And now for some reality.

Obama will be nominated in 2012. The only way he won't be nominated is if something dreadful happens to him.

Nancy Pelosi will be re-elected in 2010.

If Harry Reid is defeated, it won't be by a dem or progressive, it will be a repuke who defeats him in the general.

Dems are our only alternative to the repubs on a national level. That's the reality. If you think that dems are no different than repubs, well, vote for whoever, but don't delude yourself that whoever has a spit of a chance. Until we build up third parties on a local and state level, there won't be options other than dem and repub for Congressional seats, let alone for the Presidency.

Reality may suck, but it's better than delusion.

103rd time's a charm.

I wonder if either Ralph or Dennis will run in 2012.

...together even as we type.

Dennis, I believe, will stay out. He's more pragmatic than many think.

Arundhati Roy said: "Why play their game where they make all the rules and have all the power. Why not find where our own power lies .... and then use it! force them to play by our rules for a change."

distorting the facts. Again, until we change things on the local and state level re viable third parties, we aren't going to be able to get third party candidate in Congress. Either that, or work to change the dem party to a more progressive leaning entity, understanding that that too takes electing progressives at the local and state level first.

That's the fact and that's the reality. Pretty words won't change it.
Our power right now is within the system. That's also reality.

America moves like an aircraft carrier, not a gazelle. We are not going to get from the far right to the center left or even further over that way in two hops and a tail shake. For eight years, we've been trapped in the wilderness of the far right. We will not be magically transported to the other side of the equation.

It's going to take time to turn the ship around, and the crew of citizens are going to have to get used to the new course that's being plotted, and they're going to have to "get onboard" with it, too.

In the interim, people will complain. It nudges the debate along, in some cases. In other cases, it doesn't. I just wish that the complainers would stick to the issues, and do a bit less messenger-shooting. That would make life more pleasant.

We need the "bra-burners"
That's been a favorite saying of mine since I was involved in the women's movement. My group and friends in the movement always did the "tsk-tsk", but I pointed out to them that we needed the bra-burners to attract attention and get people to notice.
( how times have changed too.. off topic, but now the gals all want to be wired and hiked up by Victoria's Secret)

shut up and go along/get along. Burn those bras, most certainly (I guess burning girdles would have smelled like burning tires, or something...no wonder that idea never took off!).

I do recognize that things don't happen quickly in this country. It's a process.

It's sweet when we get it right, certainly. It does take time, though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Deal

If the 'powers that be' had our interests at heart, there would be no insurmountable obstacle to rapid and dramatic change. The people in charge (on both sides of the aisle) are looking out for their own and not US. THAT and THAT ALONE is the sole impediment.

I am patient. I like a good rehashing of the issues, and opinions from all sides. I like consensus. This might not be fashionable here, but I'm not a fashion follower anyway.

Imagine what our lives would have been like if a Republican Congress and a Republican President were able to have their way, in radical fashion? Imagine if Bush-Cheney had been able to implement all of his desired "rapid and dramatic" changes? The first thing he probably would have done is had himself crowned King!

We'd be living in Hellville, instead of Hopeville.

They tortured. They robbed the treasury and gave it to themselves and their cronies. They trampled our civil rights. They killed New Orleans. They put the final nails in the coffin of blue colllar Americans. They allowed the largest single terrorist attack on US soil. They started a war of aggression. They have suffered no consequences (yet). I would say they DID have their way - in a radical fashion.

Our country is on life support and needs serious help right now.

the Constitution would have been changed to let Bush have a few more terms, or McCain would be playing proxy for Cheney. If they did have their way, they'd still be having their way. The fact that they're out of power, decisively, is a good thing.

The ship of state turns slowly. It's not a rapid-fire process. My glass is half full.

is not un-reality - it may not be successful, but it is something a sane person can do. It may be that the two-parties-in-one bunch will continue to perpetrate the Empire for the foreseeable future, but any wind is sweet that blows against the Empire...

hoping to leapfrog that step, is not particularly sane. History is there to demonstrate that. And of course, the facts argue against the repubs=dems line.

you can't argue with those facts. And it makes no difference whether a citizen votes for or supports this, that, or the other party or politician; that citizen is exercising his/her duties/privileges exactly equally with any other active citizen. Surely we can all agree on that...

the revolution ain't happenin - and the GOP is a bit worse..

I only see one party in this country.The party of the rulers.

:P ;) :P

*fleeing, giggling*

If you care to join me, fine. If not, it's YOUR fault - and the fault of all the other supporters of the status quo - that nothing ever changes.

and rep support it, so I don't have that concern when it comes to my legislators either in Montpelier or D.C. I know that's a luxury most don't have.

You won't have marriage equality until it is recognized federally. But I am happy (seriously) that your state and your senators are on the right side of this issue.

Those interested in third party candidates need to keep up the fight, however. I think the climate is right for a viable third party, but like most worthwhile things, it takes time, money, and a lot of elbow grease. Until then, Dems are our best bet, no question.

My fear is that the first viable third party will rise from the ashes of the GOP.

That's how we ended up with Bush in the first place! People forgot what Reagan and Bush I did.