FACT: DU has never existed during a Democratic Presidency.....

[FrenchieCat]

And that is what DU is about to experience for the next four years.

During the next four years,
I will be writing about and to my President about the issues that I think are important to pursue,
like Election and Media reform.
Those are issues I desperately want to see happen during his term,
apart from his priorities of Health care, education, a striving economy,
and ending this war, and bettering our foreign relations.

Also, I Personally plan on keeping a close eye on the media, and writing to them
when they attempt to fuck my President's agenda....which is what they will do,
guarantee.

Sure, I'm not going to like everything my New President is going to do,
But I don't feel like publicly giving the media fodder to use against
my Democratic President.....because I fought too hard to get him there.

IT appears that what DU has done best in the last 8 years is to be
against the current administration, and rightly so.....
and I have appreciated and even done my bit in this endeavor.

I also believe that DU helped get our President Elect into office.....

which is why I will do my research and think twice before having
nasty things to say about my Democratic President.....
although I might venture there when totally warranted,
and I will also make sure to communicate such with him....
however, I'll be damned if after 8 long years of sheer hell,
that I will participate in helping my Democratic President fail...


Of course, that's just me.

and so it goes.....

[NMDemDist2]

1. it will be interesting

:hi:

[FrenchieCat]

2. Can we do it? Or will we take him down like we did Bush?

That's a question.

cause so far, 14 days in, it's starting to look shaky here already.

[NMDemDist2]

3. I think it will take some time for it to sink in

we've been outraged and betrayed for so long, it's a kneejerk at this point.

:pals:

[Zhade]

55. b*s* deserved to be taken down. So far, we have no reason to target Obama.

That all depends on what he does.

[babylonsister]

4. You're right. People are so used to complaining, they can't

accept the possibility of things being okay with the new admin.

Good advice, Frenchie. If you have a problem, express yourself. I do think Obama will read his criticisms.

But I'd suggest people hold off til after he's sworn in?

:fistbump:

[NoodleBoy]

5. FACT: DU existed during the last hours of the Clinton Presidency

I'm pretty sure I'm right on this one.

and I couldn't help the obnoxious Dwight Schrute reference.

[NMDemDist2]

6. I don't think so. Skinner and EarlG held up the banner at the Inaugral Parade

so Bush was already prez when the banner hit the TV

right?

[NoodleBoy]

9. I think the site went live in the morning-- so just a couple of hours before Clinton left

er something.

[NMDemDist2]

11. maybe, but no hits til the banner was on TV IIRC

:hi:

[nyc 4 Biden]

36. Please tell me there is a picture of that somewhere.

I never heard of this story.

[NMDemDist2]

40. it was on the news, should be a picture somewhere

and since Chimpie didn't walk due to the protesters (remember that? he had to get in the bullet proof car) I dunno

[FrenchieCat]

8. DU was formed due to Bush's selection....

If my recollection is accurate....in 2001.

Prior to that, for me there was only Buzzflash and Ray Talliafero on KGO, Sf.

Oh, and Mediawhores.com.

[girl gone mad]

27. There were plenty of..

liberal and Democratic boards, newsgroups, e-mail lists, etc. during the Clinton admin.

DU is the biggest and the best these days, but progressives congregated on the series of tubes while Clinton was in the White House.

[FrenchieCat]

31. I wasn't aware of them then.....

because it is the 2000 election that got me pissed off and understanding how totally fucked up the media was.

[CTyankee]

44. Am I the only one here who remembers "Political Wag"?

I found it right before the 2000 election. It folded maybe a year or so later...

[JoFerret]

66. Not true.

.

[firedupdem]

7. I wish people would give him a chance. Just

two weeks ago things seemed great, but the last few days have been crazy. Let's give him a chance before we start bashing the hell out of the person we elected. We don't know what's going on behind the scenes. We don't know all the reasons for the one maybe two, people he's tapped for positions. Let's breathe for a minute and look forward to inauguration day and Bush getting the hell out of the people's house!

[FrenchieCat]

10. I think it's reflects.

Because we are DEMOCRATIC Underground...not 3rd party so anything goes Underground.

