Reply #21: Why this is useful commentary - why it has helped me refocus [View All]

[Alisa]

I guess the bottom line here for me is that "negotiating", "placating", "trying to do better" is the knee-jerk form of the battered person's response - point shown by the battered womens movement. The behavior that this immediately comes to my mind is the centrist direction of the party, the shame of being a "liberal", dropping gays, apologizing for abortion rights, trying to prove we are as moral as Repub's (I hope more so). The above behavior, "negotiating", "placating", "trying to do better", is fine in a relationship that is respectful and mutual in a "give and take" kind of way. Does anyone here remember when the repub party was like that? I think things started to turn really ugly with Newt, and have only gotten worse from there. Our overall response has been respectful, courteous, willing to work with the repubs. When they have been backed against the wall (like in 2000 election) their party leadership really showed a seamy, dishonest, corrupt reaction. They only wanted to win - at any cost - and it's seems to be that way ever since. We are not dealing with people who will respond to "negotiating", "placating", "trying to do better" behavior and a respectful and valuing way.

We need to keep this in mind when we develope strategy to fight. I am not ashamed for being liberal - I'm ultra liberal in fact (and very very proud of it). And I am feeling more radical today then at any other point of my life. There is a place for compromise - but I haven't seen that spirit within the repub party for decades, and our (dems) attempts have more than anything had the stink of appeasement. If the democratic party - meaning we the people of it - don't start fighting back HARDER, without apologies - kinda like when I was a kid during the Viet Nam period, then who will? We need large numbers of people coordinated to be seen by our fellow citizens - and even the world - protesting! Gandhi, King showed us eloquently how this will make change - there is no doubt of it.