So I'm not leaving the Democratic Party.

[WilliamPitt]

I'm going to continue poking them with a stick.

Anyone else?

[DanCa]

1. shoulder to shoulder bruddah

they want a war they got one.

[Midlodemocrat]

2. I'm not going anywhere.

I have too many anti-GOP shirts. I can't even begin to think about replacing them.

[MissB]

3. I can't imagine leaving the Democratic Party.

[bigtree]

4. staying

fighting

[SteppingRazor]

5. APPEASER!! ENABLER!!!

Damn you, Pitt!!! DAMN YOU!!!!!!!


(yes. That was :sarcasm: )

[Dr.Phool]

6. Could we kick them in the balls instead?

We seem to be having trouble getting their attention.

[spuddonna]

40. Here, here! I second the motion (to the groin!) n/t

[Batgirl]

42. I would be up for that nt

[banana republican]

109. To get the attention of an ASS hit him over the head with a 2X4. n/t

[Nikki Stone 1]

7. Kicked and recommended

:kick:

[11 Bravo]

8. When I finally become Czar Of All The Americas ...

it will be a capital offense to shout "You da man" at anyone other than William Rivers Pitt, Tom Brady, or Tiger Woods.

[AZBlue]

9. They can't get rid of me that easily. (nt)

[wtbymark]

10. even thought the party pisses me off occasionally

we need to rise together

[Michigander4Dean]

66. Agreed | nt

[quiet.american]

11. Yep. I've announced I'm staying, too.

The #1 reason I'll remain a Democrat, at least through 2006
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2366873&mesg_id=2366873

And thanks for the info in your message!

[helderheid]

12. I've been dropping that link to that site wherever I can.

:thumbsup:

[Cooley Hurd]

13. That's the ONLY winning strategery!

:thumbsup:

[Walt Starr]

14. Everybody does what they feel they gotta' do. n/t

[understandinglife]

15. As long as John Conyers has his oar in the water, mine's there with him.

Peace.

[eridani]

105. And Conyers, Kucinich, Waters, McDermott--

--and all of the other "usual suspects."

[understandinglife]

107. Yes. And, GORE. And, CLARK. .......

Peace.

[DanCa]

16. It's time for a good house cleannig anyway

get rid of all the deadwood from the freepers posers and we'll have a much stronger party anyway. I am a democrat born, and a democrat breed, and when i am put in a grave i'll be a democrat when i am dead.

[MODemocrat]

17. We have to build a fire under them; they're getting very lazy

The democratic party is so far removed from what it once was.,,,However, it is still far and above the rebublican party, and they need to work at it. I'm tired of them making jokes over anything as serious as this supreme court pick, and tired of them letting the crazy-wing of the republican party get away with this nitpicking. The republican party, at least the ones who occupy the whitehouse, are the most corrupt politicians I can ever remember, and that includes Richard Nizon. :evilfrown:
Furthermore, they don't need to send me yet another form letter asking for a contribution until they get their act straightened out. I've had it with my party. However, it's my party and am going to try and deal with it.

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. Not leaving. nt

[Caoimhe]

19. Is that your ultimatum? :) n/t

[Swamp Rat]

20. Great! You keep poking the Democrats with a stick and I'll keep kicking

the rethugs in their tiny lizard balls. :D

[Catherine Vincent]

84. LOL!

You do that Swamp!

[Lochloosa]

118. Here, this may come in handy Swamp

[Lochloosa]

119. Dupe...ah hell you might need two of them

[savemefromdumbya]

21. you'll need more than a stick!

[DanCa]

23. Stick I need no stinkin' stick. :D

[FlemingsGhost]

22. Careful, they'll see a stick and want to play fetch ...

"Good doggie! Now, roll over ... again."

[lonestarnot]

24. Poking pounding slamming scratching screaming whatever it takes!

[sarcasmo]

25. Fight the good fight.

[bear425]

26. Add my name to those staying and working for change. n/t

[Jayhawk Lib]

36. Me to

The Democratic party is a long way from perfect but sooooo much better than the alternative..

