Do you think today's Democratic Party is politically impotent? Yes or No?

If this poll had asked if SOME of the leadership in the Democratic party was impotent, (refering to fighting the right wing agenda)
I would have said yes!

If this poll had asked if the DLC doesn't help the Democratic party,
I would have said yes!

If this poll had asked if people who insist the Democratic party is gutless hurt the party,
again, I would have said yes!
Because those people help portray an image of no confidence that may or may not be deserved.
And without a viable alternative to the Democratic party,
something or an orginazation that can do battle with and take down todays Republican Leadership,
and it's agenda, these people do not help the progressive liberal cause.



(this post was in no way directed toward any individuals, and is instead based on generalities.
That though I may use whom ever as an example, that does not imply the post is about them!)

I have one of the first to criticize the Democrats for being spineless. However, lately I can see why they are afraid to speak up. A few prominant Democrats have raised a ruckass in the last few weeks, and what have they gotten for their trouble. They have been roundly and incessantly lambasted by the mainstream news media. Whenever a Democrat gets the balls to point out the obvious lies and corruption of the Republicans, the news media joins in a chorus of "The Democrats are hurting themselves!" The news media repeats this mantra non-stop until the offending Democrat is silenced.

Problem with the Dems is, when they want to know how they're doing, they turn on the TV or read the newspapers. They do NOT consult their constituency. If the lazy fucks would listen to the schmucks like me and you, who voted for them, they might grow some balls. The MSM is not on their side, damn it, WE are. Their job is not to lead, but to represent, to follow. Us. They are afraid to lose what corporate funding they get, and that is why they lose...they are afraid of losing the table scraps after the regressives have had the dinner. They need to rely on the voters, not the corporations, who are representing the republicans and controlling the Dems. Duh!

After all, it is one big Party with two wings, like a big-assed Turkey. That's reality folks. The Dems are doing a great job of keeping the smoke-screan up so the people continue to think they live in a democracy. Get over it and move on. Duh.

OK, it's one big happy party.

So what?




Come November and you are looking at the ballot deciding who to vote for,
what are the odds you'll vote for the Republican?


If there is a third party, will you give that person a protest vote,
a vote that could have gone to another candidate that had a chance of beating the Republican?




Assume the Democratic party is neutered,
so what?

How will this information effect how you will vote?



Why do you people continue to support these defeatist positions?
The Democratic party is not functioning as you would like it too,
so what would you suggest?
What is your viable alternative?


What IS your viable alternative?
As of yet, not one of you has offered any viable solutions to this supposed problem.




You know, this forum has for the most part become a place for
like minded liberals to gather and complain about what they feel is wrong,
without much of an idea what to do about it, but talk about how bad it is.





The Democrats are Neutered?

So what is your plan?
If you do have a plan, how do you intend to impliment it?





If in fact, claiming that the Democratic party has no power is a pointless endeaver,
even if it is true,
why do it?

Why not instead use your attitide and words and attempt to empower the party?
If you don't like how the party is being run, then join the party and get involved!
Join your local chapter of the DNC, get involved, voice your opinion.






Rah rah team!
GooooOOOO team!

sheeeit.



I expect several of you to rise to this post and defend the defeatism, even take time to explain
over and over how it isn't defeatism, that its some form of reality check.
I don't care. I know what I see, and you people are not helping the cause with
the negativity you insist on making the main stream thought.

Is it any wonder we can't get the Democratic party to stand up?
You people haven't given them much encouragement.

If you were my kids, you'de all be on a time out!








Fuck I hate this time of year!





(This post is NOT for or about any single individual. It's intended to be a general statement only.)

Sky, where are you ? I can't see you, the smoke is too thick.

No smoke here, but I'm tired from beating this drum all the time.

G'night.

Beating the Drum for the Democrats is a thankless job. I'm sure they're grateful, but do they really deserve it ? Not by a longshot imho. The only thing the Democrat Party has going for it is the Black caucus.........and Barbara Boxer. But every time one of them stands up to speak the truth, they get told to sit down and shut the fuck up.....by members of their own Party ! Dig where I'm coming from ? Can somebody please open a window in here ? The smoke is just too much.

Actually, when I think about it a bit longer, please do gove your Senator a call, send a fax. You'll feel much better afterwards.

And this : a lot is now depending on wether the filibuster comes to be or not. Sooo, if it is one big Party as I say, the Repugs will have to allow the Dems to filibuster.....in order to save the face of the left wing of the Grand Party. Not that a filibuster will succeed in blocking Alito.

on edit : Obama and Kerry appear to agree with me on this, if only in part ;

Obama : "The Democrats have to do a much better job in making their case on these issues," Obama said Sunday on ABC News' "This Week." "These last-minute efforts - using procedural maneuvers inside the Beltway - I think has been the wrong way of going about it."

Kerry : "It's not easy, but it's important for our country,"

Kerry preparing for yet another failure ?

What a bunch of losers.

Still beating the drum for these guys ?

If things work out with the Filibuister as I suspect,
then I hope Kerry never ever gets elected again!

But, if Kerry does what he says,
then he might win back some of my respect!

Where is a centerist politcal party when you need one?

I voted 'yes' that they are currently politically impotent. Some of the blame for it is their fault and is in their control to change. Some of it is not their fault, and they cannot change it (at least not easily or quickly). America has changed greatly since 9-11. The American mentality has changed. The Republicans have used this to their advantage, and the Democrats have not.

Some people here believe the Democratic Party isn't broken. I know it is.

You ask me for solutions, Sky. I can only tell you what I see that is not working. To continue to do what is clearly not working and expect different results is not sane. The Democrats need to do something different. They need to get on the same page. They need to form one consistent message and find new ways to make sure it gets delivered to the People. They need to stop supporting Republican initiatives. They need to find their own message.

