Yes: I am ready for new Democartic Party leadership and with good reason!

[Chasstev365]

I am the last of a dying breed: An unashamed New Deal Democrat. For most of my entire life time, I have seen a Democratic Party that plays defense instead of offense, checkers instead of chess, and operate like boy scouts against a street gang, aka the GOP. Here is a partial list of what I mean:

1. In 1968, the Nixon Campaign cut a deal with the South Vietnamese government to ruin the Paris Peace talks until AFTER the election. There is even a tape of LBJ informing Sen. Everett Dirksen that it was treason. What was done about it? NOTHING!

2. Similarly, the Reagan campaign cut a deal with Iran to keep the hostages in captivity until AFTER the election. What was done about it? NOTHING!

3. While the Iran/Contra scandal did lead to some minor convictions that were later thrown out, what happened to Reagan and George H. Bush? NOTHING!

4. In 1988, Michael Dukakis allowed George H Bush to insinuate that he was unpatriotic. Why the hell didn’t he ask Bush in one of the debates the following, “As head of the NSC, you either you knew all about Iran/Contra and lied about it or you were incompetent and did not know what your underlings were doing.” “Which is it?” Did Dukakis fight back? NO!

5. When President Clinton took office in 1993, the new administration announced there would be no more investigation of Iran/Contra or Reagan Bush. It was time to move on!

6. In 2004, the Republicans were able to swiftboat a two time, decorated, volunteer war hero in John Kerry by a spoiled brat, elitist, “W”, who got daddy to get him into a champagne unit of the Alabama Air National Guard from which he may have been AWOL, instead of going to Vietnam. How could a party allow this to happen?

7. When there were serious questions about the corporate made electronic voting machines, especially in Ohio in the 2004 Presidential election, what was done about it? NOTHING! These dam machines still plague us in 2017!

8. After lying the nation into a war that killed over 100,000 innocent Iraqis, 5000 American troops and ruining the lives of several thousands of wounded vets, the Democrats regained power after the 2016 mid-term elections. Speaker Pelosi famously said “impeachment was off the table”; like a cop telling a criminal that no matter what you do, we won’t arrest you. Did the Democrats fully investigate the decision to go to war? No!

9. As the biggest political scandal in US History was unfolding, an outgoing Democratic President Obama decided not to go public with the startling news that Russia was trying to interfere with our electoral process out of a fear that the man who unconstitutionally blocked the President’s right to appoint a Supreme Court justice (Mitch McTreason) might make it a “Partisan, political issue.” OMG Really?


I’m tired of playing nice with people who ruthlessly have under minded American Democracy for over 50 years! YES; I AM PISSED AT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY! I am tired of bringing a slingshot to an assault weapon gun fight. THIS is why many of us want new, bold leadership to take on the treasonous fucks who call themselves the Republican Party!

[pirateshipdude]

1. I am not. Our experienced, knowledgeable, smart Democratic leaders are holding Trump

at bay. They are uniting the Democratic Party, not playing petty games trying to divide and weaken the party. I am pissed at the people working so hard to destroy us and causing havoc with non facts, because they could not win, nor get the Democratic base.

[KPN]

3. Holding him at bay? Dunno bout that.

He and his cohorts have already done a lot of damage.

[pirateshipdude]

6. Yes. And they have tried to do a lot more.

This is what happens when dishonest Republicans lacking integrity hold the House, Senate, And the Presidency. What do you expect?

[KPN]

119. This is also what happens when one

of the two major parties has lost its way.

[OldRedneck]

44. WTF are you smoking?

Whatever it is you are smoking, it's some S-T-R-O-N-G- shit. How about putting me in touch with your supplier?

I was born in 1944 in poverty-riddled, KKK-ruled Southwest Mississippi. My Granddaddy was an FDR Democrat. He ran a small grocery store in Mississippi and a big country general store and cotton gin in Louisiana. I worked in his store; when I was 12 years old, he let me start working in the cotton gin where I was the only white person. Granddad taught me to drive at age 12 so I could deliver groceries in his old 1948 DeSoto -- 6 cylinders, 3-speed.

Granddad had two framed pictures on the wall in the cotton-buying office at the gin: Jesus and FDR. When he prayed, I never knew if he was praying to Jesus or FDR.

FDR save the rural South with the Rural Electrification Administration and the National Relief Act. The REA put electricity down the road where Granddad lived, enabling him to electrify his dairy barn, buy a refrigerator and an electric cream separator -- he tripled the size of his herd and hired two men to work at the dairy. The NRA allowed him to borrow $500 with which he opened his store in Mississippi, hiring two more people.

Granddad HATED the Klan. As a result, the occasional shot was fired through the front window of his home; a shed behind the gin was dynamited; an occasional fire was set at the gin. He carried a pistol and slept with a shotgun. A young black man who worked for Granddad tried to register to vote. He was dragged from his house late one night by the Klan, lynched, and burned. Everyone in the county knew who did it but no one was ever arrested. About six months later, the two men who everyone knew lynched Willie were found shot to death, lying in a creek on some property Granddad owned a few miles from the gin. Years later, Granddad told me: "They were Klan trash."

So -- what does this story mean?

