"The Dem Party... and that damn "Big Tent."...some thoughts about DK *

[Desertrose]

*- edited to tweak title a bit.....DR


Saw this posted over in another thread in GD and by golly- it was so darn good...I thought it deserved its own thread!
I agree with ya, kspidel, and I bet a lot of others do too....
Peace
DR


My biggest fear... The Democratic Party... and that damn "Big Tent."

I consider myself a Progressive FIRST and a Democrat SECOND. Let’s face it. I love the notion of a Green Party, we need additional parties, and more progressive agendas to be advocated for, however we will NOT see a third party in our life time. I wish it were true, but we need to take back the party. If we as progressives united at the neighborhood level, became PC’s and got on the State Committee, we can advance this dialogue within the party!

The party has lost focus… and as of today still lacks an image, a stance, a message! What does the party stand for other than a “Big Tent” a lot of internal bickering and frustration even amongst the core! I will admit… I too have taken part of this internal bickering. What Democrat hasn’t! We need to listen to each other as we all come to the party with different view points. From the far left, to the extreme centrists, we all are part of this party. To go back to my title of this post… what scares me the most is the fact is we will have 3 years to prepare to take on Bush. And what we have is 9 candidates who represent each a part of the party. How in the hell are we as a party going to rally behind just one?! And HOW will that nominee represent the views of the party the best. My fear is we will get a Dean or a Clark, who after the nomination will move far into the center (possibly even the right) to grab those Republicans who disagree with Bush. How far is the party willing to go to grab those votes until it abandons its core values! Look how far we have gone already! People like Kucinich and Sharpton are advocating issues that once were at the core of the party, and now they are painted “extreme leftists.” WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PARTY?

I am going to quote someone I identify with almost 99%.

"The Democratic Party doesn't have a compass. What does the party stand for? The only reason why people would want to vote Democratic is if there were real alternatives offered. What's the alternative being offered by some of the Democratic front-runners? President Bush would keep us in Iraq; many of the Democratic front-runners would keep us in Iraq. Bush would keep a privately run health care system; many of the Democratic front-runners would keep a privately run health care system. Bush would keep us in the World Trade Organization and the North American Free Trade Agreement and let the trade deficit grow, and many of the Democratic front-runners would do the same.

"I reject where the Democratic Party has gone. I think the Democratic Party has abandoned its roots. I think it has abandoned the cities. I think it has abandoned people of color. I think it has abandoned blue-collar workers, and it has abandoned the practical aspirations of people for peace. I'm ready to help redefine the party. Frankly, if we don't do that, there's no way this party is going to be able to defeat Bush." – Dennis Kucinich

We need to regain that compass. We need to stand for something again! And we need to unite behind ONE Candidate that can bring this big tent together… not divide. I have seen division from almost all candidates except Braun, Kerry, Kucinich, and Sharpton. Yet the media and democrats become fixated on the debate/fight between Dean and Gephart in Iowa, or the centrist conservative dialogue like Lieberman.

I end this post with two questions…

“HOW DO WE UNITE THE PARTY AGAINST BUSH?”

“WHAT DO WE WANT THE PARTY TO STAND FOR?”

a sample of http://spidelnetworks.blogspot.com

[a_lil_wall_fly]

1. Great post

:toast:

[LuminousX]

2. Longwinded way of saying "Bushlite"

[Desertrose]

3. by looking at your "yellow light" choices LX

I'd take a guess that you disagree, with the bushlite definition, right?


Peace
DR

[blm]

4. I want a liberal Democrat in office

and this is the first time in my life that the choice is even there to make. I am not easily fooled by rhetoric because I am always looking for the record to back it up. I am more comfortable with a real liberal speaking in moderate language like Kennedy did, than a real centrist who coopts Nader's rhetoric without having Nader's record..

I was loyal to whatever Democrat got the nod, whether Clinton or Gore...both of whom did a great job WHERE they COULD under the toughest of circumstances.

But neither of them governed as far left as I would love to see. (I think Gore would now, though.)

[leftbend]

5. This is the last guarantee

I will vote for the Democratic candidate this election because it so important to remove Bush. This is my last guaranteed vote especially if the party continues to cater more to the "swing vote" and "undecideds". I believe the Democrats need to remember the old adage of "leave with the one that brought you to the dance", or I'm looking for a new date next time. I want my country back! I want my party back! GO KUCINICH
Peace

[Desertrose]

6. great analogy...heh heh....

"leave with the one who brought you to the dance".....love it!

and welcome to DU leftbend! :hi:

Peace
DR