconnected
You're home with your own
When company's expected
You're well-protected
Then you are set with a Capital J
Which you'll never forget 'till they cart you away
When you're a Jet you stay a Jet!

When you're a Jet you're the top cat in town
The Gold medal kid with the heavyweight crown
When you're a Jet you're the swingin'est thing
Little boy, you're a man, Little man you're a king!
The Jets are in gear
Our cylinders are clickin'
The sharks'll steer clear
'Cause every Puerto Rican's*
A lousy chicken!
Here come the Jets like a bat outta hell
Someone gets in our way, someone don't feel so well!
Here come the Jets!
Little world, step aside!
Better go underground!
Better run, Better hide!
We're drawing the line,
So keep your nose's hidden
We're hangin' a sign
Sayes visitors forbidden
And we ain't kiddin'
Here come the Jets!
Yeah!
And we're gonna beat every last buggin' gang on the whole
buggin' street.
on the whole ever mother lovin' street!
Yeah!

I don't know what their jackets look like, but they got one helluva gang song!
________
*You can substitute "Puerto Rican" with the name of one of the politcal parties.

on edit:
OOOOOOhhh, wouldn't this command respect on Capitol Hill...

http://www.kultur-fibel-magazin.de/Images/Bilder%20htm/Musical,%20Operette/WestSide-T%E4nzer-springend-b.jpg

[earthside]

2. Take a look here.

I am thinking about running as a Green Party candidate for Congress just because of the sentiments you have expressed.

Take a look at my blog where I am talking about this, perhaps it will help.

DaveChandler.us

[ihaveaquestion]

8. I've thought about the Greens, but ...

How much chance do they really have in the current political climate?

[GreenPartyVoter]

28. We win at local levels but

for any small party or indy canddiate we need election reforms in place. Starting from the ground up: http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

Green election results: http://www.greens.org/elections/

[lapfog_1]

14. I was a card carrying Green party until 2000

when they idiotically allowed Nader to run (who was NEVER really
a GREEN party person to begin with). Nader cost Gore the election,
pure and simple. The day after the election, with the recount crap
starting in Florida, was the day that I resigned my Green party
membership. Now, I'm a registered Dem, and all of my money for
campaigns goes to Dems ($2000 in the last election). Not because
I love Joe Lieberman and other DINOs or even love some of the,
admittedly, spineless things that happen, but because for ANYTHING
to ever go good again, we on the left HAVE TO BE UNITED. No more
"third parties" to split our vote, no more whining "Democrats are
just Republican-lite", no more "I didn't get my entire leftist agenda
adopted as the party platform so I'm leaving!". Every time one of
you says that... the Ann Coulters of the world rub their clawed
hands in glee.

I'm a Democrat, I'm here to fight. Bring it on.

[Itsthetruth]

16. To Bad Democrats Like Senator Reid Don't Want To Join You

"I'm a Democrat, I'm here to fight."

I'm sure you are. Any chance that "your" party and "your" leader in the Senate, Reid, will join you and fight the Bush government and Republicans anytime soon?

So far Senator Reid, along with many other Democratic leaders, has functioned as a Bush collaborator, not a oppositionist.

Why, your Senator Reid even bragged about how he led the fight to pass anti-worker and anti-consumer bills desired by George Bush and the Republican Party!

Are you also ready to fight those Democrats in Congress who function as Bush enablers?

[lapfog_1]

18. OK, what party would we all join that will

1. win enough seats in the House or Senate to at least pose a
threat of a majority in some future election?

2. can field a candidate who might actually win the Presidency?

Or do you think that because everyone doesn't always do as you
want (or even I want) then we should just give up on the Democratic
Party?

I just don't understand the "not left enough for me... so let's
leave and let the theocrats run everything completely unopposed".
I think this is coupled with a childish sort of secret desire...
namely "Let them (rethugs) run the country into ruin and when
everything really sucks... THEN the American people will finally
turn to us progressives for answers!"

[Itsthetruth]

20. Democratic Party Isn't Opposing Bush's Policies And Appointments

The Republicans are running everything now without a real political opposition so I don't understand your point. In fact, Democrats are assisting Bush and the Republicans!