[BrotherBuzz]

27. Me too

PDA Sacramento chapter here. I'm the self appointed keeper-of-the-stick-room dude. Free sticks for everyone - one size fits all.

Come, we have work to do.

[Cults4Bush]

28. nope Im past sticks, that doesn't seem to be effective.

Im only supporting individual candidates from here on out and if I want to vote third party against some Iraq supporting Dem because im tired of hearing the cliches and threats of not voting 100% straight across Dem like some blind faithing repug than I will. I tend to trust people more who behave like this http://www.pdamerica.org/articles/chapters/ca-2006-01-07.php more than certain Dems.

[FreedomAngel82]

87. Good luck getting that third person in

[Cults4Bush]

91. Thanks!

You have no idea how appreciative I am to here that. I trust Cindy way more than some of our politicos.
I also like I said just cant believe how hypocritical some voting Dems are about these things. We ridiculed the right up and down for their blind faith loyalty to herr boosh and his repig cronies yet when it comes to our side of the table some how its ok. I think that kidn of attitude has as much to do with losing elections as electoral fraud (ok well maybe not as much). I also think that supporting individual candidates and trying to defeat those Dems who along with bushco think that the ends somehow will justify the means in Iraq do not represent me or what I want the Democratic party to be.

Glad to know you wish me luck in bringing progressives against this insane war into office.

[stray cat]

29. I don't see any place better to go - so for now I will stick

[democrat_patriot]

30. Consider them poked.

[kmla]

31. I'm here until they turn the lights out.

And when they do that - I have a flashlight.

[Fridays Child]

32. Poke, poke, mon frère.

[xray s]

33. I am not leaving the Democratic party until the beer runs out...

...then I'll go get some more beer and bring it back to party some more! :toast:

[Jo March]

34. I'm not leaving either. I'll continue to "manage up"

Of course, the stick works too!

[agingdem]

35. Exactly!

If they want my money they are going to have to work for it...get their collective asses together and act like an opposition party.

[shaniqua6392]

37. I could never leave either.

It is like family. Sometimes you get so angry you could scream. But family is worth fighting for and so is the Democratic Party. We Dems are like a family and we should stick together. How can we leave a party that represents our belief system? I am in for the long haul. Til' death do us part. BTW, WilliamPitt, I absolutely love your writing on PDA!! Whenever I finish one of your articles, I am charged up and ready to fight. Keep up the great work. We are listening.

[graywarrior]

38. Democratic Undergrounders are the dem party's worst nightmare

[zippy890]

39. glad your poking

its hard to keep hoping

paranoid citizenry fails to be outraged by abuses of executive branch
dems get nervous about talking to much about civil liberties

& I don't like the idea that the democratic party leaders think the progressive wing is 'in their pocket' no matter who gets nominated to run for president.

[wakeme2008]

41. I will vote ONLY for Dems but NOT DLCers...

If I have a choice I will always vote Dem. But if it is a DLCer vs Repug vs Green.. I will vote Green...

[Old and In the Way]

43. I'm not going anywhere.......

My life's work is to make the label "Republican" an insult of the highest order in this country.

[havocmom]

44. Democracy is not spectator sport! Mad at the party? BE THE PARTY!

Liberty is not a relic won long ago. It's either alive and in need of daily care or it is a goner.

:thumbsup:

I keep fighting cuz I have little friends who can't just yet. Many did the same for me long ago.

[DanCa]

46. show em dems have spines fire the senators who vote yes to alito

It's time to walk the walk not talk talk the talk. if your mad at the party kick them out.

[RandomKoolzip]

45. Yeah...me too. I just joined PDA.

The GOP listens to THEIR base. Why don't the Dems? They will.

[B Calm]

47. I'm watching Senator Bayh and how he votes. If he helps put this

bastard onto the Supreme Court, I'll never vote for Bayh again!