1. NOT ONE DEMOCRAT TODAY IS WILLING TO STAND UP TO THE REPUBLICANS THE WAY FDR DID. In his second inaugural address, FDR said of the Republicans:

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me—and I welcome their hatred.

I should like to have it said of my first Administration that in it the forces of selfishness and of lust for power met their match. I should like to have it said of my second Administration that in it these forces met their master."

2. Listen to his speech here:

Now tell me: Is there ONE -- just ONE -- Democrat since FDR who has had the balls to say anything like this about Republicans? Shit, Bill Clinton repealed Glass-Steagall, one of the most important pieces of New Deal legislation, thereby leading DIRECTLY to the 2008 crash.

Obama had control of the House and the Senate for two years. He could have instituted national health insurance. But, oh, no . . . that was too much of a reach.


3. We don't have any "knowledgeable, smart Democratic leaders." We have a gaggle of career politicians who are sucking at the money tit, just like their Republican twins. And we certainly don't have any Democratic leaders with the vision and the courage of an FDR.

[GeorgeGist]

54. Why do people think that someone talking cray cray is ...

smoking good stuff?

[secondwind]

64. I think Obama had a very small window for passing

the ACÁ. I think it was a couple of months only. Don't forget we lost Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd. The GOP filibustered everything. It's a miracle we got the ACÁ passed at all.

[First Speaker]

77. Wow--what a great post!

...thanks for sharing. That great FDR quote is an old favorite of mine, and more applicable than ever. And that little vignette you gave about the Klan and your family...oh my. There's a whole Faulkner novel buried inside those few sentences...

[KPN]

120. Preach it man!

In Obama's defense re the ACA v single payer, there wasn't even the support for single payer/universal health care/Medicare-for-all within the party. The Democratic Party lost its way long ago -- and sadly lost sight of FDR style progressivism and its principles. But overall -- awesome post.

[FoxNewsSucks]

129. Damn right!

Where are the FDR democrats today?

[kcdoug1]

107. They are definitely NOT unifying the party my god!!!!!

[pirateshipdude]

108. Not the handful that does nothing but throw out criticism, true or false. You are right. Eom

[Break time]

132. WOW

Just plain fucking WOW, holding trump at bay? trump and the rethugs are walking all over the dems and the USA at will...we are thoroughly and completely fucked unless they learn to fight fire with fire....

[vi5]

2. Same here.

But sadly, the people that control everything within the party want things to stay as they are and keep rewarding failure. At a certain point we'll be down to 5 Senators and 2 Representatives and the same people will still be shouting about how they trust our leaders, and will dig in deeper to to prove how much "It's not us....it's THEM".

Our party wants to keep going after the mythical unicorn of "reasonable, Republican voters" at the expense of inspiring and working hard to appeal to the many more unengaged, unenthused non-voters who are out there.

[elehhhhna]

95. Same here. They dumped Howard Dean

And the DLC moved the party rightward with all their centrist bullshit.

I didn't leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me.

[vi5]

97. I find it so laughable....

...the frequency with which my Democratic party "credentials" or whatever you want to call them are questioned.

I've been a registered, primary voting Democrat since 1986 and have donated countless of dollars and hours and sweat for the party in every single solitary election from dog catcher up to President since then. I've never not voted for every possible Democrat on every ballot in 31 years INCLUDING 2016.

Yet because I at all question the fact that our party has become just as bad as the Republicans have with regard to being a cult of personality and just doing and saying things and keeping people in power out of spite and despite repeated failure.

I read recently that someone said "Trump voters would let him shit in their mouth if it meant that the liberal next to them had to smell it." and I think just as much so on here you could say the same thing about the party apologists about anyone who dares suggest that we need to change anything.

Republicans have nothing on certain segments of our party with regard to never, ever admitting they were wrong about anything.

[elehhhhna]

101. OMG, same here same length of time and

The Democrats just aren't liberal enough for me anymore. Sorry.

In my daddy, rest in peace, a Nixon Republican, is spinning in his grave at what these motherfuckers are doing in his party.

[OhNo-Really]

121. The Third Way Democrats

Worthwhile research

FDR had compassion

[Chasstev365]

8. Little Dude?

[awesomerwb1]

5. Have a question for the more knowleageble

Do the dems ever hold meetings (DNC?) like the reps do?

If not, I think it's time the Dems held a mini convention for a couple days to agree on a unified message and as a sign of unity.

I don't know. It's country first and that means getting rid of the rep tumors foreign and domestic for the betterment of the country. I don't wanna be the "good guys" who lose and lose anymore when it's at the expense of the country and the world by extension.

[pirateshipdude]

7. The Democratic base has tried repeatedly.

Sanders and a few others simply want to destroy the party and take it over. Sanders has been making this statement for four decades. We saw and continue to see what happens when the base continually work with outliers.

[LBM20]

15. It seems the weak messageless corporate lite status quo has destroyed the party, not Sanders.

Under the status quo we've been OBLITERATED all over the country. The R's DOMINATE. Um, seems as though something needs to change.

[pangaia]

73. So I am a halfwit because I supported Bernie? Thanks. Thanks a lot.

[disillusioned73]

74. I find it hard to believe..

that the same person posted #44 & #45...

