Is unity impossible for Democrats?

[senseandsensibility]

I went to a local Democratic Party meeting yesterday to volunteer to walk my precinct. There were only ten or so of us there, but several more had been at an earlier meeting. Most of them had long histories of liberal activism, and seemed like fine people.

Almost immediately, however, the "personalities" began to clash. One woman was loudly challenging others to keep up with her punishing schedule of walking ten miles a day in a rural area to meet voters. Another wanted to tell stories (which, I admit were interesting to me) about speaking fluent French to John Kerry when she met him in June. Another discovered that she knew my ex-boss, and began to loudly criticize him and accuse him of everything under the sun. The Democratic local politician who was letting us use his office became irritated that we had tried to turn on his air conditioning (on a 100+ degree day). Finally, the man who was running the meeting got angry, and basically told everyone to be quiet. The French speaking lady called him a dictator and left the meeting in a huff. Now, I want to make it clear that I liked ALL of these people and admired them. They are the true believers who will give their Saturday morning and afternoon to benefit the community. I am grateful to them, if anything. Also, I may have added to the situation by encouraging some of the comments, and not exactly staying on the topic myself at times.

Nevertheless,it did remind me of the diversity and discord we experience here at DU at times. I tend to thrive in these types of atmospheres, but are they conducive to winning elections? Are Republicans like this too in private, and just able to present a more united front in public? In a strange way, I ended up feeling like our strengths (diversity, openness, and curiosity) were working against us at the meeting. Is it time to become more like repukes? Is that what it takes to win in 2004?

[gatorboy]

1. The reason Democrats seem to be more divided then Republicans

is, for the most part, we are free thinkers, more independent. Now, to some this may be a negative, but I'd rather be part of a group that's use to individual thought, then a group that is built on Borg thinking. They're like ants.

[ranosgol]

2. Most elected Democrats are GOP Light.

This is the reason the Democrats have had their butts handed to them the last 20 years. Most present day elected Democrats spew the same Trickle Down economics crap the GOP does. They too think tax cuts solve all problems in the economy. This country has been shoved so far to the right since 1980 it will take decades to fix it. i wish we could elect true Democrats Whit true democratic ideas but the country has been so brainwashed by the GOP that you have to move slow and ease them back in to sanity.