For my 1000th post I would like to say

[bighart]

VOTE OUT EVERY INCUMBENT EVERY CHANCE YOU GET. That would create real, meaningful change. Show them we are serious.

Thank you, carry on.

[JNelson6563]

1. the President too?

Since no other Dem is running that would mean we all vote Rethug.

What a brilliant post, recommending you vote out and incumbent NO MATTER how great they might be and no matter whether there's another liberal on the ballot.

Yeah, fucking brilliant. Not.

Julie

[bighart]

3. Since there isn't going to be a primary, no.

Let's just keep putting the same people back in Washington that have shown over and over they don't care what we think and expect change.

Brilliant NOT!

[JNelson6563]

10. I'm all for voting out the assholes

but your blanket decree would also remove the decent ones and that's worse than counter-productive, that's regressive.

Then again, most blanket decrees are.

Julie

[bighart]

23. So how do we change the status quo?

What methods should we employ to effect REAL and MEANINGFUL change like
fair tax policy
a genuine safety net for those that need it absent the threat of cuts
actual health care reforms, not health insurance mandates
an end to wars of choice and murder by drone
infrastructure rebuilding

just to name a few things off the top of my head

[Booster]

24. Hopefully, we'll vote out the bad ones & leave the good.

[bighart]

43. No other ideas?

[JNelson6563]

44. Lots of ideas!

My favorite idea: Get organized! Find a good candidate to tun and get busy supporting that candidate. Organize, fundraise, campaign.

It's the grunt work of politics but it is a great way to make change happen.

Julie

[bighart]

47. Excellent ideas.

I am just so infuriated by the way things are going I want to see real change now and am concerned the longer things stay the same the less likely real change will happen becomes.

[JNelson6563]

51. I understand.

We all are. :toast:

Julie

[ThomWV]

16. Yep.

[JNelson6563]

45. Enjoy voting Republican then!

Then you and yours can finally be happy!

[LWolf]

41. No, it wouldn't.

I don't necessarily disagree with the point, if the point is that not all incumbents need to be voted out.

It's not true, though, that not voting for a Dem means voting for a Repub, in any race.

obligatory disclaimer:

I am not suggesting that any person not vote for any Dem on their ballot. Just pointing out that your statement isn't true.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Bernie Sanders too?

No thanks.

[quinnox]

4. Good post, we know what you mean (and ignore the grumpy reply you got)

Sheesh, some people must be grumpy because of thanksgiving or something!

[bighart]

5. Thanks for the encouragement.

It may unfortunately come to "throwing the baby out with the bath water" before real change happens, I just hope enough people wake up and see the need before it's too late and we don't even have the opportunity to voice our displeasure anymore.

[quinnox]

8. no problem, when I see someone seemingly eager to bite your head off

for an innocuous post like this one, I have to wonder.

[SammyWinstonJack]

32. plus++++ nt

[FiveGoodMen]

6. NOPE.

The lobbyists are still around to influence the newbies.

And none of them know the ropes because ... they're newbies.

Meanwhile, you force anyone who is actually good to leave.

BAD IDEA.

[bighart]

9. And the lobbyists are not going anywhere until the laws change

and the laws won't change with the same people in power. So what is the answer?
I am open to suggestions that will bring about change, just haven't seen many that will actually work.
The PTB know they don't have to listen to us, the deck is stacked in their favor and the only way to change that is
to shuffle the deck over and over again.

[FiveGoodMen]

17. And I'm saying that shuffling the deck over and over makes it WORSE.

[bighart]

22. So how do you suggest we fix the problem?

Don't agree with my sentiments, please offer some viable alternative.
I am open to suggestions.

[lumpy]

35. Find out all you can about the person you are voting for; that's

the only way and to play it safe don't vote for a Repub. The Repubs tend to follow the party line to a T and that ain't good.

[FiveGoodMen]

36. We have no avenues by which to get that done except to try and educate the public

That is difficult without the Fairness Doctrine, so we should try to get that re-established.

We could also make it illegal for news sources to lie (knowingly). That supposedly kept Fox out of Canada.

In any case, doing nothing is better than doing something that just makes things worse.

[bighart]

42. Educating the public to some degree requires the co-operation

of those that need the education. I don't see that as being something that can be done as most people choose to remain ignorant of the issues and the policies of the elected. I was just thinking today how our elections have really become not much more than marketing programs.