So I would imagine that this site is still for the purpose of supporting the Democratic party...

in particular a Democratic President.

[Dem2theMax]

12. Thank you, FrenchieCat. Thank you.

I'm with you.

I trust Obama. If I didn't, I wouldn't have voted for him. I'm going to give the man a chance.
I'm going to sit here and trust him to do the best job possible. And I'm going to support him.

Others can piss and moan all day long about Obama. Not me. Obama is the person I have been waiting for - one person who CAN make a huge difference in this county and in the world. I can't wait to see what he accomplishes.

[BlooInBloo]

13. Yah - I've been wondering if any re-purposing would be coming down from DUGawd.

[FrenchieCat]

47. I think it will be up to all of us to understand the times we live in

and our role in those times.

As progressives, I must believe that we understand that we also must incorporate change in our approach.

[Jennicut]

14. Obama has a tough enough road without all of us complaining about him.

Shrub left a tanking economy, a military stretched too thin, and people's confidence in government in shambles. I just want to see competence which I believe Barack has. Let him take office for God sakes!

[Dr Fate]

15. The only complaint I've had so far is Lieberman- and I don't blame Obama for that one.

It's not like he actually chose the fucker as chairman- we can thank the Senate for that one....

[FrenchieCat]

16. DU folks have already shitted on all of the rumored selected

appointees.....problably more so than the Senate will in the confirmation hearings.

I think we should rename this site, "Anything goes Underground" and get rid of the Democratic part....because I'm afraid that the only we will be doing is helping the media undermine the upcoming administration.

[Eurobabe]

19. I am reclaiming my former life, trusting my new President

and Vice President -- and coming on DU sparingly. I have a life to live again.

:hi:

[JoFerret]

67. Have they? What is the right balance

between expression of ideas/ idolatory/ and sabotage?

[AZBlue]

17. Thank you for your moment of clarity and sanity.

I'm beginnning to really not like what I'm seeing here and we'd all be wise to read your post and bookmark it as a reminder in the months and years to come!

[FrenchieCat]

21. some are over at GD and GDP holding Eric Holder responsible

for the Death Squad's work in Colombia.....which reminds me of when Bill Clinton was called a war Criminal.

So I'm thinking, this ain't gonna end well. :shrug:

[Zhade]

57. Some are, and others are simply pointing out that he defended those who paid murderers to kill.

NT!

[druidity33]

61. Amy Goodman, this morning

said that Holder is representing Chiquita in a lawsuit that has been a LONG TIME in coming involving the assassination/murder of Labor leaders in Columbia. What can i say, it's alarming.

Also, the man was in favor (granted in 1997, in DC) of making simple possession of MJ a felony.



I'm really sorry, but these are troubling things to hear for me...


:(


:shrug:

[AZBlue]

62. I don't know.

Maybe it's just all the pent up energy from the campaigns that still needs to be burnt off?

Then again, there's been a couple of threads blaming Obama for not being progressive enough. The man's been President-Elect for 15 days and President for 0 and his "track record" is up for discussion and criticism? HUH?

[FrenchieCat]

64. Well he did pal around with Ayers ya know!

[mwei924]

18. This place was a lot more fun during the campaign.

Now, it's everyone complaining over things that aren't even decided yet. And people complain about Hillary doing the Republicans job for them...

[nyc 4 Biden]

37. It was fun during the Post-Primaries GE campaign.

During the primaries it was ruthless.

[political_Dem]

20. All in all, we must be vigiliant so that change does happen the way the people want it.

So, this is not a time for anyone to rest on their laurels. Mr. Obama promised us an active role in the way government will do its business. We have to make good on that promise.

[FrenchieCat]

22. So what are you going to do to make the Change be the way that

YOU want it? What are YOU going to do here at DU?

I mentioned in my OP how I was going to go about it.
How are you going to accomplish YOUR Stated Change goal?

[political_Dem]

23. Several things.

Write (or call) my Senators and Congressperson whenever there is an issue I have questions about.
Be active and donate my time towards causes that I believe in that will bring about change for the better.
Write about these issues whenever I have a chance.
Continue to vote in elections to help pass legislation that will help people instead of hurt them.
Research such policies and keep abreast on their developments in and out of Congress.

