What comes after "I'm leaving the Democratic Party!"

[LittleClarkie]

That's all I ask, is that people who are thinking about leaving the Party stop a minute, take a deep breath, and look past what often appears to be a gut reaction. Get the brain engaged too.

This is not a comment on the desire to leave the party, nor is it an "Oh no, don't go!" post.

Just think about what will still need to be done when you leave, and what organizing body you will use instead. I asked this question yesterday, and the response was "I'm too upset to think about it."

Well, I've learned in my life that if my gut is engaged but my brain is not, I'm not making a move until I can jumpstart the noggin too.

Plan. Decide where you're going before you leave if you decide you're going. Don't let there be a gap in your activities. Do you already belong to another organization. If not, which one will give you the ability to get some grassroots activism done most efficiently.

After all, which is more important, teaching the Dem Party a lesson by leaving, or continuing the fight regardless of where you end up?

Just trying to get people to look beyond the "Cartman Response" ("Screw you guys, I'm going home"), and stop, think, and breathe.

[helderheid]

1. If you're pissed at the party, get involved. Become a precinct chair. Get

involved with PDA (www.pdamerica.org).

[LynneSin]

4. That seems like a better choice than...

"I'm taking my ball and go play in my own sandbox" mentality

[LittleClarkie]

17. Which is all I'm saying

Much as I'd rather people fought from within the party so that it might grow up big and strong, in a why I don't care where you fight from as long as you continue the fight. You know?

[LynneSin]

27. as Mr. Big would say "Absol-fucking-lutely"

:D

[RandomKoolzip]

5. EXACTLY. Run for local office if you're so pissed.

Become a precinct chair. Pool money together, find some rich donors, and buy a radio station. The repubs did it after Goldwater's defeat using a calm and steady town by town, city by city, county by county, state by state campaign that took them thirty fucking years. Too many Dems are expecting instant gratification...it ain't gonna happen.

Patience, fer crissakes.

[MadHound]

6. LOL friend, really LOL

I've been involved at all sorts of levels for the past thirty plus years, and all I've got to show for it is a party that for the most part of the last six years has rolled over and pissed on themselves like whipped dogs. I'm tired of party that has moved ever rightward, that is not responsive to its constituents(excepting the well heeled ones), and that refuses to fight when it is obvious to do so. The whole "change from within" schtick, been there, done that, didn't even get a kiss before I got screwed.

As for the original poster, I'll be going Green. The not only best represent my values, including not taking corporate cash, but damn, they fight, and fight hard. And I suspect as more and more people on the left become fed up with the Democratic party, the Greens will becoming increasingly stronger, and finally will supplant the Dems as the party of the left.

[helderheid]

12. It takes more than just you. It takes all of us getting involved. Kudos to

you for giving all that you have. The Dem party needs a lot more of you. I am a precinct chair and delegate. I turn 31 this month but wasn't even registered to vote until I was 28. I was definitely part of the problem but hope now I am part of the solution.

[MadHound]

18. There are many many more like me

And they too are fed up, and are about ready to leave the party for Greener pastures. It really is sad, to have put so much of one's self into the party only to watch it all go for naught. Thus, it won't be just me leaving the party, but hundreds of thousands and millions that will be going.

The Democratic party is rapidly approaching a turning point between fading away into oblivion, or becoming revitalized as truly the peoples' party. But if they are to do so, if they want to return to greatness, they have got to, absolutely got to start showing some spine, stop voting for corporate interests over human interests, and listen to the people they represent. Otherwise, they're going to join the Whigs on the dustbin of history.

[helderheid]

21. I would agree but this is a 2 party system. Sucks.

[MadHound]

26. Just because it is a two party system, doesn't mean one of the parties

Has to be the Democrats. Parties, major and minor, have come and gone in this country, and if the Democrats don't get their shit together as I said earlier, they're going to go away. That vacumn on the left will probably be filled by the Greens.

[Howardx]

15. im with madhound

how many times do we have to be let down by our reps before we say enough?

[helderheid]

16. elect progressive Dems.

[hookinmouth]

20. agreed

.

[helderheid]

24. welcome to DU!

:hi:

[eridani]

105. Exactly. Dems have PCOs.

Greens, various socialist parties, and Libertarians don't. That's why I stayed with the Dems after 2004. Also joined PDA and DFA, Progressive Majority, etc.

