I believe we are going to have to get over our "revulsion" of working with Republicans

[berni_mccoy]

I feel as if the Republicans have done a vast amount of damage to our nation, to our government, and to the people. And I feel those who are responsible should be pursued and prosecuted to the full extent of the laws of the land.

That being said, I know many Republicans who are my friends, neighbors and coworkers. For many years, we have avoided discussion of politics in groups for many of the reasons it is painful to post something (anything) in this forum about Obama or Clinton. There are fervent, loud voices on both sides that try to shut down discussion with uncivilized discourse.

This is what is desirable by a dictator: a divided people. When the people are not in unity, when they are divided, they can not stand. They can not work together to solve problems like health care and poverty. They can not stand together to stop a war. They can not stand together to Impeach the criminalistic leaders that have taken control and divided the nation.

Like it or not, we are a divided people. We must unite to make the change. We must educate each other and help each other to reach the common ground if we are to accomplish great things. We must stand up and say, "Yes, We Can talk to our neighbor, in a civil way who has a different perspective than I. Yes, we can talk to our co-workers and agree on what we need to do to prevent the Corporations from dictating what is right and wrong for us as workers. Yes, we can tell our representatives what they need to do to restore our rights and build a system that can provide healthcare for all."

We must stand together, brothers and sisters, strong together, in order to heal this nation. We must stand together, to repair this world.

I too have reservations and fears about working with the other side. But we must be brave and know that we will not lose our ideals or what we stand for by doing so. In fact, we will only do well to spread our ideals and share our perspective. Our politics do not divide us as much as we have been told they do. We have much more in common with each other than not.

[flyarm]

1. Read my lips..never..ever ever!!..eom

[displacedtexan]

2. No thanks.

Too late.

They threw away their chances.

[AndyA]

3. Of course, the problem is we're willing to work with the other side.

They aren't willing to work with us.

The term "working with" implies to me compromise on both sides, a willingness to give a little from time to time in order to make things happen. But that doesn't happen with the Republicans. They stand firm, give nothing, and the Democrats are expected to be the ones to give in, which they do time and time again.

Once it's a two way street, we'll see. Until then, it just won't work.

[grasswire]

4. nuts

On so many levels. Just nuts.

[BlackVelvet04]

5. There were many a republican who feel for

bush's "uniter" bullshit....see how well that worked out, don't you?

[MoonRiver]

6. NOT GETTING OVER IT.

And I will NEVER support DINO Obama.

[robinlynne]

7. First we put the criminals in jail. After that I'd be glad to talk about unity.

[gateley]

8. If we truly want to heal this country, we will have to work together. nt

[jaxx]

9. I'm going to agree with what you said

because this division has got to stop if we're going to survive as a country. The idea of my way or no way has put us into armed camps, and done nothing but create hatred towards the "other side". Whichever side that may be for each. The hardliner pubs won't work with us, we know that. But there are many who will, who are also sick of the bushco crap. It does no harm to reach across the aisle, it compromises no principles. What it does do is allow people to be swayed to unite for the country. We've had 7 years of hardass politics, and where has it gotten us? To the edge...the very edge.

[Skidmore]

11. Yes, indeed.

And it needs to start at the grassroots, with family and neighbors. If we can get to common ground in our neighborhoods, the the leadership at the top of that party will change too. One by one we need to engage on a different level.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. First they have to get their knives out of our backs,

and then we'll see getting along ...............

[backscatter712]

12. This is why I like Obama - he gets this.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think it's ever okay to sell out our principles.

But Obama won't. That's my gut feeling. He knows that we have to work with the Republicans. And he knows how to do it without selling us out and pulling a Lieberman. The best place for him is the Oval Office, because as President, he can use that bully pulpit, use his powerful debating and orating talents, and bring the debate into the public eye in a way we haven't seen in years.

He can make the debate happen. He can pull both us and the GOP out of the land of dirty tricks and divisive politics, force us and them to look at the issues, and make everyone take a stand publicly, or take the wrong stand publicly. That's how you beat the special interests and the corrupters. You go out on the bully pulpit, take a stand, bring the issues front and center and ask the Congress what they're going to do about it. Put sunshine on the process, and watch the Beltway's vampires burst into flames.

Bring enough truth and passion on the stages, and even the Republicans will have no choice but to work with us and take action.

[Sapphocrat]

13. In other words, you want to capitulate.

Forget it. I want Democrats with a spine.

[backscatter712]

14. NO. See my previous post.

[jaxx]

16. Define spine.

[Sapphocrat]

22. No need to. If you've spent any time on DU...

...you know what I mean by "spine" -- as opposed to the spinelessness of our so-called "leadership" for the past 7 years.

See any post slapping the crap out of Reid and/or Pelosi.

