I'm a Democrat and sometimes I'm ashamed...

[IndianaJones]

of the actions of some members of my party. There is nothing wrong with that.

Now, if you are always ashamed, may I suggest that a different group may be in order.

If you are always proud, no matter what, may I suggest you remove your blinders.

[presspeal]

1. Fairly spoken,

and true.

[Warpy]

2. Being a good Democrat means being able to look at

all our officials, elected and party, and scream "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FLIPPING MINDS?" at least once a day.

If we marched in lockstep, we'd be Republics.

[SoFlaJet]

3. IJ

it's always been a choice of the lesser of two evils-up until Bush came into power now we have no choice but to puch D and hope for the best...

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. The problem is...

Even the lesser of evils is still evil. Is it too much to ask for the chance to vote for good once in a while?

[Individualist]

11. The lesser of two evils argument is BS

Pond scum isn't as bad as sewer scum, but I'll be damned if I'll drink either one.

When presented with a choice of a neocon or a neocon enabler, I'll write in someone who'll represent the people.

[TechBear_Seattle]

14. I agree

Now, lets see how long until your post is deleted for "encouraging disloyalty to the Party."

[Virginia Dare]

21. Then you'll die of thirst...n/t

[Individualist]

24. Wrong!

When given a choice between pond scum and sewer scum, I don't have to choose either. Instead I'll opt for tap or bottled water. Given a choice between a neocon and a neocon enabler, I'll vote for neither. I'll write in someone who represents the people.

Bottom line: When presented with a choice of bad and worse, one can always come up with a better solution.

[Virginia Dare]

26. Your idealism is to be admired...n/t

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. Agreed completely...

:hi:

[Lone_Wolf]

5. Sometimes the Dem Leaders make me think Nader was right...

So sad...

[OzarkDem]

6. Good post n/t

[bigtree]

8. overall, the Dem party has enough of a record of accomplishments to justify pride in membership

. . . maybe not recently, but I don't have to take such a narrow view of the potential of our party to lose my pride. We still have hundreds of legislators on the national level who are committed and working toward advancing our core principles and ideals into action and into law. I take pride in my association with and support of those legislators and those efforts. That will not be diminished by the cynicism of others too myopic to see past this one Congress; or too myopic to recognize the majority of Democratic legislators who are busy doing what they were elected for.

[BlooInBloo]

10. You're talking about different things.

[bigtree]

13. habit

I never really know what it is I'm actually responding to

[BlooInBloo]

18. heh!

[endarkenment]

20. I agree with parts of that.

I think there are in fact many good Democratic representatives and a handful of good Democratic senators. I think our current congressional leadership is rotten to the core. I believe that has been amply displayed in this miserable failure of a first session. The War Party got its agenda straight through to the president's desk. There is no getting around that, and it was facilitated from the top levels of our leadership.

[bigtree]

22. daaamm!

this is a first I believe.

The leadership has indeed proven themselves incompetent. 'Why' is up for speculation. 'Why' doesn't even matter. We need competent leaders who don't give a shit what Bush and his idiot band of traitors say or think. Reid and Pelosi are fine folks, as far as I'm concerned. I really don't think they're in the bag with Bush.

But they'll be just fine carrying out their normal legislative duties without their leadership status. We can't afford another capitulation to Bush (whether done out incompetence or deliberate complicity). I'll join in any respectful campaign or movement to unseat them, including making my own individual efforts.

[endarkenment]

25. There is a lot of common ground here despite the fighting

Almost all of us are really after the same things: we see a Republic is peril, a seriously wrong war, and a nation heading in a dangerously bad direction. Its time to discuss what is to be done, and not who was right or wrong. Unfortunately I am out of good ideas.

[BlooInBloo]

9. Yup.

[Lerkfish]

12. if we do not hold our leaders to high standards, then we give them permission for low behavior

[H2O Man]

15. Interesting points.

I'm a democrat. I do not think of the elected officials in my town, county, state, or country as being somehow more a member of the party than I am. There are elected officials found on the various levels that I have respect for, and some I hold in contempt. The majority of them fit somewhere between true respect and utter contempt. I do not have a relationship with any of them that would allow me to feel either pride or shame in their actions. Hence, I am not really able to relate to concepts such as feeling "proud" or "ashamed" to be a democrat, based upon someone else's activities.

[peace frog]

16. You said it for me

and I thank you.

[emilyg]

17. I'm often puzzled

ashamed? not so much

[The Stranger]

19. When the Democrats in Congress are not representing their PARTY'S BASE, then THEY ARE THE ONES for

whom a new group may be in order.

I am getting sick and tired of dissent being equated with disloyalty here.

[FloridaJudy]

23. Short and sweet.

It's important to keep your balance, along with a sense of humor.

[KAT119]

27. Imo-the 2004 Dem. Victory gave us a Trojan Horse!!

I want to stay a Dem. bec. of our history---but it is getting tougher as they have sold us out big time. The Green Party is looking good....