We've Been Disenfranchised, Folks. How Do You Start A Breakaway Party?

[Mr. Ected]

Stung by fascists on one side of the aisle; opportunists and failures on the other.

Pelosi doesn't represent her constituents - she "leads" them.

Hillary signs off on Iraq, equivocates, then signs off on Iran.

Impeachment is off the table, war funding is ON the table, our troops keep dying, our President keeps lying, no accountability, no redress for grievances.

The American people have been abandoned. To hell with a Republican "family values" third party.

What will it take to wake up OUR leadership? The formation of a breakaway element of the left wing?

[Benhurst]

1. First we reduce the Republican party to the status of the Whig party, then we start reforming

the Democratic into the progressive party it should be.

[Mr. Ected]

4. Where Are All Our Progressive Candidates?

Gotta run them to oust the status quo.

[rucky]

2. Let the "Third Way" people do it...

since they find the First Way so objectionable.

[mdmc]

3. ibtl

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Bitwit1234]

5. Your forgot to say that Obama straddles the fence

skips the votes and wait to see which decision is popular till he say
coulda, shoulda, woulda. That's very important when you are talking about wishy washy can't get more than that.

[Mr. Ected]

7. Other Than DK, All Our Candidates Have Sold Out

You can argue all you want, but that's the simple truth.

[Richardo]

34. And what are DK's current poll numbers?

This is NOT a slam on DK, but if there were such a nationwide thirst for a true progressive candidate, dont'cha think his poll numbers would be a lot higher? That he'd be getting a lot more grass roots contributions?

Where is this desperate yearning for a 'true' progressive among the general population? Hell, where is it among the Democrats? Answer: Nowhere. Like it or not, American voters are by and large pragmatic, as opposed to dogmatic. The desire for a progressive like DK is not wide-spread, but highly localized here and at other liberal websites. A breakoff of 'true' progressives from the Democrats would result not in a third party, but a fourth or fifth party, around the same tier as the American Communists or the Constitution Party.

[cali]

6. ta-ta. have fun.

I'm quite happy with my Congressional delegation, and I can think of lots of liberal and progressive dems. As the first post said, you gotta get rid of the repukes and then turn to reform.

I honestly wonder whether posts like yours aren't intended to depress dem turnout. In any case, have fun in futility.

[Mr. Ected]

9. Wondering About My Intentions?

How about an AMERICAN progressive having a helluva time finding an apt candidate to choose from?

Perhaps your delegation is working wonders, abiding by the wishes of its constituency. Goody for you.

Rather selfish of you, though, isn't it...for those of us struggling to find representation of our ideals in Washington?

[cali]

17. you're the one being incredibly selfish

by advocating that liberal and progressives leave the dem party, a year before one of the most important elections in history. What would that accomplish? Years more of repuke domination in the WH and the likely loss of Congress. Not that it'll happen, but no thanks, Ralphie.

[Mr. Ected]

20. Your Timeline, Not Mine

It's far, far too late to develop a breakaway party for 2008. We'll let the Repukes and the Dobsons of the world to do that...no problem-o.

But either we need to cultivate and support progressive Democratic candidates who represent the will of the people and NOT corporate interests, OR we need to distinguish ourselves from the sell-outs and secure some accountability.

[cali]

23. I agree, but that's NOT what you're OP said.

And your timing sucks.

[Mr. Ected]

25. Maybe I Should Have Saved A Draft of the OP and Posted It In 2009?

I sincerely doubt that many of our contingent here think that the 2006 elections have lead to the great success that we had all hoped for.

That being said, I can think of NO Republican candidate who would EVER capture my vote before a Democrat...even a piss-poor Democrat.

I just want us to raise the bar. It's our government. It's our party.

[Marrah_G]

18. I'm pretty sure they are

Get us all feeling hopeless enough so we don't vote for our Dems. Then Voila!!! They win. And we are left staring stupidly at them without a nose (which we cut off for spite).

[Sammy Pepys]

8. I wouldn't say we've been disenfranchised...

...just that a lot of us are just not voting with the right-left majority.

[H2O Man]

10. silly n/t

[PATRICK]

11. Internal or external

Internal- the progressive caucus and black caucus and anyone tired of equivocating parity other than from people in really tough Conservative districts get together and rebel. The shock, even if not totally successful, does wonders for the arrogant. Breakaway, external disaffection. That is progressive leaders as a block forming a new party is most like to happen in defeat so bad that clinging together is no longer seen as the best viable option. Or in victory so large that the need for unity is equally not as threatening. That may well be why the DLC is crafted for paralyzing parity and enabling the criminalize, non-representative GOP to survive as an EQUAL partner. A partnership against progressives in its own party.

