Somebody has to speak up for the Democratic Party.....

For far too many years, we have held our tongues and our passion in order not to seem too "radical" or "too liberal". We have nominated candidates and leaders in our Party that were at times indistinguishable from Republicans.

We helped the Republicans create a political environment where "liberal" was a dirty word and the basic goodness of our Party was re-defined into immorality and perversion. That is not our Party. But we had no one to speak up and counter the right-wingers.

We were a Party of moderates from the DLC- always attempting to get that invisible middle voter - standing for nothing. We never had a leader that was able to respond to the so-called Christians that portrayed our Party as one of "baby killers" and "gay lovers". For whatever reason, it is not in the hearts or minds of moderates to fight back in a way that is necessary against the present crusaders of the Republican Party.

We have to have a leader that when challenged on the "morality' of our Party is able to stare straight into the eyes of the Republicans and remind them that it is the Democratic Party that has always been the "moral" Party in this country. When their grandmothers and grandfathers were hungry and were growing old with no roof over their heads, it was the Democratic Party that created the Social Security system that permitted them to live longer lives in better health and conditions. It was not the Republican Party that now preaches morals to us all.

And when children were working at 12 years old, it was the moral Democratic Party that fought to do away with child-labor laws. It was the Democratic Party that fought for a minimum wage for every person that worked in this country. It wasn't the "moral" Republican Party. What would the average wage be right now if not for the Democratic Party? Perhaps a $1.00 hour? Perhaps?

We are forced to once again speak up for our Party and the people that we need to represent. Whether we call it the "liberal left" or the "progressives" or whatever, it has to be done. It should be obvious to everyone that the present Democratic establishment is unable to say what needs to be said. And it needs to be said with passion and conviction where every American and every Republican understands clearly who is the "moral" Party and who is ready to fight for the people.

We simply will no longer tolerate such blabber from a Party that has never done anything to help the majority of people in this nation. We will tell the truth about them and we will tell the truth about our own Party. If they don't think about the safety of the food they eat each and every day, thank a Democrat. If they don't think about working a 40-hour week, thank a Democrat. Any program that does good in this nation, thank a Democrat. Don't ever get in our faces again and start preaching how the Republican Party is so "moral", because we will not hesitate to tell the truth.

Unfortunately, this message has to come from the left wing of our Party, because that is the only wing with the passion to speak it. If the moderates do not wish to agree with us, then let them go where they will. We can follow them no longer.

I teetering blue/green. Progressives are hungry for leadership. It is not comming from the DNC and it is not comming from Nader, although he may redeem himself somewhat if he helps to expose the machine.

The greens (I favor their ideals the most) do not have a dynamic voice nationally. It's easy to say "start at the grass roots level", but we're dying now. Maybe there is no short term solution.

Clinton found a way to capture a majority vote by going centrist. But what did it realy do for us, except delay the inevitable onslaught of theo-fascists.

We need a leader that will command the media's attention and smack down the spin-meisters, while getting our message to network viewers. I personally know people whose sole source of news is fox (known as "Bush TV" by WAPO and DU).

So I say the ante is upped. Applicants also have to be charismatic.

This whole move to the middle has been a total failure. We have to bring the middle to us. We have to have leaders that are not afraid to fight for us. One of the reasons that the Repukes are seen as strong is because they are unafaid to be called out. They are what they are and as much as none of us like it at least it is honest. People see right through the Dems that stand there and pretend to be just like them only nicer. It's weak and it shows. I want to see them up there making news, fighting every move that * makes and screaming about every appointment. Bet they thought that not fighting Goss was a good idea that Kerry would get elected and fire him. Well now we got him for keeps. If the dems in congress aren't going to do this on their own we have push them this way or we will lose over and over. Time to stand up and reclaim our heritage and the liberal name and wear it proudly.

Bushies have no problem into making this counry a banana republic.

Bush's theocracy. I wouldn't be surprised if Bush doesn't push another Fornication under the King's Consent, aka F U C K rule. Falwell and Robertson are jacking off in the closet over their Christian victories.

The silence is amazing, isn't it? 50+ MILLION people......

For saying it.

Why wait for leadership to do it? Tell your friends, and don't stop.

Any while you're at it, tell the unconvinced, tell the middle, tell the right. You have the message and it is righteous and just.

Just remember that at the core of liberalism is tolerance, and a little listening goes a long way before you lay out the argument.

Cheers! Let's do it!

that understands equality and justice and that women have the same equal rights as men and are not subservient to a fetus or any person. Either they are equal or they are not. The same goes for equal rights without discrimination against gays. The majority of Americans may not agree with "gay marriage" but that same majority does not agree with discrimination or treating gays as "unequal" either. We stand for the rights guaranteed in our Constitution, even if it sometimes is at odds with one particular religion or another. We are a nation of laws, not religious dictates.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

I think that would be best for our country. The Greens join the new left of the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party, as it stands right now, does not want one more liberal tree hugger in it's ranks, nor one union member or other working class troublemaker. We must join the Green Party and bring them to accept us. Because they are what Democrats once were. Forget the Nader, he doesn't have much mojo anymore.

The Democratic Party, under new management, stands a better chance at getting elected than the Green Party, in my opinion. The important matter is what do we stand for? History and tradition are important in Party structures. And that is what the "moderates" seem to have forgotten about the Democratic Party over the last couple of decades. I come to save the Democratic Party - not to destroy it. The Greens are our allies - not our opponents. We agree with the Greens.

raised dem by two civil servants with moral values.

green since college 'cause i could afford to in CA.

dem since 2000 'cause i couldn't afford not to.

the moderates are followers. Hell, sometimes they even follow George W Bush. How much more proof do you need? :)

I have to say it, the Democratic Party is Bush Lite or Conservative Lite. So therefore I have to go back to my roots and the Green Party fits that now. We are stuck with another four years of repression and there is no way the elected Democratic ballet dancers are going to fight them. It's just karma and I have to work with the crowd I believe in.

Naderites are great. They cost Gore and the majority of voters, the election in 2000. But they are criticisizing Kerry? How Rich.

The Green Party has the right ideas. Nader isn't part of them anymore.

I'm going to stick around for awhile and see which path the Democrats choose, but I am currently leaning very strongly in the direction of switching my affiliation to Green, and I'm a lifelong Democrat.:(

:)

Great post!

the Democratic party is seen as truly standing for something, we will not be able to win. We must be seen as standing for more than just a series of disjointed policies and interst groups. We must be seen as having an overarching vision that stands in stark contrast to that provided by the Republicans, and we must be seen as willing to vigorously defend that vision.

A run to the illusory "center" is not going to cut it. With the Republicans continuing to drag this country farther and farther to the right, the center is a constantly shifting line in the sand. By trying to stake ourselves on a constantly shifting line, we only look unprincipled and unwilling to stand for anything. We will look like "flip-floppers" because that is exactly what we will be.

We can take a lesson from the repukes. They have stuck by their RW guns, even when that was far removed from the center. They have gradually shifted society in their direction. Also, the truth is that many people would rather vote for someone who appears to have strong principles that they disagree with than for someone who doesn't appear to have many principles at all, even if they agree with them more on the issues.

This is my take anyway. Moving to a largely mythical "center" is not going to cut it. Staking out a set of core principles and sticking to them is the way to go.

eom

Someone needs to talk to him about taking the lead.

Some impressions have been formed of Dennis which I think are unfair, but they have been formed just the same. The voice does not have to be percieved as "far left". They only have to speak with passion and convictiona and clarity.... ANd challenge the status quo of the Republicans and moral positions they claim to hold. We must convince the elctorate that we are the "moral" Party. By your deeds, you shall be known.

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welcome to DU, mach10bill ...

you might be better off placing test posts in the Lounge ...