The Word Is Blackmail

[Me.]

Since the dems lost everything, and * was placed in the WH, we the people at DU and those like us have been fighting to save this country from what it could and did become. We worked on elections, made calls, sent money, did all that was asked of us even when we weren't crazy about the candidate, the policy or the strategy. How many times have we either singly or collectively held our noses? For where else were we going to go? That has always been the question and the answer is nowhere. And our 'leaders' know that,have been counting on it, which is why they do whatever they want regardless of how we and the American people feel.

To my mind, this is a form of blackmail. Just yesterday I got a letter from Pelosi asking for money, asking for matching funds to the tune of $250. Yet where is someone like me going to go. Not voting for one of the hideousnesses the publicans have put up, not voting for a Hagel/Bloomberg ticket should it come about in light of Hagel's voting record. So where does someone like me go is the question and they're counting on that.

The fact is I'm not leaving the dem party because everything is so much worse so for now I will be blackmailed. I wish I knew how to get our leaders to listen. At one time I thought the solution was to vote better candidates in, work for them, which is what I thought we did with McCaskill and Tester.

I know some say what they did was smart and that this will play out right. I've looked at and heard the arguments and can't convince myself that's true. We're always hearing about appearances, and that things are done for the sake of them. The appearance this week was pretty shoddy.

Speaking for myself only, it's a bitter pill. '

[Frustratedlady]

1. Sometimes I feel they raise issues so they have a reason to ask...

for money to support their fight against that issue. I have come to the point where I rarely open my emails. That includes the GROUPS that are "fighting" issues, too.

We need to look into public financing and get off this money track.

[havocmom]

2. With Total Awareness Act, the word is, indeed, blackmail

bushco hasn't been listening to the terraist because there are damned few of those. They know that power comes from knowledge and they need to keep power, lest they be made to pay for their crimes.

The troops are being held for ransom. Keep paying the corporations or they are left without food, water, bullets. But don't look for the kidnappers to ever return them. That would divert $ from the war profiteers to pay for care for real people.

The wiretaps without judicial oversight... hmmm, what all do ya suppose that was about? Sure as hell not about protecting the REAL America from terrorists. bushco thinks of themselves, and ONLY themselves, when they talk security. They make sure they have something on everybody so they can call the shots.

What pisses me off is DEMs who won't stand up to the bullies. There is NOTHING anybody could have on them that is so important to hide that they are willing to let bushco flush America down the crapper.

Swallow your fear of exposure, DEM reps, and stand up to the bullies. They have ONLY the power you grant them. Take it away. Take your medicine for any bad things in your closets, but SAVE THE NATION.

[Me.]

3. Standing Up To Bullies Is Key

So far the swaggerer in chief has all of them by the short and curlies. They could have done so easily this week, the country was behind them. We must also ask ourselves who in our party was whispering in their ears and why. Did Rahm Emanuel have more than his fair share of say as so many have hinted? Or is the fear so overwhelming that helping destroy this country is the preferred alternative?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. It can happen at the local level, too

as far as corruption goes. We had a bi-partisan group, ready, willing, and able to back the Dem candidate (this was in late 2003, before any primary)so we could get rid of Bush. The local Dem chair was asked to come to our meeting. He basically said they would not support or work for any of the candidates with the possible exception of Clark because "they all hate guns", which showed an ignorance that took our breath away. In the next sentence, he said, "hey, just vote us into local office, that's all we're asking for. You know that the last time the national Democratic Party won in this county was when they bought the votes." We were aghast at this revelation--and the complacent attitude of the one saying it, who ended with, "don't try and take over our committee, because you're outlanders and the natives won't let you join in." (which is the truth--only natives get anything in the county, and shut out any newcomers. And those who try to change things somehow either get burned out or shot. No kidding.)

Our group was the only group that actively campaigned for Kerry in 2004, which included placing ads, holding rallies, etc. I'm sort of glad that NONE of the local Dems won office--after hearing their corruption coming from their own mouths, I'm not ashamed of saying so, either. Just glad that independents got in to many of the offices, including sheriff.

[Me.]

6. The Arrogane Is Stultifying

If a credible 3rd party ever comes along, there will be hell to pay for those in office now.

[BlackVelvet04]

5. They get not one damn dime from me

or one minute of my time to help them get elected. They sold out.

[Me.]

7. Listened To Gore On Charley Rose

God he was sane. I guess that's what comes of being kicked to the ground and going through the fire of humiliation. He came out whole.

[BlackVelvet04]

8. Gore is the only one at this point I would work to get elected....

the rest, not at this point.

[Me.]

9. I'd Do Anything

I'm like Silicon Valley and the board of Shearson-Lehman, waiting for Gore to get in.

[EFerrari]

10. I don't think this party will get straight while the DLC calls the shots.

They are not democratic or leaders but salesmen and, imho, the party has steadily degraded on their watch. (And I'm not saying this with any kind of glee or other weirdness. And both my parents and one kid are excellent salespeople that could sell you sand in the dessert.)

There are so many capable, attractive Democrats. And there seems to be so little support for them when/if they don't fit the (again, imo) narrow DLC vision.

I'm not at all sure this will "play out right". And, come to think of it -- "right" for whom?

The job of a political party is to promote itself. That's fine. But, when a party ignores or runs over their constituency to grab power or influence, they're sabotaging their own project. Dealing with the public must be the biggest pain in the ass in life, lol, but, that's the job -- isn't it?

I guess all I'm really saying is that politicians and political parties could accurately be called "negotiators" as their job is to negotiate deals between themselves and their base, between their position and their opposition, right?

The thing is, the negotiators have to have street cred, act in good faith, and come through often enough for people to trust them. And, as far as I can tell, the DLC speaks out of both sides of its mouth, talks down to voters and inspires no confidence from those of us who at least try to keep up.

I don't trust them. And until they are unplugged, I won't switch my reg back. I may be wrong but that's how it seems to me. :shrug:

/is it "desert" or "dessert" :silly:

[Me.]

11. I Think We Have Reached A Breaking Point With Our 'Leaders' In General

and the DLC in particular. This was it for me. After holding my nose and following their lead these long 7 years, I've had enough. They've shoved as much down my throat as I can take. They've betrayed us and there is no other way to say it. Others are trying to explain it away and I understand that. What else can they do and keep the faith? I've done it myself over these long years. Holding onto the last thread of the rope.

Here is a fab thread on the very subject of th problem with our so called leaders. Check it out, fascinating read:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3283913

[EFerrari]

12. Thanks, I'll go read.

:)

[TwilightGardener]

13. The problem for you is that there are conservative-leaning Dems like

myself. Believe it or not, many of them DO represent Dem voters--just not always the majority on DU, on every issue. I am more of a Ben Nelson/Jim Webb Democrat, myself, at least on the war. I feel they best represent me in terms of handling the Iraq issue.

[Me.]

14. Understood & Respected

But I would ask you how long and how much death before it's enough. Where is Habeas Corpus? When will we hold this administration accountable for all the crimes committed and let's not call them something else. We went to war on a lie that many of us recognized it for what it was. We stay there because of more lies. When will tax breaks for the wealthiest become less important than being responsive to the needs of the majority of the people? How long?

And mind you you, this is not an attempt to be confrontational with your view, (although as I reread it it does sound so) for if we can't talk to each other here we won't be able to do it anywhere, but how long, do we go along to get along?

Iraq is a travesty we are responsible for, but maintaining the position is not the solution.

[TwilightGardener]

15. I don't think you're being confrontational. I want to roll back many of the

abuses of power (torture, secret prisons, habeas corpus, other Patriot Act crap) this administration has perpetuated in the name of security, and I would love to see this admin impeached. Most of all, I want to see this war ended, but good people can disagree on the best way to do that. I have a weak stomach for defunding, for example, because I am afraid of a host of unintended consequences that may result--that's my more conservative nature speaking. There are many in Congress who feel as I do, and thus the recent vote didn't bother me (what bothered me was Dems backing down a little too soon with such a weak-ass bill to begin with, but I can understand...if the veto-override votes aren't there, they aren't there). I accept the political reality our Dems in Congress face, because I am torn about how to quit Iraq as much as they probably are, and my wrath is more directed at Republican Senators (my own happily excepted) for enabling the Chimp to ignore even the merest SUGGESTION of a way to start ending the war.