What else were you driving towards?

[FrenchieCat]

24. Sounds effective.

Which is what we want to be....

Somehow I suspect that some will be destructive instead.
Perhaps it is a fluke....the threads that I have been reading today, I mean.
Hopefully, that's the case.

[political_Dem]

25. When Mr. Obama campaigned on change, he gave the U.S. citizens a very valuable gift.

I feel that we should use this time as an opportunity to work towards social change in this country. Unlike Bush and Cheney, Mr. Obama is not looking down at the citizens as if they are peons. He views us as equals. That is a very important concept to think about during this time.

I don't think the U.S. populace could stand being treated as mindless serfs by the Republican party any more.

I truly believe that the Election had helped the American people find their voices again. That, in itself, is also relevant.

[FrenchieCat]

26. I agree wholeheartily.......

I just think what we must do has to be productive,
and again....not destructive.

[Subtropical]

30. Yes, this is just the beginning!

Because of Mr. Obama, we as a people are inspired again. Thanks to our increased majorities in the House and Senate, we have an opportunity. We must stay inspired, involved, and informed, and add more voices to our voices...
Though the presidential race is over, as Tip O'Neill said, "All politics is local." What can be done at the top is determined by what we do locally. Support Democratic candidates for mayors, councils, commissions, school boards, state houses and senates, in addition to your state's congressional and Senate seats. (Or run for something yourself!)
We've seen what can be done. We've seen that we do indeed have "the power!" (Thanks Mr. Dean!).

[FrenchieCat]

33. Yes we are inspired....although there are forces working to

make us less than inspired. They prefer us to be cynical.

[Zhade]

56. Well, look at it like we just got out of an abusive relationship.

It makes a lot of sense when you do. We expect to be betrayed - after all, the Dems did so before and even after the 2006 midterms, so it's not like there's no precedent.

Wounds take time to heal - time, and a lot of salve.

[pnwmom]

28. I completely agree, FrenchieCat. K & R

[Withywindle]

29. A most excellent point!

I hadn't thought of it quite that way before.

I know that for my part, it still hasn't fully sunk in yet that this is truly a new chapter for America. I probably won't relax and let myself really believe it until about a year and a half into President Obama's first term....

Most of us have spent the last two years obsessing on this election in some way - I bet a lot of us have no clue now what to do with ourselves. We've forgotten how to relax. (Speaking for myself mostly here.)

But what I really WANT to do is trust the man--at least until his frakkin' inauguration, which is still too many months away!

I will write to my Senators as soon as something important enough comes along (well, as soon as I find out who my senator's gonna BE, as one of them just got a big promotion. :D)

I know I voted for the smartest MFs in the room, and for the first time in many years, they won! I'm pretty happy about the Rahm Emmanuel pick too, because while he's pissed me off plenty, I know he's also one of the smartest MFs in the room.

I think that when disagreements I have with President Obama come up, as they certainly will, it's my job to express and convey them - but I will not use the same insulting terms I have about the Chimp, because I do actually believe that Obama is an empathetic and gifted man who has the best interests of the country at heart, which in and of itself is a dramatic improvement over the selfish and ignorant robber barons who've exploited us for the last near-decade.

But still, a near-decade is a long time. People who have been in abusive circumstances don't always snap right up and "act right" when released into better company. PTSD is real, and sometimes unpredictable.

[FrenchieCat]

32. You are very correct in your assessment......

which is why I wrote this op...because I think many of us have forgotten, or don't really know if there should be a difference in how we react to things....especially afer the election. We are so used to having something and someone to be against, until for many of us, it has become second nature. I still think that there are many things to rail at, like the media and our congresscritters.....but I am reminding myself and anyone else who reads this, that we now have what we have clamored for....for the most part, and we should not forget that part of it.

In other words, we have to somewhat regroup a bit in terms of our approach. We have a chance to be heard now, and most likely listened to, but bitching and moaning won't be in the spirit of a new beginning.

