This is a genuine SOS.

[democrank]

I`m starting to feel like the ball in a ping pong match. This side, that side, this side, that side. It`s all about my mixed feelings toward the Democratic Party I`ve supported for over forty years and I`m really torn up about it.

Something has changed. Somewhere along the way we turned our party over to political consultants, corporate donors, focus groups, sound bites and leaders who favored the safe, vote-grabbing middle ground over upholding long-standing party principles. I can tell the difference between a Democratic leader who spent time inside a coal mine when no one was looking and one whose time is spent offering carefully crafted consultant`s words in a sterile receiving room. What I wouldn`t give for a brand new leader to pop up out of some unexpected place....a boarded up steel factory, an inner-city ghetto, high noon with the lettuce pickers, the laundry room in a fancy hotel, a homeless shelter. These are the people we used to hold our hand out to and lift up, back when we were an all-for-one-and-one-for-all party. Back before no Democrat worth their salt would have tolerated a DLC memo attacking anti-war activists or Paul Begala attacking the DNC chairman. Back when we would never have tolerated Leader Pelosi`s anti-impeachment proclamation regarding that vile criminal in the White House. We can milquetoast our way toward oblivion or we can exercise our power and demand real, meaningful change.

I truly love the people of the Democratic Party`s base. The people who never sold out and who won`t be intimidated by demands for compromise of our basic principles. Don`t let anyone tell you that you must settle for leaders whose actions you deeply oppose. If you feel strongly about your opposition to the Iraq War and the enablers who assisted Bush, stand your ground. You don`t have to sacrifice everything just to get along. We have enough of that in Washington already.

There are some Democrats I deeply admire, but most of them aren`t on the Beltway`s A-List. I hope with all my heart that new leaders will rise up, leaders determined to inspire with fresh ideas than acquiesce to those in power.