Plea to DUers who think enough is enough.

[democrank]

Honestly, I can`t take it anymore. I`ve given leeway using every ounce of temperance I can muster. I`ve made exceptions, overlooked things, bitten my tongue, searched for the bright side. Reality hit home this morning after thinking about the choice of Gov. Kaine for the Democratic response to Bush`s State of the Union Speech. Not a John Murtha, not a Wes Clark or even one of the numerous Iraq War veterans running in `06. No. Kaine was described as a "rising star" in the Democratic Party. This was no time for a rising star. It was a moment which demanded a blazing rocket. Apparently Democratic Party decision makers in Washington are determined to moderate this party right into oblivion.

We`ve heard a lot about moderates here at DU. Stick with the middle of the roaders. Don`t make a bunch of waves. Play it safe. Where does that get us? Behind door number three on Hardball.... the "no vision" door, the door that`s opened just a crack once in a while, long enough for a head to pop out and mutter something about comity with his friend across the aisle. If a moderate wants to rush up to Bush for a post-speech hug, so be it. I`d rather see our party leaders drill a cold stare through Bush`s criminal head for the mutilated soldiers at Walter Reed or the energy policy written by oil executives or the countless seniors begging for pills. We`ve heard more than enough from the moderates in this party. They`ve had their chance and it got us nowhere. Now`s the time for a few truthtellers, men or women who`ll look at a pile of dog crap and not call it a strawberry sundae.

We can go on for many more years supporting leaders whose messages are tweaked by consultants, focus groups and professional image makers or we can demand real representation guided by honest assessments. If you`re in favor of the staus quo, ignore this. If you`re fed up with the sellouts, the winking and nodding, then maybe you can help come up with a battle plan.

I`d like to concentrate efforts on two areas: Democratic Party leadership (Reid, Pelosi, DNC, DLC) and the media. Any ideas out there?

[Nimrod2005]

1. That's how I feel about things...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2426371&mesg_id=2426371

[kurth]

2. That's the bottom line

Democrats need leaders who speak the truth in clear short sentences. And repeat the same message day after day from now until November. Don't worry about the fine print and asterisks.

[cyberia]

6. They should take lessons from Bernie Sanders.

He's a notorious socialist and no Dem or Rep in Vermont can touch him in an electoral match up. Does that tell you something about scurrying to the center? That's where the losers hang out.

[Douglas Carpenter]

7. here - here !!

Sanders for U.S. Senate link: http://bernie.org/


http://bernie.org /

"Bernie Sanders believes that in the richest nation in the history of the world, all Americans should enjoy a decent standard of living. He believes that it is unacceptable that millions of people are forced to work for sub-standard wages and lack health care, decent housing and educational opportunity. He regards it as a national disgrace that the United States has, by far, the highest rate of child poverty of any industrialized country and a childcare system that is abysmal. He regards it as unconscionable that the United States remains the only country in the industrialized world which does not have a national health care system guaranteeing health care for all, and that millions of seniors lack the prescription drugs they desperately need.

Most of Sanders’ energy has been devoted to issues that affect the needs of the people that government often ignores - working families, the middle class, the elderly, children and the poor. In a nation in which the wealthiest one percent own more wealth than the bottom ninety-five percent, and where the CEOs of major corporations earn 500 times what their employees make, Sanders believes that the middle class and working families of our country need all the help they can get. Sanders has also been strongly involved on environmental issues, and in protecting the rights of women, minorities and the gay community. He has also been one of the leaders in Congress in opposition to the war in Iraq.

When Sanders took office in 1991, he was concerned that there was no organized group in the House of Representatives to represent the economic interests of the average American. Along with four other members of the House he founded the House Progressive Caucus, which has now grown to 56 members. Sanders chaired the caucus for its first eight years. In the last three years, he has been ably followed in that position by Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Barbara Lee (D-CA). The Progressive Caucus, on a wide variety of matters, has helped lead the effort in Congress to protect the interests of the ordinary citizens of this country who cannot afford to contribute large sums of money to buy political influence. They have also played an active role against the war in Iraq.

During this session of Congress Bernie has been a leader on a number of fronts. Click here to read about the issues that he has focused on during his years in Congress" link: http://bernie.org/?page_id=35

Sanders for U.S. Senate link: http://bernie.org/

Contribute: https://secure.bernie.org/page/contribute

volunteer: http://bernie.org/volunteer.php
If you would prefer to call our Field Organizer call Ethan Ready at 802-355-1724 or email him at [e-mail].

