comments_imageCOMMENTS: 98

Firing Squad Looms for the Dem Party Oligarchy

Establishment Dems treat their political party like a house in the fucking Hamptons. Who died and made these people gatekeepers to anything?
August 23, 2006  |  
 
 
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Question: Are bloggers too powerful?
Answer: Do I think they're important? Yes. Do I think the [bloggers] and Al Sharpton alone are the future of the Democratic Party? No! Welcome in, contribute, but it's about winning in November and moving the country forward, not about a firing squad in a circle.
-- Q&A with U.S. representative Rahm Emmanuel, Aug. 28 issue of New York magazine


I badly want to move on to another topic in this column space -- there is very little in the world that is less interesting than the Democratic Leadership Council and their ilk -- but this stuff is fast becoming just too unbelievable to ignore.

What exactly does self-appointed congressional mega-celebrity and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Rahm Emmanuel mean (says a friend of mine in congress of him: "He's an amoral, showboating cock") when he says, "Do I think [bloggers] and Al Sharpton are the future of the Democratic Party?"

That's actually not hard to figure out; it's political hack-ese for the human sentence bloggers = Al Sharpton. As for what he means by that: just think about the thought process that had to go into Emmanuel's adding of the phrase "and Al Sharpton," when Al Sharpton wasn't even part of the question. Ask yourself if you really believe Emmanuel isn't aware that he's addressing the mostly white, Upper West Side readers of New York magazine when he "offhandedly" ties bloggers to the legendary gold medallion-wearing icon from forty blocks north in Harlem.

These DLC types are amazing, they really are. Their pathology is unique; they all secretly worship the guilt-by-association tactics of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove, but unlike those two, not one of them has enough balls to take being thought of as the bad guy by the general public. So instead of telling big, bold whoppers right out in the open, they're forever coming out with backhanded little asides like this one, apparently in the hope that only your subconscious will notice. I won't be surprised if they respond to the next electoral loss by a DLC candidate by having Bruce Reed argue in the Wall Street Journal that "bloggers, Queer Eye, and Arabs with syphilis are not the future of the Democratic Party."

Then there is the phrase, "Welcome in, contribute, but..."

Welcome in? What is this, a political party, or a house in the fucking Hamptons? Who died and made these people gatekeepers to anything?

What Emmanuel appears to be saying here is that "bloggers" -- by which he really means "people who voted against Lieberman" -- are welcome to "contribute," but not welcome to actually decide elections. In other words, we'll take your votes, but we'll decide who you vote for. An admirable sentiment for an elected official. How is it that these people have avoided being pitchforked to death for this long?

Finally, the "firing squad in a circle" line has been a DLC favorite for years. DLC chief Al From has been pimping it at least since the last presidential race. It's time we officially retired this line, which is really just a sorry take on the lame old high-school guidance-counselor saw: "Now, Jimmy. When you shoot spitballs at Vice Principal Anderson, you're really shooting spitballs at yourself." And little Jimmy thinks: No, actually, I was shooting spitballs at Vice Principal Anderson...

What's amazing about the "firing squad in a circle" line is that it is inevitably used less than five seconds after the DLC speaker has just finished dumping on Michael Moore, peace activists, or whoever the party's talking-points-vermin of the day is (In this case, Sharpton and bloggers). He denounces Michael Moore as a disgrace to the party, then turns around and says that when we attack the party leadership, we're only hurting ourselves. These tactics are so transparent and condescending that one longs for some kind of cosmic referee to just drop down from the heavens and unilaterally disqualify their users on the grounds of their overwhelming general wrongness -- but the maddening thing about these DLC creatures is that that referee never arrives, and Al From is back on page one again the next day, shaking his head and grumbling piously about "unity" and "consensus" and "the lost art of bipartisanship."

The unspoken subtext of this increasingly bitter debate between the Democratic Party establishment and the supporters of people like Ned Lamont and Hillary Clinton's antiwar challenger, Jonathan Tasini, is a referendum ordinary people have unexpectedly decided to hold on the kingmaker's role of the holy trinity of the American political establishment - big business, the major political parties, and the commercial media. The irony is that it's the political establishment itself that has involuntarily raised the consciousness of its disenfranchised voters.

The surge in support for Lamont initially came from people motivated by two simple things -- a desire to protest the war in Iraq, and physical revulsion before the wrinkled, vengeful persona of Joe Lieberman. But the party, in fighting back, attacked not on the issues but on the means of protest -- blogs, grassroots activism, Lamont's independent wealth. In doing so it threw into relief the essential parameters of the problem, which is this; the Democratic Party has been operating for two decades without the active participation of its voters.

It raised money by appealing directly to companies in private fundraisers, and it used the commercial media to enforce its policy positions, in particular its desire to "clearly reject our antiwar wing," as Al From put it a few years back. It's a simple formula for running one-half of American politics; you decide on John Kerry two years before the presidential vote, raise him $200 million bucks, and let CNN and the New York Times take care of any Howard Deans who might happen to pop up in the meantime. The same greased track is being prepared for Hillary Clinton right now, and we can be quite sure that guns are already being aimed at Russell Feingold.