[DanCa]

49. Good if Bayh votes for Alito vote Bayh out of the senate.

That's how to change the system. THank of the Dem party as a garden its time to weed it.

[B Calm]

51. This critical vote will show the weeds in our garden!!

[Ksec]

48. Bartcop Democrat

Give em Hell when they deserve it. Praise em when they do good.

[KoKo]

50. Oh Lordy...............

I wondered when this was coming.... :yoiks:

[TallahasseeGrannie]

53. Not following you..

when what was coming?

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

60. Okaaaay

then. I have that dimension problem myself sometimes!

[leftstreet]

52. Does DU endorse PDA, and vice versa?

Anyone know?

[WilliamPitt]

58. PDA puts stuff on DU all the time

I'm not sure how PDA would 'endorse' a web forum, but at least two officers (myself and Kevin Spidel) post here all the time.

As for DU endorsing PDA, you'd have to ask the admins.

[leftstreet]

61. Thanks

[helderheid]

64. My campaign software company endorses PDA.

[mod mom]

54. I believe that in Ohio that some Republicans have infiltrated the Dem

Party and they are working against the Democratic values that I hold dear. When some members of the Dem Party failed to stand up for their own voting base, especially low income African American voters after the '04 election, I resolved that the term Democrat could no longer be fully trusted. I now am willing to vote independent (I previously was a straight party voter) in cases where the independent candidate reflects the progressive values and the Demo is a DINO.

FLAME AWAY IF YOU LIKE, but what I witnessed on election day moved me like nothing before. I closed my business of 17+ years because of the blatant abhorrent UN AMERICAN treatment that a segment of the Democratic base received. I was appalled that members of my own Democratic Party who were in Ohio and witnessed what many of us did, chose to be silent about the travesty of justice that they also witnessed. I now work for PROGRESSIVE VALUES. I will support the candidate which best reflects my progressive values.

If anyone can explain to me why it took me and my husband 15 minutes to vote at 8 am (b4 work rush)in an affluent inner suburban neighborhood while low income voters just blocks away had to wait 5 hours, then to have our Dem County Chair say the machines were distributed fairly and those who said otherwise were conspiracy theorists, then maybe I will reconsider. For now Democrat is just a word for me. I want actions to back up that term.

That said, I consider myself a Conyers Dem.

[IndyOp]

83. Mod Mom - Your Dedication to the Cause of Democracy -

Is AWESOME to behold! :yourock:

[mod mom]

85. I've got kids. I have to admit I'm jealous of those ignorant sometimes,

but what can one do but fight! Thanks for the lack of flames. ;)

[Cults4Bush]

98. Awesome and powerful post Mod Mom.

Im right there with you and nothing but empathy from me.

thank you.

[Rowdyboy]

55. The sorriest, least dependable Democrat imagineable is FAR better

than the best the Rethugs have to offer.

Fighting Democrat since 1972. Just carrying on a family tradition of voting for the better of two parties.

[mzmolly]

57. I'm not going any place!

:hi:

*poke poke*

[donheld]

59. If someone can tell me what leaving the party would help

I might be more inclined to do it. By staying in the party I think I have more ability to work for change in the party.

[FlemingsGhost]

62. It would help eliminate rectal chafing and tenderness

Unless you like being bent over and told to take it like a loyal Democrat.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

63. I Would Never Be Cowardly Enough Nor Defeatist Enough To Leave.

I'm with ya on that one!

[Festivito]

65. Either this or be Repub, no brainer. Family needs a poke now and again./nt

[LSK]

67. right on Will!!!!!!!

No quitting over here!!!

Nice endorsement of Cegelis!

[WilliamPitt]

72. Thanks

I wrote that.

[mopinko]

80. and we thank you!

our only regret is that you are not in chicago tonight to raise a glass of the world's finest beer with us!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=150&topic_id=10388&mesg_id=10388

[stepnw1f]

68. Just Let Us Angry Liberals Do a Little Damage

You need us radicals, man!