Audio/Video:

http://bernie.org/?cat=4

Issues:

http://bernie.org/?page_id=77

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
PENSIONS
USA PATRIOT ACT
CORPORATE CONTROL OF THE MEDIA
TRADE
IRAQ
ENVIRONMENT

[kurth]

11. Hey, this man should be running for president!

[cyberia]

33. Well, duh! and amen. n/t

[radio4progressives]

29. Yep Bernie knows how to talk the talk, and walk the walk..

no mealy, out of both sides of the mouth contortion triangulationists, is Sanders.

Why can't the leadership in this party ever see the light?

[kentuck]

3. I understand where you are coming from....

But Democrats should not assume that a "moderate" to "conservative" Democrat from the red state of Virginia is emblematic of the entire Democratic Party, just as we should not assume that we are emblematic of the entire Party. What we need is the outspoken truth. Not dilly-dallying..

[wtbymark]

4. Tell the DLC they can close their doors

they're not a part of our party anymore. Don't want em', don't need em'.

[Not_So_Right_Wing]

12. ditto...kick the dlc out of OUR party

:kick:

[MrBenchley]

22. Sorry, Charlie....

The DLC isn't going anywhere. But it Is funny to read that John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Debbie Stabenow, Rush Holt, etc., aren't really Democrats, but a couple of anonymous voices on a forum are.....

[Sammy Pepys]

5. Kaine is DNC's trophy boy.

They had to throw him a bone.

[Totally Committed]

8. This is becoming a Party

I no longer want to belong to. Sorry, but that's the truth of it.

The Democratic Party has got to make up its mind very soon which people it represents. Having a blatant DLC shill like Kaine out front and center was the last slap in the face to those of us who make up, for the most part, the Democratic Party base -- the grasstoot activists. I was disgusted. I felt humiliated. I felt disregarded. And, I felt disrespected. Again, I had no voice... not even from my own Party. I felt embarrassed that this corporate-friendly, homophobic "rising star" wahoo was out there speaking for the Party to which I belong. How many more of these self-inflicted wounds do they expect people like me to stick around and watch? How many more lost elections before they realize they are doing this not only to themselves but to ALL Democrats? I am sick and tired of this Democratic Party mindless, center-to-right, cynical, false-hearted, STUPIDITY. They cannot be this CLUELESS and expect to win ANYTHING. They'll be standing there wondering WTF happened when a HUGE GROUP leaves the Party en masse... because if this keeps up, they will. As it is now, my heart is already gone.

I can barely express my anger, sadness, and frustration at this point.

TC

[TallahasseeGrannie]

10. I understand your distress

and I felt some of it during the cloture vote.

But here is my take on it. I am a moderate Dem. I am often way right of DU. And yet there are many planks in the more radical platform I could get into. But the fact that we lost with a centrist candidate does not necessarily mean that the more radical elements, who by definition, (bell curve and all that) are fewer in number, can gather the force necessary to defeat the GOP.

So it all comes down to purpose. What is our purpose? I think we need to identify that completely. Is it to unseat the present government? To win elections? Or revolution? I think there will be many different answers on here to that questions.

[CJCRANE]

13. The problem with centrists

is that a compromise between the centre and the far-right (neocons) is centre-right.

That's why centrists should really support populist left-wingers, who by the very fact of counterbalancing the far-right will drag the debate back to the centre.

(Hope that makes sense).

[TallahasseeGrannie]

14. My head just exploded!

LOL

But my centrism (is that a word?) is really more a compromise between far left and far right. My world view is kind of like a Chinese restaurant menu...one from column A, one from column B, etc.

[emlev]

9. No electoral plan wil work without election integrity EOM

[applegrove]

15. Reid is the most effective Dem leader. How many times in the last

year have we yelled "give em hell - Harry"?

My gosh. Just when we are winning. Just when Bush makes a SOTU and the whole country rolls its eyes.

We are winning. WE have a chance at getting back power in 2006.

You want to give that up -fine.

Millions and millions of Americans want the Dems (adults) back in charge.

[Wordie]

16. Agree. The tide is beginning to turn, finally. This isn't the time to

attack those who are helping to turn it.

[Coexist]

26. I like Reid and Pelosi - a great poster here keeps track of

the votes made by our Senators and rates them - WHERE ARE YOU??? I know a lot of DLC are at the bottom. Please post your ratings.

[democrank]

19. applegrove.....

It hurts me to feel this way about the party I hold dear. I`m not trying to be a thorn in anyone`s side and I have no plans to "give up" anything. Ive been active in this party for over forty years and would give ANYTHING to share your opinion that we`re winning.