It's been an essentially oligarchic system of government, where all the important decision-makers have been institutions, with any attempts by ordinary people to circumvent the system coldly repressed. Remember 2000, when Ralph Nader was not only not allowed to debate with Al Gore and George Bush, but wasn't allowed in the building -- not even allowed in a second, adjoining hall in the building, not even when he had a ticket? Well, we have a replay of that proud moment in hour history going on now, with Hillary's Senate primary opponent Tasini being shut out of debates by New York's NY1 TV channel (owned by TimeWarner) which is insisting that qualified candidates not only reach five percent support in the polls (Tasini is at 13 percent and rising) but raise or spend $500,000. Said NY1 Vice President Steve Paulus: "All Tasini would need is for each [New York state registered voter] to send him a dollar. Right now, with the money he's raised, he does not represent the party he claims to represent."

So a war chest is now the standard for representation? In order to get on television, you need a dollar from every voter? (Are we electing a Senator or holding a Girl Scout raffle? What the fuck?) And this is decided by... an executive for a corporate television station? One that recently sent a reporter [Adam Balkin] to Japan to do features on high-tech toilets? In other words, NY1 will pay to put an exotic Japanese toilet on a few million or so New York television screens -- but insists on seeing a half-million dollar deposit before it will put a Democratic candidate with 13 percent support in a televised debate? Am I missing something?

This schism within the Democratic Party is the most interesting thing to happen in American politics in decades, because due to a system error, people have temporarily been allowed back into what had been a totally closed process. They're working round the clock to fix the loophole, though, because the Emmanuels of the world know what's coming if they don't. The firing squad. And this time it won't be in a circle.
Matt Taibbi is a writer for Rolling Stone.
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You left out a passage
Posted by: arubyan on Aug 23, 2006 5:14 PM   
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Enh. I don't spend a lot of time listening to Emmanuel.

I did note, however, that the one passage in his screed that you left out was this:"...it's about winning in November and moving the country forward..."

I agree 100% with that.

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» RE: You left out a passage Posted by: CounterCorp
» RE: You left out a passage Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: You left out a passage Posted by: grayghost

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Undercurrent
Posted by: bachelortimes on Aug 23, 2006 5:32 PM   
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Instead of two oligarchic institutions in competition, I tend to see duopolistic dissembling subterfuge.

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» RE: Undercurrent Posted by: Lincoln fan

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losing
Posted by: rsaxto on Aug 24, 2006 3:54 AM   
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DLC stands for Democrats Losing Clout because they secretly worship the ability of Cheney/Bush/Rove/Rumsfeld to commit mass murder and get away with it. They want to commit mass murder too and get away with it too.

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» RE: losing Posted by: Verdillac
» RE: losing Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: losing Posted by: daw13
» RE: losing Posted by: goldennugget

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Progressive Dems need to stop whining and bolt en masse
Posted by: hbw on Aug 24, 2006 8:09 AM   
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When will a critical mass of Democrats realize who turns the screws in the party, get sufficiently disgusted, and join the Greens? Many Democrats whom I know and love already subscribe to the ten key values of the Green movement.

How can these so called Democratic "leaders" talk about the importance of winning when they run their campaigns so badly, almost as if they want to lose?

Billy Jeff Clinton, a primo campaigner, won in 1992 only because of the Giant Sucking Sound, when H. Ross Perot siphoned votes away from the incumbent in enough states to tip the game. The DLC was lucky that time, and in 1996 when the dot-com economy was in overdrive. But in the next two runs, Gore and Kerry were not allowed to talk like real Democrats, the Republicans tinkered with the voting apparatus, and you know the rest.

To those who would protest that Ralph Nader tipped Florida in 2000, there's a host of arguments against that. Plus, the primary reason Nader entered the race in the first place was Gore's complicity with the DLC hijackers over the years. After that performance, in the view of Nader and the Greens, Gore needed to earn his victory.

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» joiners / splitters Posted by: baugh
» first things first Posted by: Iconoclast421

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Democratic Party Oligarchy
Posted by: shangrilalad on Aug 24, 2006 8:24 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What with Republicans rigging the general elections, and Democrats rigging the primaries, voters don’t have a chance of electing anyone they want. The Democratic Party Oligarchy decides on a candidate long before the voting begins, sabotages outsiders like Dean, and funnels money to their candidate. Which limits voters to voting for the establishment candidate, or not voting at all.

One way around this cunning Catch 22 is for voters to make their campaign contributions directly to their preferred candidate, and cut out the middlemen. Who gave these assholes the power to limit our voting rights?

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» RE: Democratic Party Oligarchy Posted by: Jamboree
» RE: Democratic Party Oligarchy Posted by: Lincoln fan

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Matt Taibbi has it almost right,,,
Posted by: John Rice on Aug 24, 2006 8:55 AM   
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the biggest problem with his thesis being that nothing much will change when the Dems take over Congress. All we will get is the other side of the same counterfeit coin.

Both Dems and Reps are bought and controlled by the same interests--all of which are counter-productive to the interests of the vast majority of US citizens--the voting Dems and Reps and those who consider themselves Neither, or have given up on our system and do not participate at all. Our present disastrous world “situation” is nothing if not bipartisan, as is the loss of our rights and freedoms. Don't think so? Just look at the votes.

