"Sulking is no substitute for organizing." Best quote I've seen this cycle.

[RBInMaine]

EJ Dionne has called it spot on perfect. He has clearly demonstrated how small and narrow the Tea Party Republicans are but just that they HAVE organized and in primaries have been able to have an impact. And he just as clearly demonstrates that the antidote is to out-organize them and beat them down, but you don't do that by sitting home and bemoaning the imperfect at the expense of the good. As he says, if Tea Party Fringe Republicans, due to organizing, are able to have a significant impact in the general elections, it is because they organized and we didn't. Plain and simple as that and absolutely correct.

So do as Big Ed and Pap say. Do as Howard Dean says. Get out there. Donate what you can. Rally, canvass, and phonebank. There are so many ways to get involved at the local level. And all the progressive organizations around the nation need to get it in gear. The big mistake was winning the last election then going home and sitting. A movement needs continual action. It doesn't end after an election. Many rank and file progressives need to understand this just as right wingers do.
And the TeaExtremists have just handed us so much ammunition. They are begging to be "beaten on." Time to take out the "heavy bats."

I have personally been phonebanking, canvassing, donating, and this Sunday I'm rallying with Dems and the Big Dog in South Portland, ME. Please join me if you aren't already. Thanks.

[JNelson6563]

1. Excellent!

Thank you for your hard work! You set a fine example of getting it done! :toast:

Julie

[flpoljunkie]

2. Granted, but the Tea Party has gotten a big assist from the media.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Giant!

[RBInMaine]

5. Because they organized and got loud during the healthcare debate, because they have some corporate

backing, because big mouths like Palin and Beck have mouthed off for them, and because the corporate media wants RePUKES in office. Sad. But what we have to do is ORGANIZE and fucking pound on them !

[mkultra]

3. the DU debbie downer crew would have you just sit this one out

How odd in that would result in a teabagger takeover.

[RBInMaine]

6. The Debbie Downers need to adult-up and get out there and beat on the TeaBaggers.

[Exilednight]

7. Yes, and the rah rah squad needs to adult-up and ........

realize that the left is organizing, but they organizing for democratic values, not just for anyone who claims to be a Democrat.

And there lies the problem. You're just upset that we're organizing on principle, and not on brand recognition.

This is an administration who squandered away 77% polling support for a public option in a backroom deal with health insurance in order to prevent a public fight.

They did the same with big pharma.

Punted on gitmo.

Pulled a bait and switch with Iraq draw down by doubling the number of armed military contractors while drawing down actual US forces and rebranding those forces and "non-combat". Yet those non-combat forces are fully armed and backing up combat operations for the Iraqi military.

It's also the same administration that applied the state secrets act in order to prevent a court from hearing the case against a US civilian who it claims is a terrorist sympathizer.

[RBInMaine]

8. Sorry you didn't get perfect purity, but you have damn well gotten PROGRESS. Just ask

Rachel Madow. She'll refresh your memory. There has NEVER been purity in governing, and especially with a more diverse party and Senate rules you don't get it. So kindly be real. And organizing? Where is the canvassing, phonebanking, rallying, etc.? (Yes, I know One Nation is coming. MORE is needed on the ground LOCALLY. That means canvassing and phonebanking.) Where are the armies of progressives out there organizing hard and working the ground and the phones against the threat of BONER and Co.? (And please don't hand me any nonsense that there is no difference between the parties. That would be light years outside of reality.) Where are they out there beating hard on the ShitBaggers who threatening to pound YOU into the dirt if they attain office? You have a choice. Sit, whine, and bemoan the impure at the expense the good, or do like Big Ed, Pap, Howard, etc. say and get out there and elect Dems because we sure as all shit are a hundred fucking times better than the fuckwad RePUKES who just voted AGAINST repealing DADT, AGAINST the small business bill, AGAINST the Dream Act, and who want to repeal a good patients bill of rights and college loans law NOW in effect thanks to DEMS. (Was the DADT vote and Dream Act vote "progressive" enough for you? Or are you going to bitch about those too? Almost ALL Dems supported them and ZERO fucking RePUKES did. If that plus their 100% vote against the small business bill and their PLAGUE ON AMERICAN plan can't motivate you, I don't know what can.)

[Exilednight]

14. As usual, you change the subject. and not talk about the issues. Now, when you're ..............

ready to "adult-up", as you so aptly put it, and have a civilized discussion, then we shall talk.

Until then, goodbye.

[RBInMaine]

23. BS. The subject is getting out, organizing, and beating down the TeaPukes. If you want instead to

bitch and moan forever because you're in nonsense land and think you can get policy purity in Congress, then go piss and moan elsewhere. You seem very good at that. Some of us are interested in winning elections. And I sure as all shit have adulted-up on that front for years. Why don't you consider ending the endless bitching, find a thing or two to be satisfied with, and help beat the ultra-white, ultra-right TeaScumLicans. That's where the energy needs to be.