Winning what? The White House? Senate? House of Representatives? Polls on national security? Polls on terrorism? The Supreme Court? The ideas/vision contests in mainstream media? Debates? Photo ops?

Why do you think John Murtha is still grabbing a headline or two? Because he`s going with the flow?
Because he`s tickled half to death with the status quo? No. The exact opposite is true and we need more of that. Murtha wouldn`t make a five-second mention on cable news were it not for his courage and his willingness to call BS when he sees it rather then blend into the fog of the get-along gang.

For Democrats who can honestly answer the question...How`s this working for you?....with a resounding "GREAT", I wish I had your patience. But, some of us are fed up to our eyeballs. Some suggest we go hug Nader or start our own party, but I didn`t work my Democratic heart and soul out for over four decades to end up morphed into a cloned Republican.

[applegrove]

20. Dems have turned the tables on Repukes. I'm sorry you cannot

see the trend ahead. Dems will get power back. The reason why it was so sad in Nov 2004 - is because Bush won and that meant his lies and anti-policy would go on, and all parts of the USA would be diminished - exactly as neocons intend. And the elites would be given more power.

It was so sad. Because power really does matter. It was sad then because it meant Bush would get a chance to overturn Roe vs. Wade - and the only thing I find sadder than abortion in the first trimester is a woman who has no choice over her reproductive life.

It was sad. All these horrid losses stem from that one event.

And now we can see that it will not be repreated. So their is hope.

And I wish you could see that.

[fooj]

25. I feel ya, democrank. I really do.

I have never been so frustrated and so saddened by the leadership in our party. It's tragic. It really, really is.

Peace.:hug:

[sendero]

39. We're not WINNING anything..

... the Republicans are LOSING it. By ANY reasonable political measure, based on the objective performance of the Republican policies and their numerous scandals, polls should show Dems with a decisive lead over them.

But they don't - because every time Dems get an opportunity to stand up and speak with PASSION AND CONVICTION about real issues, they wimp out with a bunch of handwringing, mealy-mouthed platitudes that are functionally no better than Bush's.

Sure, we can go ahead and give the Republicans another decade or so to self destruct so abjectly that folks are driven to our side out of necessity, or we can stop giving voice to the Kaines of the party who are never going to inspire anyone to believe in us.

On a positive note, something has happened to John Kerry. Over the last couple of months he has gone from nuanced handwringer to something much better. You'd have to be asleep to not notice it, and maybe others will follow his lead.

[KitSileya]

40. That is exactly it!

So many here see that the repukes are having trouble,a nd automatically thinks that that shines positive light on the Democrats. It does not. In fact, the trouble is that even with the Bush administration slipping in mud of their own making, and showing their underbelly to all, the Democrats still can't seem to manage to hit them where it hurts! The repukes are all but laying down spreadeagled and asking to be arrested for their crimes, while the head honchos in the Democratic party keep quarreling about the best way to cuff them!

[Mark5]

17. Yeah enough

Damn it defend yourselves. Flip their old, tired easily debunked attacks.

This is for those in the media or just your average joe. Be proud to be a democrat be proud to stand for what you stand for, and this is coming from someone who considers himself a moderate democrat(socially very liberal).

For example, last night I had the displeasure of watching the Sean Hannity show. One of the guests was general Wesley Clark. He made a comment about the war effort and some of the mistakes including some roughing up of women and children by US soldiers.

Of course Hannity jumped all over this, and asked "do you have any proof, because if you don't thats very irresponsible of you to say” .
General Clark turned to him and informed him he had heard it from numerous soldiers in the front lines, and felt compelled to re-state that he loved the troops. This last line was to avoid being labeled a cut-and runner, or troop hater etc. Hannety, nearly resorted to calling him a liar and putting his honor on the line.

Now, General Wesley is a greater and smarter man that I, and surely knows best, and he did handle him self well, but for the good of the country, the well being of our soldiers this sort of attack and smearing strategy needs to be confronted and thrown back in their face.

In my humble opinion "General Wesley Clark” and anyone attacked like this needs to put them in their place.

First their argument/accusation is extremist based thus fundamentally flawed. So don't be an extremist, but throw this back in their face.

General Clark could have easily put him in his place by pointing out that; in War the unfortunate event of some women and children being roughed up pales in comparison the even more unfortunate death of thousand of civilians, in this case Iraqi civilian. Don’t blame the administration for this, its just a realistic effect that wars have on civilians.

He should have pointed out that such decisions are well known to have unfortunate consequences, whose burden is carried on the shoulders of great man like General Clark and others, and not expected to be understood by some (doubled chined) hate mongering TV host trying to get ratings by calling peoples names, and defending, pushing for an agenda that keeps putting our men an women in uniform as well as civilians in danger.


