I am staying with the Democrats. I ain't leaving.

I am reading a lot of posts, lately, from people who are deriding the Democratic Party and saying they are leaving it. Fine. That is their right as citizens of goodwill and conscience. I celebrate that right. It is vital and important.

On the other hand, I am staying.

I am staying. I am staying because of all the people in the Democratic Party that I know share my values and vision for what the country can be. I am staying because I know that we can effect change within and without the party. I am staying because I know that all things must pass, especially in the affairs of men, where hubris and thuggery are the prime motivators. The half-life of such things is so short. I have seen that all too often.

I am staying for real health care. I am staying for real voting rights. I am staying for real education. I am staying for peace in the world. I am staying for the rights of women, gays, the physically and mentally challenged. I am staying for the working man. I am staying for the hungry. I am staying for the struggling working people. I am staying. I am staying. I am staying.

But most of all, I am staying because of these people:

John, John, Theresa, Elizabeth(You wonderful person), Howard, Wesley, Dennis, Al, Jon, Frank, Anne, John, Katy, Roger, Dan, Brian, Lynn, Erik, Mike, Dolly, Anne, Tom,...and all the other committed Democrats who have fought and worked and sweat and bled alongside me for the issues that matter to me, and the issues that I know, in my heart of hearts, really matter to the nation. Sadly, a nation that is presently gone astray.

We have work to do. I have no time for silly "gotcha" indulgences and circular firing squads and recriminations. I have no time for emotional diatribes on what the party might become. I have to work, in my way, for what the party will become, and by extension, what the country will become.

I am a Democrat. I am damned proud of that, too. Even in the bad times.

I am a Democrat. I ain't leaving.

hell most the time I'm the only one in this county to keep them in line....show them the way, telling them what to do to win and lead them around to get the work done. But most of the time we win here and thats whats important:bounce: and no I hold no office and not a party official

My sentiments exactly.

For those of you that want to leave the party, buh bye.
Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

What's your alternative?

Independent? Green?

Maybe you want to form another obscure party to suck the votes away from Democrats.

I'm a fighter, always have been. I would hope that this last theft of an election would motivate my fellow party members to fight back, not tuck your tail between your legs and run.

Fair weather friends are not really friends at all.

Divided.... they will conquer.

if the PDA (Progressive Democrats of America) gains some control or influence.

Bye, bye... :hi:

The Democratic Party has undergone factional infighting practically since its inception, but has remained steadfast in its assertion that wealth and privilege are not entitlements to rule. Our party has always advocated inclusiveness, and that is one of our greatest strengths. Cobbling together a platform pleasing to every one of these disparate interests is like trying to nail Jello to a tree, but holding fast to core values that benefit the working class, the poor and the disenfranchised seems the best path toward satisfying all groups represented under the Democratic umbrella.

I look at the issues important to the Green Party (I'm also a card-carrying Democratic Socialist) and other parties, like what I see, and envision many of them fitting into the Democratic Party's structure. You could 'make a statement' by registering as a member of one of these parties - and maybe you could actually get to vote in a primary for your candidate once in a generation - but strengthening one of these candidates at the national level would only assist in defeating the Democratic candidate (I'm talking about YOU, Ralph!).

If a person really wants to make a difference within the framework of the Democratic Party, start going to local meetings. Take some like-minded individuals along with you. At this time, a group of twelve dedicated individuals can make a significant difference in the direction taken by the local party, leading ultimately to influence at the national level. Like it or not, politics involves money - lots of it - and attempting to build a coalition around a party that has a sliver of the electorate and scanty monetary backing is quixotic at best...an utter waste of time or conducive to creation of a 'spoiler' candidate at worst.

We have to follow our minds and our hearts. If you get rankled,upset or just plain pissed at the destruction of our land,waterways and skies,if you see the elderly,the sick and disabled falling thru the cracks and struggling just to survive, if you see that the wall between Church and State has tumbled down,if you see the rich getting richer,the poor getting poorer and the middle class disappearing altogether then you know which "side" you are on. I have my feet planted firmly on this side and on this side I shall stay.

I am avoiding reading a lot of those posts, lately. I am generally skipping the board because of them. I may leave DU but I will not leave the Democratic Party.

:toast:

I am staying because I know that all things must pass, especially in the affairs of men, where hubris and thuggery are the prime motivators. The half-life of such things is so short. I have seen that all too often.

I take this view also. Though it gets damn hard enduring it in the meantime.

The best thing out of this year is we have built an NC Progressive Caucus, expressly for the purpose of raising our visibility and getting more progressives elected to office at all levels.

I'll still volunteer and put in my time with these groups. My goals are still valid and vauable.

I ain't a damned Kool-Aid sipping MORAN! I'll vote for Democrats if there are anymore elections! The fight for a better America, for all, never stops! Never has, never will! The GOP rolling back the clock to 1900 ad, is what we are about to see, if we give in now!

The robber barons have always been there waiting in the wings! The GOP is the party of "ME"! The Democrats are the party of "WE"! The GOP wants America to belong to "THEM"! We want America to belong to every American! The "HAVES and the "HAVE MORES", want it all! I don't aim to let them have it all without a fight, so the battle will go on here! The working people in America need to stick together!

98% of Americans should own America, not just the "HAVES" and THE
"HAVE MORES"!

I'm a liberal. I'm a Democrat. I'm staying.

There isn't anywhere else to go.

The Greens, Libertarians and that other party have good points....but, no good leaders, and no real structure.

I hope to God my husband doesn't see this post.

Oh well...the drama of marrying a DUer-

We've got our worked cut out for us. But hey, we're used to work. We're the party that built this country, protected it from its enemies, and has the vision needed to build a better future for ALL.

Leaving now will take us back to the 2000 Nader situation. Let's face it staying united is the strength of the GOP. They don't usually bash their leaders, even if there is infighting they keep a united front.
If we don't, we won't stand a chance. They will use our splintering to their advantage. If that means to give a little here or there and compromise no big deal! The bottom line is, we have got to get into office first and then show the country how it done!

I used to feel the same way.I never thought I'd be anything but a Dem and never wanted to be.But after years of watching them slide more and more right (while I admittedly slide more and more left) and watching them become more and more beholden to corporate money instead of the people,I'm just feeling like they simply dont really care all that much about us,and that they take people like yourself for granted.

Still,I do commend you on your loyalty. :thumbsup: