2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumI Know Something You Don't Know
I know something you dont know, unless you happen to have been a Democratic Member of Congress. I know what happens in the House Democratic Caucus Meetings.[br /]
Contrary to popular belief among Fox News commentators, we dont greet each other in those meetings as Comrade (although occasionally, the salutations of Brother and Sister may be heard). We do not begin the meetings with a Pledge of Allegiance to Karl Marx. We do not conduct responsive readings from the Communist Manifesto. [br /]
Just as the other side doesnt auction off tax breaks to special interests in their caucus meetings. At least, I dont think so. Ive never been to one of those meetings. But I think that they do that some other way.[br /]
The House Democratic Caucus Meetings take place in a somewhat crowded conference room, underground. No natural lighting. And the food I remember most is . . . cold pizza. Maybe thats the food I remember because I can still taste it.[br /]
Anyway, the Leadership establishes the agenda and conducts the meetings. There always is an opportunity at the end for the rank-and-file to speak.[br /]
Some Members attend every meeting (the ones who like cold pizza, I guess). Some Members sometimes attend, normally if there is some hot issue that they want to hear about. Some Members never attend. (One Member once told that that he doesnt attend the caucus meetings because they dont listen. I said, if youre here, and everyone else is there, then they cant hear you.)[br /]
One of my main reasons for attending the House Democratic Caucus meetings is that I was hoping to glimpse something that didnt happen very often, but was well worth the wait when it did. Something dramatic and vivid and just awesome. Something that I would enjoy at the time, and then think about for days afterward.[br /]
A speech by Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., the gentleman from Illinois.[br /]
The word speech doesnt do it justice. More like thunder. More like a jackhammer.[br /]
A volcanic eruption of truth.[br /]
It wasnt really loud, and it wasnt long, either. It was just this explosive, overwhelming torrent of thoughts and facts and emotions and principles. It was so powerful that Jesses body literally quivered vibrated as he spoke.[br /]
Each Jesse Jackson, Jr. speech was different, but they were all the same. Whatever words that came out that day, it all came down to this: For all the people who desperately need our help, lets do the right thing. Lets help them.[br /]
In all those meetings, I never heard Jesse Jackson, Jr. ask for anything for himself, or for some special interest, or for some donor. It was always something for the ones whom his father mentioned, in a speech that I remember hearing on July 18, 1984. He always asked for something to help the desperate, the damned, the disinherited, the disrespected, and the despised.[br /]
You know. My kind of people.[br /]
Jesse Jackson, Jr. faces a primary challenge in Illinois next Tuesday. His challenger is a former Democratic Member of Congress. I want us to help him win.[br /]
I will confess to you. I have an entirely selfish motive. I want to be in Congress with Jesse Jackson, Jr. next year, and I want to hear more of those speeches. Someone needs to keep reminding us what its all about.[br /]
Please click here to help.[br /]
Courage,[br /]
Alan Grayson[br /]
My constituency is the desperate, the damned, the disinherited, the disrespected, and the despised. They are restless and seek relief. They have voted in record numbers. They have invested the faith, hope, and trust that they have in us. The Democratic Party must send them a signal that we care. I pledge my best not to let them down.[br /]
-Rev. Jesse Jackson, The Rainbow Coalition (1984).[br /]
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)his people wait for their own "White Knight", or knight of any color. Enduring the bottom rung and all the feet that step thereupon.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)ClassWarrior
(26,316 posts)I'm glad you've joined. You're among friends.
Never Give Up.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,402 posts)Turbineguy
(37,312 posts)the Only.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,402 posts)Response to Proud Liberal Dem (Reply #5)
Post removed
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,402 posts)Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)Hugabear
(10,340 posts)Get back in there and give them hell!
Although I wouldn't mind seeing you behind the desk in the Oval Office...one can dream.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)Although I live in Chicago, I'm not in the 2nd Congressional District (my Congressperson is Danny Davis, who is running unopposed).
Jesse Jackson, Jr. is going to win his primary race easily, at least according to polls his own campaign released yesterday, in which he is ahead of Halvorson 59 to 23. So I think we can rest easy. He has the endorsements of Nancy Pelosi, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Governor Pat Quinn. His constituents are sticking by him, even women (very much so). The people of the 2nd District are going to be voting for him.
http://progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2012/03/13/jackson-jr-poll-has-him-crushing-halvorson
Still, I guess I can help by reminding my son and daughter-in-law, who live in his district, to vote for him on Tuesday.
midnight
(26,624 posts)Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)You're the only one so far...as I'm a senior citizen on a fixed income and have to be very choosey who I donate to. I plan on giving some to Elizabeth Warren as soon as I can...but you are my first and only so far! The best of luck to you and all the Dems in the upcoming election. I hope you check here often.
90-percent
(6,828 posts)I'm in NW Connecticut and I donated to Alan a few months ago. I am going to do the same for Elizabeth.
And get the bumper stickers. All progressives though out the country must do what ever they can to help.
-90% Jimmy
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)I'm going to get one for "My dog rides in the car"...with a pic. of my dog. I'm also going to have a few made for some relatives who have dogs. If I give them to them...I'm sure they will sport them too.
I didn't want to put an Obama sticker on my car for fear some light weight fool might deface my car. But A doggie sticker shouldn't rate such ire...at least I hope not!
90-percent
(6,828 posts)Posting my outrage on DU is pretty much ineffective preaching to the choir that I share with my peers in this liberal bubble.
So, I try to do other things to be an activist for PROGRESSIVE and ANTI-FASCIST causes. Like bumper stickers. I use bumper sticker sightings a a gauge for public awareness of our descent into "Gilded Age 2.0, this time it's with i-pads."
And my bumper stickers stand for what I believe and I just got a new Ford Ranger this past January (a left over 2011, with decent rebates and it's been discontinued, and it's got 4wd and a decent v6 and sirius and extended cab and elec windows and locks, and fog lites, BUT NO FUCKING CRUISE CONTROL! I didn't want 4wd, but the 2wd choices on the lot were too sterile and under gizmo'ed for me) My preceding Ranger was bought in 2003 and I plastered it with bumper stickers about stuff I feel strongly about - both "current events", Frank Zappa, and nitro cars. It was pretty caustic, as I felt what the GWB traitors were doing to our entire country was pretty caustic also.
I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THREATS OR VANDALISM in the entire EIGHT YEARS I has those stickers on, until they literally wore out.
It concerned my wife about getting into confrontations with people that did not share my views. Well, you know FUCK IT. I'm 57, I've got to do what I can and stand for something! Republicans, or conservatives, or LOW INFORMATION VOTERS may threaten me, but, screw it, I ain't going through any part of the rest of my life in fear of these ignorant dittoheads!
I regret that I have only one nicely finished deep blue metallic 2011 Ranger to give for my country!
And I hope to travel to an Occupy Protest or two this spring. ("I will love everyone. I will love the cops as they kick the shit out of me in the street." - lyrics to Flower Punk - FZ and the MOI, 1968) Probability speaking, the worst I can fear about doing such things is getting arrested for a long time w/o access to a bathroom with a lot of privacy! I don't like an audience when I pee!
I can also fear some gestapo-cop beating me and breaking bones or teeth. Or pepper spray. Or beanbag shot. Or rubber bullets. Or circulatory complications from the tie wraps they use for handcuffs these days. Or being herded into a free speech zone some distance from the intended protest.
Once again, our young people are fighting our wars. I can enlist to serve OWS simply by figuring out how to get the 100 miles to Wall Street and back home over a weekend. I have friends that know how to travel to and into NYC.
Lastly, I look for like minded bumper stickers, or even any at all, and MY guess, to pull stats out of thin air, that perhaps 1% of ALL CARS ON THE ROAD near me have any indication on their vehicles of any activism at all! I take that as things will get worse and the 1% has us in the Bottom 99% BY THE FUCKING BALLS. We're sheep getting the type of government we deserve!
As Zappa once said, with regard to his musical output and how he could do it; "First, don't stop. Second, keep going." This is a generational struggle and showing up in person for one or two protests ain't going to do it. I plan to remain active until they pry my bumper stickers from my cold dead hands!
My in-progress bumper sticker, that needs polish, is:
OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE INFESTED WITH GREEDY AND CORRUPT SOCIOPATHS
I need less words to appeal to LOW INFORMATION VOTERS, and this can be condensed to :
OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE INFESTED WITH SOCIOPATHS
But, this isn't as concise, as I suspect there's plenty of sociopaths out there that may not be greedy and corrupt.
-90% Jimmy
rug
(82,333 posts)Why the hell not?
maybe we'd actually get something done for someone other than the 1%.
socialist_n_TN
(11,481 posts)TBF
(32,035 posts)but liberals would do well to realize we're not the enemy and we may even be useful at times.
socialist_n_TN
(11,481 posts)And I've volunteered to be the red menace boogeyman if it will help get moderate legislation enacted.
Skittles
(153,138 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)I just sent a modest donation, as I have before... Give 'em hell !
OneAngryDemocrat
(2,060 posts)And keep up the good work!
Doremus
(7,261 posts)If we could have a few hundred more Alan Graysons in Congress (to quote a song) what a wonderful world it would be, indeed!
cliffordu
(30,994 posts)Thank you.
Crunchy Frog
(26,579 posts)when they were both in 8th grade. I even remember seeing his pic in the yearbook, and he was a really cute little fellow. I think he and my brother were even pretty good friends (though I wouldn't be able to find out anything now, since he and I haven't spoken in nearly 20 years).
And gimme a break about those Democratic Caucus Meetings. I'm pretty sure you guys hold seances to conjour the spirits of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin for guidance in your nefarious plottings.
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)Just my two cents and that's with inflation. lol
babylonsister
(171,050 posts)he has a conscience and a sense of responsibility. Thanks for highlighting that.
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)They should chill and then serve with milk!
SwampG8r
(10,287 posts)cold pizza sammich!
2 frosty slices pressed together in a love fest of chilly pizzanality
if you have 2 different pizzas then your pizza sammich options are doubled!
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)...a chilled pepperoni hot pocket.
excuse not to write
(147 posts)hootinholler
(26,449 posts)That's some serious pizza. Have you tried Mylanta?
SwampG8r
(10,287 posts)if orlando ever lets you go again please consider a move to the space coast?
we could use a little new thinking over here
BlueIris
(29,135 posts)I was a little worried about you, after reading the story about the car accident.