They may not think or plan that in such cynical terms, but it makes more sense than most of there weird political judgments.

So the task is simple though distasteful either way. Make the imperfect so wildly successful that it will divide like a fat amoeba or work for its crushing defeat which is not an option in the current real state of the election scene today. Working partly progressive and withholding some enthusiasm for non-progressives will HELP the status quo or the GOP. It's almost pure math and it puts things in a simpler way than what led Will Pitt into a flaming crash recently. Nader tried the crash and Phoenix and third party route. The disaster now would be at least as bad because no nascent group or any leaders could do much except damage all good causes, including their own viable future when there is scant space for any "long run" strategy to even exist.

My advice: go completely nuts like Hamlet and boost all Dems running to remove the MSM inertial brakes. You can slip the DLC notes about what you really think or you can increase their self-delusion as a long term strategy. All the while the first goal is to build up the progressive caucus and give them your clearest, sanest support and ideas. As the passionate momentum goes, so may even go the top leadership and the problem is actually solved internally. The solution only begins with getting a strong Dem Congress, because they are the only ones who think they have been elected to do the people's business. That monopoly won't last unless they actually produce and living in fear of a GOP comeback won't be nearly enough. It never has been.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

12. that likely to be a great success. much like naders revolution was.

[Rhythm and Blue]

13. That strategy worked really well in 2000.

I bet you can replicate Nader's success in getting the greater of two evils elected.

[Bake]

14. Disenfranchised? Really?

Who told you you could no longer vote? Did they cancel your voter registration?

Bake

[Mr. Ected]

16. As If Casting A Vote In and Of Itself Was Sufficient

Sorry, but when I vote, I want to support someone who shares more than 60% of my political ideology.

I, of course, am referring to de facto disenfranchisement, and not the poli sci interpretation of the word.

[Bake]

19. Feel free to run for office yourself.

That way, your candidate will agree with you 100%.

Bake

[Mr. Ected]

24. You Could Run Against Me, Too

And use your sardonic condescension during the debates.

Wouldn't that be precious?

[demodonkey]

22. "Disenfranchisement" takes many forms.

If you "voted" but it's not counted by a vote-eating electronic voting machine, you were disenfranchised.

If "voting" becomes a meaningless act of installing pre-chosen winners with agendas not in keeping with the will of the people, in my mind that is a form of disenfranchisement too.

[Bake]

28. If you voted but they didn't count it, you were disenfranchised.

If you went to the polls and were turned away, you were disenfranchised. If the winners were, in fact, pre-ordained and not in keeping with the will of the MAJORITY of the people, you were disenfranchised because the votes didn't count.

If you just don't like the candidates, but the voting is fair, you're not disenfranchised. You simply need to do a better job of convincing the majority of the voters to agree with your position.

Let's say the Democrats sweep the elections, and the freepers are crying about being disenfranchised. What's your response? DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.

Bake

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Progressives running against Dems, especially blue dogs

That's what it will take. I also favor a third, fourth, fifth, etc party, but our most immediate problem are the blue dog DINOS in DC. They have to go.

[cali]

21. No. Our most immediate problem is getting the repukes out

and expanding our majority in both houses, then reforming the party and taking on the blue dogs.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. The repukes are destroying themselves

[cali]

27. Sorry, we can't just rely on that.

And whether you like it or not there are districts with repukes and conservative dems that will either elect a repuke or a conservative dem. Challenge blue dogs all you want in liberal districts; it's foolish to do it in districts that are conservative.

Just curious, I have a very liberal dem rep, but he does not support impeachment. Do you believe people like that should be challenged by someone who does support it?

[Mr. Ected]

29. You Have To Pick Your Battles Carefully

By the time the election rolls around, your rep's stance on impeachment will be a moot point.

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. I favor upholding the constitution

It's country over party for me.

[cali]

31. That's a rather meaningless statement, not unlike

favoring mom and apple pie. Everyone says they support the Constitution.

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. Actually supporting Dems who refuse to uphold the constitution

is where our real problem lies. I support country over party. And I expect our elected representatives to uphold the constitution. Most are not at this time.

[EstimatedProphet]

33. Well put

Cart after the horse...

[maddezmom]

35. locking

Please don't use DU to advocate 3rd parties.