How would you like to see DU move forward ?

[ramapo]

And how would you like to be engaged?

These two basic questions were asked of me yesterday (maybe you too) by the Obama transition team (although of course they didn't mention DU specifically).

DU has been a place for us to commiserate while bitching and moaning about the sad state of affairs in our country, a country led by a cabal diametrically opposed to what many of us believe. But now the time has come to change our mission from opposition to support for what is now OUR administration.

I thought these were two easy questions but they are not. This is causing me to sit back and reflect on how I can move forward and become more engaged in actually helping to repair the immense damage that has been done to our country.

I just don't have the answer yet.

But it seems to me that there some here at DU have a need to continue to fight. There's already fighting about Clinton as SoS, Clinton-ites in the administration, the proposed bailout, the AG, Daschle, Lieberman and more.

Right now I give Obama 200% of my support. Whatever he thinks is best is fine by me. I won't agree with everything he does but as long as Obama has a decent reason, he will get my support. I trust that he will move this country like no one has in generations. And I want to help.

I don't expect all happiness and smiles here but I do expect this to become a place with a generally positive tone. I've had enough negativity, and besides there's enough of it just watching the headlines roll in.

So I would like to see DU become a place where we contribute in a positive way. Maybe some of us think it is positive to beat the crap out of each other in the hopes of creating a perfect Obama administration. I don't think he's listening to us right now, he has far more important things to attend to.

Well I'm going to spend time thinking about how I might make a truly positive contribution to the change we need. I hope that is the direction that DU takes too.

[DB1]

1. How we choose to move forward is overshadowed by a need to return to civility. n/t

[Posteritatis]

5. And here's why comments need to be rec-able (nt)

[DB1]

8. Thank you.

[jeepnstein]

16. It's not that bad here.

Arguing is one of the funner and finer points of politics. Just as steel sharpens steel, arguing here helps lay bare those parts of our personal agendas that may not make much sense to the rest of the world. I could do without the personal attacks, profanity, and hostility that just seethes from some folks around here. Oh well, it's a tough business.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. I'd like to see Skinner, Earl G and Elad get into formation like the "Keep on Truckin'" guy...

...or ZZ Top in that video, either way. I think a synchronized movement would be very impressive and would look great on YouTube. If any of them have a furry guitar like Billy Gibbons they could spin it around as the supermodels get into their DU-Mobile.



And don't forget the music. There should be cool music playing in the background as they move forward. Very, very cool music.

:eyes:

:rofl:

[Pyrzqxgl]

3. Can't we continue to poke fun at Republicans & out-of-line Democrats?

[jwirr]

4. I am definitely interested in using this site to further progressive

legislation but I do not have the expertise to carry this out. If DU can provide it I am in. I remember how we worked together during the Kerry campaign and know that we can be powerful.

[Mike 03]

6. Wow, your post fills me with emotion. DU seems to have a life of its own, and I could never

presume to make any "should" statements about it.

It seems to be thriving quite well in the weeks since our victory. Do I wish it were more civil, more united, less divisive? Sure. I was called "unpatriotic" today for the first time on DU.

But at the same time, it is what it is. If this is Skinner's vision for it, then I stand by that. Conflict is okay with me. What I wish it were like is really irrelevant. I choose to be here and participate, and if it gets too uncomfortable, I take a break.

But your post is good food for thought. Self-examination is a healthy thing.

[Mike 03]

7. By the way, I do support Obama 200%. I agree it is ridiculously premature to be second-guessing his

every decision. It embarrasses me to see posts of that type. I don't think it reflects well on any of us.

Rec.

[valerief]

9. ??? Make a point or a joke, lovey, not Oprah-speak. Oy vey.

Hey, I've got an answer. Noprah-speak. A place where there's Noprah-speak.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. This site is my place for intormation

on various progressive issues, especially those not covered by the MSM.

[MercutioATC]

11. ...and spelling.

:P

Sorry, couldn't resist. I know it's just a typo.

[OregonBlue]

12. I guess what I'd like to see most is that DU become a premiere site for getting out the change

message. Instead of arguing with each other over every single proposed cabinet member and proposed rule change, I'd love to see us become a "Progressives for Change" site that lobbies Republicans in each state to cooperate and work for the good of the country instead of for the good of their party.

I'd love to see each of our State Forums elevated to Lobby for Change forums where we work to lobby those DINO's and Republicans in the Senate and Congress to help move our agendas (the wars, civil liberties, health care, unions, etc) forward. I hope we can become truly pro-active in lobbying for change rather than being reduced to infighting about every move the new administration makes.

Today's "discussions" regarding Pelosi and Reid's moves to stop a vote on the big 3 and make them come back with a plan on December 1st is a perfect example. I personally think that it is very reasonable on their parts to demand that if we are going to give them the money that was reserved for retooling, that they come back and tell us how they are going to spend the money and how it will move them toward our new energy goals. I also think that the Waxman vote had a lot to do with this new approach. Instead there were a lot of accusations flying around about them trying to kill the big 3.

We need to get behind our folks. We need to help them move forward and start helping them to get their message out and lobby those that oppose the "change we can believe in".

I guess I also believe (and I never thought I would say this) that it's time to start trying to relate to Republicans. Bring some civility back to the process. Work to change their "hearts and minds" and actively lobby them to join us in bringing the country back from the brink.

Maybe I'm naive but I think it really is time to put partisan politics aside (well at least a little) and try to persuade the nation, rather than bully the nation. I for one, have had enough bullying to last a lifetime.

I live in a conservative rural area. Many of my neighbors voted for McCain. I have not even talked to them about the election since Obama won. Once he takes office I plan to only bring up the positive change I think he is trying to make and wait for their responses. For me, change has to start locally and we need a positive message to match our win.

[ramapo]

13. Thanks

You put forward a couple of good ideas, especially the one to use our State forums as lobbying centers. I've struggled with trying to come up with something that I can do that is actually meaningful and constructive. Blabbing on DU doesn't really fit the bill.

I'm with you in regards to putting partisan politics aside for now. I'm old enough to remember when there was a much broader Republican party with many fine Senators. NJ had a long-serving, fairly liberal, anti-war Republican senator.

I've already been vilified here on DU for suggesting that not all Republicans are fascist assholes. I really admire Obama for going down the bi-partision path and hope that he is successful. Much more will get done if he can build a coalition of sorts.

We do have to be positive and get away from the fear and hate that has dominated our politics for the past 30-40 years. I've had more than enough of it.

[OregonBlue]

14. Couldn't agree more. I personally am just tired of being angry. I realized when this

election was over that I had been in such a state of high anxiety for years that I didn't know how to relax. And I was angry at every Republican on the face of the planet. Many of my neighbors are Republicans and most are actually really nice people. The majority are old and retired and have bought into the fear factor so they voted based on that. A few don't have much to say to me since my Obama signs went up but most didn't seem to care and many even asked me why I supported him and listened to what I had to say.

It is time to be a positive group, not a hate group. I've seen an awful lot of hate and angry discussion here lately and I'm not spending as much time here for that very reason.

Hope you come up with some "positive" ideas for how we can make DU part of the change!!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

15. I Applaud Your Sentiment And Agree Wholeheartedly.

Problem is, too many only have one gear, and it's the 'bitch and complain' gear.

But I totally agree with you and hope to hell that enough members subscribe to your way of thinking to overshadow and trivialize those who don't.