I urge you to consider www.neitherparty.org for a real change of governance and the opportunity to clean house of all those who have defrauded/destroyed our nation for decades, no matter their party affiliations.

Insanity has been defined as doing the same things over and over while expecting different results. It is time to prove what we are to the rest of the world--that we are insane or that we are not. Only the NP movement offers relief from this ongoing (and getting worse daily) insanity.

I urge any who care about the future of our once-thought-of-great-nation (not to mention the future of the world) to get in the game and help to make the world a better place by doing as Gandhi suggested: "we must be the change we wish to see in the world." (He also observed that: "Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good.")

And one last Gandhi quote: “Liberty and democracy become unholy when their hands are dyed red with innocent blood.”

I ask you--aren’t all of our hands dyed red enough already?

Regards,,,John
( john_rice@neitherparty.org )

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» You can say that again Posted by: Lincoln fan

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Up the wall, motherf@#kers
Posted by: larry278 on Aug 24, 2006 5:29 PM   
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The alleged 2 party system pimped by DLC types & Rep Cellar, et al is a monopoly feigning schizoid symptoms. Both parties faithfully take the same psychotropic medications upon taking office in order to think & vote the same way. That is what their corporate donars demand of them.
A blood purge of the power elite establishment is overdue.

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» RE: Up the wall, motherf@#kers Posted by: Jamboree
» RE: Up the wall, motherf@#kers Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: Up the wall, motherf@#kers Posted by: leftisright

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Move 'em out!
Posted by: talkville on Aug 26, 2006 12:25 AM   
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Move the DLC to a sub-set of the Republicans; rest of us, let's get the party back and put the -ic back into the "Democrat Party" - as George Bush refers to us (see Media Matters a couple of days ago).

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» RE: Move 'em out! Posted by: Cordier

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They'd be surprised
Posted by: Urstrly on Aug 26, 2006 4:57 AM   
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When I hear all this talk of bloggers and people on the fringe from the DLC, I just laugh. Every MoveOn thing I've ever been to was full of middle class white folks either retired or nearing retirement punctuated by young people, also white and pretty mainstream. What other population has so much time to spend reading those blogs? Whatever Matt Taibbi thinks about the Upper West Side, it is still full of leftie anti-war Democrats ticked off at Hilary for writing George W. Bush a blank check. I wonder if folks at (and behind) Tiime Warner are a little concerned that she's coming around a bit; after all, she did write LaMont a $5,000 check. Or maybe they're just trying to protect her. Tasini, unfortunately, is not wealthy, and these days it's not just the Republicans who want their candidates rich.

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» RE: They'd be surprised Posted by: Lincoln fan

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Time for a new strategy
Posted by: Lincoln fan on Aug 26, 2006 5:47 AM   
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Until liberals realize that we have no more effect on the Democratic party than we have on the Republican party we'll continue to have a one-party system. Why don't we have a voice? Because we'll vote Democratic come hell or high water. We continue to hold our noses and vote for the lesser of the evils. The Democrats know this and so do the Republicans. The Democrats take us for granted and the Republicans write us off.

I'm not advocating that we vote Republican. I'm saying that we should give both parties the opportunity to win our votes. Each of us can tell both parties what issue we want in their platforms and then only vote for a party that supports us. If the Republicans don't want your vote don't give it to them. If the Democrats don't want your vote don't give it to them either.

How many times have you heard the idea that we should have a "none of the above" choice. The Lincoln Initiative provides this choice. If neither party represents you, use your vote to tell them so. Write in a protest vote for "Honest Abe". But first you have to tell both parties what you want

We all know that the corporate establishment controls both parties with campaign contributions, and lobbies. We all know that neither party will willingly change this system. We all know that a third party would be a good thing. We all know that for one reason or another most people won't vote for a third party. We all know that voting in the goodcop/badcop game is an alltime loser.

It's time to try a new strategy. One that's never been tried but that's based on the often successful tactics of the labor unions. That is tell them what you want and tell them what you'll do if they don't give it to you. Give them a clear choice and let them make the decision. We have to have the guts to stand up to both parties.
Bob Reichenbach
Director, The Lincoln Initiative.

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» RE: Time for a new strategy Posted by: John Rice
» RE: Time for a new strategy Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: Time for a new strategy Posted by: John Rice
» RE: Time for a new strategy Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: au contrae Posted by: Ripcord
» IT'S TIME FOR A NEW PARTY Posted by: SALLY EVANS

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The Dems, eh hem
Posted by: vangogh69 on Aug 26, 2006 7:50 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Excuse me, but it can't be contained anymore:
FUCK THE DEMOCRATS! These bastards vote against anything progressive, vote for war and war profiteering, and can't even get the minimum wage raised at a national level! Hillary Clinton, that dog, is a representative of the East Coast oligarchy and couldn't even bring it upon herself during the 2004 Republican Convention to say "well, 50% of New Yorkers think 9/11 was an inside job." She's scum.

We need to jettison both parties and start over. This is a revolutionary sentiment, one which speaks to what this country was founded on and what Americans do best when things aren't working: change the fucking paradigm. Get up, off your ass, get educated, and let both parties know that we see their shit and are doing something else now.

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» The Republicrats had their run Posted by: YinRising
» RE: The Dems, eh hem Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: The Dems, eh hem Posted by: Jamboree
» RE: The Dems, eh hem Posted by: Jamboree

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Tell it to George...Washington, that is
Posted by: CajunCountry on Aug 26, 2006 8:25 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
''They [political parties] are likely in the course of time and things to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government." - George Washington

" It [Democratic Party] isn’t an opposition party. I have been saying for the last thousand years that the United States has only one party—the property party. It’s the party of big corporations, the party of money. It has two right wings; one is Democrat and the other is Republican. - Gore Vidal

“Our form of democracy is bribery, on the highest scale.” - Gore Vidal

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» GW and GV knew the score. Posted by: Lincoln fan

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jennherne
Posted by: jennherne on Aug 26, 2006 9:40 AM   
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These aholes are in their positions because they raise oodles of dough. The party is guilty of mimicing the Repugs in their vision of fund raising. If they went for donations from party members instead of from corporations, they might be suprised by their success.

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» RE: jennherne Posted by: Lincoln fan

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Changes in attitudes vs. changes in platitudes
Posted by: monkeywrench on Aug 26, 2006 4:21 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If the democratic party leadership counsel is an oligarchy, what makes it any different than the oligarchy now running the country (into the ground)?

What this country needs is not one party or the other making the same mistakes and collecting the same largesse in Washington; what this country needs is a change in ATTITUDE.

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» what makes it any different Posted by: Lincoln fan

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yep, usaInc. sucks
Posted by: bobjbax on Aug 26, 2006 4:59 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
dimmo/repugs...eeuugh...TREASON...used car salesmen/pedophiles gone wrong....shutting out Ralph Nader was incredibly craven...I'm publicly stating some of my opinion here in media they don't yet, hopefully fatally to them if they try, control. We all hope to interact with our ideas and beliefs in a positive way and have that read, followed and understood by the masses. A truer ( that wouldn't be a stretch) attempt at democracy. If they (the masses and the pols) would only listen to us all, discuss these things, and respond, before it is too too late. We don't want to lose this last forum of refuge, but we may. I'm sure they hate the crap out of us, and these forums. The dimmos/repugs, me on point, will not EVER listen to us. usaInc. pays them much too well. Following is a little part of a larger doc I'm preparing but don't be confused by it, just recall from history: "(I give you: France 1793 The Committee on Public Safety. Excessive, bloody and regrettable, and richly earned. History corrects excess…by excess. Their furious cry? Liberté, égalité, fraternité, ou la mort! It is now to be seen again today, that it will be we…or they who now have their hands about our throats. Which shall it be? Liberty and the Scales of Justice cry out. Who will be the next Madman, the Robespierre!? And the Balance Restored.)". I guess I just have to say that matters have certainly risen to such. I do very much hope though, unfortunately not likely, that reason will prevail. Much Reason....Bobby Baxter, Veteran & Marijuana Felon

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Demopublicans or Republicrats, pick one and lose-lose.
Posted by: Age of Reason on Aug 26, 2006 7:26 PM   
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Here in Upstate NY, my local mayor was roundly chastised by the state Democratic Committee for simply talking with Tasini though he (the mayor) is on the left side of liberal. He didn't realize that he was supposed to toe the line and in the end, apologized for his mistake (wimp that he truly is.) However I have found a candidate to support: Howie Hawkins. He may not have a snowball's chance in hell but at least I get the chance to vote my conscience. Hawkin's web site can be found here.

It is worse than disgusting that Hillary Clinton with her multi-megabucks warchest knows that her re-election has already been bought and paid for. It's worse because the party machinery will punish anyone who steps out of line.

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?

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"Money Ruined Democracy"
Posted by: mcartri on Aug 26, 2006 8:48 PM   
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Bill moyers said, "Money ruined democracy. Washington is lost. Only the grassroots is left." We are the grassroots. Be as proud as the Founding Fathers were. They are dead; we are not! ACT!

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DLC DECIDED 2004 ELECTION
Posted by: op301 on Aug 27, 2006 6:06 AM   
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Does anyone else besides me believe that the DLC fixed the primary in IOWA so that John Kerry would win? I mean the DLC would never stand for a netroots candidate like Howard Dean.

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Same tactics as Republicans
Posted by: vkobaya on Aug 27, 2006 11:51 AM   
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says that when we attack the party leadership, we're only hurting ourselves.

Sounds very familiar, something that maybe, Bush said, "You're either with us or against us."

The DLC are nothing more than mirrors of the Republicans, like the same oppressive tactics, take our money and then ignore us ... even to the point of telling us to shut the f... up. Pelosi has told us not to bother her, she is too busy kissing the asses of her corporate masters.

Victory in 2006? Ha! Victory only for the other wing of the Demopublican Party. Not one Democratic leader has spoken up in support of impeachment despite the fact that almost all grassroots Democrats are clammering for impeachment. Victory in 2006, will not be a magic wand that instantaneously converts these arrogant assos into supporting impeachment. If they win, first thing they will do is send a delegation to the White House to negotiate terms, but essentially to reassure Bush that he won't be impeached.