These are some things that need to be done to change the status quo.

I can't much disagree with you AFW.

I also believe the Democrats too often miss the point and fail to be the opposition they should be.
But that doesn't mean the party doesn't work.


It means those who DO act in a manner that suits the majority of Americans
Need MUCH GREATER SUPPORT,
and should NOT be lumped into the big pile that includes Leiberman and Clinton!

Feinstein, Conyers, Boxer, Dean, all are just a few examples of Democrats
who are so NOT like Leiberman or Clinton as to be seperate parties.
Yet, we call them all Democrats! Same same??? I think not Charlie!


Support actively and with words those Democrats who do good deeds.
Doing so would be much more useful that denouncing those who do not!



Y'all keep saying "the Democrats" as if they're all once voice!
The Republicans ARE one voice, the Democrats ARE NOT!

Isn't it about time we accepted this reality and worked with it
instead of condemning the whole system?

Ya know, I hate to agree with sky, cuz he's so lame, but I have to say he's right. It's completely wrong to just lump all dems in one group. I also will say that it's wrong to lump all repubs in the same group. The ideaology of the democratic party is what I like. The things they stand for. You may have problems with individuals, and if that's the case, do not vote for them--try to convince others not to vote for them. Same thing goes for a republican. Especially in local elections. Just because someone claims a party, doesn't really amount to anything until you hear their personal platform. I, personally, lean to the far left. BUT I am willing to support anyone who puts their money where their mouth is and ACTUALLY DOES the things they claim they will do; doesn't matter if they claim the Alien party for all I care.

And to say that calling, faxing, emailing your politicians doesn't do anything is a sorry excuse for not doing anything. The only way they know what WE want, is when we tell them. I have volunteered with local politicans, and I KNOW they read the stuff they get. The individual politician may not read every word, but someone actually does. If they didn't, no one would ever get elected, re-elected or not re-elected.

The big picture (meaning federal policial problems, causes, etc.) is important. You must also remember that all of those people came from somewhere. You don't start out in politics as a US Senator. Pay attention to your local elections and officials. If you don't like what they do, go to your courthouse, their office, hell--even at wal-mart, and tell them what you think. State officials are pretty easy to get access to. Call them, visit them, you can make an appointment where you will have your time, take a fucking graph or chart or list of things you want changed. And if they don't listen, DON"T RE-ELECT them, and tell everyone you know what they won't support. That's how things change.

I have personally been taking a breather from posting here too much. It was distracting me from the things I think are important. BUT, some things are important. Like remembering what it is that we are doing here. What things do you want to change? GIVE SPECIFICS! Then maybe we can all hash out some actual to-be-done plans. Soon2b had a great idea about mailing a letter to the DNC. Maybe if every single one of us sat down and wrote a coherent and legitimate letter stating our ideas, concerns, problems and possible solutions and sent them all together, it would be MORE noticed. Or, if you have a specific senator that you really don't like. let's talk about it. The actual issues that senator may be for or against and hash out a plan of what to do. This would be a far more constructive use of this forum and some of your time.

And I add no disclaimer, if this hurts your feelings, I am probably actually talking to you.

Anybody else here see hte problem with this statement? By using terms like "Democrat" and "Republican" you've already "lumped them all together into one group."




I used to write to my MLA (member of the legislative assembly) all the time. I used to finish my letters with "Please do NOT patronize me with a form letter." Guess what I'd get in the mail every time I wrote. A form letter saying "Thanks for writing! Your views are important to me!" Yeah right.

There is NO point in writing to somebody who doesn't read / care what you think.

Want to effect change? Put down your stupid letter and actually run against the person you disagree with.



Sky, you've started a fad.

Hell yeah, go Left!

LOL... after your little tussle with sky, I didn't think you'd support a comment like this

Scorp, while I always listen to your opinion and many times agree with your ideas, I have to say that you have become more and more antagonistic over the past few weeks. I have no reason, nor desire to argue with you. If you read what I said in it's entirety, I was trying to make a point and I WAS NOT lumping everyone together, the first statement was explained IN DETAIL in the remainder of the paragraph. Again, I really don't want to argue. I do think that communicating with your politicians is important. You can disagree. You also come from a different sort of government than I do and we both come from different experiences. I think I can make a difference. I really don't want to just give up, put my head in the sand and wait for the world to end. Nor am I saying that's what you suggest. I just don't plan on giving up. I'll do what I can.

The Democrats need to be on the "same page" if they want to begin to "win" again, but I don't see that happening. I predict that 2006 and 2008 won't be much different than 2002 and 2004.

That is negative, but its also cold, hard reality. No complaining. No whining. Just telling you what I see. Sorry if you don't like it.

No, it's YOUR reality because YOU have already decided to fold!
You have decided we can't win, so fold!


So many words I am NOT placing here.




Fortunately, the majority of us aren't ready to walk away from this game.

I used to be an Imperialist. I was heavly influenced by Sun Tzu, Marcus Arilus, Octavin, Saladin, Crespo and many others and have live most of life with such ideals of honor and combat. Yes, I am no longer an Imperialist, but I still hold many of the ideals. To something you would know, consider me to have gone "Zen" like Yamamoto or Mishamuta. For those that do not know, they are famous Samurai the gave up their blade for "higher" reasons. I know what you are thinking "Here the fuck is he going with this?" I would rather an enemy face me on equal terms. If they have no blade I will give them one, if we are on unequal ground, then I would even it, etc. Also, I would never fight someone who did not wish to fight.

Now with all that said, I am not saying Left is my enemy, nor do I even think she was speaking to me in this thread, but I applaud her bravo and will support it, even if directed towards myself. I dislike cowardice almost as much as elitism.