I don't understand this country...

[RaulVB]

Salazar will vote YES on Gonzales, "because he is Hispanic."

The "Democratic leadership" will not filibuster against him, they want to "save the filibuster for more important things..."

Maybe you guys have the President you deserve...

[texastoast]

1. Apparently . . .

It has to get much worse before it gets better. That's the way it went in 1930s Germany--those who governed and who were governed turning a blind eye to things they KNEW were wrong and evil. Fear ruled. Ah, the pendulum swings. Who knew it would be here?

[DETERMINEDPROGRESIVE]

6. delete

[texastoast]

15. Buh-bye

:P

P-r-o-g-r-e-s-S-i-v-e

[DETERMINEDPROGRESIVE]

20. Uddah Wah?

Replied to 1 instead of original. Re-posted to the right one, That's all :)

[CrispyQ]

13. Things are going to get alot worse before they get worse. ~~Lilly Tomlin

[Clark2008]

2. Save the fillibuster for more important things?

Huh?

[wtmusic]

5. If you save your filibuster points you can trade them in

for all sorts of exciting prizes! :crazy:

[Obviousman]

10. Like blocking a Chief Justice Scalia

Now it gets complicated doesnt it?

[goddess40]

3. I'm beginning to think you're right

but the rest of the world doesn't deserve *.

Green-bay Packer insignia and your in Oregon? I thought all the crazy cheeseheads were in WI

[RaulVB]

7. I'm a Chilean-born Packer fan!

Even crazier! :toast:

[classof56]

19. Well, since we have no pro teams...

As long as you're a Duck fan, you're okay!

Or a Beaver!

Tired Old Cynic

[KoKo]

4. Obama voted for Condi.....

Bush has managed to force the Dems into playing the "Race Card." They've turned our support for non-white bread folks into a way to contort the best of our Dem Party around on us.

That's what I think, anyway. The Racists have turned the tables on the Anti-racists by finding folks of an ethnic heritage who are Repugs and forcing the Dems to stand for their principles. Democrats are very reluctant to vote against those they've stood up for, but Repugs are happy to pit one group against the other and USE them for their own advantage.

It's cruel and Machiavellian...but it seems to work in Congress...amongst our Dems.

[RaulVB]

8. Yep, reversed racism...

At the end, the racists "win"...

[KoKo]

18. As I said Machievellian.............turning tables....really bad...

And, what's worse is that Dem Establishment was caught "blindsided" on this...:-( Who would have thought that we would be caught hanging on our own sword...caught up by Fundie Christian Wordmith's who could force us to vote for Rice and Gonzalez just because they are "ethnics."

:shrug:

[Nothing Without Hope]

9. Maybe SALAZAR deserves the blivet**, but not the rest of us!

I'm betting Salazar is using that ludicrous "because he's hispanic" excuse to cover the real reason he is sucking up to the administation.

Something that really perplexes me is why, when people say they are supporting someone BECAUSE of their ethnic background or race, they don't perceive that this is a truly deadly insult to that group. It's as if they're saying that the fact of being of this background or genetic heritage is ALL the person has to offer for good or for ill. Like saying that this so overshadows their record, talents and character that it's ALL that matters. Yet newspapers report this without seeming to notice the amazing assumptions that underlie it. Now THAT is CRAZY. I'm betting Salazar is just doing some everyday poltical CYA.

On second thought, maybe even Salazar doesn't deserve the blivet**. Certainly the rest of us don't.

And remember, Raul, the election was STOLEN. The blivet** was NOT re-elected - in fact he stole the 2000 election too. The American people rejected him, but the criminals in power staged another coup. I wish the disbelieving people around the world would reallize that, plus the fact that the corporate media in this country constantly feed a series of lies and propaganda that would choke a goat. Most people don't realize what is really happening. It's our task as progressives to GET THE TRUTH OUT.

[RaulVB]

12. I know, but it gets tough on days like these...

I try to be always positive but, the Democratic Party hasn't "helped me" a lot lately...

The WHOLE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS ENDORSED THE USE OF TORTURE. The other party is "hesitating..."

I just don't know.

[Nothing Without Hope]

16. Nobody can be positive all the time. That's one reason why DU helps.

We have to keep working on all the tasks that are part of the fight, but we also need to help keep each other's spirits up when they inevitably flag. We understand the anger and frustration better than most because we share them. And we can also share laughs for the same reason -- we understand that this is laughing in the face of horror. We can still laugh because we have not and will not give up and we are pulling together.

And did you see these threads? One is on a Repub congressman who seems to see the light:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1535391

And another is on how for the first time in history the Black Baptist Church branches are joining to repudiate the blivet**.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3028916
To cover this, the corporate media are yelling about black churches "moving to the GOP":
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1555313
But that is not the TRUE story, which is quite the opposite trend.

There are many promising signs. I've picked these two stories as examples, but there are others. I'll end this post wth a KOEB toast: "To the ties that bind!"
:toast:

[CrispyQ]

14. You make a great point!!!

"...when people say they are supporting someone BECAUSE of their ethnic background or race, they don't perceive that this is a truly deadly insult to that group. It's as if they're saying that the fact of being of this background or genetic heritage is ALL the person has to offer for good or for ill."

Do you mind if I use that in my letter to Mr. Salazar? I voted for him, helped support his campaign financially & dammit, he's gonna hear from me!!

[Nothing Without Hope]

17. I'd be honored for you to use what I wrote in your letter.

I wish we could help more people perceive this vital point. It's really at the core of racial issues - how do you judge a person? What was it that MLK said, that he dreamed of a day when a man would be judged not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character? You might want to dig that one up for the exact wording too.

The fact is, in supporting Gonzales, Salazar does NOT support the interests of Hispanics. In fact, he is doing quite the opposite, supporting a man who has a monstrous record and will continue to enable the blivet**'s worst excesses if confirmed. And if he thinks he is choosing Gonzales as a valid representative for Hispanics everywhere, he is doing them a grievous disservice indeed.

Good luck with your letter. I hope you can sway him.

[DETERMINEDPROGRESIVE]

11. Several Factors

Fear mainly. Fear of spin. The problem is that right now the right control too much of the voice heard by the public, and are far better at the spin then the left. Right now the repubs will almost always win the spin game.

Fast forward to the day after the left performs a fillibuster on Gonzales (pretend). Take into consideration that most average Americans don't watch C-span, don't know the facts, and don't really even know a damn thing about Gonzales or why we want a fillibuster. Then they are going to wake up and get their paper, or listen to their radios. Though there may be a few media exceptions, The average headline that Americans will be exposed to won't be "Bush advisor that condones Torture fillibustered!", it will read "First Hispanic nominee blah blah blah fillibustered blah blah"

Then we lose a part of the Hispanic vote. The spin will begin, and the repubs would win handily, I'm quite sure. In the end the common American when asked would say it was wrong to fillibuster and that we are racist blah blah, because the Repubs spin would be that effective.

Don't get me wrong. I want a fillibuster so damn bad. But I bet that scenario above, the fear of it, is what is keepin the pussy Dem Senators at bay.