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» Impeachment imperative, Posted by: Lincoln fan

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Not disenfranchised voters - disaffected
Posted by: Snott on Aug 27, 2006 6:01 PM   
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If many of those people who are so alienated from the two-party duopoly would register to vote, become involved in the political process, keep an eye on slimeballs trying to steal elections, and VOTE, we could see a change. As it is, the Dems seem to think they have a constitutency would rather hold their noses and vote for the "least offensive" candidates.

I've finally quit the duopoly and I am working with the Green Party, campaigning for our candidates and issues based upon those things we really value. You all could do the same. If people stopped believing the "scare you into voting Democrat" whining, we'd be a powerful force.

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rfunk
Posted by: rfunk on Aug 27, 2006 8:54 PM   
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Russ Feingold is the best hope of reforming the Democratic Party from within.
A Progressive Patriot for Peace Movement is building around him.
Come on people. Rally 'round a true leader.

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» RE: rfunk Posted by: Jvail900

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It may be too late
Posted by: agitcam on Aug 28, 2006 11:32 AM   
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In his book "The Sorrows of Empire" Prof. Johnson laments that Corporate America may be beyond stopping. The corporate oligarchy which controls the media, the Republican party and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC),he feels, may have such overwhelming power now that it is too late for citizens to take back their government.
Back in 1992 I was with Sen. Eugene McCarthy in New Hampshire when he made his last presidential race. I saw first hand how the Democratic party leadership shunned him and kept him from being heard. The DLC was just coming into their own back then with Bill Clinton as their frontman and I saw what they were about.
It is too bad that it has taken so long for the DLC to be exposed.

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» RE: It may be too late Posted by: domenico234

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I am WORRIED here!
Posted by: texshelters on Aug 28, 2006 3:26 PM   
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Dear Dems and recovering Dems:

If y'all start leaving the Democratic party or stop votin' for the Lieberman wing of the party, who else can the ruling elite call the "loyal opposition"? I can't he'p but think some of y'all think democracy is more important than security and you would rather vote in an election for a real choice then Republican light (Dems). The two party system is workin', stop whinin' you liberals terr'rist supporters!!

Vote Jeb Bush 2008!

Yours,
Tex Shelters

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» COME ON, NOBOODY'S THAT STUPID ! Posted by: SALLY EVANS

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If Only
Posted by: Polenium on Aug 28, 2006 9:16 PM   
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If only Democrats like Emmanuel used the same back handed cunning and intellectual resourcefulness they unleash against fellow Democrats against the Party In Power.
The point you make that they are too cowardly to do more than envy the GOP mafioso is right on.
They are far too cowardly to stand up to the spooks and thieves that have become the GOP. They won't even challenge a changeling like Lieberman.
They have plenty time and energy to pull the rug out from under popular Democratic candidates who challenge over-ripe incumbents but none to fight hard enough and smart enough to win elections.

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Republicans are assessing Dem resolve
Posted by: LDavistrueblue on Aug 29, 2006 12:17 PM   
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At least in one State, a carbuncle on the back of Democrats, Joseph Lieberman, has been excised. For the next two months, however, Republicans will be gauging whether Dem leadership has acquired strength or is continuing its flaccid (see article above) insistence on losing elections. Biden has to go. Any collaborating Dem leader has to go. Deal with the Lieberman issue with overwhelming force or be looked on by Republicans and by 2006-08 voters as submissive jokes who are not worthy to run the country. Use Ohio's Paul Hackett as your model.

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this comment system sucks
Posted by: Phenix on Aug 29, 2006 2:34 PM   
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yea, you read the title.

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Alternet Comments:

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You left out a passage
Posted by: arubyan on Aug 23, 2006 5:14 PM   
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Enh. I don't spend a lot of time listening to Emmanuel.

I did note, however, that the one passage in his screed that you left out was this:"...it's about winning in November and moving the country forward..."

I agree 100% with that.

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» RE: You left out a passage Posted by: CounterCorp
» RE: You left out a passage Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: You left out a passage Posted by: grayghost

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Undercurrent
Posted by: bachelortimes on Aug 23, 2006 5:32 PM   
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Instead of two oligarchic institutions in competition, I tend to see duopolistic dissembling subterfuge.

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» RE: Undercurrent Posted by: Lincoln fan

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losing
Posted by: rsaxto on Aug 24, 2006 3:54 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
DLC stands for Democrats Losing Clout because they secretly worship the ability of Cheney/Bush/Rove/Rumsfeld to commit mass murder and get away with it. They want to commit mass murder too and get away with it too.

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» RE: losing Posted by: Verdillac
» RE: losing Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: losing Posted by: daw13
» RE: losing Posted by: goldennugget

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Progressive Dems need to stop whining and bolt en masse
Posted by: hbw on Aug 24, 2006 8:09 AM   
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When will a critical mass of Democrats realize who turns the screws in the party, get sufficiently disgusted, and join the Greens? Many Democrats whom I know and love already subscribe to the ten key values of the Green movement.

How can these so called Democratic "leaders" talk about the importance of winning when they run their campaigns so badly, almost as if they want to lose?

Billy Jeff Clinton, a primo campaigner, won in 1992 only because of the Giant Sucking Sound, when H. Ross Perot siphoned votes away from the incumbent in enough states to tip the game. The DLC was lucky that time, and in 1996 when the dot-com economy was in overdrive. But in the next two runs, Gore and Kerry were not allowed to talk like real Democrats, the Republicans tinkered with the voting apparatus, and you know the rest.