[caseycoon]

34. Right on target FrenchieCat!

I don't understand exactly what Obama's game plan is, & I may not be thrilled with what I see, but I will bet my bottom dollar that it's a very smart, cohesive, well thought out game plan! If I was smarter than he is politically then I would be the President-Elect. All I can do is support this brilliant man who has already done more for the American people than our current administration ever did, and he hasn't even been inauguated yet! Good grief! We all need to get behind him & give him a chance to show us (once again) that he IS the man for the job.
Thank you for this post, FrenchieCat. Well said!
:toast:

[firedupdem]

35. kick!

[CADEMOCRAT7]

38. I agree. Hope is a powerful energy, and I am holding it. It is what got Obama elected.

I do my research, as well. I do not believe in making statements unless I have done my homework. I am holding HOPE and feeding it daily. It is a powerful energy that can move mountains, as we witnessed on November 4th, 2008.
I too suffered so much during the last eight years. I am in joy over us getting President-Elect Obama the nomination.
I have much hope, and until history plays out that tells me otherwise, I will hold that hope in support of our 44th President. OBAMA !!!!!!!!

[NashVegas]

39. You Seem To Want An Obama Underground

A web forum that serves marketing purposes with Happy Happy President Obama News more than it's a place for Democrats and Democratic-minded individuals to hook up in one online space and toss information, ideas, and opinions around.

You seem to want a DU controlled in such a manner that insures the MSM can't find anti-Obama talking points here, by insisting no one can criticize Obama policies and administration.

You seem to want a controlled information stream on DU, something that would make it worthless, not only for MSM and GOP muckrakers, but also useless to the people who made DU what it is.

[FrenchieCat]

42. Actually, I just want a Democratic Underground that is not

Hostile to our Democratic President.

I said nothing of the kind that you have written.

But what would you know about that? You've been critical of the Democratic President
as often as possible without seeming obvious....and wouldn't be surprised if your
agenda would be to see him fail. So of course, you disagree....as you have with just
about anything that I have writtten here at DU to date.
Color me surprised! :sarcasm:

[NashVegas]

45. I'm Sympathetic To That Desire

But attempting to enforce that desire by going hostile on people who disagree with Obama's picks or policies goes over the line. The alert button is your friend.

[FrenchieCat]

46. My point was in reference to the fact that DU has never operated

alongside of a Democratic White House. But more importantly, that as blogging activists, we need to understand that our goal is to see this President succeed with the agenda that he laid out to us, rather than to see him fail.....which was certainly the goal with Bush in our White House. That was the point of this OP, and I'm glad to remind those who may have reflects to forget the forest for the trees.

[Zhade]

58. If he does anything to betray us, he deserves hostility.

If he doesn't, he doesn't.

[IndianaGreen]

41. We have an obligation to push the Obama Administration into pursuing progressive policies

Encouraging when deserved, critical when necessary. We also have a duty to oppose the inevitable rightwing attacks on Obama.

[FrenchieCat]

43. That sounds about right.

[budkin]

48. TALK ME DOWN!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

49. You are right. We still have to pay attention and take action when needed.

"But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing. It behooves you, therefore, to be watchful in your States as well as in the Federal Government." -- Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address,

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke

"Freedom is never an achieved state; like electricity, we've got to keep generating it or the lights go out." -- Wayne LaPierre

"Voting is no substitute for the eternal vigilance that every friend of freedom must demonstrate towards government. If our freedom is to survive, Americans must become far better informed of the dangers from Washington -- regardless of who wins the Presidency." -- James Bovard

"Tolerating imperfections is the price of freedom." -- Dr. Thomas Sowell

[noel711]

50. I've thought about that a lot...

OUr strenghth, our energy, our passion arose from our opposition;
now, I'm in a 'lag,' almost a lack of direction.
I know that after the Inauguration, we'll have much to cheer about,
but I feel like a junkie in recovery...
It'll all over: The adrenaline rush of the primaries,
the evenings spent glued to Olbermann,
or the long nights spent in the blue light of the monitor screen,
reading blogs, especially from far flung time zones.

This is not only a new reality in our country,
but a total change for us, a complete turn around...
All those bold ideas we nurtured for years can become reality,
but we risk fracturing our dreams because we worry about being
'the establishment.'