Point out that in fact his double standard, hate mongering, spinning of the fact is irresponsible when considering his actions are aimed to influence support for a war that is not being fought well and is causing the deaths of more civilian and American soldiers.

Point him out as hate monger, point out his double standards, act like an proud American defend the troops and explain your angle, don’t be intimidated by simpleton personal attacks that can be easily turned to reveal the true nature and intentions of the accuser.

And be ready to offer a better solution, cause heck at this point any solution is better than what is currently going on in Iraq. Be need to point out strongly Bush’s failure, but we need to more strongly point out a solution!

So it’s a simple 3 step process.

Put the hate mongers in their place.
Point out Bush glaring failure, with some “balls and energy”(remember people are dying)
Point out one or many clear avenues of a solution.

My $.02

[applegrove]

18. Hey - Welcome to the DU! I think we need to not panic and remember

38% is where Bush is. We have come a long way in a year. And it seems that bag o tricks no longer works. GOP can no longer myth-make. They must acknowledge truths and their whole existence is based on disguising that. They are doing badly. We should be proud and happy and thrilled with the mix that has been this year. Our leaders, ourselves and quite frankly - the cold-heartedness that finally became obvious to all re: Katrina and execution & run-up to Iraq War on the part of the Bush WH. Their true colors are showing. And that is great (not the part about the cold-heartedness destroying lives needlessly - that is not great by any stretch). This is the year of the truth.

We should be very buoyed.

[Mark5]

44. I wouldnt consider it "panic'

Just defend ourselves, and point out that this whole time while they've been busy trying smear us to the point of calling us america haters, american soldiers keep dying due to their ideology.

Turn accusations of Anti-american Democrats to equate,"we dont care if More US soldiers die", just like they turned "anti-war= anti-american".

They must be comfronted, we aint anti-american, we got nothing to fear. Our best allie is their utter and total failure of their administration yet democratic leadirship seems lost. They aint got heart, they are just a bad advertising agency trying pitch an angle. There is no angle to pitch, american soldiers are needlesly lying and no one except, (for Sheehan and her smeared campaing), are comfronting these liars.

Talk about the democratic party seeming soft, they wont even stand up for injustices against their own people.

People arent that smart they dont care about the facts they care about is presented to them as facts.

[MissWaverly]

21. I think the purpose was to draw people in

Believe me, I thought it was a good approach, there he was in front of a roaring fire
with a can do better speech, it was perfect after 51 minutes of Bush repeat rant,
freedom on march, terror, terror, selfish baby boomers, why should they get their money..
it will strangle the gov. blah, blah, blah. I agree that you have valid points and
we need a real change in policy in the democratic platform, we need to stand for
our principles, but we would not have made any leeway with a heavy speech. They had already been bushwacked.

[ooglymoogly]

23. my sentiments exactly

kikn nom

[bvar22]

24. THIS IS the CENTER!!!!

In recent polls by the Pew Research Group, the Opinion Research Corporation, the Wall Street Journal, and CBS News, the American majority has made clear how it feels. Look at how the majority feels about some of the issues that you'd think would be gospel to a real Democratic party:

1. 65 percent say the government should guarantee health insurance for everyone -- even if it means raising taxes.

2. 86 percent favor raising the minimum wage (including 79 percent of selfdescribed "social conservatives").

3. 60 percent favor repealing either all of Bush's tax cuts or at least those cuts that went to the rich.

4. 66 percent would reduce the deficit not by cutting domestic spending but by reducing Pentagon spending or raising taxes.

5. 77 percent believe the country should do "whatever it takes" to protect the environment.

6. 87 percent think big oil corporations are gouging consumers, and 80 percent (including 76 percent of Republicans) would support a windfall profits tax on the oil giants if the revenues went for more research on alternative fuels.

7. 69 percent agree that corporate offshoring of jobs is bad for the U.S. economy (78 percent of "disaffected" voters think this), and only 22% believe offshoring is good because "it keeps costs down."

8. 69 percent believe America is on the wrong track, with only 26 percent saying it's headed in the right direction…


The MAJORITY of AMERICANS (not just Democrats) support THESE positions!
The DLC and Corpomedia are trying to brand these positions as "fringe Left". They are NOT. THIS IS THE CENTER.
Anything to the RIGHT of these positions are CONSERVATIVE, or in the case of the DLC, FRINGE RIGHT EXTREME!