To those who would protest that Ralph Nader tipped Florida in 2000, there's a host of arguments against that. Plus, the primary reason Nader entered the race in the first place was Gore's complicity with the DLC hijackers over the years. After that performance, in the view of Nader and the Greens, Gore needed to earn his victory.

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» joiners / splitters Posted by: baugh
» first things first Posted by: Iconoclast421

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Democratic Party Oligarchy
Posted by: shangrilalad on Aug 24, 2006 8:24 AM   
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What with Republicans rigging the general elections, and Democrats rigging the primaries, voters don’t have a chance of electing anyone they want. The Democratic Party Oligarchy decides on a candidate long before the voting begins, sabotages outsiders like Dean, and funnels money to their candidate. Which limits voters to voting for the establishment candidate, or not voting at all.

One way around this cunning Catch 22 is for voters to make their campaign contributions directly to their preferred candidate, and cut out the middlemen. Who gave these assholes the power to limit our voting rights?

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» RE: Democratic Party Oligarchy Posted by: Jamboree
» RE: Democratic Party Oligarchy Posted by: Lincoln fan

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Matt Taibbi has it almost right,,,
Posted by: John Rice on Aug 24, 2006 8:55 AM   
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the biggest problem with his thesis being that nothing much will change when the Dems take over Congress. All we will get is the other side of the same counterfeit coin.

Both Dems and Reps are bought and controlled by the same interests--all of which are counter-productive to the interests of the vast majority of US citizens--the voting Dems and Reps and those who consider themselves Neither, or have given up on our system and do not participate at all. Our present disastrous world “situation” is nothing if not bipartisan, as is the loss of our rights and freedoms. Don't think so? Just look at the votes.

I urge you to consider www.neitherparty.org for a real change of governance and the opportunity to clean house of all those who have defrauded/destroyed our nation for decades, no matter their party affiliations.

Insanity has been defined as doing the same things over and over while expecting different results. It is time to prove what we are to the rest of the world--that we are insane or that we are not. Only the NP movement offers relief from this ongoing (and getting worse daily) insanity.

I urge any who care about the future of our once-thought-of-great-nation (not to mention the future of the world) to get in the game and help to make the world a better place by doing as Gandhi suggested: "we must be the change we wish to see in the world." (He also observed that: "Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good.")

And one last Gandhi quote: “Liberty and democracy become unholy when their hands are dyed red with innocent blood.”

I ask you--aren’t all of our hands dyed red enough already?

Regards,,,John
( john_rice@neitherparty.org )

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» You can say that again Posted by: Lincoln fan

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Up the wall, motherf@#kers
Posted by: larry278 on Aug 24, 2006 5:29 PM   
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The alleged 2 party system pimped by DLC types & Rep Cellar, et al is a monopoly feigning schizoid symptoms. Both parties faithfully take the same psychotropic medications upon taking office in order to think & vote the same way. That is what their corporate donars demand of them.
A blood purge of the power elite establishment is overdue.

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» RE: Up the wall, motherf@#kers Posted by: Jamboree
» RE: Up the wall, motherf@#kers Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: Up the wall, motherf@#kers Posted by: leftisright

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Move 'em out!
Posted by: talkville on Aug 26, 2006 12:25 AM   
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Move the DLC to a sub-set of the Republicans; rest of us, let's get the party back and put the -ic back into the "Democrat Party" - as George Bush refers to us (see Media Matters a couple of days ago).

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» RE: Move 'em out! Posted by: Cordier

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They'd be surprised
Posted by: Urstrly on Aug 26, 2006 4:57 AM   
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When I hear all this talk of bloggers and people on the fringe from the DLC, I just laugh. Every MoveOn thing I've ever been to was full of middle class white folks either retired or nearing retirement punctuated by young people, also white and pretty mainstream. What other population has so much time to spend reading those blogs? Whatever Matt Taibbi thinks about the Upper West Side, it is still full of leftie anti-war Democrats ticked off at Hilary for writing George W. Bush a blank check. I wonder if folks at (and behind) Tiime Warner are a little concerned that she's coming around a bit; after all, she did write LaMont a $5,000 check. Or maybe they're just trying to protect her. Tasini, unfortunately, is not wealthy, and these days it's not just the Republicans who want their candidates rich.

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» RE: They'd be surprised Posted by: Lincoln fan

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Time for a new strategy
Posted by: Lincoln fan on Aug 26, 2006 5:47 AM   
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Until liberals realize that we have no more effect on the Democratic party than we have on the Republican party we'll continue to have a one-party system. Why don't we have a voice? Because we'll vote Democratic come hell or high water. We continue to hold our noses and vote for the lesser of the evils. The Democrats know this and so do the Republicans. The Democrats take us for granted and the Republicans write us off.

I'm not advocating that we vote Republican. I'm saying that we should give both parties the opportunity to win our votes. Each of us can tell both parties what issue we want in their platforms and then only vote for a party that supports us. If the Republicans don't want your vote don't give it to them. If the Democrats don't want your vote don't give it to them either.

How many times have you heard the idea that we should have a "none of the above" choice. The Lincoln Initiative provides this choice. If neither party represents you, use your vote to tell them so. Write in a protest vote for "Honest Abe". But first you have to tell both parties what you want

We all know that the corporate establishment controls both parties with campaign contributions, and lobbies. We all know that neither party will willingly change this system. We all know that a third party would be a good thing. We all know that for one reason or another most people won't vote for a third party. We all know that voting in the goodcop/badcop game is an alltime loser.

It's time to try a new strategy. One that's never been tried but that's based on the often successful tactics of the labor unions. That is tell them what you want and tell them what you'll do if they don't give it to you. Give them a clear choice and let them make the decision. We have to have the guts to stand up to both parties.
Bob Reichenbach
Director, The Lincoln Initiative.

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» RE: Time for a new strategy Posted by: John Rice
» RE: Time for a new strategy Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: Time for a new strategy Posted by: John Rice
» RE: Time for a new strategy Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: au contrae Posted by: Ripcord
» IT'S TIME FOR A NEW PARTY Posted by: SALLY EVANS

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The Dems, eh hem
Posted by: vangogh69 on Aug 26, 2006 7:50 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Excuse me, but it can't be contained anymore:
FUCK THE DEMOCRATS! These bastards vote against anything progressive, vote for war and war profiteering, and can't even get the minimum wage raised at a national level! Hillary Clinton, that dog, is a representative of the East Coast oligarchy and couldn't even bring it upon herself during the 2004 Republican Convention to say "well, 50% of New Yorkers think 9/11 was an inside job." She's scum.

We need to jettison both parties and start over. This is a revolutionary sentiment, one which speaks to what this country was founded on and what Americans do best when things aren't working: change the fucking paradigm. Get up, off your ass, get educated, and let both parties know that we see their shit and are doing something else now.

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» The Republicrats had their run Posted by: YinRising
» RE: The Dems, eh hem Posted by: Lincoln fan
» RE: The Dems, eh hem Posted by: Jamboree
» RE: The Dems, eh hem Posted by: Jamboree

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Tell it to George...Washington, that is
Posted by: CajunCountry on Aug 26, 2006 8:25 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
''They [political parties] are likely in the course of time and things to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government." - George Washington

" It [Democratic Party] isn’t an opposition party. I have been saying for the last thousand years that the United States has only one party—the property party. It’s the party of big corporations, the party of money. It has two right wings; one is Democrat and the other is Republican. - Gore Vidal

“Our form of democracy is bribery, on the highest scale.” - Gore Vidal

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» GW and GV knew the score. Posted by: Lincoln fan

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jennherne
Posted by: jennherne on Aug 26, 2006 9:40 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
These aholes are in their positions because they raise oodles of dough. The party is guilty of mimicing the Repugs in their vision of fund raising. If they went for donations from party members instead of from corporations, they might be suprised by their success.

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» RE: jennherne Posted by: Lincoln fan

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Changes in attitudes vs. changes in platitudes
Posted by: monkeywrench on Aug 26, 2006 4:21 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If the democratic party leadership counsel is an oligarchy, what makes it any different than the oligarchy now running the country (into the ground)?

What this country needs is not one party or the other making the same mistakes and collecting the same largesse in Washington; what this country needs is a change in ATTITUDE.

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» what makes it any different Posted by: Lincoln fan

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yep, usaInc. sucks
Posted by: bobjbax on Aug 26, 2006 4:59 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
dimmo/repugs...eeuugh...TREASON...used car salesmen/pedophiles gone wrong....shutting out Ralph Nader was incredibly craven...I'm publicly stating some of my opinion here in media they don't yet, hopefully fatally to them if they try, control. We all hope to interact with our ideas and beliefs in a positive way and have that read, followed and understood by the masses. A truer ( that wouldn't be a stretch) attempt at democracy. If they (the masses and the pols) would only listen to us all, discuss these things, and respond, before it is too too late. We don't want to lose this last forum of refuge, but we may. I'm sure they hate the crap out of us, and these forums. The dimmos/repugs, me on point, will not EVER listen to us. usaInc. pays them much too well. Following is a little part of a larger doc I'm preparing but don't be confused by it, just recall from history: "(I give you: France 1793 The Committee on Public Safety. Excessive, bloody and regrettable, and richly earned. History corrects excess…by excess. Their furious cry? Liberté, égalité, fraternité, ou la mort! It is now to be seen again today, that it will be we…or they who now have their hands about our throats. Which shall it be? Liberty and the Scales of Justice cry out. Who will be the next Madman, the Robespierre!? And the Balance Restored.)". I guess I just have to say that matters have certainly risen to such. I do very much hope though, unfortunately not likely, that reason will prevail. Much Reason....Bobby Baxter, Veteran & Marijuana Felon

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Demopublicans or Republicrats, pick one and lose-lose.
Posted by: Age of Reason on Aug 26, 2006 7:26 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Here in Upstate NY, my local mayor was roundly chastised by the state Democratic Committee for simply talking with Tasini though he (the mayor) is on the left side of liberal. He didn't realize that he was supposed to toe the line and in the end, apologized for his mistake (wimp that he truly is.) However I have found a candidate to support: Howie Hawkins. He may not have a snowball's chance in hell but at least I get the chance to vote my conscience. Hawkin's web site can be found here.

It is worse than disgusting that Hillary Clinton with her multi-megabucks warchest knows that her re-election has already been bought and paid for. It's worse because the party machinery will punish anyone who steps out of line.

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?

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"Money Ruined Democracy"
Posted by: mcartri on Aug 26, 2006 8:48 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bill moyers said, "Money ruined democracy. Washington is lost. Only the grassroots is left." We are the grassroots. Be as proud as the Founding Fathers were. They are dead; we are not! ACT!

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DLC DECIDED 2004 ELECTION
Posted by: op301 on Aug 27, 2006 6:06 AM   
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Does anyone else besides me believe that the DLC fixed the primary in IOWA so that John Kerry would win? I mean the DLC would never stand for a netroots candidate like Howard Dean.

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Same tactics as Republicans
Posted by: vkobaya on Aug 27, 2006 11:51 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
says that when we attack the party leadership, we're only hurting ourselves.

Sounds very familiar, something that maybe, Bush said, "You're either with us or against us."

The DLC are nothing more than mirrors of the Republicans, like the same oppressive tactics, take our money and then ignore us ... even to the point of telling us to shut the f... up. Pelosi has told us not to bother her, she is too busy kissing the asses of her corporate masters.

Victory in 2006? Ha! Victory only for the other wing of the Demopublican Party. Not one Democratic leader has spoken up in support of impeachment despite the fact that almost all grassroots Democrats are clammering for impeachment. Victory in 2006, will not be a magic wand that instantaneously converts these arrogant assos into supporting impeachment. If they win, first thing they will do is send a delegation to the White House to negotiate terms, but essentially to reassure Bush that he won't be impeached.

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» Impeachment imperative, Posted by: Lincoln fan

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Not disenfranchised voters - disaffected
Posted by: Snott on Aug 27, 2006 6:01 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If many of those people who are so alienated from the two-party duopoly would register to vote, become involved in the political process, keep an eye on slimeballs trying to steal elections, and VOTE, we could see a change. As it is, the Dems seem to think they have a constitutency would rather hold their noses and vote for the "least offensive" candidates.

I've finally quit the duopoly and I am working with the Green Party, campaigning for our candidates and issues based upon those things we really value. You all could do the same. If people stopped believing the "scare you into voting Democrat" whining, we'd be a powerful force.

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rfunk
Posted by: rfunk on Aug 27, 2006 8:54 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Russ Feingold is the best hope of reforming the Democratic Party from within.
A Progressive Patriot for Peace Movement is building around him.
Come on people. Rally 'round a true leader.

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» RE: rfunk Posted by: Jvail900

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It may be too late
Posted by: agitcam on Aug 28, 2006 11:32 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In his book "The Sorrows of Empire" Prof. Johnson laments that Corporate America may be beyond stopping. The corporate oligarchy which controls the media, the Republican party and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC),he feels, may have such overwhelming power now that it is too late for citizens to take back their government.
Back in 1992 I was with Sen. Eugene McCarthy in New Hampshire when he made his last presidential race. I saw first hand how the Democratic party leadership shunned him and kept him from being heard. The DLC was just coming into their own back then with Bill Clinton as their frontman and I saw what they were about.
It is too bad that it has taken so long for the DLC to be exposed.

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» RE: It may be too late Posted by: domenico234

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I am WORRIED here!
Posted by: texshelters on Aug 28, 2006 3:26 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Dear Dems and recovering Dems:

If y'all start leaving the Democratic party or stop votin' for the Lieberman wing of the party, who else can the ruling elite call the "loyal opposition"? I can't he'p but think some of y'all think democracy is more important than security and you would rather vote in an election for a real choice then Republican light (Dems). The two party system is workin', stop whinin' you liberals terr'rist supporters!!

Vote Jeb Bush 2008!

Yours,
Tex Shelters

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» COME ON, NOBOODY'S THAT STUPID ! Posted by: SALLY EVANS

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If Only
Posted by: Polenium on Aug 28, 2006 9:16 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If only Democrats like Emmanuel used the same back handed cunning and intellectual resourcefulness they unleash against fellow Democrats against the Party In Power.
The point you make that they are too cowardly to do more than envy the GOP mafioso is right on.
They are far too cowardly to stand up to the spooks and thieves that have become the GOP. They won't even challenge a changeling like Lieberman.
They have plenty time and energy to pull the rug out from under popular Democratic candidates who challenge over-ripe incumbents but none to fight hard enough and smart enough to win elections.

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Republicans are assessing Dem resolve
Posted by: LDavistrueblue on Aug 29, 2006 12:17 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
At least in one State, a carbuncle on the back of Democrats, Joseph Lieberman, has been excised. For the next two months, however, Republicans will be gauging whether Dem leadership has acquired strength or is continuing its flaccid (see article above) insistence on losing elections. Biden has to go. Any collaborating Dem leader has to go. Deal with the Lieberman issue with overwhelming force or be looked on by Republicans and by 2006-08 voters as submissive jokes who are not worthy to run the country. Use Ohio's Paul Hackett as your model.

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this comment system sucks
Posted by: Phenix on Aug 29, 2006 2:34 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
yea, you read the title.

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