[robbedvoter]

2. Operatives asking you to work harder, cuz next time Diebold will be nicer

I don't pretend to know everyone's motives, but I can understand the sense of frustration after 5 years of "waiting for the big one" - the fight worth fighting....Are we there yet?

[RandomKoolzip]

8. The repubs waited thirty years.

After Goldwater's defeat, they started direct mail campaigns, took over city councils one by one, and began buying small media outlets surely but steadily until the right became this political juggernaut we're facing today. We're in the same position right now. Do we flail impotently and demand a savior or do we pick up our tools and do it ourselves?

The latter option will take a while, but it will be effective...the other option ensures permanent defeat, starting immediately.

[DancingBear]

39. Just one point on an otherwise correct reading of the Repub playbook

They were not staring fascism in the face. We are.

I am fearful that our grassroots mobilization will be useless in the face of a series of "anti-terror" measures that make grassroots organizing against the law.

Think about what I just said - what a crazy fucking statement. But you know what? It could happen.

The bastard must be stopped - now. By those we elected. And by those we will.

[robbedvoter]

100. Oh, they'll finish us all in only 3, 5 tops.

Problem in thinking like a strategist is that....you don't see the forest from the trees. (or simpler put, you ignore the human suffering that goes with your "plans"

[LittleClarkie]

9. That's not the point of the post, and I'm not disputing people's reasons

for wanting to leave.

I see emotions that are high right now. I just wanted to suggest that people make sure that if they are going to leave, they've thought about which direction their headed. We need people to stay involved.

It's sort of like quiting a job before you have another one lined up because the boss sucks and you hate your job. Hold on a minute there. Line something up first, then go.

I'm differentiating myself from the point of view that says that people have to stay in the Party or the Republicans win. Well, that might be how I feel, but at the least, if you're gonna go, have a plan, you know?

[Ripley]

3. Such condescension.

Calling people who quit supporting the Losing, Cohorts-in-Crime-with-Repubs Party children who can't think.

:nuke:

[bahrbearian]

93. At least with a third party , you will keep some Self - Respect..

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

97. YOU SHOULD BE PROUD TO BE A DEMOCRAT.

[bahrbearian]

102. Oh, thanks for pointing that out, I'll fall back in line,,and let the DLC

do my thinking ,, you really straightened me out .

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

103. Your Sarcasm Doesn't Change The Fact That Not Standing Up With Pride

at being a liberal, and participating in broad brush party attacks undermines our cause as much as those on the other side do.

:hi:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

96. You don't sound like much of a democrat, if that's what you call them.

I mean, if it was in reference to just a few odd and end congresspeople that's ok, but the thread was leaving the party, and your statement above seems to be a direct attack on our party itself. Is that the case?

[Vickers]

7. What if the Dem. Party is not progressive and liberal and TOUGH?

The very reasons I joined in the first place?

It's kinda like Chritianity: when the Church gets so far away from Christ's teachings that it is no longer recognizable, do I still go to that church?

:shrug:

I'm not one of the folks leaving, but these are some of the questions running through my head lately.

[LittleClarkie]

11. Not disputing reasons for staying or going

Just trying to make sure people have a roadmap for themselves so that they can continue the fight from whereever.

In that way, we'll all still be fighting the same fight, even if some people wanna fight it from somewhere else.

[Buck Rabbit]

42. Here is my roadmap.

I am changing my registration to Green. Closer though not perfect fit. I believe the two party system and unrestrained campaign spending along with a corporate controlled mass media makes much of American democracy a joke. The change in registration makes a statement.

On any close election between a Democrat and Republican I will vote for the Democrat. All other elections I will vote Green.

[LittleClarkie]

76. And between votes, you do what?

I'm liking hearing what people are doing.

[Buck Rabbit]

79. I am running a small business hoping to not get Walmarted into bankruptcy.

Politically, I am in a very very Bluish-Green city in a Blue state.

I am too old for beating doors but I have enough money stashed away from 30 years of 70 hour work weeks, 51 weeks a year, that they keep trying to make me an honorary Republican. So I do donate. Mostly, national as I already have a progressive Congressman, State Senator, State Rep, Mayor and Gov.

This thread really made me examine this stuff, thank you for that. It gave me that final push I needed to make the change to Green.

When the Conservatives convinced the Republicans that they can't be taken for granted the whole party went right. The Demos are so convinced the left is in their pocket they went right too but at the same time became ineffective and inconsequential.

Here in Oregon we have one liberal Democratic Senator, Ron Wyden and the moderate Republican Gordon Smith who I have always loathed. Interestingly, Smith's few efforts have been far more effective in slowing the far right than Wyden has because of the marginalization of the Democratic Party. Someone posted that 75 million didn't vote. Well when you have a choice between a centrist big corporation Nafta Democrat and a Republican I can see why you might feel like your vote is a tacit stamp of approval of a sham.

So I will leave it to others to poke the democratic party with a stick because I think it is a little stick that the donkey thinks tickles and sees as nothing more than a reminder that the poker is still there and can be counted on even though they are pouting. I believe that me and my ilk registering Green is a 2x4 to the head.

[helderheid]

14. We make the party progressive, liberal and tough - it's a two party...

system unfortunately. That said, work to make the party what you want. www.pdamerica.org . Donate to progressives. Award good work.

[Vickers]

78. I went to that site...shouldn't the Democratic Party *BE* progressive

already?

:shrug:

I don't know what to do. I really don't.

:(

[helderheid]

90. My suggestion is to join PDA. It should be progressive already, but we

have work to do.

[mattclearing]

10. You don't need the Democratic Party to make a difference.

Get active in your community. Write letters to the editor. Support your favorite causes. Talk to everyone you know about the important issues of the day.

If you are an artist, make art. If you're a musician, make music. And make sure it gets seen/heard.

The more we show people the way life can be, the more they will want it to be that way. Eventually, the Republicans will have nothing comparable to offer.

The Democratic Party isn't needed for that, and the time where it was possible for the Democratic Party to sway public opinion is long past.

Public opinion is more likely to sway on human interest stories, music, pop culture, and word of mouth.

It's best to live your life the way you want to live it, be an example for others. If every Democrat simply lived liberally and enjoyed it, I'm willing to bet it would catch on.

No one wants to be angry and afraid all the time. That's why the conservative lifestyle is ultimately undesirable and readily defeated.

[LittleClarkie]

13. Meanwhile, I assume that someone outside the party

doing such things is in all likelihood still voting Democratic for the most part.

Nevertheless, even if the party isn't needed, it's nice to get an action alert from SOMEWHERE every once in a while.

[Walt Starr]

19. I'll go (I) and let the candidates woo me

I won't be involved any more at any level. I'll just be another regular shmoe who will act all confused every election year. I'll stop watching the news and reading internet sites and concentrate on my work, marriage, family, hobbies, and other aspects of my life.

[LittleClarkie]

25. Please tell me there's supposed to be

one of these after your post:

:sarcasm:

NO SHMOES, EVER!

[Walt Starr]

30. Nope, can't use that one

It wasn't sarcastic. I was completely honest about my feelings. If Alito isn't filibustered, I give up.

[LittleClarkie]

40. Then you're the person I was talking to in my first post

Find a way to get involved with something somewhere.

At the least, I'm pretty sure it's too late to take the blue pill and crawl back into "The Matrix."

To do nothing is to become part of the problem.

[Walt Starr]

43. I'm am going to be beyond involved to the point of being totally consumed

by my marriage, family, work, hobbies, and other aspects of my life.

There will no longer be any room for political involvement beyond showing up to the general elections (Independents don't have primaries).

[longship]

22. Nominated. This is a good post.

I've always thought the best way to make change is to work within the system, leveraging the power the system gives to me to build up change from below. When Pat Robertson decided that he wanted the Republican party to become a party of ignorant, lunatic ideologues he started building at the precinct levels in Michigan. Within a very short time, the entire Republican apparatus in MI became the Repug system it now is, beholden only to the rapture right. The result was Robertson doing very well in the MI presidential primary. With that success, it wasn't very long before state parties across the country were taken over the same way.

This is the way one makes change. We can each do our part by volunteering to become a precinct committee person in our county Dem party. Then, our people will naturally move up the ladder to district and state committees. In short time, we can have a strong effect on national Democratic politics.

