The Politics of Frustration

[Mythsaje]

We know how close to the brink we stand as a nation. The last several years has seen the legitimization of torture, the legalizing of wire-tapping, the inability of Congress to do much to stop not only the war, but the quick erosion of civil liberties, and its seeming unwillingness to take the Bush Administration to task for all of it.

Yes, we're frustrated. And angry. We spin in place, pointing fingers at anyone, to try to find someone, anyone, to take responsibility for what we're seeing. We blame ourselves, and each other, and anyone we can get to stand still for a moment.

We place people on a pedestal, imagining that they, of all people, will be the ones to finally accept responsibility, if not for the damage that's been done, then for doing whatever it takes to stop it.

When they fail us, we throw a fit, condemn them, and forget that they too are as full of human frailties as are we.

We need heroes and, unlike our opposite numbers, we need heroes that do something other than kill and destroy. We need heroes that build and heal. Build bridges to the future, and heal the wounds the political and economic processes have left on our souls, and on the collective American psyche. We need people like Al Gore, John Conyers, Barbara Boxer, and Russ Feingold. We lay our expectations on Patrick Fitzgerald to bring them to justice, and cry out our frustration when he fails.

Now we're fighting amongst ourselves to determine who the best Democratic candidate may be, hoping beyond hope that THIS person will be the one to turn the tide. We shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves, even considering the stakes. When we vilify candidates other than the one we choose, we're hurting ourselves in the long run because we cannot KNOW who may or may not have the wherewithal to do what needs to be done.

We're all on the same side, even if we see different candidates as being the one to lead the charge against the neo-cons and their insane agenda. We should remember that our own chosen candidate, assuming we have one, is simply the one WE perceive as having the best chance of doing that and that the others may or may not do the same.

We can't let our frustration completely take over. We have to allow ourselves some distance and perspective, lest we alienate the very people with whom we share the most.

In a fight like this one, every single ally is a boon. Let's not forget that.

[cjm757]

1. The new Party

We need hero's... I could not agree more. We need a government who can live up to the expectations of the American Citizen. Who will not lie, who will not fail, and who will not abandon us in the world that we have carved ourselves. I agree.

I once thought I was a republican, then I knew I was one, then I wavered, and finally I realized I was not classified as anything. I stand by my belief that political parties is killing our nation. Partisanship has rendered our nation week and vulnerable. As you say...

"We need heroes and, unlike our opposite numbers, we need heroes that do something other than kill and destroy. We need heroes that build and heal. Build bridges to the future, and heal the wounds the political and economic processes have left on our souls, and on the collective American psyche."

Try Ron Paul. Listen to his beliefs on foreign policy and economics. We need to clean our own house before we tell the rest of the world how there house should look. Give these clips 5 minutes of your time and listen to the new 'republican' party. I hope America prevails in this race.

Ron Paul on Jay Leno
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9LZyHoAPL3M&feature=user

Ron Paul on ABC
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oTWyxtaGbcQ

Ron Paul on Bill Maher
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WUYDt7kC3Z0

[pinto]

2. Who We Are:

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http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

[Toots]

3. You must be high

A Libertarian is even worse than a Republican. They believe with all their heart that Government is the problem when in fact without government we would be nothing..even worse than nothing...So take your Ron Paul parade somewhere else..