Today, it is very hard to be a Democrat ...

[welshTerrier2]

I have been gone from DU for quite some time now. Today, on this very dark day, it seemed like a good time to return. Today, if the "great compromise" on Iraq is as reported, the American political process condemned more Americans and more Iraqis to death and condoned a legacy of violence and greed and imperial power. Today, there is blood all over the republican party; today, there is blood all over the Democratic Party.

We hear talk of deadlines and benchmarks and all the rest of the jargon that goes along with discussing the funding of continued US occupation of Iraq. We hear our very own Democrats using phrases like "there is no way we would not fund the troops." THIS IS NOT ABOUT "FUNDING THE TROOPS." Funding the war and occupation is not "funding the troops"; it is funding an illegal occupation in a country we should never have invaded in the first place and have no legitimate purpose for remaining in.

Make no mistake about it, Democrats are about to vote to give bush the ability to continue the occupation, continue the killing, continue the imperialism. There's no nice way to spin this. You either vote "yes" and authorize more funds for the madness or you vote "no". This is not and has never been about "funding the troops"; what the Democrats are doing is FUNDING BUSH.

Now some will talk about the "pragmatic" argument that "we just didn't have the votes". First, let me offer a great big f*%king BULLSHIT!!!! We should vote based on right and wrong and not based on whether we "have the votes". As many have already said, the Democrats should have given bush absolutely no choice. Funding should have been shut off for all purposes except the safe and rapid withdrawal of ALL AMERICAN TROOPS (including all 126,000 Blackwater hired killers) from Iraq.

And if you don't like that proposal, consider this one. It strikes me as appalling that this was not proposed by even a single Democrat. In fact, I can't say I've even seen this proposal on DU (at least not recently). Here's my idea: Democrats provide one month of funding for continued operations. During that month, they call on the Iraqi Parliament to hold a formal vote on whether they want the US military to remain in occupation. If they do, I would go along with funding until September (and not beyond) provided that an additional provision is added to the funding bill that prohibits any private company from profiting in any way from Iraqi oil and that no permanent bases will remain. If the Iraqi Parliament votes to kick out the US, a subsequent budget would provide only money for a safe withdrawal of ALL AMERICAN TROOPS as rapidly as possible.

Why have the Democrats, with the exception of Kucinich and a few others, not stood up before the American people loudly and clearly to speak against the theft of Iraqi oil. So many of us believe this whole war and occupation has been about nothing but oil and yet, those who supposedly represent us, say nothing. Are the Democrats complicit in the theft of Iraqi oil? I wish one of you diehard Democrats would give a meaningful answer to that question. I'll ask it again. Are the Democrats complicit in the theft of Iraqi oil? Because, if they are, do they not deserve to be labeled "corporatists" and "imperialists" just like the republicans? You say "no"? That's fine; I'm glad to hear it. Please make your case. The total failure of the Democratic Party to raise this issue in any of the Iraq supplemental funding bills makes a pretty convincing case for their neo-complicity. If American foreign policy is going to be predicated on imperialism and if we are going to use our military to force other countries to yield their resources for the benefit of multi-national conglomerates in the oil industry, what the hell good is any person or party that supports that policy. So, please, I beg you, make an effective case and convince me I should not view the Democratic Party in that light.

As I look at the Democratic Party today, and I have been a true blue loyal Democrat all my life, it feels like something has come to an end. Either I've changed or the Party has. Hear these words: it is not possible to serve two masters. Either the Democratic Party is the Party of the people that adheres to the rule of law or it is the Party of Big Oil and Big Pharma and Big Money. You cannot serve both masters. And let's get past all this business about there being "no difference between the two major parties". Sure there's a difference but the bottom line has to be measured by just who is being represented. It's just possible that both parties put Big Money ahead of We the People.

So, today, I am at a crossroads. Today, it feels like it is time to leave the Democratic Party. Today, it feels like I no longer want to say that what my party is doing is OK. Today, I think I can no longer keep pretending by looking the other way. Don't waste my time telling me how this will just help elect republicans; the "this" I see that will help republicans is a Democratic Party that seems to insist on acting like republicans. This will not be a decision I make lightly but it will be a decision I make very soon. I see no way I can continue to support a Party that can authorize more funds and more time for the madness bush has laid down on the Iraqi people. If you want to try to persuade me to see things differently, I'll be happy to hear you out.

[AuntPatsy]

1. Wait until the voting is done, then it will be easier to point fingers.

[welshTerrier2]

2. it's more than just "the voting"

the Democrats have said virtually nothing about banning Big Oil from stealing Iraq's oil wealth. it's not just about one vote or one bill.

and the Democrats have said nothing about LETTING THE IRAQI PEOPLE (or at least their government) decide on whether we have a right to remain. shouldn't the Iraqis have a say instead of only Democrats and republicans?

I'm not making any final decisions today and I will be waiting until after this vote on the supplemental. I can tell you things aren't looking too good right now.

[Olney Blue]

3. I feel betrayed.

[Generator]

4. They can't persuade you

All they can offer is denial, and a real desperate hope that tomorrow is better. That the NEXT outrageous scandal, scraping of the Constitution will be enough for some leaders, to, you know lead. BUT I've been told that those kind of actions are passe. That they can't risk their political lives. And yeah, I figured that out. They have never been able to convince me WHY if it acts like a Republican and votes like a Republican and IN THE END supports a Republican president that many of us believe was never rightly elected, that that makes them a Democrat because they have a D behind their name.

I want to ask these great political minds why purging the Democrat party is not an option, but it's an option for Lieberman to do as he does. Why it's an option for those like Harold Ford to badmouth Senator Kerry and insead give more support to the Republican base than to the Democrats he is supposed to represent.

You will never get any real answers because they live in denial and hope. It's so much easier than the reality that you are totally alone without a party and very few that represent you-EVEN WHEN, at last, after five years, you have become a majority.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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

[welshTerrier2]

7. fair weather friend?

heh, you have no idea ... nice failure to respond to any of the reasons written about in my post ... i won't call you names.

have a nice day ...

[MadMaddie]

6. Rachal Maddow...had a very good point ....Conservative Democrats

pose a bigger danger to us then Republicans....

Don't leave the party....CHANGE THE PARTY.....

The party has been infiltrated by people that call themselves Democratic supporters but they are wolves in sheeps skin

We the true Democratic supporters and believers showed our disgust last November....but our elected representatives did not hear us...

We must vote them out...that's all thats to it...Lets find out who is up for election this time around....and let them know their political careers are on the line....

What we require...

Show some damn spine.....
Put up or shut up .....don't talk about a bill for weeks and then cave...
Let the bastard veto the bill....and then send it back to him again.....

Thats all....

[welshTerrier2]

8. "change the party"

that's where I've been for the last bunch of years, MadMaddie .. I've worked with various flavors of PDA and other local progressive Democratic groups.

but, more and more, especially on Iraq, I am truly sickened by the failure of the Democratic Party to "just say no". it's just not OK with me ... my Congressman, Jim McGovern, is one of the best in the House. I'll continue to support him and other selected Democrats. but, more and more, it feels really lousy to proudly announce "I'm a Democrat" ... it just feels lousy ...

why can't they stand up to bush? why can't they say "no" to Big Oil? why are they caving in on lobby reform and all the "K" Street money? do all you diehard Democrats reading this care about any of that? is it not important?

for all the years the party had no power, we were told "just wait; you'll see" ... well, here's their chance. it doesn't get any more important than voting to continue or to stop a war. can anyone feel good about the Party today?

I hear your message Maddie. I respect it. I'm just not sure I can do it anymore. We'll see.

[MadMaddie]

10. I know you are weary....and I know you are tired

But the fight is just beginning....We are all tired....and dissapointed...

But we will make things change....

We have to look back at the late 60's and early 70's and improve on what the anti-war protesters did....

And I agree it's just not okay with me either....and we do care about the lawlessness committed by this Administration.....Treason to be exact...

And something else to keep in mind...it has only been 6 months since the Democratic party gained control.....
I was saying to a friend today....look at all of the shit...12 years of Republican Shit that they have to go through and try to fix....

It won't happen overnight. There is no excuse for giving in on the war funding bill...totally unacceptable.

Hang in there!

Take a break....enjoy your life...enjoy your family....read....drink some vino...

:grouphug:

[welshTerrier2]

11. party registration

yes, the fight is just beginning. and it's certainly reasonable to argue the Dems can't change years of republican control overnight. but neither of these points makes a case for remaining a "registered" Democrat.

that's the issue I'm dealing with right now. why should I remain a "registered" Democrat? why should I show a symbolic association with a party that violates some of my deepest beliefs? this doesn't mean I would vote against all Democrats.

at this point, it's hard to see how else I can demonstrate my objection to what the party has become. I certainly wouldn't give another penny to the DCCC or the DSCC or the DNC. not a penny. would I support a progressive Democrat in a primary against a conservative Democrat? sure. but if the conservative Democrat were to win the primary, I will no longer support him or her. blind party allegiance is not the way.

the bottom line issue for me, and this is most clearly illustrated through our policy on Iraq and through our trade policies, is that the Democrats are either serving big money and big corporations or they are serving the best interests of the American people. the recent "trade" compromise and the anticipated (today?) Iraq compromise seems to cast their lot with the wrong crowd.

it's unconscionable and I can't see how remaining a registered Democrat does anything beyond sending a message to the party that all is well. that's not a message I can send. as for voting in the primaries, my state allows me to "pick a party" on primary day and then immediately return to independent status. that seems like the path I'll likely choose after the Dems sell us out on Iraq.

[tlsmith1963]

9. Demand Impeachment

I've had it with these jerks. No more fooling around. I'm tired of even living in a world with neocons in it. It looks like *we* will have to change things. The people in Congress won't.