I don't want to become the underground against anyone who is in power;
WE have an opportunity to be the thinking people's party...

But thanks for the perspective, FRenchie....

[Born_A_Truman]

51. You aren't alone FrenchieCat

After eight long disasterous years of bushworld I am going to enjoy the Obama/Biden administration.

DU is like the US after the cold war ended. It takes some time to adjust. At least that's my hope.

[Cha]

52. We've been warming up to

it for 8 years and as my outgoing message says.."Victory, means more Vigilance than Ever!"

Election and Media Reform are the basics and everything else will follow.

http://www.change.gov

[MadMaddie]

53. FrenchieCat very good points

Accountability is the key...our media and our government. As good citizens we are obligated to hold both of them accountable.

[Zhade]

54. I will remain as honest as I have been, regardless of who I'm criticizing.

If Obama fucks up, I'll speak about it. If he does well, I'll praise it.

We'll see what he does.

[FrenchieCat]

59. Seeing what he does is indeed key......

[PretzelWarrior]

60. exactly. other than voting and media reform....

the other linch pin in my pursuit is better primary and secondary education ESPECIALLY with regard to critical thinking skills, US Civics, and other aspects of a school system that make U.S. kids not only "good workers" but also "good citizens" who are an informed, educated citizenry no matter which state and school district.

[Liberty Belle]

63. Hmm....Maybe we need a name change. Democrats out of hiding!

Locally, there's a conservative blog called Red County. When San Diego County turned "blue" with a majority Dem registration a couple of weeks ago, one local Dem couldn't resist asking the blog owner if he planned to change the site's name to Blue County.

:bounce:

[DefenseLawyer]

65. You mean that sell-out, DLCer, DINO, stealth Republican we elected?

While obviously I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments, I also know that some people are only happy when they are bitching and/or the sky is falling. Better to tune them out cause they aren't going away.

[Tigress DEM]

68. NOW it is about EXCITMENT and getting the JOB DONE!

WE will still need to be the mountain movers upon occassion, just this time we will be doing it on behalf of instead of against the administrations wishes.


AND I LOVE YOUR ATTITUDE ABOUT THE MEDIA.

CAN WE GET FAUX OFF THE AIR? Can't we have a group lawsuit for the damages their unfair and unbalanced reporting caused to misdirect the people from the real issues?

[FrenchieCat]

69. I am positive that Obama will make sure that the FCC is reformed

and that conglamoration of the media will be put to a fitting death!

Barack Obama's statement on media concentration, dated 12/04/07

“The rules promoting the public interest and diversity in media ownership are too important to allow the FCC Chairman to force through an agenda supported by Washington lobbyists that favors corporate interests over the people’s interests. I commend the Senate Commerce Committee for passing the Dorgan-Lott-Obama Media Ownership Act. The bill requires what I have been urging for more than a year – that the FCC place its public charge ahead of its concern for corporate profits.

“We must ensure that we have an open media market that represents all of the voices in our diverse nation, and allows them to be heard. One important way to do this is to expand the ownership stake of women-owned, minority-owned and small businesses in our media outlets. The more the rules let media outlets fall into the hands of big media conglomerates, the less likely our leaders are to be responsive to the public’s needs and in particular, the needs of minority communities. The FCC needs to meet its obligations to diverse communities and ensure that broadcasters are doing right by the communities they operate in before it considers loosening any media ownership regulations.

“Congress cannot continue to allow the FCC to move forward with regulatory changes through leaks to the press and closed door meetings. This legislation will ensure that any changes to FCC rules will be done through a fully transparent and inclusive process, fully taking into account the interests of our minority communities. I thank my colleagues for their leadership on this issue.”
http://obama.senate.gov/press/071204-obama_statement_104/

[Beacool]

70. Obama's feet shall be held to the fire, just like any other president.

No one is infallible, we haven't elected the Pope. When it's warranted, he'll be criticized as were the other 43 presidents who came before him. Blind idolatry doesn't foment democracy.

:eyes:

[mbillard1979]

71. I am glad DU is here

I used to read democratic talk radio and listen to their program. This site has more discussion.