[EFerrari]

21. I seriously doubt the military establishment would allow

the scenarios that we've been pitched about our troops being defunded. It will never happen. The US couldn't afford to surrender that reserve of menace and the generals would balk.

So, this story we're being sold about what would happen to "the troops" is very fine bull. It's a button to press and that's all it is.

[TwilightGardener]

24. I would hope not, but I think Chimpy and the Dick are so twisted

to even use the troops as pawns/hostages to begin with, that I wouldn't put it past them to allow bad shit to happen to our military and them blame the Democrats for it. It's all political gamesmanship for them.

[EFerrari]

26. Oh, I so agree. But there are many people between them

and our troops.

And when you think about it, there's no way Junior or DeadEye Dick want the word to spread that our military is "down".

It's an empty, fake threat.

That doesn't mean Junior has/will/will ever respect our service people. But is does mean that he can't f#ck them and retain the reserve of menace he needs. :shrug:

[Me.]

27. Reading This I'd Say This Liberal (or progressive) & Your Conservative

Have a majority of views in common. I also think there will be unintended consequences but don't think that that they can be helped by extending or surging the war a day longer. Don't think consequences can be avoided, that ship sailed several years ago.

In addition, I think the reason underlying my rage about the vote, is that the people have spoken, loudly and clearly. The American people are usually ahead of the political curve. Why don't they listen to us, rather than expecting us to listen to their lame a** maneuvering. Oops there I go again.

And the reason I am so mad at the dems is that I trusted them to do right by us, to listen to our voices, while I never expect the publicans, who got us into the mess in the first place, to do anything right.

[TwilightGardener]

28. I understand the anger--I feel that they do look rather weak and cautious,

and certainly don't seem to be able to use PR/media as effectively as the GOPers--especially since the majority in this country want us out of Iraq. I'm more patient with them, though--they have a pretty narrow majority and a pretty big mess to steer us out of.

[Me.]

29. That May Be The Main Difference Between Us

Any patience I had with them has vanished, down the rabbit hole along with timetables and benchmarks.

[EFerrari]

16. Could you say more so I can understand your position? n/t

[TwilightGardener]

17. Just saying that many Dems in Congress represent me pretty well,

so I don't feel like I'm being blackmailed for lack of a better place to turn, that's all. I am OK with the lot of them, as a group. I often feel they are doing the best they can with what they have to work with.

[EFerrari]

18. Thank you. What did you think of this supplemental bill or

of continuing to fund the occupation?

[TwilightGardener]

19. I thought the timetable suggestion was very reasonable, and would

have liked the Dem leadership to emphasize to the public that it was OPTIONAL, to show how much the Dems were willing to bend for King George. I got the feeling that most folks didn't know that and bought the "tying the commanders' hands" and "micromanaging" bullshit--a failure of PR rather than the actual measure. I do agree to funding the occupation, because I view defunding as a drastic last resort, and I am not there yet. I'd rather see it end differently, and very responsibly.

[EFerrari]

23. Thanks for the clarification. n/t

[Me.]

20. My Thanks Also

Interesting to get another perspective. It would also be interesting to know where the majority of Americans stand on this bill, We know the majority wans us out, but do any number feel about this as I do?

[TwilightGardener]

25. I saw a poll here recently that only 13% want the war defunded--

I don't know how accurate that is. I'm a middle-of-the-roader, admittedly.

[Cronopio]

22. "We're always hearing about appearances ..."

That's the problem. Any political system or any party that thinks Image is going solve all problems (or any problem) is not to be depended on for anything other than image management.

[Me.]

30. That's All We Have Nowadays

The reality of fakeness, perception being managed,