Hi, I'm calling from the National Democratic party

can we count on your donation for $150.00

just got that phone call -- $150.00???? yeah right - maybe next year after I pay off my oil heating bill for this year...

but, he continues, the republicans have passed legislation for more tax breaks and give-ways to the oil companies that are posting record profits

me: I know, and what have the Democrats done about it? nuthin. No balls, no spine. And when they do show some balls they turn around the next day and apologize for upsetting some republican's sense of propriorty. The democrats caved on the Iraq mess, they caved on taxcuts for the wealthy, they caved on the Enron scandal, they caved on the Patriot Act, the caved in on prescription drugs and they're caving in on energy costs.

Why should I think the democrats will fight for me when they won't even fight for themselves? and about that donation? When the democrats show some balls then I'll show them some money - until then what little money I have is paying for gas in my car so I can get to work, paying for oil so I can heat my home and if there's anything left over then I buy some food.

------

I hung up at that point -- I feel pretty good about now - pissed off but still feel good about being able to give them a piece of my mind and not get a form letter for a response

You've reached your limit. Whose law, whose limit, that's none of his business.

I do not respond to cold calls. I donate to candidates on MY terms, my decision. I simply prefer not to do business over the phone.

but he did say that the call may be monitored/recorded - didn't want to lose an opportunity to give 'em hell....

It's what they have been doing for the last two decades. They became so corrupt that they lost power in all levels of government.

"When the democrats show some balls then I'll show them some money"
Of course, those who think the Democrats are showing "balls" by acting like adults and appealing to people in the center ARE giving money, time and effort.

Be sure and tell us down the road how outrageous and horrendous it is that the Democrats listen to actual supporters, instead of people who deride them publicly and privately as corrupt weaklings.

You see, back before Nixon got in, the Democratic party was, well, democratic. They used community based campaign workers and they raised money the old fashioned way, by meeting people and listening to what they needed and responding to it.

Then the DLC came in and said, "Hey, we don't need all these little people, we can collect a lot more money from big donors and save money by closing all those community offices and laying off all those part time campaign workers." For over 30 years anyone who has gone to a campaign headquarters during election season to volunteer has been told "Drop off a nice check and don't let the door smack ya in the ass..." The party's been listening only to its well heeled donors for far too long, and calling itself "moderate" for doing so. The rest of us have been ignored, brushed off, forgotten.

You can see the result. We have too many spineless wimps in Congress who are terrified to stand up for anything or anyone. We have lost all 3 branches of government, and it will take decades to repair the damage. The working class base either votes for tax cuts or stays home. The Democrats have offered them nothing for a very long time.

I would suggest that instead of attacking people who are telling them what the problem is, they spend a little time trying to figure out how to overcome it. Kneejerk support for a bad status quo and the kind of personal attacks I've seen from them against Dean and anyone else who dares speak out simply won't suffice.

In any case, blaming people for being shut out of their own party for three decades through no fault of their own is insulting, short sighted and ignorant. The party as it stands today isn't worthy of support. When it shows some signs of cleaning house and returning itself to the people who built it, that will change. The only signs of life I've seen have been on the periphery, on boards like this, in the DFA movement, and in organizations like moveon.org outside the party power structure.

And don't lecture me patronizingly about history. I was around for Nixon--fuck, I was around for Joe McCarthy (though but a wee lad at the time).

"Then the DLC came in and said, "Hey, we don't need all these little people, we can collect a lot more money from big donors and save money by closing all those community offices and laying off all those part time campaign workers.""
That's news to me...but then I actually follow the DLC and their activities, and volunteer at my community office when I can.

"For over 30 years"
Wow...that DLC must sure as shit be some powerful organization to affect things TEN years before it was founded. Even Rasputin couldn't do what Tom Vilsack can, evidently.

"I would suggest that instead of attacking people"
Said the person who started a whole thread to announce the Democrats have no "balls" and says "We have too many spineless wimps in Congress"...

Jeeze, don't let the door hit you in the ass. I'd rather get Democrats elected than sit around listening to your pity party.

except maybe on the radio in a secondary market.

Why not address the problem instead of attacking the messenger?

You started a thread on DemocraticUnderground to announce to Democrats that you hate Democrats and they have no balls...and now you're hypocritically crying about "attacks."

