I am a Democrat, I am "the left", I am a "liberal". They are all good things to be.

[madfloridian]

There is nothing wrong with being those things.

There is nothing wrong with a party's members questioning the choices of their leadership.

The Republicans went for years without questioning...and they are feeling the sting of it now. They went along to get along, their party leaders used them to get elected. Then they threw them an occasional bone to keep them happy.

I just posted some words from two of our progressive leaders in 2004 and 2005. They sound like they could have been said today.

The corporate Democrats have used this same rhetoric toward us for years now. You would think we would catch on after a while.

They want us to hush, they want us to leave, they really only need us briefly.

Those who are ridiculing the ones who are expressing concern are harming all of us.

[Skittles]

1. worshipers, take heed

[FrenchieCat]

3. Those who call others worshipers, just because they can.....take heed.

[Skittles]

7. whoever keeps replying to me

I have your ass on IGNORE

[FrenchieCat]

11. Good.

In fact, you prove my point.

Some don't want to hear what others have to say.
Should they be criticized for it?
I say no. They should be allowed to do as they wish.

[Kahuna]

15. Same can be said about those who brook no dissent with the Hillary

for SOD nomination. The same people who want to shut down people who want to shut down people were the same ones shutting down people about Hillary. Physician, heal thyself.

[Skittles]

26. are you always this fucking juvenile?

I WAS NEVER A HILLARY SUPPORTER

[Kahuna]

28. Of course you weren't. THAT'S the point. You hate her. You love her..

You hate him. You love him. Who can keep up??? Last week you were up everyone's butt who dared to opposed Hillary being named SOS. And I'm like, is this the same Skittles who had no use for her before? You might think I'm juvenile. But I think you've been speaking with forked tongue for several months now. Maybe you should worry about yourself. You think because you toss around a cuss word here and there It's supposed to scare people off. It just shows the lack of an ability to present a cogent argument.

[Skittles]

30. oh lord

DONE

[KakistocracyHater]

2. the DLC is the 'other right'

I've been saying it for years, loosely based on the Matrix when Neo took that wrong turn. You are correct in what you're saying, I've watched with growing alarm at this deformation of the Left. Democrats WON WW2, yet there's this 'pr bullshit' about Dems being wimpy/weak, while simultaneously Dems are supposedly beating up poor little goppies. I call that "The Frigid Slut" method, the clashing claims rumor-milled by righties can't both be true.

[PassingFair]

27. LOL...."The other RIGHT meat" n/t

[FrenchieCat]

4. I don't believe there is anything that will ever stop you from speaking your mind.....

You should be able to express concern.
And others should be able to express that there is no reason to be concerned. No?

after all you also welcome other folks to speak theirs mind as much as you do, even when they don't agree with you......right? :shrug:

[madfloridian]

5. You don't see the difference, do you?

I am not ridiculing them. I am asserting my rights.

Post after post here is using ridicule to get people to hush.

That is the difference.

When have I tried to silence people, Frenchie Cat? I have always used my posts to give my opinion.

[FrenchieCat]

10. No one is saying otherwise.

The truth is that freedom of speech works in any number of ways, some convenient, some not.

What appears to be Ridicule to you may be another's opinion. And they may just respond that they are simply posting their opinion....just as you assert you are so doing.

Of course you should always post how you feel, but then, how can you say that others are not allowed the same? You can't. You can only ignore them or respond. Those are the two choices we each have. Right?

[madfloridian]

21. I never make fun of others. Of course there is a difference in expressing thoughts....

and making fun of others.

That's the danger I see here at DU lately. People I respect can't tell the difference.

Ridicule is ridicule...it is childish. Speaking out honestly is another matter.

When people fail to see the difference, there are serious problems.

[bridgit]

6. rec 5, even if the 'liberal left' doesn't give a tinker's damn for me...

edit: make that doesn't give a tinker's damn and we got us a deal :)

[Two Americas]

8. people cannot see it

Or they claim to not see it.

There is a world of difference between offering views - even though they may offend or anger people - and directly and maliciously attacking the motives, character or the associations of those expressing the unwanted views.