Where do YOU stand ON THE ISSUES. Don't let the CorpoMedia or the Corporate Financed DLC decide which LABEL fits you!.
Don't let the DLC or the CorpoMedia or the rich beltway elite Democrats tell YOU where the center is!

If YOUR favorite Democrat is NOT standing behind ALL of these positions, YOU should be DEMANDING that they do, or finding out WHY NOT!.

The above issues are a blueprint for landslide WINS in 2006 and 2008.
WHERE IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
Where are THE CENTRISTS?

Does ANYONE here still believe that Free Trade is a Centrist position?




"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans,
family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."--- Senator Paul Wellstone

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[abbiehoff]

28. Clearly you are correct.

The problem is that people don't necessarily associate their positions with the Democratic Party.
Media insists on giving the Democrats' agenda from the lips of Karl Rove. "Democrats have no ideas." or "Democrats are living in a pre-9/11 world." I never hear from any would-be pundit anything a Democrat has actually said. I only hear what Republicans say that Democrats say. Without media coverage the Democratic message will not reach the people.

[Totally Committed]

31. Jeezuss... What an awesome post!

Right effing on!

That, my friend, is a work of art... a thing of beauty... a sonata for the soul.

Thank you.

TC

[Douglas Carpenter]

32. thank you for the poll results

I'm trying to keep a record of all such polls along with their links in order to point out out to fringe Democrats how their strategy of running on unpopular positions will not help us win and is not centrist.

No, I do not think anyone can any longer claim that neo-liberal economic ideology is centrist. And as unpopular as it is in America it is even far less popular in the third world where the theoretical beneficiaries live.

[ProudDad]

34. RIGHT FREAKIN' ON!

Michael Moore made these same points.

The average citizen in the U.S. would be classed as a radical Socialist by the right-wing cabal (of both parties) that call the shots in Washington today.

[Wordie]

43. That's important info, and a great post. Deserves its own thread, imo.

Thanks, bvar22!

[sandnsea]

27. Change Minds - Change Votes

Waste of time to keep aiming at the wrong target.

[SaveElmer]

30. Disagree completely...

Kaine exhibited exactly what I believe the country us looking for. Mature, adult leadership as an antidote to the adolescents in the white house. He made excellent, pointed criticisms of Bush, implied they are to blame for the lack of bipartisanship, and did all that in an adult, coherant manner.

I believe Reid and Pelsoi are doing a very good job. Frankly I was skeptical about Reid at first. I was worried that another red state leader would be forced to look over his shoulder constantly, and of course I am bothered by Reid's stance on choice. I have been proven wrong on all counts. Reid has shown himself to be shrewd, competent, and an excellent spokesman for Senate Democrats. I feel the same about Pelosi, who has been able to achieve a remarkable amount of unanimity among House Democrats.

Howard Dean and the DNC are also doing a much better job. Dean is revitalizing party organizations where they had become moribund, and has reenergized fundraising, starting with the small contributor.

I have no particular problem with the DLC. Sometimes they advocate positions I do not agree with, and that is fine. They also have alot of good ideas on how to reframe our message to talk about issues such as religion, gun control etc on our turf, not the righties.

[PBass]

35. Keep hoping for the best. Keep trying.

We all just want what is best for America.

Be patient and stay at it. The main thing I have realized is that we must keep chipping away, and we must remain engaged.

[radfringe]

36. for whatever good it may do

letters, e-mails, faxes, phone calls to leadership expressing "displeasure" in their lack of balls/spine?

I've been getting a couple of calls a week from Dem party asking for money -- told them when I see some balls they'll see some money

I'm on the verge of switching party registration to independent - the only thing barely stopping me at the moment is the up-coming primaries for Senate/House races and the need to get rid of Santorum and Sherwood (our House rep)

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. If enough of us nationwide switch to indie

they will get the message, and if they don't.... I foreseee this summer of our didcontent for the Democratic party getting bleaker and bleaker... the country is ready for a third party... that is the truth. Me going indie as well

[radfringe]

42. sad but true

but the dems look more like a bunch of weenies everyday - I know there are exceptions, but not enough to drag the rest of the party along with them

There are so many problems they could take a strong stand on - but they don't. Once in awhile one of them comes out with statement, the repugs get "insulted" and the next day there's some sort of apology

I've said it many times and I'll say it again -- if the dems don't stand up for themselves, why should I think they will stand up for me?

LEAD! Damn you! or get the hell out of the way... enough with the bowing and scrapping, enough with trying to appear above the fray -- it's time to take a stand and stick to it

[Peter Frank]

37. Extremely Well Said... n/t

[JNelson6563]

38. Question

How do you plan to replace the current leadership?