"Why not address the problem"
The problem is you got a call from Democrats asking for money. I don't think that's a problem; I want Democrats to raise money. Hilariously, you then went on to state that you hate the Democrats and they have no balls, and you wonder why they pay you no attention.

If you don't want to give money, don't. If you don't want to give money because you hate Democrats and they have no balls, don't. Don't let the door hit you in the ass, either.

No where did the OP say he hates the Dem's. He said he has refused to give them money until they begin doing their job. If you cannot see that by the Dem's constantly bending over and taking it up the arse is causing more harm than good, then I truly feel sorry for you. I'm not even an American voter and I can see that much.

Stop shooting the messenger and begin listening to the message. Many people on DU have the same feelings.

On edit: typo

...will be somebody accusing me of being anti-gay because I refuse to donate any more money to the HRC*, and because the last time they called, I told them to tell their right-wing, Log-Cabin president and board members to shove their begging where the sun don't shine.

* Human Rights Campaign, not Hillary Rodham Clinton

Good one. And so very true. :)

most of the crap is being passed by "voting along party lines." Our party is voting the correct way most of the time, but we are in the minority - remember?

I think you're right about that!

As, in the case of politicians, it almost always is.

actions. For example, when the dems do something I believe to be right I make a contribution - and this is typically in response to Howard Dean.

But I reject the fundraising calls, because the dems have rolled over for so long.

I consider it my own Pavlovian training. Fight the reppubs and you get a treat.

I gave to Dean because he had the guts to speak out and take a stand instead of bending over

a friend of mine is a poli-sci professor who specializes in presidential campaigns. We had a long exchange of e-mails during the primaries.

I expressed my predictions and fears to him as follows:

1. Although I supported Dean, I thought he would implode or do something that would be exploited and sink him (Dean Scream)

2. Following Dean's lead, the Dem candidates started taking stands - my fear that with Dean out the race that the eventual nominee would revert back to a "moderate" or "repug-lite" posture. Yeah I voted for Kerry, sent him money too -- and he refused to fight back when swift-boated -- tried to take the oh-so-high-ground and stay above the "negative politics". Well it doesn't work -- when repugs go negative - do it right back and harder. Alot of people don't like negative campaigns -- here's a clue - as much as you or I don't like it - negative campaigns work

3. When the swiftboating and "purple heart" bandaid crap started - I told my friend - Kerry won't do squat about it, and you won't see any powerful dems coming to his aid

that said -- here's how I see 2006 midterms playing out

1. some broo-ha-ha about ethics and scandals, more culture of corruption play. but that will die down once dems are found to be caught up in it

2. big campaign stump for repugs will be the troops coming home from Iraq. Yeah, some of them will be coming home just in time to make the most of it prior to the election

3. Unless the Fitzgerald makes a direct connection to Rove, Cheney or even bush* - this issue will fall by the wayside. If it's still an issue - repugs will take the "I won't comment on investigation" b.s. line

4. It's going to depend on the people and whether or not they had enough. Yeah, heating costs this winter will be a concern, even though the election is in November 2006, the heating concerns for winter 2006-2007 won't be there

as it stands now - both parties will get a couple of new seats, lose a couple of seats - but I don't see any big shift in power unless something momentous happens (terror attack on US soil or impeachment?)

The DCCC is still running on a Repubblican lite type platform- despite losing 6 elections in a row, they're failing to nationalize the election, choosing instead to legitimize Republican policies out of some illusory fear of "backlash" that they've been obsessing about in their beltway-centric minds for over 10 years.

The Senate basically has no leadership in Harry Reid- and so won't oppose any far right legislation (and there'll continue to be 4 or 5 Dems voting for it, who will not be held accountable). They won't filibuster Alito- thereby punting on the key issue of corruption, deflating their base in the process- and lowering turnout among those who might have voted, but don't see any reason to vote FOR a Democrat.

As it stands, unless things change- the Dems will lose the House and Senate yet again- and a lot of people will say that they deserve to.

opposing, shutting down the senate, proposing exit plans, etc etc.

150.00 bucks is pretty steep, but maybe you haven't been paying attention to dems. I know it is hard cuz they don't show them on regular TV too much. CSPAN is about the only place I ever see a Dem.

Organized Political Party

"...You can count on my donation as soon as I can count on your
opposition to Bush. When can I count on that? Can I put you down
for *NOW*, because 2008 just won't do."

Tesha