[lapfog_1]

21. It's difficult to oppose when you don't have the votes

So they are trying to do what they can... by getting moderate
repubs (and there are just so few of those) to join with them
on certain issues and pick the fights with the radical right.
I doubt any Dem representative or Senator is having any job
satisfaction right now, reduced to only making occasional TV
appearances and such. But is leaving the Democratic party the
answer?

I'd rather we discuss having the "Blue States" leave the Union.

[Itsthetruth]

22. Especially When Democrats Are Voting With Republicans!

It's very difficult to oppose when the Democratic Party leader of the Senate, Senator Reid, is rounding up Democratic votes to approve Bush's legislative agenda!

[ProudDad]

35. They don't need the votes

They should stand up and TALK from their bully pulpit.

Imagine if the Dem Senators and Reps were speaking the kind of truth to power that George Galloway and Bill Moyers and other brave heroes do.

They have the access to the media that Moyers and others could never have if they'd say something news-worthy instead of the mealy mouthed platitudes of a (loser) minority party in the winner-take-all U.S. of A...

[earthside]

17. Further Explanation.

Just to explain myself ... I was an 'unaffiliated' voter in 2000, and I was an active campaigner for Al Gore. I became a Green after September 11. When I saw the Democrats cave-in and cave-in and cave-in on everything Bush wanted, ie., the Patriot Act, Iraq War, more tax cuts for the elite, weakening environmental regulations, etc. -- that's when I knew I had to take a firmer stand.

In 2004, even though I was a David Cobb elector for Colorado, I campaigned for John Kerry and I voted for him since this state was considered a possible 'swing state'.

You can be politically sophisticated without giving up all your principles. Getting rid of Bush in 2004 was all important. In the elections next year, I think we can send a message to the 'compromiser' Democrats, the 'afraid of Bush' Democrats, the Republican-lite Democrats, by letting them know that genuine progressives DO have an alternative. Nothing would make me happier than to see the Democrats return to being pro-union, FDR/Harry Truman Democrats because of pressure from increasing Green registration. If that happened, the Green Party could fade away and that would be fine with me.

But so far, it appears to me that it will take fear of a progressive third party to scare the establishment Democrats back into being what that should have been all along.

[lapfog_1]

19. I think you are wrong and the complete opposite will happen

Democrats don't "fear" what you will do, they will look for
supporters... and you (and others like you) leaving them will
only cause them to look for a new power base... likely from
moderate republicans who are uncomfortable with the radical
rights agenda. They are already being encouraged to "occupy
the middle", you leaving the party only furthers their belief
that this is the correct decision. Money wins elections. Grassroots
participation (fund raising) is the only way to really shape
what the "representatives" really represent.

[WildEyedLiberal]

31. Great post, thank you nt

[SteppingRazor]

3. Well, seeing as this is _Democratic_ Underground...

Maybe you should stick with the party, get directly involved, and reform from within -- after all, a changed Democratic party, being one of the only two relevant ones (I know that hurts, but we do live in a country with a two-party system), would do a lot more good than any third party could ever hope to.

[ihaveaquestion]

9. Distasteful as it sounds - you may be right.

During the Kerry campaign, I volunteered to get the vote out and was glad I did. However, I found the group to be the most disorganized bunch of flakes I'd ever tried to work with (except the Unitarian-Universalists. I think it must be liberals in general - lots of artsy, flakey, intellectual types. The go-getters seem to have gone.

[ProudDad]

36. As a registered Green

I also helped get the vote out for Kerry (against shrub).

Those two aren't mutually exclusive.

And, for the last f*ckin' time, it was Monica G. Moorehead (1815 votes) not Ralph that cost Gore in '04...















:-)









Actually, it was Gore's and the DNC's spineless collapse during the recount that cost him the selection.

[Itsthetruth]

4. Just Have To Check Out All The Progressive Groups

I don't think the Democratic Party is a true membership organization with dues, decision making membership meetings, membership requirements, a democratic membership structure, etc., That being the case it would be difficult for you to become a member of the old Democratic party. In some towns registered Democrats have formed "clubs", however, I don't think they have much if any impact on the policies and activities of the national and state Democratic party. If my information on this is wrong I'm sure that other posters will correct it and provide additional information.