This is the best way to bootstrap our issues, and to exert influence on candidate choice, on platform, on the leadership of the party.

Part of the reason we are in the pickle we are in right now is that we have not learned by what happened to the Republicans. We have not studied how they turned into Repugs. It happened quickly, and it started at the bottom.

It may not even be too late for the 2006 elections. If we get in gear now and get liberals involved at the precinct level, the rest will come naturally.

Please consider doing this as an alternative to "leaving the party". It works far, far better than division. Don't forget, people leaving the Dem party is an outright gift to the Repugs. It's precisely what they want. Divide and conquer. It's not time to leave the party, it is time to take our party by the horns and rebuild it to be the responsive, progressive party we want it to be.

[MuseRider]

23. I have learned in the past few years

that you do not need some "organizing body" to get things done. You can pound the pavement, send money, write letters for those you do support without the not so grand organizing bodies that are now out there "for us". Best case? Start your own. It is not hard, really. It takes some time but it can be done and it is not difficult to do the paperwork. When the bodies use you for money and time and work and continue to sell you down the river no amount of work will change that. Hell, friends of mine have been blocked from even being involved in the party because they are "lefties". This is Kansas, lefties here are usually not terribly left. I went once and got laughed at because I was not DLC.

I WILL take my ball and go elsewhere. That does not mean that I am being a baby, it means I am making a statement to the formerly grand party. Will I work and vote and support Democrats? Hell yes, some of them, never ever ever a Republican. So far there has been no way to make a statement to our organizing bodies, they listen to your complaints then ask for $10.00 more than they originally wanted. If I decide to leave I will not become someone working against Democrats but just being more selective and they will wonder if they see their numbers drop. Maybe they will pay attention then. :shrug: If the party gets back to being a party of the people I will return. It is the last effort to knock some sense into those who simply have not listened no matter what we do.

To those bashing those who have said, "Last straw" I would say that many will not leave. Understand that we all have different levels of frustration, some are crossing over into the never again mode. Others are just extremely frustrated. Some of us have been out here for a very long time watching this happen over and over again and are now just too sick and tired to do it anymore.

[LittleClarkie]

28. I hope you know that I was not calling anyone a baby, nor making

a judgement about taking one's ball and leaving.

Moving past that decision, I just want to make sure people keep active somewhere and somehow and think about how that will be accomplished.

[helderheid]

31. this is a very thoughtful post and I'm glad you brought this up.

For the record, I have worked closely with the local Greens on events while working within the Dem party through our State Progressive Caucus.

[MuseRider]

32. I was speaking

to other posts that have done that. Sorry.

I actually think the vast majority of people here who express their desire to move to another party will be working very hard there. Some will not. I have to admit that the desire to stick my head in the sand at this point is strong. I have been having terrible nightmares this week about what is happening and I would love to just forget it but I just can't do that. It is not in my nature, I am a fighter and will not go down easily, living under tyranny is something I learned to do as a kid and I will not spend what is left of my adulthood that way.

[LittleClarkie]

35. Ever see "The Matrix" -- Ignorance is bliss.

Hard to un-see the truth once you've seen it, isn't it.

I kinda miss the sheeple I used to be sometimes.

[helderheid]

36. Oh me too. Like I said, I wasn't even registered to vote until 4 years

ago!

[MuseRider]

41. Gods yes.

I would last about 30 minutes before I hit the XM AAR(or DU if I was home). Can't do it, can't help it, I suppose it is like any addiction. Not very good for you but you just can't do without it.

[Strong Atheist]

29. Aw, you had to go and get all rational. The DUDQ sounded

like fun, and now you have let all the fun out ...:(

[Touchdown]

33. Leave the country.

When it comes time to give up on the domestic opposition to these extremists, then it's time to bail out for your safety/sanity. Everything else is just polishing brass on the Titanic.

[Yavin4]

34. Yep.

If the Dems don't win in '06 and '08, then I plan to move to Vancouver.

[Maven]

95. Absolutely.

The "stay and fight arguments" are wearing a little thin. In the words of Tony Kushner, "I'll show you America: crazy, terminal, and mean."

[FlemingsGhost]

37. Ummmmm ....the healing begins?

:shrug:

Just so you know, the day I decided to leave the Democratic Party, my brain was firing on all cylinders. And it was never clearer the day I re-registered "Independent."

Now, when I look at the debacle that is my former political party, I recite the "Nelson Munce Response":

"Ha- haaa!

[Steve A Play]

38. I didn't leave the Democratic party, they left me

I'm still a registered Democrat, I still believe in the traditional ideals that I was raised with and the party once stood for. It's my representatives that have forsaken those ideals and have decided that, ideology aside, they know what's best for us and they will vote however they feel is right, constituency and constitutionality be damned. :(

Just look at my representative, Diane Feinstein. All I can tell you is, bye bye Di Fi! I refuse to vote again for a "representative" who will not represent my best interests!

That's what voting is really all about, selecting a representative who will represent your best interests. Otherwise, what makes us any better than the Republicans who are willing to vote for their party members over their own interests?

I want my representatives to vote for what is right and Constitutionally protected. I refuse to vote for anyone who is willing to vote for what is politically expedient just to keep themselves in office. That is against my best interests and those of my family and friends. I will no longer play that game because it's that game that got us to where we are in the first place.

If the so called Democrats who represent me now want my vote in the future, then they had better damed well start acting like Democrats. Party labels mean nothing, it's the persons actions that count. They had better wake up and take heed. America is pissed off and we want better from our government or we will take whatever steps are necessary to elect a better government that truly represents us.

Steven P. :kick:

[LittleClarkie]

44. Okay. But are you an activist?

Are you waiting for the leaders of the party to come back, or are you working on some things yourself? If so, what are they?

[Steve A Play]

49. Voting Rights for starters

I've been an active full time voting rights activist here in California for several years now. I've met in private session with members of the VSPP, the State's Attorneys office, the Secretary of State's office, the State Technologist and many, many other people. I was there when Dr. Herbert Thompson demonstrated the 'hack' that led to the de-certification of the Diebold TSx machines.

I've been involved in many other movements over the past 30+ years but none so important to us all as the current push by the GOP to remove auditability from our elections. If we don't fix that here and now, it won't matter what label you wrap your party in.

Steven P. :kick:

[LittleClarkie]

52. Well, alright then.

At this moment, on this thread at least, that's all I'm asking and that's all I'm saying. Stay active.

Good for you!!

[helderheid]

54. you're a hero

THAT is THE issue. :yourock:

[Steve A Play]

72. Be sure to hit the Election Reform Forum tonight at 6:00 PM EST,

9:00 PM Pacific for a special thread with Professor Bob Fitrakis from Columbia State, better known for his excellent writing on election reform issues at the Ohio Free Press. He's considering a run for Governor of Ohio. I've met him in Oakland Ca. at an event called "Elections in Crisis" where he spoke. He's a wonderful speaker and quite knowledgeable. It should be a great thread. Have your questions ready.

Steven P. :kick:

[springhill]

45. Yes........

I'm sure that's what Republicans tell themselves all the time.

[ProSense]

46. Well, the Democrats

can go about making their case to the nearly 75 million Americans who didn't vote, ensuring that the millions who were disenfranchised actually get to vote, and making the case about why it's important to vote to the millions who are registered but didn't attempt to go to the polls in the last election. Next, the Democrats should try to convince actual voters who voted Republican that the Democrats offer a better vision for the country.

Those leaving the party will go on to other activism, some may even come back around to the party, but there are a lot of people to work on.

[LittleClarkie]

48. There's at least one person in this thread who will not move to activism

But plans on losing himself in the family life instead.

Some haven't thought that far, and aren't looking much past their frustration.

I'm not talking about what the party is going to do to get them back. That's for another thread. I'm just trying to make sure we don't lose any activism along the way.

[MuseRider]

It is worth considering

that the person who said he is losing himself in his family life is someone who had been active for a long time. He has been a big Democratic supporter for years. If people like him (and me although I am possibly taking another track) are that frustrated it is worth considering that there are many others out there that feel the same way. (I know you are not bashing, I am just making a point here)

How many are there? When does the question become "when did the party leave them?"

This is actually a very nice, constructive thread. If our party had asked these questions and paid attention to the answers it might not be in trouble with a good part of the left.

[LittleClarkie]

73. Thanks

I was hoping for a nice, constructive thread.

[ProSense]

70. I know.

Just wanted to point out that Democratic activisim is going to perish and instead of getting completely frustrated over a single issue (different people are doing it over individual issues), that it's better to keep fighting to build a bigger stronger party than giving up.

Family life in a world the RW is trying to create, will not be so pleasant.

[hogwyld]

51. A lot of people didn't vote

Because the difference between the parties has blurred so much, it's sometimes hard to differentiate between the two. The Dem leadership is so beholden to corporate money, the little guys (us) don't stand a chance.

[helderheid]

94. The corporate candidates and corporate media call the non-corporate candid

candidates "unelectable".

My first political experience was volunteering for the Kucinich for President campaign.

"I love Dennis - too bad he's unelectable"

:mad:

[11 Bravo]

47. You vote Green.

Shit, maybe you can help get Jebbie into the White House.

[rinsd]

50. It's a wonder any DUers are left....

I thought many would leave the country if Bush was re-elected?

Then many supposedly left the party when Roberts wasn't defeated/fillibustered.

And now Alito....we're gonna run out of people soon.

Or we could just ignore the people metaphorically holding their breath.

[LittleClarkie]

56. If I could just get them to stop waiting for a knight in shining armor

to come save them, I'd be happy.

"Why aren't our leaders doing anything?!"

Become that leader.

I just phonebanked for a high school teacher who ran against a Repub in a highly Repuh area just for the mere fact that he didn't want the asshole to run unopposed. He made the guy have to spend money, and improved his results from 29% to 35%. Futile, maybe. But he did SOMETHING.

Are local party can no longer be laughed at. We are no longer so small that we could fit into a phone booth, even though we're smack dab in the middle of Sensenbrenner's district, Freeperville at its finest.

[rinsd]

57. As always...

...your wisdom shines through.

[helderheid]

59. check my sig line :)

[LittleClarkie]

61. There ya go

That's the ticket.

[helderheid]

68. I should note that if any of you want to download the trial, I have a

problem on my site currently so you'd have to go directly to
http://www.starcampaign.com/downloads.htm

[helderheid]

81. fixed the problem - disregard!

[FlemingsGhost]

60. Or military men with lots of shiny medals

Am I right?

[LittleClarkie]

64. Not waiting for them. But we do seem to have a plethora running in 2006

for some reason. I hope they do well, just the same.

[deutsey]

53. Get active in or start organizing grassroots groups whose vote the Dems

will need to earn and honor, not just take for granted.

[hogwyld]

55. I'm still active

But I am going Green. They most represent my values, and haven't been corrupted by big business money yet. The 2 party system is broke, this is my way of trying to fix it.

[LittleClarkie]

62. Will you still vote for the occasional Dem if one looks good?

Or does being Green mean you vote only Green?

[hogwyld]

77. IF it's razor thin

I'll vote Dem rather than give the pugs an easy out. Otherwise, I'll vote my conscience.

[DanCa]

58. Nominated I agree with you 100 percent.

[Catchawave]

63. How do you get 70-something percent of

.... registered voters to vote in 2006 ? Yep, that's how many DIDN'T vote in 2004, including, GOP, DEM, Indy, Third Party and those annoying Apathetics.

Ranting on DU is preaching to the choir, we feel your pain :hug: We all whine here for the feel good factor and frustration release. WE can do this.

[LittleClarkie]

67. I'm trying for some positive energy

If we act like winners, loud and proud, maybe we can get some folks to come along. I just recently had a run in with a freeper in which I did not get defensive as usual. Felt good. Threw everything he shot at me right back in his face, and left him not wanting to talk politics with me anymore.

Loud and proud.

[Catchawave]

75. Good for you !

I have too many freeper friends and relatives, so I feel your pain...and your pride.

Thanks for the inspiration :hug:

[MadJohnShaft]

65. succeed and form the America Freedom Party or join the dems

and drag em the direction you want kicking and screaming?

Maybe it's time for a new Party? It's happened before in America.

[Yollam]

66. Leaving the party doesn't mean you'll never again vote democrat.

It just is an acknowledgment that one's energies would be put to better use elsewhere.

Since you have a romanticized photo of 2004's ringer in your sig, I can't expect you to understand this, but a lot of folks consider the party to be effectively dead already.

I'll still vote for a dem from time to time, but I've wasted enough money and effort on dems who just go and support the Bush agenda anyway.

I have my own pet causes, and on a local basis, I will support the Greens and progressives. (This is SF, so they can and do win here.)

[LittleClarkie]

71. And my picture has nothing to do with my understanding.

And my picture has nothing to do with my understanding. The man who is supposed to be Mr. Grassroots is leading the party now, saying that the party is dead underneath him is like saying he's wasting his time. I won't accept that.

And I joined the party because I had to stay active. It's been about a year now. Kerry's campaign was the first one I ever participated in properly. Ended up kinda attached, but that's beside the point. Joining the party was MY way of making sure I stayed active and didn't re-sheeple.

But you've already answered my question. You have pet causes and a local base. You're still active. Good. That's all I'm talking about and all I'm asking at this point.

[PATRICK]

69. As someone mentioned

a strong possibility is that they will rejoin Free Republic or come back here under a different identity.
Or devote more time to their green Party affiliation. Or stampede back in when the Dems do something dramatic.

Every time we start going from from flame war against the establishment to the neat conclusion we should shoot ourselves in the head as a result, one gets those paranoid inklings that someone is intruding on our crisis. Usually that is the case and performs the valuable service of making people think twice about fighting among ourselves. Unless we agree with the GOP that they should be the sole uncontested rulers of
whatever country we are in today.

There is an unwritten contract between the governed and the governed unless there is absolute tyranny. There is a similar contract between a party and its representatives. Obviously many here are wondering if someone is not living up to their end of a critically necessary and potentially invaluable progressive representation in government. If there was another great party in this time of crisis- where there is no where to run in a world under siege- it would be discussed. We ARE the Democrats, by number and activism if not by position and influence in party structure- and that is changing daily. So unless the Dems in charge start importing Republicans to push us really to the right, which they have zero to nil success in doing the wooing, we have a more democratic and grass roots possibility of moving and leading than the cults who took over the dollar sign hypnotized GOP.

[graywarrior]

74. Everytime a senator or congressperson opens their stupid

mouth, I leave the party. Then I calm down and bang out a letter or email to them.

And if I left, where would I go anyway?

[cascadiance]

80. I'm still waiting to see what transpires before I jump ship...

If the Dems are really out of touch in how they vote, I might leave the party altogether, but minimally I think I plan to no longer give any money to the party itself. I might give money to a few candidates here and there that I believe in and want to win, but no longer for the national party any more. Instead I'll take my money to whatever "counter-DLC" group emerges as the most likely to shut the DLC down, provided they start articulating how they are going to take the DLC out of the picture soon. I will put money into an honest effort to get rid of the DLC influences, which I think is the fundamental reason we're failing now.

[LSK]

82. K&R

[iconoclastNYC]

83. What if it is a rigged game?

What then?

[LSK]

84. what it if isnt???

Fight like a son of a bitch and see what happens in 2006.

[iconoclastNYC]

85. If we can't win in this environment then I'm moving out of the country

Seriously. If we don't seem some serious gains in the House and in the Senate then I have lost all faith in American democracy. What we have right now is the perfect storm. Bush is an idiot, he's splintering his party, all these scandals, we have the internet to get out our message, if we can't win under these cirmunstances then it's over.

I will not end up in a concentration camp.

[LSK]

86. i would rather wait until after 2006 before i make that judgement

Right now assume its winnable. We have so much momentum right now and if it keeps and we still loose this fall, then I might be with you. But until then, assume we can win.

[iconoclastNYC]

87. That's what I said.

If we don't make gains in the house and then senate. With all that's known about redistricting, diebold and voter supression, voter list purges, the fucked up elections of 2000, 2002, 2004. PNAC and 9/11. The corporate whore media, and the corruptive influence of the DLC, we might be fighting the impossible.

The USA is right now a stealth fascist state. Another terrorist act like 9/11 and I shudder to think what the Neocons and the Republicans will try to do.

You cannot defend your country from inside a concentration camp.

[seemunkee]

88. I already left

The night before the certification of the electoral college a got a fund raising call. I told the caller that it all depended on what happened the next day. My rep didn't even show up so screw him. Two days later I got another fund raising call I told the girl I was disappointed and that I had just mailed in my change to registration. She said she was hearing it a lot.
I was a poll watcher at the last election and there were no other Dems in the room and this is in a majority Dem area. The Republicans had a team there.

[LittleClarkie]

89. Okay. What are you doing now, activist-wise?

?

[seemunkee]

Doesn't stop me from calling/writing my senators

Attending town hall meetings, writing LTTE and educating friends and family. I'll be a poll watcher again for truevoteMD. My rep sucks so I don't bother with him, hopefully someone will run against him in the primary, might be enough for me to switch back if there is an option.

[seemunkee]

92. Double post

[LSK]

91. i guess you missed that part where Dean was building up the party

Hes building up the party from the ground up in all 50 states.

[incapsulated]

98. You go to Disney World!

:silly:

I'd leave if there was anyplace to go. There isn't. I'm giving them until 2008, if we lose again then it really doesn't matter who stays or goes, the party will be effectively dead.

[klook]

99. I'm not IN the Democratic Party, but...

I have never voted for anyone but a Democrat in my 30+ years of voting. I don't consider myself "A Democrat." I'm just somebody who wants to live in a society that is fair and helpful to honest people, that protects that rights of the average Joe and Josephine, that values the concept of the Commonwealth. And, although the Democrats are far from perfect, they have a better chance of making these things real than anybody else right now. In the future, the Greens or somebody else may be in a position to 1) stop the Republicans from ruining the country (and the rest of the world) and 2) build a better society.

But there are so many other ways to become active in creating the world we want. Just yesterday on NPR I heard the heartbreaking story of Sharon White, whose New Orleans home, destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, was in an area that has been designated by city planners to be a park or other public space. She was devastated; she said this was even worse than Katrina, realizing that the authorities thought her neighborhood was so insignificant and valueless that they could just bulldoze it and put up a park, and in a few years nobody would even realize that anybody had ever lived there. She sounded deeply hurt, almost destroyed.

I thought about what it must be like to be Sharon White. What would that really be like, to have your beloved home and neighborhood, the place you PAID FOR, goddammit, with your sweat and love, just wiped away like a stain? This hit me harder than anything in a long time. I realized I have to do something.

I'd heard Mary Frances Berry on News & Notes (Ed Gordon's radio show that replaced Tavis Smiley) talking about her encouragement at the work of Common Ground in New Orleans. I'm thinking really hard about taking a week of vacation and going down there to help them. That's what I can do.

[cry baby]

101. While I get furious with some dems, I won't leave the party.

I believe that the dem policies come closer to what I would like to see. There are dems I don't like, but any of them are better than the heartless scum that is the alternative.

Thank you, LC. Recommended

[journalist3072]

104. I left the Democratic Party in January of last year

I was so upset that only one Democrat in the Senate had the courage to sign on to the objection of the certification of the Ohio electors.

And when the Congress was forced to "debate" what happened in Ohio, I watched Democrat after Democrat get up and say how they did think that some voters in Ohio had been kept from voting. And I wanted to shout at them: Well why didn't you sign on to the objection like Barbara Boxer did?

So I left the Democratic Party and became a registered Independent.

The only drawback to that, though, is that now I will not be able to vote in the Democratic primaries here in D.C. And I really want to do that. My City Councilman for my Ward is running for Mayor, and I want to vote for him in the primary, so that he will move forwar to the general election.

I may have to switch back to Democrat in order to do that, and then switch back to Independent again!

[ScreamingMeemie]

106. Unfortunately, and perhaps deservedly, I know of several people that

this is not a gut level or snap decision for. A good friend of mine left last year and became an interim Green (I guess you'd call it) and is pushing for a viable 3rd party. Many of us, and I include myself here, would be open to working for a viable 3rd party. We have seen what belief in a campaign can bring dollarswise...and I do believe that a viable 3rd party candidate is not a long time away. As a woman, a mother, and a human being...if we continue on this course of being willing to jettison off certain core Democratic beliefs, I see it as an option...and not a snap decision. The old saying goes, you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. It's proving true time and again.

** I say this as a Dean supporter, a campaigner for Kerry and a hardcore Dem Activist. Lots are tired.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

107. Not leaving. Just making them work for my vote.

If they want it, it's still available. If they vote and act like progressives with progressive ideals that they'll stick by - even when unpopular and politically risky.