Standing in front of a sign saying you are honest does not mean that you are.
The strange, pointless quest by Democrats for “bipartisanship” must end.
Much is being made of the essay below called “I Am Angry” that was written recently, but I don’t think it will be terribly effective. No one in Washington will read it. People don’t vent directly, via phone or letter, to Congress enough. Progressives don’t even protest much anymore**, we let the Tea Baggers do that, so we are reduced to petitions, essays, writing columns, and blogging, all good things, but Washington doesn’t listen. And neither does the media. Right-wingers control talk radio and most news anchors are conservative, so progressives have a hard time getting out messages on a national level. That’s why it’s so easy to relate to an essay like I AM ANGRY. (It’s reprinted in full after the break).
The essay is a good summary of what progressives need to hold Democrats accountable for, though. I hear arguments like those listed in the essay from people on a regular basis. It’s written by a man who is disillusioned by the Democrats, and who can blame him. What have they accomplished in over a year? Bickering with the jerks in the Republican party is a waste of time. So some people aren’t just angry, they are disgusted. The main reason we are disgusted is that the Democrats look great on paper, but in reality they are corrupt, they take money from special interests, and they can get little done but talk, talk, talk. They never go far enough to do the right thing. What happened to the public option, and serious work on global warming? Where are all the green jobs they promised? They are far too bogged down in politics, and they still haven’t figured out how to get their message into the media in a way that successfully educates the public.
The Obama White House keeps making clever little websites. That does not reach Main Street, USA.
That’s politics. But what really makes us angry is that we never thought we’d have it this easy to push through a progressive agenda in our lifetimes. A Democratic president, a Democratic House and Senate. What could not get done, we thought.
So far, the Democrats have blown it. And we are not really at all sure they are the good guys anymore either (many aren’t). They don’t seem to have any boundaries on their ability to concede important things, at all. The Republican litmus test in the U.S. is abortion and gay marriage, but mostly abortion. If a conservative would not throw themselves in front of a train to stop abortion in this country, they are not a true Republican, according to their increasingly right-wing marching orders. There is no similar litmus test for Democrats on any subject or any topic any more, and they are in power. That’s remarkable. They are in the position of power because they are in the majority, and they don’t even have things they will hold on to, not sway on, not give up. That’s incredibly bizarre, from where I sit.
So, Democrats they don’t seem to stand for anything any more. Everything they seemingly stand for gets pulled apart and shredded every time a Republican yells or stamps their foot. They give away everything. They are giving the “climate bill” over to the coal and oil industries. (I think we need nuclear power and don’t agree it’s bailing out a failing industry. It was an industry that was stopped in its tracks due to fear).
How many times in our lifetime will the Democrats control 3 major branches of government? Maybe we need a new more left-wing political party, like the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party of my state (which was once pretty progressive but now takes it cues from the national party too often).
Don’t get me wrong, Republicans are the most corrupt, immoral and anti-human political party on earth. All they stand for is greed, profit, and helping out super-rich people and corporations. They even start wars for economic reasons, and defend torture. The Democrats need to respond seriously; get hardcore and stand up for what is right, instead of giving in on everything that comes along. We need single payer health care in America, Medicare for all, or call it buy-in Medicare, but we need it. We also need climate change legislation, not this watered-down baby food version to “stimulate jobs” that Senator John Kerry is working on with the [unprintable expletive] Senator Joe Lieberman. Democrats also need to get hardcore on trials for terror suspects and close down GITMO.
You know what else Democrats could do ? They could stop the useless war in Afghanistan if they wanted to save some money, and lives, which they say they want to do. Saving money by cutting social programs or health care is insane without closing military bases and ending wars for resources or no apparent purpose at all. Get with it Democrats! Or you are losing us!
Meanwhile . . . .
We keep hearing excuses from Democrats. Blah, blah blah. I have heard excuses from every single Congressman about why they can’t get anything passed this year to the point, where we are a country at a complete standstill. Not acceptable.
My advice to Democrats: You need to stop the excuses and other nonsense, and pass things that need to pass and do it however you have to.
Nuclear option? Do it.
The Democratic party is leaking sympathizers, friends, and voters and I have already vowed to not vote for any Democrats this year (maybe ever) unless they pass serious, comprehensive climate change and health care reform legislation this year with a public option. There is no reason why Democrats can’t get things done. There are all kinds of legal options to fight Republican obstructionism with, and Democrats are loathe to use them because it might stop the donations from flowing their way.
Well, I’ve had it. This is it for me. Because . . . .
I Am Angry
By John Cory, Reader Supported News
09 March 2010
I am angry.
I’m tired of pundits and know-nothing media gasbags. I’m tired of snarky “inside politics” programming. I am sick of the bigotry and hatred of “birthers” and faux patriotic cranks and their GOP puppet masters. And I’m really pissed at the Democratic Party that confuses having a plate of limp noodles with having a spine.
I’m going to vomit if I hear the word “bipartisanship” one more time.
It was “bipartisanship” that gave us this activist conservative Supreme Court. A Supreme Court that says money is free speech and corporations are persons except when real people try to hold them accountable for their greed and poisonous ways.
“Bipartisanship” gave us the Patriot Act and FISA and illegal wiretaps and two wars and “free speech zones” and “no fly” lists. God bless bipartisan America.
I get nauseated every time the Senate explains how it takes a super majority to do anything for the American people. Tell you what Senate Bozos, if it takes 60 votes to pass legislation than it should take 60% of the popular vote to get you elected.
When some Tea Party crank says, “I want my country back,” I respond, “No madam, you want your country backward.”
When a deficit-mongering politician says, “How do we pay for this?” Why not ask, “What did you Republicans do with the surplus we Democrats left you?”
When a compassionate conservative says, “Healthcare reform is socialism,” why not answer, “No, sir it is the moral and American way to care for people.”
Yes, I can hear it now: “You are naïve and simplistic. These are complicated matters and require sophisticated solutions. Democrats are a big tent and strive for balance. But Republicans block our path at every turn. We are thinking and considering new ways to work in harmony with everyone.”
Bite me.
The only thing you get with “harmony” is a Barbershop Quartet.
Democrats stop being Republican Lite. Stop whining about that mean GOP and their nasty messaging. Grow a pair, get a message, get a bumper sticker and hang it out there. Get some strong vivid talking points.
G-O-P = Greed Over People.
Greed Kills – jobs, people and the economy.
Terrorism is Viagra for Republicans: The more fear – the more excited they get.
When a soldier dies for America, who dares ask if they were gay or straight?
Don’t act so shocked, Democratic Party. Have you looked around lately?
You’re losing the young vote that showed up to elect Obama. You’re losing those old enough to remember real Democrats. Why? Because you don’t talk to them any more than you talk to me. You talk at me. You talk around me. You talk down to me. You talk about me. You don’t talk with me. And you don’t inspire and you don’t champion and without that you are nothing more than an arbitrator of compromise and abdication.
You are facing a bully. Deal with it!
Republicans want the country backwards. They champion superstition over science because it entrenches ignorance and bigotry and captures the easily frightened.
Republicans treat the Constitution the way they treat the Bible, with selective interpretation and selective application to others while exempting themselves from judgment and accountability.
Republicans preach the gospel of fear because fear is darkness and darkness covers their theft of civil liberties and Constitutional principles.
For thirty years the Republican Party has claimed the mantel of law and order but now quake in dread of the American judicial system when putting terrorists on trial. How criminal is that?
Torture is illegal. Period. John Wayne and Jack Bauer were not our Founding Fathers – only in the make-believe world of Republican drugstore-patriots.
DADT needs to be repealed. Now. It is unconscionable, immoral, and disgusting.
Empathy, compassion and equality are not pejoratives. They are American values proven again and again throughout our history.
Republicans believe that bake-sales and cookies for chemotherapy best determine the value of life and healthcare because life is a pre-existing condition and the “free market” should not have to take on such a high risk – after all, no one gets out alive, so why should the corporation be left holding the bag? Unless of course the price is right.
Republicans believe that government should keep its hands off healthcare but should put its hands inside a woman’s body.
Republicans believe in small government – small enough to hold the “right” people and small enough to be owned and operated by the “right” people. And who are the “right” people? Them. Not you.
Democratic Party, DNC, DLCC, DSCC or whatever your acronym – I have only one question for you: Really?
You can’t win against these guys? You can’t get your message out against these guys? You can’t give America leadership against these guys?
Really?”
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
**Join the Big Protest/Peace Demonstration in St. Cloud, Minnesota, March 20th, against the Afghanistan War. March 20, 1pm – 2pm, Division and Hwy. 15, in front of the Barnes and Noble bookstore. No, it’s not very long, but you can stay longer if you want. Not a march, a show of (peaceful) force. Signs will be provided, or bring your own.
If you are in Minnesota, you are welcome to join us! Sponsored by Pax Christi and Alternatives to War Committee, MN.
Recent Comments