It is not that complicated. If people can see the difference, but are bulling ahead anyway and claiming not to, that would be disturbing. If they actually cannot tell the difference, that would be disturbing as well. I am not sure which is happening, nor would be worse.

[AtomicKitten]

9. It should be mandatory as a citizen to engage and speak up.

We voted for change and must be vigilant about keeping a fire lit under our leaders. After these eight long-ass years, I can barely hear those telling people to hush. STFU and going along to get along is not the path to change. It's a path to groupthink.

[Norrin Radd]

12. kr

[davidpdx]

13. I agree, there is nothing wrong with being liberal

I am quite liberal myself on most issues. I do think people get worked up about what Obama may or may not do when he takes office and don't want him to govern as much from the center.

However, this is pretty much what he's promised to do.

The thing I recommend to everyone is, calm down and wait to see what happens.

Obama is going to have to try to pick his battles carefully in the beginning. Change doesn't happen overnight. Eight years of screw ups is going to take awhile to fix.

[Zombie2]

14. K & R

Thanks for clearing that up.

Hopefully people around here will stop telling me to "just STFU" or calling me "ignorant" because I say something about someone they worship, or anti-this (like it's unpatriotic to be anti-something/someone), hater, etc, etc, whatever.

[struggle4progress]

16. I do not think Pres-lect Obama is a small man: disagreement will not threaten him

In fact, I think he is packing his administration with all manner of intelligent and opinionated people, who will disagree frequently, and I think a more realistic and competent policy will result from that

[Jennicut]

17. I think Obama wants people to challenge him on all sides

That is one of the reason's he gave for choosing Biden as his VP and I think that is why he is choosing his cabinet this way. I think Obama likes to bounce ideas around and then come up with a consensus.

[struggle4progress]

19. Great! Then let's get those progressive organizations humming and churning

I'm sure we can find lots of ways to challenge the new President!

[Mark E. Smith]

18. I just don't get this line of thinking

If you don't agree with the OP's contentions,
and you say so, you aren't engaging in debate.
No, you are attempting to silence an undefined
"us" through ridicule. And not only that, you
are "harming all of us." Somehow. Though
exactly how is not discussed.

Who are these people who seem to actually
believe that the only opinions that can be
discussed are the ones they hold? And that if
you don't agree with them you are somehow
in line with the right.

And, one more point, how different is this
tactic from the Bushie "if you're not with us
you're with the terrorists" nonsense?

Kind of paranoiac if you think about it.

[Armstead]

20. Personally I think we'd be in a better position if all Democrats would say that

[Hell Hath No Fury]

22. I think you will like...

the new addition to my signature line. :hi:

Obama gets no free pass from me. I will be watching him and his team like a hawk.

[Township75]

35. You kick ass!

I can understand after being out of power for 8 years a lot of people just want to enjoy a Dem being pres, but now as he picks his cabinet is a time we have to hold BO accountable. We put him there, so he owes us, not the other way around. Holding him accountable and criticizing him where justified is nothing we shouuld be upset about.

[anonymous171]

23. The GOP has also been the dominant party for the last 30 years.

[Captain Hilts]

24. Us too! Don't forget us!

FDR: Hop on in, there's room for more!

[mzmolly]

25. As am I. And, there is nothing wrong with my supporting the choices

of our Next President as well.

[mvd]

29. I'm proudly left and liberal

Not "far left" according to polls I've done here, but left for sure IMO - and I try to be pragmatic. I wanted the cabinet to be more liberal, but it's a well-selected cabinet and way better than any McCain would have had. I think we are in good shape.

[Coexist]

31. me too.

[noiretextatique]

32. stating the obvious

really sad that you have to do that. totally agree with you. :hi

[Danger Mouse]

33. I'm a liberal who supports Obama's decisions.

I also say if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

34. Not in

lockstep here is like being sat down in front of a firing squad.

You and I saw it when the FISA Bill controversy was the talk of DU - Do not question - if you do, you hate the Democratic party!!!! Here ya go:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6453092

[Laelth]

36. Hear, hear! n/t k&r

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[BelgianMadCow]

37. Pinko commie

;-)

did I ever say I love your posts?

:hi: