Guys - I made Huffington Post! While begging for more Democratic backbone...

It's my great honor to present this to you:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-lyon/my-kingdom-for-a-backbone_b_111783.html

Perhaps you'll leave a comment?

Hugs, and thank you so much! DU has given me some really wonderful inspiration. I am VERY grateful!

:hug: :patriot: :headbang:

Anthrax, another 911?

It's really shameful. I don't know why at least some of 'em aren't willing to just GO FOR IT. We're leading. The GOP is DOWN. A VAST majority of Americans thinks our country has lurched off on the wrong (GOP) track. The wind is at OUR GUYS' backs. Why don't they exploit it? For Pete's sake, they're gonna get slammed as unpatriotic and weenie-ish and soft on terror and soft on national security ANYWAY, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO. Why not just GO FOR IT? Take 'em by surprise by showing backbone. They're not used to having to face that, and they may even have to change their playbook a little. At least it would knock them off their game for a change. And isn't change what our Dems are supposed to be about this year?

are being told by someone (DLC?) that they need to focus on a strategy for long-term power, and that the Democratic Party should not go "crazy with power" like they did (a little) after Watergate. The post-Watergate era gave birth to Conservative determination to get into power at all costs, the results of which we have seen in the last 8 years. The Dems are being told to "go slowly and build a long-term power base", and part of that process is avoid doing anything too "radical" for fear of alienating some voters.

It makes a sort of sense, this theory, except for this: Watergate was a junior high school prank compared to Bushco, and these times are far more serious than the 70s. Decisive and radical action are the logical response now in order to preserve our government, not just some "gotcha" to get back at the GOP.

I think there are other things going on as well, like the Dems trying to look "nicer" than their opponents. The ferocity of previous GOP attacks (back when they were smugly talking about a permanent Republican majority) may have scared the Dems.

Well done!!!

:applause: :applause: :applause:

You've certainly been hitting more than a few outta the ballpark, yourself.

:yourock:

"I can't give Congress A's or B's when I'm repeatedly convinced that they're earning F's. Even F's are sometimes too good. How far down the alphabet do I go? Certainly way down past even W, these days."

:rofl:

k&r

:evilgrin:

Yeah, must admit I liked that one, too.

:P :smoke:

Kudos on a great job!

Glad you liked it.

:hi: :patriot:

time to get out some brooms...

Takes me back to one of my favorite lines in "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" -

"are you ON the bus, or OFF the bus?" Which is it gonna be? And why can't we throw a few of 'em under it?

Thank you for writing it (getting rave reviews over there :)) and for letting us know.

You should be proud of yourself, and I'm proud you're a DU 'friend'. :pals:

All the motivation here, the ideas, the analysis (yeah, maybe unofficial or "non-pro", but EVERY BIT as credible and illuminating and thought-provoking as anybody in the mainstream profession has yet managed).

Impossible to gauge how much I've learned since I started hanging around here.

Hopefully, this week's vote to override the Bush veto of the Medicare bill will see the Dems cram it down his throat for a change.

Thanks for leaving your comment! I appreciate that a lot!

Hugs, faygokid! :hug:

:hi:

DU has certainly been a great launching pad! HOW MANY times did your stuff make air on CNN?

:toast:

24 times or so. :)

oh, never mind.

Nice post. :hi:

It all started here. Our own Jenmito started sending comments to Jack Cafferty on CNN, and scored MULTIPLE times!

It all begins here! So much has been launched from here! SO much heart, courage, motivation, activism. Sure helped me get up the guts to sound off. And it sure gave me insights and background info to sound off with. It's like getting a first-class governmental affairs/foreign affairs briefing every day. This really isn't just a website. It's a frickin' THINK TANK!!!

It is only a think tank if one can dodge the bullets.

(I left a comment at HuffPost, but it hasn't appeared yet.)

It's my honor.

:hug: :loveya: :pals: :toast: :yourock: :headbang: :party:

I dunno... I'm sure they're aware of the great displeasure out there that we all feel toward the wuss-ass job they've been doing.

And meanwhile, the second vice president of the "Oh YEAH? Whaddya Gonna Do About It?" Club, kkkarl rove, skates away again.

:grr:

It does make one wonder WHAT it's going to take.

... that word would be IMPOTENT

What leadership?!

It's such a shame.

American voters seem to appreciate balls. My best friend, who for the last six or seven years was led astray by these bastards still defends her first AND second vote for bush by boiling it down rather simplistically to "well, he had BALLS."

Instead of the bastardized quote: "my country, right or wrong," it seems to be "my balls, right or wrong." It's far more important to these folks to show balls, whether you're going off (pardon the pun) half-cocked or not. Whether it makes any sense or not. Whether it's smart, wise, or well-thought-out or not. And these balls have led us straight into the gutter. But somehow it's still okay because he had balls.

NOBODY EVER STOPS TO THINK WHAT WAS DONE WITH THOSE MUCH-VAUNTED "BALLS." That never seems to make much difference. They don't mind if you shoot blanks as long as you show some swagger. So they all fell for the phoniest phony cowboy in the "west."

I tell ya - it just BURNS. You get NOWHERE by caving. As a matter of fact, you get kicked in the teeth and laughed almost all the wya outta town. I wish our people had 'em, and weren't afraid to use 'em. They can't lose much more in the job approval polls. There's not much farther to go - lower than NINE percent.

Thank you so much! Like I said, I keep trying to shout. I just hope eventually SOMEBODY who can actually do even a little something about it will hear. Shout with me - maybe that'll help!

much anymore and don't post because they think I am too mean to Arianna.

She sticks her neck out all the time.

Hey, even in my little teeny corner of whatever, I've had a few gnarly ones, too. You're not going to please all the people all the time. But you won't dump down into a NINE PERCENT "approval" rating, either. Sometimes, some things still just need to be said.

I could have written it myself, if I had any writing talent. You've stated my frustration beautifully, Mary. Congratulations and thank you! :patriot:

It strikes me as so odd and so frustrating - SO AGONIZINGLY frustrating. And it's not just you and me complaining about this either, intheflow. It's MILLIONS of us all over the country. In EVERY state, red, blue, or purple. I know they're bombarded. I'm sure even Queen Nancy Pelosi is. Maybe we just have to keep at it, and get louder. Maybe they think if they just hang on and ignore us and "stay the course," we'll just give up and go away.

I for one have no intention of doing that.

We have to keep reminding them that THEY work for US. It's NOT the other way around. They are BEHOLDEN to us. Especially from the top down, since Barack has made it clear he's going through the grassroots for a People's Contribution Campaign. They NEED us even more desperately this year than ever since he's not tapping into the more conventional establishment-public-financing. They damned well BETTER listen to us.

Although I suppose there could be some movement deep down under the radar where they're really just waiting til bush leaves and can't pardon anybody - and THEN they strike when he doesn't enjoy those protections anymore. But I don't see what's to be gained by waiting. They need to MAKE A MOVE NOW. If they did so, would there be any doubt that OUR side had the proverbial balls, too? Seems to me it's the perfect way to dispel the attack line that Dems are just pushovers.

Thanks for your post.

kentuck

Whole lotta people just on this thread whose opinions I respect.

:toast:

I salute you, with THANKS!

:patriot:

And thanks to you for that article. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Rec.

Reminds me of the two old guys in the Bartles & Jaymes commercials. But I mean it sincerely!!!

:hug:

good for you!

Excellent piece!!!

:toast:

:hi:

Gracias!

Maybe if we all just keep shouting - or maybe what phil gramm calls WHINING...

:puke:

Really sweet. Keep giving it to them Calimary.

Somebody's gotta say this stuff. And keep saying it. The comments are saying it, too.

We who are frustrated and disgusted are NOT alone!

:toast:

:toast: :party:

Thank you!

:yourock: :woohoo: :headbang: :party:

Edited to add: K/R

DU ROCKS!

Thanks 1Hippiechick! :patriot: :pals:

depicting terror-stricken Donkeys screaming "my god, WHAT IS IT??" in front of a spinal column. Seemed appropriate. Again.

Great write up, you nailed it! :thumbsup:

Voters tend to want somebody who stands firm - even if that stand makes no sense. It's the firmness that counts even if it's as phony as hell. Maybe they like hard-ons better than flaccid releases, even if they wind up voting for a gold-plated prick.

Why is this post not at the top of the Greatest Page - where it belongs?

:shrug:

But we've known that for some time.

:toast:

Nance just gets pissed-off when a fellow DUer isn't properly recognized for her achievement - and it was no small achievement at that!

Looking forward to the day you're described as "regular contributor to HuffPo, along with other blogs, newspapers and magazines of note", and I can brag to my friends, "Hey, I knew her when."

All the best to you, my friend. And congratulations again on a job exceedingly well done!

:toast:

Your legacy piece was great, too!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6495674

It's an interesting, well written article too! :toast:

I hope we're all toasting - EVERYTHING, AND EACH OTHER, just a little less than four months from now...

:toast:

We've earned it, and we've certainly waited LONG ENOUGH. But even when we win, I'll bet it will still be with fewer stiff spines than we needed. I'll bet whatever victory we wind up with in November would be far greater if we'd only had some gutsy Dems willing to take a stand.

We're gonna need every molecule of backbone we can get to ensure that we get the change we vote for. Winning in November won't be nearly enough.

:toast:

It means a lot coming from you and everyone here.

:patriot:

Maybe that oughta be OXX DMM!

Wishing that it wouldn't fall on blind eyes and/or deaf ears.

However, losing faith...

The grade of "W" is apropos...a Z- more accurate if within the parameters of "gradedom."

An old cynic here. But, still hoping for HOPE.

But "W" is certainly a relevant representation. For many reasons.

I'm hopeful, too, most of the time. But also rawther cynical, all of the time.

Dammit.

BigBearJohn

It's my privilege to be here. People have suffered my rants here for along time. BLESS THEM! Patience Unending!

:patriot:

Well done!

Cheers! :toast:

I appreciate that a lot!

and congratulations

Cool Beans! Indeed? Thanks!

:hi:

You deserve the success that is coming your way. Congrats!

Thank you so much, dear friend. DU has been berry berry good to me.

Shit - I hate saying "my friend" anymore - too much like mcsame! It's been completely perverted in its meaning, just as so many other words, phrases, and terms have become at the hands of the CONS. But you are my friend anyway. DUers are my friends anyway. In the best and most genuine sense of the word (NOT slogan).

:hug: :pals: :patriot: :headbang: :thumbsup: