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In reply to the discussion: So let me get this straight, [View all]merrily
(45,251 posts)48. Much like 2010, BUT:
President Harry S. Truman, Address at the National Convention Banquet of the Americans for Democratic Action, May 17, 1952
It is a real pleasure to speak before the national convention of the ADA--Americans for Democratic Action.
The ADA was set up in January 1947. Those were dark days for the liberal forces in America. But you people had the courage to take up the fight and go forward. You dedicated yourselves to fight for progress and against reaction--against reaction of the right and against reaction of the left.
(much material omitted)
Now, we can always rely on the Republicans to help us in an election year, but we can't count on them to do the whole job for us. We have got to go out and do some of it ourselves, if we expect to win.
The first rule in my book is that we have to stick by the liberal principles of the Democratic Party. We are not going to get anywhere by trimming or appeasing. And we don't need to try it.
The record the Democratic Party has made in the last 20 years is the greatest political asset any party ever had in the history of the world. We would be foolish to throw it away. There is nothing our enemies would like better and nothing that would do more to help them win an election.
I've seen it happen time after time. When the Democratic candidate allows himself to be put on the defensive and starts apologizing for the New Deal and the fair Deal, and says he really doesn't believe in them, he is sure to lose. The people don't want a phony Democrat. If it's a choice between a genuine Republican, and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time; that is, they will take a Republican before they will a phony Democrat, and I don't want any phony Democratic candidates in this campaign.
But when a Democratic candidate goes out and explains what the New Deal and fair Deal really are--when he stands up like a man and puts the issues before the people--then Democrats can win, even in places where they have never won before. It has been proven time and again.
We are getting a lot of suggestions to the effect that we ought to water down our platform and abandon parts of our program. These, my friends, are Trojan horse suggestions. I have been in politics for over 30 years, and I know what I am talking about, and I believe I know something about the business. One thing I am sure of: never, never throw away a winning program. This is so elementary that I suspect the people handing out this advice are not really well-wishers of the Democratic Party.
More than that, I don't believe they have the best interests of the American people at heart. There is something more important involved in our program than simply the success of a political party.
The rights and the welfare of millions of Americans are involved in the pledges made in the Democratic platform of 1948 and in the program of this administration. And those rights and interests must not be betrayed.
more at http://www.trumanlibrary.org/publicpapers/index.php?pid=1296
Historians now rank Truman among the nation's best Presidents.
http://millercenter.org/president/truman/essays/biography/print
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What is the advantage of complaining about one group of Democrats this close to the election?
FSogol
Oct 2014
#1
Awesome, but many have not voted yet. Despite your ballot we are still approaching election day.
FSogol
Oct 2014
#8
Let me get this straight. You've had since the last election to know why you vote for our team.
ancianita
Nov 2014
#71
I hear you and appreciate your elaborating on your OP. It's probably our lot as liberals to deal
ancianita
Nov 2014
#87
"Why the hell did I just vote a straight D ticket?" -- Why don't you tell us why you did?
NYC Liberal
Nov 2014
#86
You voted. Others haven't. You are discouraging them four days before the election.
ieoeja
Oct 2014
#14
What's the advantage of telling liberals to shut up their complaints about conservative democrats?
Scootaloo
Oct 2014
#51
Three days before the election. 3 days. Is it really that hard to support our candidates
FSogol
Oct 2014
#56
Yep. Remember parties aren't about representing ideals or political positions
el_bryanto
Oct 2014
#2
I voted for the Democratic Senatorial candidate (Jeff Merkeley) in my district.
Maedhros
Oct 2014
#39
According to some posters here if you're not a 150+% cheerleader, you hate the party.
hobbit709
Oct 2014
#11
There's a lot more of the former that accuse you of being among the latter if you don't cheerlead.
hobbit709
Oct 2014
#24
Have you ever noticed it's only conservative Democrats who say voters should shut-up?
Marr
Oct 2014
#29
You realize, if Republicans take over the Senate Tuesday, it will be solely because of this OP.
merrily
Oct 2014
#33
Ah, apologies. Given the other posts on this thread, it's hard to differentiate between a riff and
merrily
Nov 2014
#67
It was a fine joke. I just could not easily tell it apart from the serious memes.
merrily
Nov 2014
#70
I think we all want to see Democrats beat republicans; liberal Democrats to beat conservative ones;
pampango
Oct 2014
#37
In my mind, there is no tough call between supporting the party and supporting principles.
merrily
Oct 2014
#42
Posts on this board don't even convince a Third Way supporter to go traditional Democrat or vice
merrily
Nov 2014
#68
The only 'Dividing" is being done by the 3rd way, neo-liberals in the Democratic Party
Youdontwantthetruth
Oct 2014
#43
I look at it this way, the Democratic Party is moving futher and futher to the right
Youdontwantthetruth
Oct 2014
#47
I never saw anyone on this board say that, except in posts like your own Reply 55.
merrily
Nov 2014
#59
The OP said he voted straight D and is not encouraging anyone to vote anything else.
merrily
Nov 2014
#58
Why are 3rd Way policies and positions described as "neoliberal?" They're conservative--
Louisiana1976
Oct 2014
#52
No, only when you then insist you'll "never vote for..." the Third Way neocon of your choice....
brooklynite
Nov 2014
#89