[rucky]

69. The wonderful thing about this country is...

you can vote for anybody you want - regardless of your party affiliation.

This characterization I've been hearing (not Pitt, necessarily) is that people who leave are traitors - as if they will never vote Democratic again. Ridiculous. The only thing it means is the party rosters will shrink & the party will have to go elsewhere to beg for cash. When I see a candidate I like, I can donate directly to them (thanks, PayPal!). I don't have to donate to the party and see my money get spread around to 10 other mediocre candidates.

People are leaving because they are not being heard, and want to send a message. They've been ignoring internal pressure groups up until now, but they sure pay attention to independent voters. Maybe having no party affiliation has more pull?

[rman]

117. Same thing in many other countries.

I guess that means those other countries are wonderful to?

[Greybnk48]

70. I would never abandon Conyers, Feingold, Kennedy

Boxer, Lee...too many to name. I'm here till the ciggs kill me.

[B Calm]

71. I'm all for voting out the DINO's and reclaiming OUR party!

This Supreme Court Justice vote will show them!

[NMDemDist2]

93. what you said Greybnk

i'll be puffing and knocking on doors til they carry me away (either in chains or my coffin)

[galloglas]

73. Would You Care for a Bigger Stick?? N/T

[Batgirl]

74. The Dems need to figure out how to utilize us, their "netroots"

And to that end, why aren't they hiring some of the leading lights of the blogosphere as political consultants to help them? These are people who've been working for years now, as a labor of love, thinking, writing, informing and inspiring thousands of us on a daily basis. Most of them were savvy enough to understand very early on what a powerful way this would be to communicate ideas. With little or no financial backing, they had nothing but their own creativity and dedication, and these are elements that are desperately needed by the Dem establishment. Why aren't the Dems using some of these individuals (we all know their names, the OP here being one) to come up with stragegies to put all of our efforts to use in an organized and more effective way?

[Peace Patriot]

75. There are about half the Democratic elected representatives that I don't

consider to BE Democrats. Collectively, this faction of the leadership fails to represent the views of 90% of the Democratic Party membership--on the Iraq war, torture and a number of other fundamental issues, and they are undoubtedly the ones responsible for the Dem Party's INSANE silence on Bushite corporations counting all our votes with "trade secret," proprietary programming code and virtually no audit/recount controls. So I don't consider these people to be holding power legitimately. And I will not concede my party--of which I have been a loyal member for 40 years, since my first vote in 1964--to leaders who are not representing the people.

They will not push ME out. I and the rest of the real Democrats will push THEM out. I want REPRESENTATION of the progressive MAJORITY in this country, and I want it sooner rather than later--because I think the situation that this country is in is very perilous. We are looking at fascist dictatorship. We cannot wait for the Greens or some other new party to get organized enough and strong enough to take the White House and the Congress. Long term, this might be a good thing. Short term, it cannot happen. We are up against it, in my opinion. And the Democratic Party is the only viable vehicle for immediate and dramatic change.

Also, I am very concerned about what happened in Germany in the early 1930s--the fracturing of the center/left that led to Hitler's rise. History does not repeat itself exactly. So such parallels are not always helpful. But this particular historical precedent seems horribly close to what is happening in this country now, with the dramatic usurpation of power by the executive, with only a weak, corrupt center that is failing to stop it, and an increasingly alienated left, which represents the majority of people, and has been largely squeezed out.

There couldn't be a worse moment to fracture the center/left. I see some good things happening--starting with Jan. 6, 2005--with the left bolstering the center (most of the Dems in Congress) and emboldening them to fight back. We must continue that, and we must further, as PRIORITY NO. ONE, restore transparent elections.

The state of our election system is intolerable. If it continues, we can kiss this country goodbye. But WITH reform,--with real votes, honestly counted--we can do wonders for peace and justice and fundamental reform.

Priority #1!