I'm not familiar with the membership structure and requirements of other political parties such as socialist organizations, Green Party, Labor Party, etc.,

So you should just check out the various progressive and left political parties via their websites to find out which one comes closest to your views.

[blondeatlast]

7. My thoughts as well. The only time it really matters is Election Day,

and even then it's ultimately one's own decision.

[Coexist]

6. You can't vote in the Democratic primaries unless you are a registered Dem

if it is important to you to decide on who gets to run in the next Presidential race, you might want to take that into consideration.

[DemBeans]

10. well....

That matters only if you're a Democrat in Iowa or New Hampshire, since they seem to pick our candidates (and the real kicker is that Iowa voted against the candidate they gave us).

To the OP, I can say that there's plenty of room for involvement in your local or state party organizations. You might want to hook up with Progressive Democrats for America - it's a good way to get our voices represented within the party.

[Itsthetruth]

12. Article On Labor Party Is Of Interest

Here's the link to an article I posted here yesterday on the Labor Party which you might find interesting.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3723545

[demo dutch]

30. That's the case in Florida, but in some states independents can

vote in all primaries

[Bandit]

11. Where I live we have another option..Independent Party

I belong to it. I am as Liberal as they come but can not say I am a Democrat. I would never vote just because there was a D attached to a name. Think Zell Miller or Joe Leiberman. Be Independent and vote your Conscience not just Party Line.

[welshTerrier2]

13. the best i've found so far ...

for starters, see if this floats your boat ==>> http://www.dsausa.org/about/where.html

fwiw, here's how i'm currently approaching my political activities:

1. i recently got elected to my local Democratic Town Committee ... i have plans to try to get them to pass some resolutions on issues like Iraq, nuclear disarmament, etc. ... i also hope to use this position as a platform to chastise the State party for running such a closed process ...

2. nothing will prevent me from voting for the candidate of my choice ... while i can only vote in the Democratic primary as a registered Democrat, i can vote however i want to in the general election ... i will not be voting for anymore automaton Democrats and i will not be voting for anyone who continues to support bush's occupation of Iraq ...

3. i've been involved in local groups that meet to discuss issues like the anti-war movement, corporate control of our government, the rights of third parties, etc ...

4. i have NOT joined PDA yet but i'm strongly considering doing so ...

i guess the point of all this is that, at least to me, it makes the most sense to try to change the Democratic Party from within while reserving my right to work with other groups and reserving my right to vote however i want to ... too many view this choice as either black or white ... why not do both ???

[Geek_Girl]

15. Don't leave

Stay and fight. Sometimes I think that's really what DU is all about. Taking back our party and our country!

[ourbluenation]

23. Join whichever party you think your vote will make a difference

[Chicago Democrat]

24. The Canadian Liberal party!

(joking)

[bobthedrummer]

25. I'm watching this DLC/DNC power struggle with a heavy heart as a

Democratic supporter and am glad I'm an independent voter that has Senator Russ Feingold in Washington. I voted for Kerry/Edwards even though I was for Kucinich. I've still got my Kerry/Edwards bumperstickers on.
I've never voted for a Republican Presidential candidate, I have voted for 3rd party candidates.

:7

[Hippo_Tron]

26. If your state has closed primaries, stay a Democrat...

That way you can vote for more progressive Democrats in the primaries. If your state has open primaries and you feel no strong allegiance to any particular party then just register Independent.

[Rainscents]

27. I am sticking with "D" because, I want to vote in primary.

I am much more independent party... I even voted for good honest caring one republican in my state. Seriously, there is one good republican still left in Washington state and he is Attorney General Sam Reed. Can you believe, Rossi and the company, honestly, petition to overthrow him out of his job? All because, he would not side with Rossi and the company?
In all, most of the times, I vote Dems!

[Mass_Liberal]

29. why not stay?

try to reform it from the inside out. All you will do by joining a different party is make your liberal ideals less likely to be implemented.

[Lexingtonian]

32. be part of the solution, not part of the problem

And sitting on the outside, whining- however right or wrong you may be- is being part of the problem.

Politicians reflect their electorate better than you're willing to admit. We live in times in which most of the electorate is dishonest and full of wrong ideas and wimply and cowardly, unwilling to look at a future which (falsely) scares it, and full of desire to bring resentments accumulated over the course of the Cold War to the fore and reargue the issues involved one more time. It has a hard time stomaching leaders who don't serve this agenda. It may not seem so to us, but it's a necessary agenda to an awful lot of people arising from the way the Cold War prevented them from working out all the issues fully at the time and left everything arranged hastily, makeshift, compromised, inadequate. Only then will these people decide to deal with the present properly, for what it is, and the future.

Democrats have been through this wringer. The dominating conservative wing of Party got destroyed in 1994/95 by reactionary Republicans. The resurrected Party, dominated by its moderate wing, crushed Gingrichism in 1998/99 and the moderate wing in turn was crushed by conservative Republicans in 2001/02.

Now the Party is rebuilding around a liberal core and slowly achieving attrition of conservative Republican power. That's the meaning of the Kerry victory in the primaries. If you really ever looked at exit polling and interviews, a lot of swing voters considered the residual (relatively) conservative factions of the Party the problem, not the liberals.

And now that your views are actually being fundamentally taken seriously and becoming powerful inside the Party, you've decided it's time to leave. But isn't that exactly the faux or real elitism of the most liberal/progressive, a latent conservatism of one's own, to look at the messiness- the residual conservativeness- internal to the Party and the arguments as people try to set theirs aside, and consider it hopeless and too much work?

There is way too much going on here at DU which reflects people feeling stress of the times, and they find themselves resorting to survival behaviors- fleeing into false or useless purity, or fleeing into compromise, or fleeing into contrarian attacks on the Opposition.

Survival behaviors are not success behaviors, and success behaviors are what the Party needs at the moment. A Party that gets 48% and 10 million new voters is relevant and and succeeding. People who are willing to do what is important, which often involves sacrifice and personal growth, who think the Party is transforming itself and know it is the only possible vehicle for the necessary changes...those are the people who earn the victories.

[fujiyama]

33. Stay

There are plenty of like minded people remaining in the party.

If it's simply a matter of registration, I agree with other posters that recommended staying registered D if your state has closed primaries.

Even otherwise, I'd stay with the Democratic party, simply because of an existing infrastructure. I notice your from Denver and I'm not familiar with the political climate there (though I think the city leans to the left) so I don't know how effective greens have been. I know that greens have got elected to local offices in a few towns and cities, but those are few and far between.

[LittleClarkie]

34. Personally, the ink hasn't dried on my Dem card yet

I just got here, and the way I feel right now they're going to have to pull that card out of my cold dead hand before I'll cough it up. Ineffectual they may be some times, but I still feel like I'm in with the "good guys."

[librechik]

37. Be a mole in the Republican Party

they're not wimps, and you can play hell with their platform before they discover you. That would take big brass ones, IMO, becasue the gag reflex would be overwhelming!

[eridani]

38. Dems have PCOs, and Greens don't

I was loosely affiliated with the Greens through most of the 80s and 90s, and voted Nader in 1996 and 2000(in a safe state). I joined the Dems when Kucinich asked me to become a PCO and talk to my neighbors, as opposed to Nader asking me to come to a super rally and lobby for his inclusion in the debates.

The only thing that can overcome the Rethug noise machine is local organizing, from the precinct on up. Get enough people who are as progressive as you are in the local structure, and we will eventually be able to take on the corporados.

Lefties ever since 1972 have mostly stayed out of electoral politics on the grounds that the real political action was agitating in the streets and/or changing your personal life to get closer to the kind of society you want to live in. Those things are important, but that's still no excuse to ignore elections.

One thing to remember is that more Dems oppose the Republican agenda than support it. The only way to get rid of the Republican wannabes is to get experienced lower level officeholders to run against them. We don't have enough of those yet, and staying out of the party isn't the way to get more.

(Though if you want to run for some local office as a Green, by all means do so if the political subunit is small enough for you to cover on foot yourself. Anything bigger than that requires the organizational clout of the Dems.)

[ihaveaquestion]

39. OK, OK, I'm staying DEM!

A couple of you have convinced me that I can do more good from inside the Democratic party than outside griping about it. I'll check out my local organization to see if I can help out.

Thanks all! :yourock: