Just because the curtain has been pulled back, pls don't leave DU.

[truedelphi]

To any of you who feel like it is now an uphill battle, without any strategy, I would say two things:

One - If you really need a break, by all means take one. Politics is exhausting. Many other fine activities exist, and some of those might replenish your soul.

Two: Now is when it gets interesting. We are in uncharted territory. Just five years ago, we had a chance, within the confines of simple electoral politics. Any of us who were out there walking the neighborhood with Dem campaign material, or phone banking or donating small amounts of money felt inspired. When we thought about things at the end of each day, we realized it was possible that people would vote the neo con "R's" out, and then things were ripe for change.

There was a guy who was giving progressive values-inspired speeches. He was young enough and he seemed passionate enough that it was not abnormal to think- "This guy might be the real thing."

It's not our fault that the movement was co opted. But right now, one of the most important attributes to cultivate within our weary souls is this one:

[h2][font color=red] "SOLIDARITY." [/h2][/font color=red]

We might not individually or collectively have a solution. Yet.

But one thing is obvious: total retreat with no intention of returning to the good fight is never much help to any movement. Especially no help to movements concerned with social issues such as poverty, securing an agricultural system wherein the Gm industry is at a disadvantage and conventional farmers and organic farmers are supported, overturning a corrupt Judicial System, shutting down the machinery of the MIC-Surveillance State, getting domestic war criminals brought to Justice (the crimes committed have NO statute of limitation) or doing any of the number of things that we thought were now inside our purview back on Nov 8th 2008.
[h2][font color=red]

As the Dalai Lama has stated, "If you think you re too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito."
[/h2][/font color=red]

We must focus on the statement that Candidate Obama so eloquently borrowed from Mahatma Ghandi, "We are the ones we have been waiting for."

We are. If we don't give up, if we continue on in Solidarity, and if we manage to become Mosquito People.

I know I am one. If you are sick and tired of the same ol, same ol, those leaders who think they are rulers but have no clothing, if you are sick and tired of hearing, "Because Obama!" ("And he is friends with Jay Z!&quot you are a Mosquito People too.

And as long as we have the various routes to free information, we are supporting the movement. Social Media allows the intelligent and concerned citizen to access multiple venues of intelligent messages, many of which are free from CIA control.

The Social Media venues are also in general free from the rhetoric of political parties and their One Percent appointed leaders. Free from limiting the message to such a tiny bit of information that the CIA message is nothing more than jingoistic prattle. The Irony of Social Media is that when an important message is whittled down to almost nothing by the forces of the One Percent, through their CIA-controlled news formats, that message sinks below the heavy duty messages that make up Truth, and then the activists that are in control of the Social Media messages quite naturally offer their support keeping that Truth buoyed up.

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. The answer is to pick a candidates that reflect your world view and support them.

If you can't find one, even in the Democratic Party, find out what it takes to become a Candidate.

This probably won't work for U.S. Congressman, Senator, President, or even the major state elected offices, but every town and country in the U.S. have elected offices, and it is often easier to get one's foot in the door on a local level. Here in California, back in the 90's, a lot of Republicans began running for school board offices. This was not to make schools better, but to destroy them from the inside (well that is how I saw it). They do the same for Judgeships so they can wield the gavel of conservative law.

Grassroots are at the bottom of the plant, and a grassroots campaign should start with the roots.

[truedelphi]

2. The people who were in charge of the "R" Party did indeed figure out

That local control is one way to go. The school board, the water board, the local city and town council offices were all places of local power that they aspired to. And then they got the control.

Taking a page out of their play book would be an excellent idea about now. (Just in case it needs to be stated: In terms of strategy, not ideology!)

[Veilex]

53. Agitate, aggravate, acclimate... be one with the mosquito

Agitate: Educate the masses

Too many people don't know whats going on soon enough to do anything about it. Point of example; Many still don't know about the Trans Pacific Partnership issue. By the time they learn of it, it'll be to late... unless we do something about that!


Aggravate: Attack messages and talking points from the opposition

Any message that goes unchallenged, is a message that will be blindly accepted by people who simply don't know better. Any received message will have a higher chance of becoming adopted as truth the longer it remains unchallenged.



Acclimate: Quickly understand the opposition's attack plan so it can be countered

The opposition will attempt to discredit, undermine, circumvent and distract from the truth at every opportunity if it flies in the face of their objectives. Understanding their tactics and strategies are vital to being able to counter them quickly!

Just my two cents

[zeemike]

3. I have no intentions of leaving DU

There are way to many people here that I love and respect to do that, even though I am discouraged at times by those who would run me off if they could.
And I have faith that those that I love here will not be run off ether...most are stronger than that.

But those that do leave I understand their disappointment but hope like hell they come back soon with a new power of solidarity.

[SoCalDem]

4. Still here after 12 years, but

although I donate monthly, and visit daily, I post rarely these days.

[tavernier]

59. You are one of the few I remember

from several years back when I had to leave DU due to bush burnout (I used to be KeysDisease), so evidently many do leave for good. Yay for you staying to fight the good fight.
I agree with the OP; it is a fight we must never abandon for good, but it's not a bad idea to take a mental health break once in a while.

[Marrah_G]

64. We need you to post more :)

[PowerToThePeople]

5. My concern will be if left wing 3rd partiers show up in '14

I would likely support them over DLC/3rd way types. But, since it is not an election cycle currently, it is not a major concern yet. I can not support more of the same old same old.

[glowing]

6. If you look at the election, we had more progressive types win seats.

We actually had more votes. We were gerrymandered out of having the precedent to do good things... Hoping that we can swing the scales again and get a few good things like that old candidate campaigned for what seems like now many years ago.

[calimary]

8. But to avoid gerrymandering again, we have to build momentum for the decade mark(s).

Every ten years - census time. And that's when they redraw the congressional districts. THAT'S when we need Dems in BIGTIME control at the state level, in the governor's mansions and the legislatures. The next time districts get redrawn - we need DEMOCRATS in power, which means DEMOCRATS will redraw the districts. Think how sweet it'd be if a lot of those so-called "safe seats" in the House were suddenly ripe to be taken back!

[glowing]

10. Totally agree... We need to work together and help each other

get into those local seats now and in the momentum of regaining the bigger positions... Problem is that money and power seem to go hand in hand as you climb the political ladder. That needs to be fixed so badly!!! It can corrupt even the most sensible person because of the people you end up in bed with.

[DissidentVoice]

7. Nor can I

The DLC/Third Way will mean the destruction of the Democratic Party...if it hasn't already.

[polichick]

24. This place could always become democratic underground...

instead of Democratic Underground.

[rhett o rick]

35. I would like to know your feeling about the "Lesser Evil" Theory. Seems to me

that's what has gotten us where we are today.

[polichick]

36. Agreed. I look back at all the years I've worked for this party...

and wish I hadn't bothered. I hated the DLC thinking from the get-go but went with the lesser of evils, buying the line about a third party letting the greater of evils win.

Now, I think we have one corporate party disguised as two and it might be better to crash and burn with the greater of evils - so that enough people finally get what the fight really is about. If millennials understand that this is about the wealthiest and corporations against the rest of us, then good. But, as some here have said, they're likely to conform and work within the system, then it's same ol' same ol'.

[rhett o rick]

37. If we keep justifying that we are getting the most we can, then we will end up

with nothing. One step in the right direction is to support progressive Democrats via progressive organizations and not via the Party.

People have to get over the illusion that the battle is between Republicans and Democrats. This is a huge distraction. The Powers To Be love this illusion. So if the left threatens to not support a candidate like Ms. Clinton, even if it would mean a Republican win, the Democratic Party machine wont bat an eye. The PowersToBe wont let the left influence the Democratic Party. We must take back the Democratic Party.

[polichick]

39. Here's my take (just posted):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3666924

[AnotherMcIntosh]

44. Thanks.

[polichick]

47. My pleasure :)

[DissidentVoice]

56. What you said!

I voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 for several reasons.

Almost all I had known since I was 14 years old (1980; born in 1966, just barely falling into Generation X) was far-right Republicanism. Two terms of Ronald Reagan's slash-and-burn and one term of George H.W. Bush's running-in-place stagnation...it was more than enough!

Also, I had heard my parents' stories of FDR (who got my grandfather back to work through the WPA) and JFK. Except for Jimmy Carter as a kid, I'd never known life under a Democratic President (OK, LBJ was President when I was born).

I'd seen Walter Mondale and Mike Dukakis fall to the Republican smear machine. I thought that even a "centrist" Democrat would be better than Reagan/Bush (and, being from Indiana originally, I was terrified at the thought of Dan Quayle one day becoming President).

I actually voted for Jerry Brown in the primary but threw my support behind Clinton.

For one thing, he said he was going to do something about health care.

Man, was I ever wrong.

When the GOP killed his health plan in 1994, he rolled over and played dead. Then he jumped on the GOP bandwagon with "welfare reform."

I'd been hoping ever since that there was a real DEMOCRAT who would get the White House.

Al Gore wasn't it.

John Kerry wasn't it.

And...Barack Obama isn't it.

I'm sick of the two-party "two sides of the same coin" non-system.

[polichick]

61. Seems liberals are at a crossroads - we either find a way...

to take the party back from corporatists or we throw in with other populist groups to start something new.

We've just seen too much (as your post so aptly points out) to keep being pawns in their game.


"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein

[DissidentVoice]

68. I wonder what CAN be done

At least, within the structure of the Democratic Party. I fear it has been too taken over by DLC/Corporatists.

The first thing that liberals have to do is reclaim the word liberal. Rush Limbaugh has got away with demonising the term. I have pissed a lot of RW people on other internet fora off who try to insult me by calling me a "liberal." I tell them, "it won't work, I embrace the term, same for 'socialist'." I get called "Marxist" too. I ask them if they've ever read "The Communist Manifesto" (which I have read) or "Das Kapital" (which I have not). We have tried to rebrand ourselves as "progressive," and that has become poisoned by the far right too. By the same token, "conservative" has been allowed to become synonymous with "patriotic," and even "Americanism" in general.

We have to be very open what we stand for, and not be ashamed of it.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, but some positions are:

True, universal, single-payer health care.

Don't screw up Social Security by privatising it.

Close overseas military bases and bring our troops home.

Cut the fat from the defence budget/MIC (trust me, I was in the Air Force, and DoD is NOT a good steward of the public purse).
TRULY "support the troops" by making sure those with PTSD, TBI, etc. are cared for...especially Guard/Reserve who mostly lose military health care when released from Federal Active Duty.

Fight the continuing evisceration of unions and workers' rights in general. End the abomination of "employment-at-will."

That's only a few things...but I really doubt that the current structure of the Democratic Party would openly embrace any of them.

[polichick]

69. "I really doubt that the current structure of the Democratic Party would...

openly embrace any of them."

And THAT'S our big problem.

[DissidentVoice]

70. So there's a tipping point

Can the structure of the Democratic Party be changed, or is it too infected with DLC/Third Way bullshit?

I think Sir Winston Churchill said this, I'm not sure, but "what's the good of busting your guts if all you're left with at the end of the day is a mess on the floor?

The Elizabeth Warrens of the party are definitely not the majority, but I think she and those like her need to step up, talk up and draw a line at the corporatist bullshit.

[polichick]

71. It seems pretty infected...

At this point I'm not about to "bust my gut" for this party (great quote!) - but if I see someone like Warren going for the nomination, I'll get behind her.

[DissidentVoice]

72. Fairly sums it up for me too

I like Elizabeth Warren.

I just wonder if, should she seek the WH, if the "centrist/me-too-GOP-lite" elements within the party would quash her nomination because she's supposedly not "electable" at the national level.

[polichick]

73. I'm sure they would try to take her out asap...

because she wouldn't serve their corporate masters.

That old "electable" bullshit is working on fewer people these days, so there's a bit of hope yet.

[DissidentVoice]

74. It was a non-starter from the getgo

The "electable" bullshit was always just that.

There was no way Republicans were going to support any Democratic President's policies (Bill Clinton and health care). The only reason Clinton got re-elected in '96 was because he threw himself into THEIR camp.

So the "electability" never meant anything, especially with the Republicans throwing up dullards like Romney and grumpy old men like Dole (who I respect more than anyone in the current GOP incarnation, admittedly) in opposition.

Another thing I hate is hearing "there isn't the political will" to make something happen, like true national health insurance.

[Marrah_G]

67. I'm right there with you

[Marrah_G]

65. You can still support/vote for them

You just can't advocate for them on this particular forum.

[Hekate]

11. So "republicans who have the DU power" are in charge here?

May I ask you -- again -- what drew you to this site? Or possibly, what drew you to this site again?

[dionysus]

18. sound like a previousy banned DUer coming back from the rotten treebagger place.

[Hekate]

20. Last time I ran across him I asked why the name Rand Paul FU, but just crickets... nt

[dionysus]

21. the choice of that user name to provide cover was a rookie endeavor.

[Hekate]

22. This time I alerted, and the results were 6-0

I think they agreed with me but I also think he'll be back.

[PowerToThePeople]

16. want some pizza with this post? n/t

[Barack_America]

12. Who is leaving?

[rhett o rick]

25. Those that wont settle for the status-fucking-quo. nm

[Doctor_J]

43. Here's one soldier who has been a trooper since the beginning, but who's just had

the last straw dropped on his back (or is about to)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023659990

[AnotherMcIntosh]

45. Ha

In a way, it's funny.

But also sad.

[LWolf]

13. If only

Obama would adopt Gandhi's solutions to conflict.

[MH1]

41. Or maybe you could become the American Gandhi, yourself.

Just a thought.

[LWolf]

55. Nobody becomes another person.

I can be me. I CAN be the change I wish to see, and I make an effort.

Since I don't want to see authoritarian neo-liberal, neo-conservative, or fundamentalist religious changes, I tend to take a lot of heat for it.

So be it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. If I may, where things will start to change for the better (I hope)

it's at local levels. Today we went to the launch of one of the four or five credible campaigns for SD Mayor. Mike Aguirre's Campaign Manager said something quite profound. Aguirre is not working in transactional politics model, where I vote for you in the expectation that you will give me something.

Nope.

He is working more on a base populist, from the left politics, progressive. Reminded me a tad of the Blasso campaign in NYC.

We might be seeing FINALLY mind you, a change, one for which neo libs and neo cons are not ready for.

[truedelphi]

17. It is good to hear this about the possibility for a

decent candidate to come out of that mess.

I hardly know what the expectations are held about deBlasio and what he would do once elected. But it is exciting to hear folks like Jon Stewart being revved up about the change.

I hope you find the time to let us know more about Mike Aguirre over the next few months. Is the election there a special election? And when is it?

.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Nov 19, and it is to replace bob filner

And in the middle we have a wedding to go to.

But yes, I will be blogging about it, and I sent the launch article to the paper today as well

[truedelphi]

33. Filner, like Weiner, is easy to figure out.

As comedians and news teams talk about Filner. (Sex sells any story.)

But finding out about who might replace Filner is more difficult, if you aren't in San Diego..

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. Well, Filner is the shiny

There is more to the onion than just the surface level. The short of it, and it is far from that simple, it's abput control. If he had done what developers wanted, you woud have never heard of the Filner headlock. That is the part media are quiet about.

[truedelphi]

49. Got it. Thanks.

Like most people are unaware that the PNAC crowd went to Bill Clinton late in his Presidency and said, "How about a nice little war with Iraq?"

He said very firmly "NO!"

And then all of sudden, Monica Lewinsky was in every other headline out there.

[questionseverything]

60. illinois gov rod b

was on the steps of a factory to BACK the workers that were being screwed out of pay by bank of america one night...i went to bed cheering,,,the feds busted him the next morning......ran 'wiretapped tape" of him round the clock,convicted him in the media within hours.....and how much money did he get in this supposed "pay to play" scandal? zero,zilch,nadda...he had the nerve to ask fellow dems to fund raise for him

maybe i have sympathy for him because he was a good gov,maybe because he was always trying little things to make average peops lives better...he refused to raise the income tax in illinois, he wanted to tax businesses that operated in illinois that paid no income tax a tiny 1/4 of 1 % on their gross sales to fund our pensions

he made riding the buses free for seniors.......doesnt seem like much to most of us that can hop in our car and go where we want but for low income seniors it is freeing...they can go anywhr ,anytime...they no longer have to budget their tokens

every child in illinois has access to good healthcare because of him

maybe i have sympathy for him and believe he was wrongly convicted because i rant too,in the privacy of my home with my fam.........i have said terrible things that i would NEVER do,,i call it venting

[truedelphi]

75. That is quite a synchronicity.

I went to bed the other night thinking about Rod.

Wondering why what happened to him happened to him. It wa in connection to some other random thoughts.

Sometimes a politician is disposed of because they know too much; sometimes because they know too little.

And of course, try to do a decent thing for the middle class, and you will be set up and disposed of.

I haven't lived in Illinois fo r years, so I didn't know the background on all this.

Thanks.

[Raksha]

62. Thanks for the heads-up, Nadin.

I just emailed your post to my friend in San Diego--the same one I PM'd you about a few months back. He's doing a lot a better now, although he went through a rough couple of months. But now that he's got his SSI the worst seems to be over for him.

[nadinbrzezinski]

66. Good, I am happy for the both of you

[liberal_at_heart]

15. that energy that was there in 2008 is still there. We just have to find the right messenger for the

fight, a messenger that will fight for the people, not for corporations.

[truedelphi]

50. Great statement. n/t

[grahamhgreen]

23. Never give up.

[Deep13]

26. What are you talking about? nt

[lumpy]

27. Lovely post, truedelphi

[Aristus]

28. I've been here twelve years. I'm not going anywhere.

Same user name and everything.

[alcibiades_mystery]

29. will have a very hard time "joining" with many of those who have bashed Mr. Obama non-stop

Put frankly, they have alienated me utterly, and I don't like them or their politics. You get called a "worshipper" and have your reasoned assessments of situation compared to "cheerleading" often enough, and you grow to despise those who are misrepresenting you, and engaging in such destructive rhetoric.

So fuck them. They can win on their own. I'm not lifting a finger for them. And I'm not the only one.

[HappyMe]

38. I agree, to a point.

The 'worshipper', 'bot' and other names are uncalled for. As are the stupid 'paid poster' accusations.

Nobody is going to agree with the President 100% of the time, but it seems like there are people that will trash him if he says that the sky is blue.

I am not going to waste my time despising anyone. They are entitled to their opinion, just as you and I are entitled to ours. I don't, however, like the increasingly shrill 'with us, or against us' attitude. In the end, it's just a discussion board.

[Bake]

58. Au contraire, mon frere.

There are certain DUers who literally agree with Obama 100% of the time, and I think we all know who they are.

Don't like the -worshipper or -bot terms? I understand. Others of us don't appreciate being called haters because we hold the President's feet to the fire. It cuts both ways.

Peace,

Bake

[Egalitarian Thug]

57. I think you meant President Obama. n/t

[kelliekat44]

30. Thanks! We all needed that. nt

[Flying Squirrel]

31. Just be a very careful mosquito...

Mosquitos get swatted.

[bluedeathray]

32. Warren/Sanders 2016. nt

[Enthusiast]

34. Kicked and Recommended. nt

[socialist_n_TN]

42. Ain't no way I'm leaving voluntarily......

This is one of my favorite places to agitate for socialist and Marxist solutions. I mean, where else would you start, but on a left reformist web site?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

46. This is, of course, Democratic Underground and not Obama Underground.

[99th_Monkey]

48. Awesome post. Thanks. K&R

This is an important forum for distilling information, as it's breaking especially,
but in general as well.

[WillyT]

51. K & R !!!

[Bennyboy]

52. It is getting very frustrating lately though

Seems like there are some subjects that no matter how you phrase it, are always off limits. A lot of obvious trolls and disinformers as well....

[Uncle Joe]

54. Kicked and recommended for tenacity.

Thanks for the thread, truedelphi.

[Marrah_G]

63. I am here to converse with fellow lefties and progressives

I'm not going to leave just because the democratic party continues to move towards the right. If we don't talk, organize and fight them with the truth, then they win.

The issues have not changed and my views on those issues have not changed.