Can we now get back to networking in order to defeat Republicans?

[RBInMaine]

The criticisms have been leveled time and time and time again. OK, so Obama and the Dems are not perfect. Most Democrats in office are not purists. Fine. Obama, who has to be the President of an ENTIRE nation and has to navigate the vast complex of a political system with a diverse Democratic caucus and an obstructionist Republican opposition and still get something done, is not able to be a purist. Still, it is absolutely indisputable that he and Dems have accomplished more PROGRESS (albeit not purity) in less than two years than any administration since LBJ, if not FDR, as so well articulated by Rachel Maddow.

The question now is very simple. Either keep on screeching about how impure and imperfect this President and these Dems are, sit home, and allow the idiot Palin and her TeaScum RePUKES to win, or understand the realities, accept the indisputable accomplishments, see the glass half full, and work to beat the RePUKElicans who would obviously be hundreds of times worse than any impure Democrat. (There is plenty to work and vote FOR in this coming election of course, and one only needs to do a minute of research to remind oneself of it all.)

This is DEMOCRATIC Underground. That means something. It is supposed to be about Democrats and Democratic leaners sharing information in order to network to defeat the horrid Republican opposition which wants to return us to the dark ages. I for one am working like hell to defeat Republicans. (Just canvassed yesterday.) That is the essence of what it is supposed to be all about. It would be so nice to get back to it.

PS: I know there will be replies like, "OK, so I just suck it up, walk in lockstep, and shut my mouth right?" Heard it all before, and that's not the point. The point is we have an election in November, this is DEMOCRATIC Underground, and it would be nice to get back to the main point of the site in order to unite and defeat the Palin RePUKES in November. I concede Obama and Dems are not perfect. Constantly repeating such criticisms, which have been echoed over and over and over again, does little at this stage but help the rotten RePUKES who need to be defeated in November. Dems remain a hundred times better.

[Botany]

1. Good for you!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/ofasplashflag/



Bottom Line it! Do people want to put the same s***s back into power who sunk the country to begin w/?

[RBInMaine]

4. Thanks very much. Those of us phonebanking, canvassing, etc. every day appreciate it.

[Steely_Dan]

24. I Have Been Very Critical...

of the President. However, I will support him and the Dems. It is the right thing to do.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. ok - got it. shut up, donate, vote.

Nope. If the administration craps out again like it did with Sherrod, it will be in for another wave of criticism.

"keep on screeching about how impure and imperfect this President and these Dems are"
what a pantload.

[RBInMaine]

3. Yeah yeah yeah. Heard it all before. You just don't get it.

[JoePhilly]

5. Scream and holler in your local primaries ... once they are over ...

You are basically deciding if you want a REPUBLICAN agenda, currently a terrifying thought, or a DEMOCRATIC agenda, even one that is not as liberal on some issues you care about.

Personally, I'd take a D (almost any D) over the current insane group of Rs out there.

[RBInMaine]

7. Thank you so much. My point exactly. Much appreciated.

[Voltaire]

20. I'm with you

I ain't lockstep SHIT. But I am not for having republicans win ANYTHING

[catgirl]

6. Read his last two lines

Repeating criticism is exactly what you're doing. Too funny.

[RBInMaine]

8. Thanks very much.

[stevenleser]

25. No, you are trying to tell us to shut up and not give our POV. Please tell us how to advocate for

the things we believe in if the way we are doing it offends you.

This meme of saying our opinion means we are telling you to shut up doesnt work. Its bullshit.

If you dont agree, say that. Dont push this other garbage.

[JoePhilly]

30. Scream all you want in the primaries.

After the primaries ... you ar really voting for either a GOP agenda, or a Democratic agenda.

And the argument that those are "the same" holds no water. The recent vote on extending unemployment benefits makes that clear ... funding for stem cell research, equal pay for women, limits on what credit cards companies can charge you, whether your 2 year old's cancer can be used as a pre-existing condition for the rest of their life ...

The GOP would not have moved on any of these things ... in fact, they'd be moving against these ... and an array of other things.

If you want better Dems, great ... go get them ... run them in the primaries. But after that, if your favorite dem does not win, then what will you do ... spite the country and stay home??

Every hear the phrase, "even bad sex is better than no sex" ...?? In the current environment, "even a bad dem is better than a Republican".

[blitzburgh55]

9. Thank You!! nt

[Prism]

10. Weird how calls for unity are so often ladled with insults around here

Two our of your first three sentences open with insulting strawmen, and then all the tired talking points come galloping out in the paragraphs that follow.

Why? Who are you persuading? Discontented liberals? Because I can name about eight just exhausted memes in your post guaranteed to piss them off and harden them against ever working with you.

So what, exactly, is the point?

Luckily my representative is Barbara Lee, who is just about the easiest person in Congress for a progressive to support. But if I were on the fence about whether or not I'd vote in November, posts like yours would drive me away.

This purity meme is a steaming load of bullshit meant to apologize for center-right policy. Single-payer is purity. Public option is compromise. DOMA or nothing is purity, DADT and ENDA are compromise. The Left has offered nothing but compromise. Instead, we're called purists over and over, and told that even our pragmatic compromises are too wild and radical for the new sensible right-wing centrism in this country.

"Democrats unite!" while you spit in our face is not exactly a winning argument.

Unless this OP was just a bit of self-rubbing. If so, please disregard the above.

[RBInMaine]

11. No insults. But it is about damn time there were some calls for unity. Isn't that the idea?

[Prism]

13. Then exhibit some unity

And actually address the demands of discontented liberals instead of constantly setting up these purity constructs that only exist in your fevered imagination. I know purists, and lemme tell ya, very few of them exist on DU. The entire purity meme appeared the instant we were asked to swallow pro-corporate, Republican ideas as our own (see: health insurance "reform"). It's transparent and wrong.

A call for unity should bring people together, and I guarantee you, the instant you let the word "purist" fly out of your keyboard, you were deepening a profound wedge.

[RBInMaine]

15. Do you similarly chastise those who incessantly complain, and, indeed, behave like purists?

There is nothing wrong with the "purist meme" given the incessant barrage of criticism against Obama and Dems on site that is supposed to be at least generally supportive of them per the very rules of the site. It goes on and on and on and many of the criticims expressed are pure or nearly pure in ideological sentiment. It is just as fine to label some "conservatives" as purists, and there are plenty on both sides of the spectrum who are incensed by anything short of ideological purity. The RePUKES even have a purity oath, as I understand it. I have engaged with people on this board who have told me that if I was progressive on EVERY issue except even one (i.e. what if I was opposed to abortion?), then I would be disqualified as a "progressive." The purity point is totally justified in many instances. Look at the ACLU. They are defending the horrid Citizens United ruling as freedom of speech, and some on this board are agreeing with them. THAT is a glaring example of ideolgical purity. I guess you also missed the lines where I conceded that most Dems and Obama are not perfect nor are their legislative achievements, so I have my criticims too, but I see the half full glass and more interested in defeating RePUKES. You are basically missing the point of the post. It is a pointed call for unity, getting back to the main goal of beating RePUKES, and with a fair thesis.

[Warren Stupidity]

22. no insults? Did you read the OP?

Oh wait, you wrote the OP. WTF?

[RBInMaine]

12. Do you have any interest in defeating Republicans? Any energy for that?

[Prism]

14. I'm probably voting a very nearly straight ticket in California

For various very good reasons.

But that doesn't mean I cannot recognize your damaging, divisive rhetoric for precisely what it is.

[RBInMaine]

16. Good on your voting plan. And many of us are sick to death of the DIVISIVE and incessant bashing of

Obama and Democrats on this site. I work like hell to elect Democrats and have for years. I don't sit in the back seat and complain as some do and then never work a phone bank or walk a canvass. Don't you dare think about challenging me on Democratic and progressive unity. I am trying to get people to stop the bashing and start canvassing and phonebanking as they should be doing, unless they would rather answer to the likes of Palin in government.

[alsame]

18. Your chronic Palin boogie-man argument reminds me very much

of how the right wing uses the threat of Nancy Pelosi to keep their sheeple in line.

The fact is that not all elected Democrats are equal in terms of ideology and loyalty to the party platform. So there is nothing wrong with anyone criticizing their Congresscritters or the Administration if they believe they are moving too far to the right.

The alternative to Conservadems is not 'President Palin', it's electing Democrats who are more liberal than those we currently have. We don't have to settle. That's what primaries and elections are for.

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Dear Maine,

You keep electing two of the most annoying Republicans to the Senate. Sadly, this helps define your image as a State, and makes me say 'pass' on political adivce from that State. Just my opinion, I take advice from winners.
Plus, Obama is opposed to equal marriage rights. Big problem. Never apologized for McClurkin. Huge problem.

[Jennicut]

21. My state elected Lieberman in 2006. I didn't. I voted for Lamont and will vote for him in

November for Governor. If the liberals in Connecticut had not kept up their level of support for Lamont these past few years, I don't think he would be running for Governor. I doubt this poster never voted for Collins and Snowe in Maine.

I think this poster is talking about being committed to keeping Rethugs out of office while at the same time understanding the criticism of Obama. To me, the two parties have some similarities but as we can see with the debate on unemployment benefits, there are some major differences too. I think many on DU understand that nuance. This is a poster that works hard in her local area. I for one will be working hard in CT to see we get a Dem Governor (first time in 24 years).

[zipplewrath]

19. Um, I can multitask ya know

I can both keep track of progressive candidates that are working their way through the primaries and into the general election, and keep tabs on the progress, or lack there of, in the current administration. I can even keep track of the current administrations attempts to block more progressive leaning primary candidates from winning in primaries.

I'm sorry you find the full field of political issues difficult to focus on. Just read the posts you want to read, the rest of us will continue to engage a wide variety of issues.

[Jennicut]

23. I get what you are saying.

Criticism of Obama and other Dems is fine but I will never ever let a Republican take a seat when I can keep them out. Besides, who would want Linda McMahon as their Senator?

[martymar64]

29. You get it

As Democrats that voted them into office, we have a right to criticize our elected officials. We do it in an effort to drive legislation and policy in a more progressive direction. We know, perhaps more acutely then others, what exactly is at stake with the next two elections. We're not expecting purity or perfection, that is unattainable. But we do deserve an equal place at the table when policy is determined.
I've been critical on many issues, but I will vote to defeat Republicans. When the opportunities arise, we will strive to elect more progressives. We know that we face an uphill battle. There are many powerful forces arrayed against us, some even from within our own ranks (I'm looking in Ben Nelson's and Blanche Lincoln's direction). But we have no other choice but to keep fighting for what we believe in.
I hope one day the party will move in a direction that compels us to vote for Democrats instead of just voting against Republicans.

[mstinamotorcity]

26. Rewind that track

and play it over and over. I am with you on this.:headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

[kjackson227]

27. Great post. ITA! K & R

[TheKentuckian]

28. What does the election have to do with anything? You roll out the same blustering

chastisement a few times a week 52 weeks a year?

Just as you roll out the Palin boogieman daily and keep trying to hammer away at your false and destructive perfection and purity memes every day that the Lord has made on his green Earth.

I'm voting and working for Yarmouth and Conway AND demanding better from my party WHILE pushing to eliminate Republicans with a D next to their names.

Don't like it? Tough. Don't like the complaints? Then join us in demanding a people first agenda.