[roman7]

53. aggree 100%

education the very thing repukes want to destroy well that and the middle class and help for the poor and well you get the picture.

[Wait Wut]

7. No.

I laughed at the teapers when they said the same thing. And looky at the awesomeish doods and such we got from that fiasco.

[Electric Monk]

11. ibtl

[quinnox]

12. lol

Great pic, But why would this be locked anyway? Its innocuous enough.

[bighart]

13. Why would this get locked?

[Electric Monk]

14. Advocating voting against incumbent Dems, broad brush. nt

[bighart]

15. Have asked to have this post deleted as it seems to be offensive to some.

[FiveGoodMen]

18. Not offensive. Just don't agree.

[quinnox]

19. ok its your call

Some people seem real touchy today apparently, <shrug>

[bigwillq]

29. Most of the time, opinions are offensive

Doesn't stop me from having my say, though.

[treestar]

20. I doubt it

Legislative bodies are what they are.

And the new people might have crazier ideas - see the tea party.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. Hold politicians accountable?? How undemocratic of you. K&R

[CaliforniaPeggy]

25. Congrats on your 1000th post!

Here's to many, many more thoughtful posts......Just like this one!

I happen to agree with you.

OF COURSE, we leave in the good ones, the few good ones.

And we do our darndest to get rid of the blue dogs, and the yellow dogs and anyone else who won't fight for US.

The unreccers have been out in force, but I don't care. I still recommended your post.

There will be no unrecs in DU3, according to Skinner...

Don't let the bastards get you down, my dear bighart!

:hi:

[bighart]

26. Many hart-felt thanks Peggy

I find it rather telling that those who don't like the idea have not offered a single suggestion on what we can do to change things, and the reality is things need to change.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

27. Aw, thanks!

It's really REALLY easy to be negative...

Offering positive, constructive ideas is much harder...

Even for good Democrats, lol!

And you're right: things do need to change. Change is risky, and there's always the chance that it won't work out the way we want. But leaving things like they are is just asking for more failure, and that's no good.

:hi:

[bigwillq]

28. Congrats on 1000!

:bounce: :toast: :hi:

[bighart]

38. Thnak you!

[Raven Lunatic]

30. Ah.....no

Sorry. Platitudes won't get this country out of the mess it's in.

[bighart]

31. So what do you suggest to "get this country out of the mess it's in"?

One line reply's won't do it either.

[bighart]

40. So you got nothing?

[lumpy]

33. If you vote out all of the incumbents you are most likely to get

a new batch of incompetents. It might be better to investigate each incumbents record and how they stand on the issues. Last election people voted in newbies and look at the crappy leadership they got. Better to know who you are voting for and much safer, of course, to vote Dem.

[bighart]

34. Thank you for the reasoned reply

Much appreciated.

[lumpy]

37. You are certainly welcome. Keeping track of politics and our

Senators and Representatives can be time consuming but it would be well worth it if voters did just that. It can be interesting and sometimes fun also! To be cautious of who we are choosing to lead us should be a priority in all our lives

[Frank Jameson]

39. I certainly agree with you. If we would set our own term limits ...

... there would be fewer criminals in Congress. It takes them awhile to learn the way to the rest room -- and the lobbyists office. One term for everybody. No exceptions.

[B Calm]

46. I agree with voting out our bluedogs and the republican incumbents, but

not every incumbent deserves to be voted out.

[bighart]

48. How many would you say actually represent the will of the people that elected them?

[B Calm]

52. Out of the bluedogs and republicans, NONE

[Silent3]

49. What a waste of a 1000th post.

When 2000 comes along, how about something better thought out? That over-simplified get-rid-of-the-incumbents attitude is exactly what put Republicans, include quite a number of bat shit crazy teabaggers, in charge of the House in 2010.

If you feel inclined to ask, "Well, how else are we going to fix things?", no one is obligated to provide you with a sure-fire just-as-simple solution in order to point out that your supposed solution isn't a good one.

[MilesColtrane]

50. That won't fix anything.

[ellisonz]

54. Ahh...the Missouri temper...

My father has it, my aunt, my grandmother did, and most of my other Missoura relatives too.

There's just something about that fair state that goes from sheer anger to sensible apologia in less than 10 minutes flat.

No offense. ;-)