[pangaia]

75. That is an interesting observation.

#45 called me a halfwit and said fuck me.

That's ok. I don't take it personally.

[disillusioned73]

83. I just looked at them again..

very odd.. it's like worlds colliding.. lol

up is down & black is white..

[juxtaposed]

86. That sounds like what R/W hate radio spouts everyday.

[pangaia]

72. HUH ???

[KPN]

122. The base has tried what?

I have to also wonder who you are referring to when you say the "base". Having voted 100% Democrat in every single election since 1972, I consider myself part of the base -- but I also had the nagging feeling of the party leaving its "base" for at least 20 years.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. Yes both parties hold strategy meetings

usually as a "retreat".

The question for you and others posting of late, have YOU ("editorial 'you'&quot joined your state/local party? Orgs like Indivisible have encouraged that type of involvement and activity, and have even shown people how to run for office.

Complaining and pointing from the sidelines is useless. Get involved.

[awesomerwb1]

14. Yes, the "retreats"

I know what you're saying, but Indivisible and other organizations are popping up to feel a void. And that's on the dem leadership.

We have to pull together, but great inspiration comes from great leaders. It's time for one to emerge.

[BumRushDaShow]

20. Indivisible and many many other groups

are doing what is called "community organizing". Hell, Obama's original organization - "Obama for America" did the same thing back in 2008 and now the technology has expanded to make it even easier to do. That OFA has morphed to "Organizing for America" and continues working.

What you call a "void" is actually the true "grass roots" way of having communities get involved in groups focused on various activities in support of the party at the LOCAL level (granular level). If you want the actual "party" to do that, then have you contacted the local office to see what things you can do for them as part of "community organizing"?

Tip O'Neill oft-used the phrase "All politics is local" meaning that people look at what is immediately happening to them where they live and work. I.e., things tend to achieve better results when the decision-making comes from the "bottom up", rather than relying on the "top down" approach (which is what people seem to be complaining about).

[awesomerwb1]

24. Thank you, appreciate your very informative post.

[BumRushDaShow]

28. Remember ACORN?

A group that did voter registration that was destroyed by the RW loon James O'Keefe. There were and still are a number of groups that focus on just that - registering people to vote. These are supplemental to the "party", which is generally charged with taking care of administrative things but also does fund-raising, phone-banking, ride-sharing, poll watching, etc.

Good luck!

[Delmette2.0]

92. Exactly, work at the local level.

People need to understand what Medicaid cuts will do to them, their extended family, their community.

I think every Community should hold Town Hall meetings bring in Medical Leaders, Business Leaders and ordinary Main Street people and ask them do you understand what losing Medicaid will do to your local Hospitals and Clinics? Even if you have good insurance and the hospital is closed you don't have medical care. If the medical staff is laid off what is that going to do to local businesses? If you are on Medicare and have the QMB coverage then you will have to pay the Medicare premium and supplemental insurance on your own.

I am all for universal health care, but people need to know what it involves for them. Will the medical riders on auto and homeowners insurance go away? Will Medicare still be deducted from their paycheck? How much will their income taxes increase?

All I know is that the present system is not working for most people.

[pangaia]

78. DEMS should call theirs an advance.. NO RETREAT!!

[BumRushDaShow]

80. !!! 😜

[George II]

53. Of course they do.

[MineralMan]

9. Well, the Democrats in the House of Representatives choose

their own leadership by voting. We each get to vote for one district's representative. Mine supports Nancy Pelosi. How about yours? Who is your district's representative?

[Chasstev365]

11. Jan Schkawski: she's good!

[MineralMan]

18. Did she vote for Pelosi as Minority Leader?

You could tell her that you wish she hadn't, if so.

[Chasstev365]

19. I did at a town hall.

[MineralMan]

25. So, I take it that she did vote for Pelosi.

Will she be running again in 2018? Will you vote for her, or will you try to get a new candidate for the 2018 ballot?

All those questions...

The people who represent us represent all of us. While I frequently express my opinions and concerns to those who represent me at the local, state, and national level, I recognize that mine is just a single voice. I think my voice is important, but that's because it's my voice. I have always recognized that the people we elect are not dependent on just our individual voices, but the voices of everyone who votes for them.

So, my representative and your representative vote for the House leadership in their party. I don't know Nancy Pelosi, even though she was a House member when I still lived in California. Not in my district, though. The people who make up the Democratic caucus in the House, though, do know her. They voted her in as Minority Leader, and have voted for her as Speaker, as well. I figure they know her better than I do, so I defer to their judgment on who they want in leadership.

It's interesting to be one of the many voices speaking to those who represent us. But, I have no illusions about being any more important than anyone else is is speaking to them. I have my say, and then let my representative use her best judgment. If she consistently votes counter to my wishes, I can work to elect someone else to represent me. But, that's almost never the case, in my experience.

[Chasstev365]

29. What is the fixation that Nancy can do NO wrong and anyone who doesen't support her is disloyal?

[MineralMan]

40. I'm not fixed on that at all.

She is the Minority Leader. Neither you nor I can change that. If a majority of the Democratic Caucus wants to replace her, it can. It's not my decision, and I have more important things to do than bother with that.

Nancy Pelosi has been very effective when it mattered that she be effective. That's why she keeps getting elected to that leadership position. I don't vote on that. My Rep, Betty McCollum does. I'll leave her to it. She knows the needs of the Democratic Caucus better than I do, after all.

[SCantiGOP]

43. Only racists and sexists oppose Pelosi's leadership

At least that is the predominant theme these days at DU.
It is damn near impossible to have a fact-based discussion about whether she is the best person to lead the party to a House majority in 2018.
I do know that nearly every ad against the Dem who came within 3% of winning a SC deep-red seat this week tied him to Pelosi.
It may be that she is a liability outside of liberal districts that are going to naturally go Democratic.

[emulatorloo]

82. Have you confused the role of House Minority leader with the DCCC?

House minority leader manages the House Democratic Caucus, and Pelosi is damn good at it. She knows how to work the system effectively. That is why the house Dems keep re-electing her.

Leading the party to a house Majority in 2018 is NOT her job.

Getting more Democrats elected to the house is the job of the DCCC:

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
http://dccc.org/

If we're going to have a fact-based discussion we're gonna need to have our facts straight.

----
As to GOP lie ads, they will demonize any Democratic who works hard and is in a position of power.

[SCantiGOP]

96. You might want to read my post

Then you wouldn't be making your smart comments that show you didn't understand what I said.

Is there really any difference in her helping to elect Democrats or with her being used by the opposition to defeat Democrats? She has become a liability in all but the most Democratic districts.

[emulatorloo]

115. I understood perfectly.

You attributed the job of supporting and electing Dem candidates to Nancy Pelosi, which is in fact the job of the DCCC.



As to your point about Pelosi appearing in Koch-Bro type lie ads, she's demonized because she does a good job of twisting arms and getting votes to push back on the GOP agenda.

If she's replaced by a inexperienced blue-dog white guy, Republicans get exactly what they want: a weak inexperienced House Democratic Leader with no where near the chops of Pelosi.

And then they'll demonize him.

BTW those lie ads about featured both "Demon Pelosi" and "Satan Sanders". Yet I have not heard anyone claim Sanders is a liability and should be replaced. I don't believe that's sexism. But something weird is going on in these threads.

IMHO they're both out their fighting and they need to keep what they're doing. YMMV

Lastly Republicans vote for Republicans.

The key to win in Red Districts is finding more Dems to register and getting more Dems out to vote.

[KPN]

123. You haven't heard any one claim that

Sanders is a liability? Say what?! When was the last time you were here?

[emulatorloo]

124. I am saying both Sanders and Pelosi were demonized in those ads.

I am specifically talking about the OP's about the anti-Ossoff lie ads, not other threads on DU

The focus of these "Pelosi Must Go" threads which argue she is "Toxic" don't mention that Bernie is also featured in those dark-money lie ads.

As I said before I want both Pelosi and Bernie out there as part of the Trump resistance.

I have no interest in purging Democrats that Republicans don't like.

However I find threads that talk about those dark money ads demonizing Pelosi yet ignore that the ads also demonize Bernie strange.

If there was any intellectual consistency, people calling for purging Pelosi because she was used in a lie ad against Ossoff would also say Bernie should be purged.

That's why I find the threads wierd.

Repeating: I want Bernie and Pelosi both out there. They are demonized by Republicans because they are effective leaders.

[KPN]

125. Gotcha. Clarification appreciated.

I'm pretty much with you then ... at least on those two.

[emulatorloo]

126. Anytime

[KingCharlemagne]

134. Point of information: how can Bernie be "purged" if he's not a Dem

Party member? Or do you mean "purged" more in a figurative, metaphoric sense?

[emulatorloo]

136. DU'ers with their hair on fire can call for a "purge" all they like.

But only voters in Pelosi's district have control over whether she stays in the House or goes.

Same with her leadership position, her colleagues vote on that. Not DU'ers.

Same with Bernie, VT voters decide whether he stays in the Senate or goes.

IMHO very likely voters are going to keep Nancy and Bernie right where they are!

[George II]

59. No fixation. But what's the fixation about ousting Pelosi as the Democrats' HOUSE leader? What...

....will that accomplish.

None of your points (several of which took place before Pelosi became the HOUSE leader) have to do with Congressional leadership, but PARTY leadership (if even that)

You're confusing the HOUSE Democratic Caucus with the Democratic PARTY.

And to take off on your question to me yesterday, "By the way, why do you have to be so unpleasant in your posts about Democrats?"

[Lonestarblue]

79. No one said she could do no wrong,

but Tim Ryan is wrong to say that the Democratic brand is worse than Trump and that Pelosi is toxic to the Democratic Party. Prior to his run against Pelosi, few people outside of Ohio had even heard of Ryan. His rants against Pelosi are self-serving, and he is doing the party itself no favors by giving Republicans something to use in their future ads about how bad the Democratic Party is. Although some Republicans speak out against Trump, you do not hear current members of Congress trashing their leaders the way Ryan has trashed Pelosi. Heaven knows that McConnell could be trashed easily! I think people are coming to Pelosi's defense because they see that Ryan is unfairly blaming her for Democratic losses in heavily red districts. Think about it and ask yourself how many Republicans are trashing Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell in the national media. Yeah, none. Republicans don't have to run down our party; we do it for them!

[mythology]

103. There is the objective fact that she is good at her job

Look at how poor Paul Ryan is at getting his caucus on one page. Look at how John Boehner literally sang Zip-a-dee-doo-dah when he resigned. Nancy Pelosi would never have those problems.

[BeyondGeography]

33. Nita Lowey...she's older than Nancy

Ever check to see how old we are? Any concerns at all that it might be a problem? Does it bother you that the Republicans might actually be managing this aspect of their business better than us?

http://www.politicaldog101.com/2016/11/16/the-age-thing-for-democrats-in-congress/

House Democrats do not have term limits for their committee chairs, as Republicans do. The average age of the Democratic ranking members on the 22 House committees this Congress is 68. The average age of the Republican chairmen is 60. On only four of the 22 committees is the top Republican older than the top Democrat.

The seniority rules mean that the most important committees are led by the oldest members. The ranking Democrat on the Judiciary, John Conyers, is 87. Ways and Means ranking member Sander Levin is 85. Nita Lowey, ranking on Appropriations, is 79. Maxine Waters, ranking on Financial Services, is 78. For context, the Republicans who lead those crucial committees are 78, 64, 61 and 59.

— There is palpable concern among Democratic elites around town that too many of these ranking members in the House are not pit bull types who can effectively argue for Democratic principles on television and during floor debates. It’s a refrain you hear constantly: Do Democrats really want the 85-year-old Levin running point against the GOP’s drive to repeal Obamacare and negotiating what could be the most significant rewrite of the tax code in a generation? Do they want the 87-year-old Conyers being the tip of the spear against a Trump Justice Department and all the scandals that could potentially bring?

[Crunchy Frog]

12. You forgot the 2000 stolen election, and the ever increasing voter suppression.

As well as the Dems letting themselves get steamrolled into going along with the Iraq invasion.

You're brave to post this, as I don't think it's a very popular sentiment around here.

[Chasstev365]

17. Absolutely: great catch!

[usaf-vet]

67. IMO the whole purpose of the 2000 election was to get electronic voting in every polling place.

Watch this short video. This guy has studied hacking of voting machines and he knows how unsafe they are.

[LBM20]

13. It needs to be the STRONG party again like FDR, Truman, and Kennedy. WEAKNESS LOSES VERY TIME!

[_BravoMan_]

50. Then we need to get rid of the parasite that is called the Third Way.

That is the corporate Democrats who doesn't care about you and just take your money and spend it on keeping the consultants rich.

We are all suckers for keeping them afloat. We are constantly told we need to run right-wing Democrats to challenge the Republicans. That is the wrong strategy. I'd rather vote for someone who is for the little guy, rather than getting dirty money to buy their votes, and remain loyal to that said megadonor.

Money out of politics. Period. I would demand that every Senator and Congressperson start wearing corporate logos if they have accepted money from companies via PACs and whatnot, so the PEOPLE can see what they are really for.

We are dangerously getting closer to this becoming a documentary, rather than fiction.

[ananda]

16. Yes!

I want to see some fight with spine!

[BainsBane]

21. and Bernie lectured the Democrats about not politicizing the Russia investigation

Because, he said, there might not be collusion at all.
So who exactly passes your test?

[Chasstev365]

22. Who said anything about Bernie?

[BainsBane]

23. So who passes your test

That was my question. Do you have an answer?

[Chasstev365]

26. Currently, Al Frankin and Elizabeth Warren

Now, let me badger you for an answer:

Do you really think the Democratic party had been an effective, unified, on message political party against the GOP over the last 40 years?

[Madam45for2923]

35. Tom Perez tried to have unity tour, he tried hard. HRC added some of Bernie's ideas to platform and

thus tried to unite.

Some people just not interested. Just wanna criticize the DEMS and not much to say about the GOP -to the point it seems like sabotage. Please forgive me if a smell a skunk.



Chasstev365
26. Currently, Al Frankin and Elizabeth Warren

Now, let me badger you for an answer:

Do you really think the Democratic party had been an effective, unified, on message political party against the GOP over the last 40 years?

[Chasstev365]

38. I been supporting Democrats for 40 years & wil continue to do so

Forgive me if I am tired of the Republicans (Lucy) yanking the ball away from Democrats ((Charlie Brown) everytime.

[BainsBane]

46. How do you arrive at 40 years as your marker?

Is that your age, the years you've been voting? Or is there something else?

[Madam45for2923]

56. Whites have been a majority in the USA since they showed up in the continent centuries ago.

GOP has been attracting whites (and definitely racist whites) since the DEMS accepted and became an umbrella for POC.

Yet whites were the majority so were able to win more at Federal, State and Local level.

Bill Clinton's win was surprising because POC shot him to the win. Meant their votes made a difference.

POC numbers have increased, and it made GOP try their best to suppress and alienate. Whites had most means (money, MSM, jobs) so they were able to make inroads into suppression and alienation.

But times they are a'changing (Trump is one last over-reaction! I know the GOP is weak) and that's why I feel great. That's why I don't capitulate to people trying to sabotage me or my party. I won't fall for insincere concern or feed any vultures.

I know I am part of the party. I know that I have a say. I feel no need to just criticize. I WANT TO ADD!

[BainsBane]

42. Neither of whom are in the House of Representatives

And all of the criticism has focused on Nancy Pelosi, not Chuck Schumer. Al Franken is my Senator, so you can thank me and the rest of my state for that contribution to the Senate.

Over the past forty-fifty years, the Democratic Party has led efforts to deliver voting rights to millions of non-white Americans, implemented laws requiring equal pay for equal work and prohibiting discrimination against LGBT Americans. It also passed a national healthcare bill, something presidents since Teddy Roosevelt have tried to do.

I do not pine for the days when none of that mattered, when the party's sole focus was the industrial and financial elite and white men.

The Democratic party has been out of the Oval Office for 8 months, not 40 years. In most of that 40 years it has held congress.

Additionally, your points about how they weren't combative enough toward the GOP is inconsistent with your reverence for the party of yore. The two parties were then far less combative and adversarial then they are today.

[juxtaposed]

88. don't answer, it's a trap!

[BainsBane]

89. Don't worry

I can handle myself. I already answered it anyway.

[leftstreet]

27. You make excellent points

and you did a good job of making your case without focusing on personalities

You'll take heat, but good on you for doing your work

DURec

[Chasstev365]

30. Thanks!

[Madam45for2923]

31. WE are the party! Did you send your above message to the party!

Did you join DEMS in person. Do you know your chairperson. Did you use your voice to add something and not to just criticize?

We are the party. Each of us canfind whichever offices are in our towns and make an input.

[chimpymustgo]

32. GREAT post. We need REAL fighters leading the DEMOCRATIC PARTY -NOT the Washington Generals who lose

time and time again.

WHY do we let them KEEP stealing elections? And when we're in power, we can just barely pass the barest bones of humane legislation.

How do we manage to lose state houses and governorships across the land? How do we NOT EVEN RUN CANDIDATES in districts we might win?

Something ain't right here, folks.

[Madam45for2923]

41. Obamacare was not the barest bones of human legislation. It was a huge achievement.

[chimpymustgo]

48. Have to disagree. It lined the pockets of the insurance and drug companies. It did very little to

control costs. And not it's about to be over. Not much of an achievement. Except it did get people wishing for REAL health care. Universal. So I'll take that as badge-worthy.

But that's off the subject of what our party is doing to WIN - and not roll over on the theft of our country.

[luvtheGWN]

60. From my perch north of the border

I was continually disappointed that the Democrats proved fatally flawed at messaging re the ACA. They allowed the GOP to tell outright lies over and over again. They could have pushed for medicare for all IF ONLY they had bothered to explain that the small amount of tax increases would have been MORE THAN OFFSET by the absence of insurance premiums -- you know, like every country with universal healthcare has experienced.

I could only surmise (and don't have the stats to back this up) that there were too many Dems in Congress who were (and still are) beholden to the health insurance companies, and to private hospital corporations and pharmaceutical companies.

BTW, if you really want to understand how the GOP has taken over 34 Governorships and state houses, along with the House and the Senate, please read Jane Mayers' "Dark Money". It will make you madder 'n hell (warning to those with high BP) but it surely helps explain why the so-called "United" States....are not....

[chimpymustgo]

61. They work while we sleep. "Dark Money" is the reality we live in. We don't even fight anymore. n/t

[ismnotwasm]

34. Your post cherry picks and distorts

As well as ignores how politics work, much less how legal or legislative action works. I'm not sure what you're ready for in Democratic leadership--a new system? A new party?

[pnwmom]

36. In other words, in your lifetime EVERY group of Democratic leaders has been flawed.

So why do you think another group will be better?

Welcome to reality. Human beings are flawed.

But with regards to #8: it was absolutely right that Pelosi took impeachment off the table. Impeachment without a conviction is a joke, and a 2/3 Senate vote is needed to convict. That was never going to happen and she was smart enough to see that.

[gtar100]

37. Well said.

Everything you stated I consider to be legitimate gripes about the Democratic party... or rather how they respond to criminal activity done by republicans.

[Jakes Progress]

39. Hardly a dying breed.

Because of gullibility, many erstwhile "die hard" Democrats are carrying water for the Koch's and rw propaganda.

So. When are you going to announce and run. I would be interested in your platform. And in the results of any such efforts. If you are pissed and think there needs to be new leadership, file for election and get busy. This may sound flippant, but people we both seem to admire like Franken and Warren need help. Local office is a good starting place.

I think you are a little over the top about Democratic incompetence and are a little naive about how elections work and how Washington works. I, too, wish that we won more and spent some of my time decrying the third way. But I lived through those time and remember that we were losing consistently and dearly until Bill Clinton. Hindsight (well, myopic hindsight) lets us complain about all the things that Clinton and Obama didn't do. Clear evaluation will show us how much less would have been done under a second term Poppy or an any term mccain. Like or dislike the third way, no old way Democrats were winning - or are likely to again anytime soon.

[NCTraveler]

47. "I am the last of a dying breed"

Didn't you just do this yesterday?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029236024

Transparent.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

85. Good catch

[bresue]

49. What have these suggestions to do with Pelosi? Can't we have more than one leader?

We are a vast country extending from east to west with a lot of territory and people between! We do need strong Dem leadership that is not afraid to get in the fray...and that is why I respect Pelosi so much.

However, is anyone asking for Schuman to step down? We can have many, many strong leaders to defend our view points.

I say embrace Pelosi...she is irritating the RW...if the Rubs are aiming at her first!

[blue-wave]

51. Here's what I said in another post.

And I'll stand by it. My belief is that republicans are behind the attempt to divide the democratic party. It's the only way they can save themselves from the current mess which they wallow in daily.

We would not have the ACA, which the rethugs are attempting to repeal, without Speaker Pelosi. Politics is not a perfect science. "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you get what you need." Thank you for doing your part in bringing health care to millions of Americans, Speaker Pelosi!


From the other post:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=9243785

[Jopin Klobe]

52. Absolutely, positively, most definitely ...

... CORRECT! ...

... the sooner - the much, much better ...

[leftofcool]

55. Get back to me when a "new" Democrat actually wins an election.

[NurseJackie]

57. Please...

... stop.

[stonecutter357]

58. Fox and the RWNJ's agree with you..

[Demsrule86]

62. Nancy does not play nice with GOP types which is why the want her gone.

Ryan on the other hand has told me when I called his office he would work with Trump.

[Madam45for2923]

68. Oh wow! Hahahaha!!! Good to know.

[Dustlawyer]

63. Campaign donations have ruined both Party's and

it is ruining our country.

NO MORE!!!!

[Chasstev365]

84. This is one of the key problems

Many Democrats are afraid to be Democrats because they too are dependent on corporate campaign donations.

[Demsrule86]

93. Right...and how exactly when we are in the minority and have to fight big dark money to win

elections do you propose to do this? There will likely be 100 million coming against Sherrod Brown in 18.

[Dustlawyer]

109. We have to start pushing the media and politicians

about it. We have to talk about it and march like we did the Women's march, whatever.

Most of our problems are caused by the ability of the wealthy to buy the government like they never have before. The media is complicit. We must find a way to make ourselves heard however.

[Demsrule86]

133. We have been doing all that.

I appreciate the sentiment, but as long as the GOP owns Congress and has Trump, they will get media attention. We are fighting back, but we have limited power.

[patphil]

65. Well said, Chasstev365

I also lived through all of these events. I have seen the Democratic Party become less and less relevant to the actual needs of the people as they gave lip service to those needs. It has become a party of people of power; a different wing of the 1% club.
I have felt the need for change in my party ever since the Clinton sellout to the ultra rich in the 1990's.
If you don't agree with me, look what happened to a true populist when he tried to buck the Democratic establishment in the last presidential primary. The same thing that the Republicans did to Ron Paul 4 years earlier.
The two major parties are simply two sides of the same coin.
You can't expect fundamental change from the same people...only the illusion of change.
The other side "drained the swamp", only to fill it with bigger, meaner alligators.
The other side wants to "make america great again", even though they lack the single one thing that could possibly allow that to happen...Love!
So, we need to be better; a whole lot better than we have been to counter the mean spirited actions of the Republicans.
It may not be easy, but truth will out if the tellers are worthy of the message, and have the courage, strength and determination to build a party that is truly loving, compassionate, and fair to all.
Don't tell me I'm dreaming. I already know that. All of us have dreams. The best of us can make them into reality.

Pat Phillips

[Demsrule86]

98. Welcome to DU...yeah he said it on many different threads...

Funny how all this popped up...

[PufPuf23]

66. You forgot the Supreme Court awarding the 2000 election to GWB.

Reagan literally gave away a huge amount of National Forest timber - timber already sold and under contract. Under Reagan the contracts were negated and the timber re-sold at much less than the initial bid award, often to the same purchaser, with less environmental protection and less investment in the National Forests associated with the timber projects.

Also 9-11 and the weak 9-11 Commission.

Also the 2008 financial meltdown created under GWB.

[LiberalLovinLug]

69. Kick and Rec!

[Egnever]

70. Good for you!

Vote make it happen!

For me I am not interested in that model as the one I am a part of I am not looking for an America that is even nastier than we are already. Fuck that shit Democrats don't act like that for a reason. They are decent people not knuckle dragging assholes.

We get on the knuckle dragger bandwagon and what is it we are fighting for again?

[disillusioned73]

71. Wow.. THANK YOU

[joshcryer]

76. Me too, but I want people invested in politics.

Not former NGOs or "community organizers." I want people who actually know what the fuck they're doing, who had a purposeful desire to be in politics. Like literally every young Republican who is taking over every legislature in the country. That's how they're winning, they're actually recruiting active politicians, while we run idiots who make us feel good but who aren't actually experienced in the inner workings of political circles.

With Trump we see how neutered, in reality, the Presidency really is.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

87. So who do you suggest as a replacement?

Especially when it seems you've repeatedly have posted on this topic.

I'm also noticing there are a few low post count people on this criticizing the Democratic Party. Getting a strange sense of Deja vu from that.

Don't get me wrong, constructive criticism is healthy but those who oppose the status quo should at least have an idea of a solution. Otherwise they're just doing the Republican's work for them.

[Demsrule86]

94. Which may be the point.

[elehhhhna]

102. Pretty much anybody who's an old-school liberal, not a centrist asshole,

And is under 60 years oldish...

Exhibit A – Obama. Two out of three wasn't bad.

Th only older guys I'd be willing to vote for at this point are Biden & Franken.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

105. Obama is not in the House of Representatives.

And Tim Ryan is a centrist asshole. Nancy Pelosi is not unless it's her age you have a problem with.

Plus as one who turns sixty this year I prefer someone with experience.

However she won't be there forever. Do some research and maybe suggest her replacement to your congressperson.

[L. Coyote]

90. Let's belike Republicans and put the amateurs in charge?

Tough argument these days.

[bigtree]

91. this is a joke

...you're claiming you're angry over the Democratic Congress in 1968?

Down the line you've done nothing here but unload on generations of Democrats for what are clearly sins of republicans.

Btw, the 'New Deal,' for all of it's landmark advances, was a sieve of compromise and privilege.

This nothing more than negative pablum, curiously offered up at a time when our party is unified and moving forward. I think that's what's motivating detractors to criticize our Democratic leader this week - not this ridiculous jumble of decades of internet whining you've presented here - none of which has ANYTHING to do with ANYTHING our party or country needs right now.

It's 'Democratic,' btw.

[Demsrule86]

99. Yeah, Democrat is a 'tell'.

[Demsrule86]

100. Also, what a great post...awesome.

[FreepFryer]

116. +1. Smells GOoPy in here. (n/t)

[GulfCoast66]

131. funny getting so made about about a party

Whose name you do not know??

These threads are getting more transparent by the day.

[bettyellen]

104. You think all Dems have sucked for 40 years, LOL. Just go away.

[Chasstev365]

106. Go away? LOL

What a witty come back! NOT!

[bettyellen]

110. We're on to this "Dems sucked for 40 years" crap. You're fooling no one.

[Chasstev365]

111. Really? First of all

1. I never said the Democrats have completely sucked for 40 years. I did say that the Republican always gain the upper hand because Democrats have been too timid at many crucial moments.

2. I am fooling no one? Reread the posts: many people AGREE WITH ME!

[bettyellen]

112. Many people agree w Trump in cyberspace, so what was your point?

[Chasstev365]

113. So, now I am equated to a Trump supporter because I am critical of the party?

We're done here!

[bettyellen]

114. When your rhetoric mirrors RW talking points, don't be surprised people notice it.

Of course we notice it. If you believe Dems since FDR have been useless, you don't know enough about Dems to lecture anyone here. I'm sorry but your post is deliberately divisive.

[Owl]

117. Well said. Thank you!

K&R

[Gothmog]

118. I strongly disagree with your analysis and conclusions

Your hatred of the Democratic Party is misplaced and is wrong

[wasupaloopa]

127. Who do you prefer and what is their track record?

It is so damn easy to recite a litany of your grievances but you give no solutions or replacements.

Just chop off their heads.

I would never follow someone like you because you are not a leader. You have no record of fighting for what you want. You are like a baby in a crib crying and whining wanting someone to fix what is bothering you.

You recite all you grievances out of context of what else was going on at the time.

No I won't listen to or follow someone like you.

[Chasstev365]

128. Good! Please Don't!

[FoxNewsSucks]

130. A-FUCKING-MEN!!!

I am a LIBERAL, a pissed off disgusted LIBERAL, and the #1 reason I haven't yet officially registered as a Democrat is exactly what you described.

The party keeps moving to the right - appeasing corporations, billionaires and republicon scum. When they fight back, I'll join. When Democrats had majorities, republicons obstructed almost EVERYTHING, yet now Democrats are powerless???? WTF??

I generally like Pelosi, but it is time to let younger new people start taking responsibility and moving up in power. Enough of these long-term insiders not allowing anyone new to move up. Pelosi did accomplish a lot while speaker, and may be a good leader in other areas. But where is the place for the next generation of leaders that will be genuine liberal fighters? Why are they being denied opportunity?

Frankly, her immediate "impeachment is off the table" showed that she is a DC insider. It's as inexcusable as Ford pardoning Nixon.

[Scruffy1]

135. I'm with you on this one.

It seems that all of the fight has gone out of the democratic Party. Much of the public can perceive no difference, except on social issues such as gay rights, abortion, and gender equality. It's time to actually stand for something. Most of our current senior leaders are multi millionaires and fully vested in the system as it is and. I know some of them are great, but the optics are bad.
I am really tired of the hacked voting and the other things, and have studied how the Republicans screw us in elections for years. It's all true, but when Trump gets as many votes as he did, we have a real problem.
One of the problems the party has is the ability to communicate with low information voters. You have to remember we live in a poorly educated country where a fourth of the poulation believes the sun revolves around the earth. Obama care is a good example of something too complicated for many to understand, which left it wide open to demagogury. Keep it simple is the lingua franca of politics. where was the great slogan in 2016? Oh, I forgot.
The thing that most rankes me though is the inability to outpunch the slime. It's like none of the party leaders ever get righteously pissed off.
My life story is much like Old Redneck's. My There was a time being a Democrat meant you were a fighter, Now it seems to meanyou will eat shit and like it.