[berni_mccoy]

18. Not at all. I expect us to find common ground and find ways to work together.

We can preserve and even spread our ideals while doing so.

[Sapphocrat]

23. These two OPs say it all for me:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4374203

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4386792

[AZBlue]

15. You are so right!

The attitude of hate and revenge is no better than the GOP's actions. I put everyone who thinks that way on the same level as the corrupt Republicans.

Thank you for this post!

[NoBorders]

17. We expect others to get 'over' their division

LIke say, the Palestinians and Israelis, where real blood has been spilled. But us? No.

[Didereaux]

19. Get your ass back to FREE REPUBLIC or under the rock, THEY ARE MURDEROUS SOB's and...

you DO NOT work with poisonous snakes, you may have to handle them, but you do not cuddle them. Besides if there were any justice at all 85% of the bastards would be in jail or executed: which would make your suggestion moot.

[berni_mccoy]

20. Just. Wow.

I don't know what to say to that.

[AndyTiedye]

21. Bend Over

The Repiglickans do not compromise. Ever. They roadblock until they get what they want.

[NMMNG]

24. I'll pass

They've not shown any signs of wanting to work with us--only run roughshod over us, the nation and the world. Cooperation isn't their style.

[Bluestar]

25. Deleted by Poster--sorry dupe by mistake

[Bluestar]

26. Uh, were you around in 1974?

We let them slither out of Watergate to live another day. And it was a BIG MISTAKE. Dems are always willing to extend an olive branch, but we haven't yet learned not to extend it to those who only grasp it to survive, and then turn on us. Kind of like the serpent and Eve.

Just follow the steps of the Neocons from 1974 until now--Reaganomics, war, creating the homeless, 20% interest rates, war, deficit spending, war, leading up to the crescendo of the mother of all betrayal against America, the Bush administration. I don't have to list all the transgressions against Americans for the past 7 years.

They have proven that they can't be trusted. No, I am not for making "nice", I am for holding them accountable. They will have to renounce everything the Bush administration has done and then PROVE to us that they have changed their stripes BEFORE we should invite them into the process. In the meantime, we will be busy trying like hell to fix the mess they have created.

All because they wanted to elect someone they felt comfortable "having a beer" with.

[MyNameGoesHere]

27. How do you know if you have been working with a republican?

Well the knife in the back is a good indicator.

[berni_mccoy]

29. LOL. Even though I don't agree with the message, it's a funny joke.

[TwilightGardener]

28. Wow, it's going to explode some heads here when a Repub or two ends up in

the Dem President's cabinet. Just like William Cohen.

[pat_k]

30. Pfft. The notion that "we" can "work with" war criminals. . .

. . .and fascist followers is what our so-called "leaders" need to get over.

"Gotta" work with outlaws is what's driving the impotence of the Democratic "leadership."

It goes hand in hand with the insanity that "we" can "get things done" under rule by signing statement.

And the notion that we are a "divided" nation is crap.

The nation is united in their fury with the bushncheney-ism. Their anger has been given no productive outlet. You want to unify the nation? Impeach. Force an "up or down" vote on the worst of the Bush regime. Divide those who believe in American principle from those who believe in Fascist principle. The split is something like 75% / 25% and 75% IS UNITY.

The day Pelosi declared "off the table" she doomed the party to impotent gesturing, confirmed the pervasive "weak dem" image, and earned the Party the public's disdain -- disdain that is only outweighed by their anger at what Bush has done to the nation.

The "let's just all get along" with fascist election thieves is what drove Gore to betray his promise to "fight for you" and surrender to the criminal Bush v. Gore edict.

It is what kept ever Democratic Senator sitting on their hands on January 6th, 2001 as the Congressional Black Caucus called on them to do their jobs and JOIN the objection to the illegitimate Florida electors.

The "gotta work with fascists" insanity is what drove Daschle to go along with the Authorization to Use Military Force.

Need to "show we can govern" and "work with" outlaws who have proven themselves willing to go to any lengths to advance their agenda is what kept our leaders from impeaching Reagan and Poppy Bush for Iran Contra. (They were sure the scandal take the Republicans down, and then watched as the White House slipped through their waiting hands.)

When the "other team" proves, over, and over, and over, and over, and over again that they have no qualms about breaking any rule to "win" you don't keep "playing." You accuse them and demand they be removed from the game. You tell the truth.

Until they reject the pretense, NOTHING will get better in 2009.

Without Impeachment Nothing Will "Get Better" in 2009:

Failure to challenge bushchenyism now allows it to flourish. Even if
Democrats would otherwise win the next election, it is ONLY by
impeachment that the scope of damage can be exposed. Without
it, they are left to regroup and reemerge.

More. . . (talking-impeachment.pdf)