We are already fighting knives with spoons, so we have to get our act together ...

[Onlooker]

Last edited Fri Dec 16, 2016, 05:13 AM - Edit history (1)

... Let's give the Tea Party's scorched earth policy credit, let's give the Trump-Moscow alliance credit, let's give James O'Keefe credit, all hail Wikileaks, bow down to Rupert Murdoch. They lie, steal, cheat, corrupt, and win. They are the the ones waging the civil disobedience that we should be raising. They are the one's who have taken the tactics of progressive movements, stripped away ethics, and are kicking our butts. I admire them, and wish they were on our team.

And what do we do, besides fight each other? Look to our namby pamby, ethical, good government leaders to come to our rescue. Well, that's bullshit. They have failed big time. Obama is ready to get down on his knees and roll out the red carpet for Trump. Hillary is busy nursing her wounds, as if she's the one who is hurt most. But, people like them have let not just Republicans, but fringe groups and far right wingers, take control of local, state, and the federal government. It's not nearly enough that they meant well. And what do we do? Work through the courts for a pointless ballot recount. Have peaceful protests in like-minded communities. Count on bootlicking reporters and media outlets to show some courage.

The fact is there are too few Huffington Posts and RawStorys, too few Bernie Sanders and Harry Reids, too few brave people who are willing to use the tactics of progressive movements or the tactics of the right to change the game. We need to be more radicalized. Maybe we need liars, hackers, foreign countries, disinformation agents, and video sting activists? Regardless, we need brave, creative minds to organize new ways of protesting and challenge the status quo. We need to find ways to expose those right wing extremists for what they are and shame those who support them.

We're getting our asses kicked, and if we continue to put our faith in the people who brought us to ruin, then we too will be responsible for the impending oppression by a ruthless right-wing that has shown no restraint since at least 2008.

[PdxSean]

1. Preach, brother!

Not to be too melodramatic, but though I've been a straight-ticket, democrat since my first vote at 18, I'm suddenly questioning why I keep voting for the same people who keep letting Republicans get away with their traitorous, racist, misogynistic, dog-whistling, bullshit. I don't blame Republicans for being soulless, bloodsucking chicken hawks - that's who they are. Rather, I blame the spineless weenies in our party for repeatedly offering an olive branch to republicans even as republicans have repeatedly taken a dump on the olive branch just before shoving it down our throats.

Frankly, I'm starting to feel politically homeless.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

2. K&R nt

[SpareribSP]

3. Actually the exact opposite of this.

"while we were all passing around really remarkably eviscerating videos of the Tea Party ― that we had all made great fun of ― [they were] sitting off a highway at a Friendly’s taking over a local school board."

Get people who are interested in politics at the local level and take things back there. Get people who will support that and help people at those local levels, build and build from the bottom up.

Personally also I don't want to be part of a party of liars and cheats. I can't stand Republicans because of this, and if we're just emulating then people will go to the real thing. If you actually believe your own crap, then you're no longer using reason and it'll just be an endless cycle of people going lower and lower into the abyss.

[Willie Pep]

4. Playing nice and bipartisanship has gotten us nowhere.

In my darker moments it makes me wonder if Democratic politicians even care about winning or if they are OK with losing so long as they can get juicy positions in private industry after serving the public.

Why did Obama try to play nice with people who questioned whether he was a citizen, questioned his religion, questioned his birthplace and used every racist dog whistle possible? Why don't we try to bury the Republicans when we win like they do to us through things like gerrymandering and voter suppression? Why don't we go after the Koch Brothers and right-wing think tanks the way that the Republicans try to destroy unions and educational institutions that are perceived as liberal?

I would love to run nothing but positive campaigns that focus on helping people but at the same time we are up against one of the most powerful hate machines ever assembled. I don’t like dirty politics but the GOP is using dirty politics and winning big time and I am not sure how to fight back.