I tend to think that the real temptation to split the center/left may come a little further down the line--with this kind of scenario: The fascists (via Diebold and ES&S) install a War Democrat in 08, for the purposes of getting a military Draft, which Bush can't do (there is not enough cannon fodder for the oil wars), consolidating the gains by the rich, by corporations, and by war profiteers (by using piffling little reforms to calm things down a bit and shut people up, but leaving in place the bulk of the looting and unfairness) , and starting to blame the Dems for Bush's financial and foreign policy disasters. A Draft, invasion or bombing of Iran/Syria, and/or financial meltdown, under a Dem, could cause civil unrest, and a defection of the left from the Dem Party. As I said, it will be sorely tempting not to join a rebellion against a Draft, more war, and/or more corporate rule. But such a scenario--involving a split-off of the left from the Dems, especially if serious financial hardship is occurring--could be how the fascists intend to install a real Hitler in '12. The Bushites right now are more into looting us than into building a fascist state, but they are most certainly putting dictatorial powers in place as precedents.

In the above scenario, I think the best thing to do would be to double our efforts on election reform--and having even a War Dem in the White House could help. We MUST restore our right to vote. We have NO power, and no sovereignty as a people, without it.

[mod mom]

90. I appreciate your opinion, PP, but we must have outspoken candidates

to sream CORRUPT ELECTION! If the Dems won't do it LOUDLY, then we need a candidate who will.

"They will install a pro-war Dem to initiate the draft," that's a scary thought. I never considered that.

[regnaD kciN]

76. Generally, the only reason to poke something with a stick...

...is to confirm that it is, indeed, dead.

:-(

[skipos]

77. I am staying and working on a dem majority in 06, a dem pres in 08 nt

[greiner3]

78. Done. n/t

[Longhorn]

79. Yellow Dog Democrat here. n/t

[deutsey]

100. Mangey dog democrat, (small "d") here, fighting for scraps

and going hungry most of the time.

[cry baby]

81. I'm not leaving, but I'll keep demanding that the dems do the right thing.

I actually feel pretty mute since I live in Frist's state. Hopefully, Harold Ford (D) will win his seat this year. I'll be screaming at him, too, since he doesn't advocate a reversal of the * policies in Iraq.

[Pirate Smile]

82. Me too.

:hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

86. Yes

I remember that's what Howard Dean said once when he became chairman. If there is a canidate who doesn't do a good job to just replace them with someone who will.

[FreedomAngel82]

88. I'm with you

:hi:

[proud patriot]

89. Hey I just got here , I'm not going anywhere

Remember I was green before Dean .

[Malikshah]

92. *In Kodos' stentorian voice* (from the Simpsons)

"Go ahead...vote for a third party... thrroooowww your vote away!"

*image of Ross Perot in the crowd having a coniption fit*

;)

Go PDA! (In any of its forms)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

94. Not leaving..but, I won't vote for some of them.

[hunter]

95. I've been mostly Catholic near twenty years now.

I know all about hanging in there while poking them with a stick.

But Walt comes by in his helicopter I'm going to be mighty tempted to climb aboard.

[eridani]

106. Well, an institution that has room for Francis of Assisi and Torquemada,

Hildegarde of Bingen and the Borgia Popes, probably has room for you too. ;-)

I sorta feel the same way about the Dems. Bottom line is that Dems have PCOs and the Greens don't.

[deutsey]

96. I'll vote for Democrats who demonstrate to me that they're worth the vote

Otherwise, fuck off.

[cyberpj]

97. But why has it left us? In 2000. In 2004. It left us. When we would

have done anything for it to fight for us, no, fight WITH us!

Why did it leave US?

[deutsey]

99. Well, it didn't seem prudent at the time, now did it?

To offend the ruling elites and all, I mean.

:sarcasm:

[Beelzebud]

101. I have never been "in" the party.

I'll continue to support local candidates, and national candidates that are WORTH my support.

The DLC wing of our party; The rich, Washington elite, that care nothing for the Unions or the real working people, have earned nothing but my disdain. They are corporate bought whores.

IMO the Democrats are still better than the Republicans, but they really need to start trying harder...

[H2O Man]

102. Naw.

Those who are saying they are "leaving" the democratic party are simply those with immature root systems: the goodness of truth has not taken root in their lives. This is our turn, and I'm sure that the democratic party offers us the most likely manner of reaching our goals.

[deutsey]

103. "Immature root systems" or rot from neglect?

As I keep harping on, when the Democrats work for their votes they deserve their votes. When they take it for granted that we'll just automatically fall in line behind them...well, you get what we currently have.

[H2O Man]

116. A couple of times

in the past week, I have quoted from an article in The Nation that advocates progressive democrats backing "insurgents" in primaries. It doesn't matter what state you are in -- you can participate. It sounds like a progressive democrat is going to challange Joe W. Lieberman ..... and we can all fund that campaign.

I've probably said 100 times now that I have previously donated time and money in Hillary Clinton's efforts. I will no longer do that. I can not give a single penny or invest an hour in a campaign for a candidate that supports Bush's war in Iraq.

Another DUer suggested sending a note in every envelope I get in the mail asking for money, explaining my position. Great idea. I also take the time to explain my position to those who have called my home, asking for money.

If people think there is "root rot" -- and I certainly do -- then it is important to plow that ground under, to over-turn the sod, and expose the rot to the light. Then it turns to compost, and a new plant will feed upon it and grow.

[0007]

104. Book marked working tools

Any update on the, "Support Bush & Cheney Censure"?

[jillan]

108. Staying and fighting cuz I know one day, they(we) will get it right.

Proud to be a dem!

[HuskerDU]

110. There can't be more than a handfull of seats in the House

where a 3rd party candidate has a chance of winning. And what rethugs out there are better than the worst dem? Maybe Ron Paul or some guy from Vermont.

I will hold my nose and vote for the suckiest DLCer before going 3rd or abstaining. It is just too important to STOP 'thug power right now.

[seabeyond]

111. will be here not only fighting the repugs, and media

but my fellow dems here on the board that insist on promtoing old tired rw talking points about the dems

[Peggy Day]

112. we must have the same problems

[roguevalley]

113. I could never leave. There have been members of my family in the

democratic party since 1796.

[Douglas Carpenter]

114. I'm not leaving either

http://www.cegelisforcongress.com/contribute

[kick_them_hard]

115. Love My Dem Party, warts and all n/t

[Pacifist Patriot]

120. I continue to be an annoying thorn in their side...

and a downright nasty thorn in my Republican representative's backside.

[spanone]

121. Me too, but only because there are no viable options.

[Historic NY]

122. I'm not leaving either...........

how many sticks do we need.

[Olney Blue]

123. Born into a Republican family, but will die a Democrat.

[Booster]

124. Even though I do believe we need an Independent as President,

I will continue to vote Dem until the Ind rides in on a white horse and sweeps me off of my feet. Will never, never, never vote Republican.

[KnowerOfLogic]

125. So what you're saying is that you will never hold dems accountable for

anything. That's what it comes down to. Blind loyalty might be another way to put it, or maybe "My party, right or wrong." I remember talk before the 2004 election by dems who were unhappy with Kerry's pro-war stance, but claimed that we should vote for him (and other pro-war dems) and then "put pressure on them" after they won to get us out of Iraq. Sorry, but the time to put pressure on a candidate is called an ELECTION; if they know that dem voters will vote for the the dem candidate NO MATTER WHAT THE CANDIDATE DOES, then there is no accountability whatsoever for the democratic party, and we really shouldn't be surprised when we find our party and our country in the pathetic state of affairs that they are currently in.

[jonnyblitz]

126. I call them Stepford Dems. nt

[DinahMoeHum]

127. Continuing the good fight through the DFA and Howard Dean!!

:kick::kick::kick:

[Obamarama]

128. I'm game. Lets also use a stick to whack the HELL out of the Resmuglicans

n/t