[Exilednight]

36. Everyone pay attention, RBI just let the truth slip out ...............

Some of us are interested in winning elections.

This is all they are worried about. Forget about actually governing once in office or making real change. Just put up some bogus legislation and call it change, and then go back out and win again to say "hey, at least we're better than that guy".

[mkultra]

9. I love how your posts are a tapestry of truth and lies

with friends like you, who needs republicans.

[RBInMaine]

10. Thanks. What that person doesn't know is astounding. I have been working to defeat R's for years

and am doing so now. That person appears to be a perpetual complainer purist. So while that person holds his or her
pity-for-non-purity party, I'll be working the ground and the phones to elect Dems and beat down the ShitBaggers. Glad you are joining me. Thanks again.

[mkultra]

11. im guessing you responded to the wrong person?

[RBInMaine]

12. I did. Sorry. Just fixed it. I was responding again to who you responded to.

[Exilednight]

13. You're calling me a liar - so prove it. n/t

[RBInMaine]

15. I for one am not calling you a "liar," but you do seem to be wasting energy bemoaning the imperfect

instead of getting out there as Big Ed, Howard Dean, Papantonio, etc. and working to beat down the RePUKElican ShitBaggers. THAT is where the energy needs to be.

[mkultra]

16. Your spin on the items listed is disingenuous at best

Here is real polling data on the public option
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/senate-republicans/polls-in-key-states-public-option-far-more-popular-than-senate-plan/

To claim that Obama squandered support away when it was clealry the senate is just a lie. Same goes for your description of GB, and the Iraqi drawdown. Its all just twisting of facts to suit your predisposed view. Frankly it would be more sound to frame your complaints in terms of politics than they way you have in reference to the progress that has been made.

[Exilednight]

17. 77% as per survey USA, here's the huffpo piece .............

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/20/new-poll-77-percent-suppo_n_264375.html



New Poll: 77 Percent Support "Choice" Of Public Option

More than three out of every four Americans feel it is important to have a "choice" between a government-run health care insurance option and private coverage, according to a public opinion poll released on Thursday.

A new study by SurveyUSA puts support for a public option at a robust 77 percent, one percentage point higher than where it stood in June.

He squandered the support. He failed to sell it and cut a backroom deal with health insurance companies.

I admit, punting on gitmo is my opinion. There are things he could of done and ended, but he refuses to actually put up a fight.

How am I wrong on the Iraqi draw-down? Did we not double the number of armed military contractors? The State Dept says we did.

Did we not reclassify soldiers as non-combat troops? Obama says we did.

Are those non-combat soldiers still armed on the fields of combat? The Army says they are.

[mkultra]

18. To bad for you buddy, but we are going to win this election

im sure that pisses you off again.

[Upton]

19. We are?

What election? If you're referring to the Nov. midterms, there is absolutely no polling evidence to back your statement up. It's all about damage control at this point.

[RBInMaine]

20. Deleted

[RBInMaine]

21. We can retain the Congress and do well in many races at all levels. Are you helping or bitching?

[mkultra]

22. Its the third option

Hes hurting.

[mkultra]

24. well, Im not sure WE includes you

But us Democrats are.

[RBInMaine]

26. If you're questioning my commitment as a "Dem," then either you are drowning in ignorance or

utter insanity.

[mkultra]

29. wrong person again

[RBInMaine]

34. Aw crap. SORRY again. Yup. Meant that for the naysayer. Please pardon.

[Upton]

27. Whatever..

what's with the insults anyway? You don't know me. All I'm doing is repeating what Nate Silver and others have to say. You have a problem, take it up with them..

[mkultra]

30. try thinking for yourself parrot head.

[Upton]

31. Hmm..

coming from someone who obviously has their head buried firmly in the sand, perhaps I should take that as a compliment..

[RBInMaine]

35. We are more than five weeks out. Parroting Nate's predictions now is pre-mature and his models are

far from flawless. If we work hard, get our folks out to vote, and hit the Pukes hard, we can do ok.
Why don't you help and stay positive instead of naysaying all the time. Many of us would like to win. Many of us are working hard. Is that ok with you? We'd like to stay positive. Is that alright? Many of us don't like to sit and bitch and whine and moan all day. We like to work to support and elect Dems. OK with you? Why don't you help.

[mkultra]

25. IM in. I fully support Obama and the democrats and

ill work till im dead to beat the republicans.

[RBInMaine]

28. GREAT. THANKS. Please bring some friends !

[Radical Activist]

32. Yep.

And if you don't like all the conservative Democrats then organize early for the primary. That's what the conservative Dems do.

[RBInMaine]

33. Yup. That's right. ORGANIZE and WIN more primaries. If you can't, then can't complain much now.

Now is the time to unite to defeat R's, not bemoan the imperfect. (In some ways though it's good to have a diverse party. Let the R-Baggers purge all moderates and non-whites as they are doing right now. I'll take them. We need to be a national party and BIGGER than the ShitBaggers.)