So Just How Marginalized Has The Democratic Wing of The Party Become After This Week?

[stopbush]

There was a lot of screaming and whining and threatening and name calling (mostly of the president) and much of it was justified on the merits (at least when taken in isolation).

But the 83-vote landslide in the Senate yesterday coupled with the indications that the House will pass the legislation without alterations says clearly that the Democratic wing of the party has once again been left out in the cold (this week's meetings were apparently held in Buffalo). Not only that, but they have been neutered in their ability to demand meaningful change to legislation like the tax cut bill.

I've become less of a hardcore leftie in my old age - still left of center, but hardly a purist, so I'm ready to continue to stand tall as a D and to work for Obama's reelection.

I realize others are not so sanguine about the future.

So I ask, what are the serious options a pissed off leftie should consider at this point? Go third party? Sit out the next election? What?

How will you be spending the next two years?

Serious responses are welcome (along with the humorous as long as they're actually humorous).

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. As I did in '08, I'll vote for most anti-war, progressive, on the ballot..or write one in.

[ladjf]

3. I'm a senior citizen and I've never voted for any candidate who

wasn't a Democrat. However, in 2012, I have intention of voting for Obama, who I consider to be a Republican claiming to be a Democrat. To me, he has turned out to be a cruel hoax.

[Hello_Kitty]

4. Let me guess, your SS is safe.

I'm also guessing that when the Catfood Commission recommendations come down you won't want to be too "purist" then either.

[MineralMan]

5. Oh, goodness. The Deficit Commission is gone. They did not

vote to forward a final report. You may have missed that little bit of information. There is no "Catfood Commission" any more. They failed to produce a final report. The only thing that came from it was a draft, and that did not succeed in getting the necessary 14 votes.

[T Wolf]

6. But their toxic ideas are still rolling around DC, just waiting for implementation by some method.

If you think nothing will result that looks like any of their recommendations, I have a "Change We Can Believe In" poster to sell you (cheap).

[subterranean]

10. One of their ideas is about to be implemented starting next month.

The payroll tax cut for 2011 (and possibly beyond).

[laughingliberal]

11. +1000 nt

[Hello_Kitty]

12. I find this Potemkin village Deficit Commission theory rather remarkable myself.

Supposedly the whole thing was set up as a clever ruse to fool Alan Simpson. A double secret 11th Dimensional Chess feint that was obvious to many DUers but totally faked out the Republicans. And now, poof! It's gone and all of its ideas with it. Like magic!

[Hello_Kitty]

8. And I guess you missed the discussion of considering some of the recommendations

In the upcoming session. And I predict an instant transformation of many DUers into hardcore deficit hawks as soon as the President signals support for them.

[laughingliberal]

13. Not a doubt in my mind about that. Every one telling us the President doesn't want to cut SS

...will soon be here yelling how it was necessary for whatever effing reason OR how he had no choice given the current makeup of the House, the Senate, the position of the stars, blah, blah, blah....

[Hello_Kitty]

15. You know it! DU will be full of deficit hawks all of a sudden.

And we'll be called whining pony purists out to destroy President Obama for objecting to our SS being cut to bail out billionaires.

[stopbush]

7. I don't know if my SS is safe. I'm 56, and I don't see myself being able to retire

at 65.

For now it's safe, but a lot can happen in 10 years.

My advice to you under-30s: find a way to make a shitload of cash for yourself. If you're going to college, take a business minor.

[TBF]

9. I call "BS" on your "hardcore leftie" story -

I've read a few of your apologists posts today and you may be liberal but there is nothing left about your pro-establishment posting.

I will not be voting, it has become ludicrous to expect any change through electoral politics.

[stopbush]

14. Sand, meet ostrich.

[TBF]

16. lol @ your last post -

"My advice to you under-30s: find a way to make a shitload of cash for yourself. If you're going to college, take a business minor." - there's a leftist talking point all right ... :rofl:

[DemocratAholic]

17. I'm embarrassed to say this

I'm not exactly sure what I will be doing over the next 2 years, but I can tell you what I did this past election...which wasn't very much. Which is in stark contrast to what I normally do, I am usually quite active. I just felt utterly depressed during this last election campaign. I was so disappointed in the Democrats in the Congress, and what I perceived to be their lack of standing up for Democratic principles. I just lost faith in the Party...or at least the ones we had sent to Congress. I made a couple of YouTube videos, but that was about it. I also lost faith in progressive organizations (like MoveOn.org)...because I didn't perceive them as doing anything except sending me emails asking for donations. In order for me to become actively involved, I really do need to feel inspired, and feel like something good is going to come from it. I also was so disappointed in the Party as a whole, particularly the Party apparatus. When Howard Dean was chairman of the DNC, he really inspired me. I always saw him on TV, and every time I saw him I would feel so inspired. I honestly have absolutely no clue who is the current chair of the DNC. When I was listening to Democrats saying that they were going to support Crist for Senate in Florida, that kind of stuff was just a total turn off to me. When I saw a complete lack of effort by Obama to support Democratic candidates, that was another huge turn off. If I am any reflection of the way that many feel, who are normally quite active during campaigns, I can understand why we did so badly during this past election. I really have the feeling that many politicians within our Party just don't appreciate people like me. I feel like they think all they need is money for TV commercials. So, to answer your question, if I continue feeling like this, I probably won't do much of anything. I'm quite ashamed to say that, and I hope something changes soon. If I don't feel inspired to do things during the election, I will usually spend my free time reading about my favorite football team or doing other things that interest me.

[Bandit]

18. Personally I will sit the next election out.

I can not bring myself to vote for Obama at this point in time...He is doing more damage to us than any Republican could have gotten away with..He has completely lost my trust....

[Arctic Dave]

19. Since I live in a "red state" and getting redder because of the national spineless wimps party

I will give to local candidates only. I will not throw away money, time or resources thinking for a second Obama has a chance in this state.