Reply #27: piggybacking onto your comments

[American liberal]

I see DU like a "dialed in" microcosmic view of the Left. As Gary Hart said yesterday on "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" (NPR game show), Republicans are corporatists pretty much in lockstep, whereas the Democratic Party is a party of "coalitions," comprising many, many groups of people. Although it is much more difficult for us to arrive at consensus, I think we're a lot more fun to go out for coffee or dinner with.

Our diversity is one of the things I LOVE about the Left. That said, I have posted several times recently that we MUST rally around leaders who are capable of consensus building and are media savvy if we are to gain some ground on the formidable Republican machine. And make no mistake, regardless of how we feel about the Republicans, they currently have the control and have been very effective in pushing their own agenda, so far. We can cry foul all we want, but it's only by taking action that changes can be made.

Out with the namby pambys in '06! In with courage and conviction! If we don't stand for something, we'll fall for anything! We can be all over the place here and amongst ourselves, but in the so-called public eye, our representatives MUST speak with one voice and we have to back them no matter what. I think, although I don't agree with her, that's what Auntie Bush meant in her thread about Cindy Sheehan, that she's diluting "our" message. Otherwise, the Right will use our very best quality (our diversity) to divide and conquer us, and they will win AGAIN! I've seen it happen. They've got a lot of tricks up their sleeves: Diebold, redistricting, fraud, corruption, and lots and lots of corporate funding. We have to be smarter, faster, more savvy, and more entrepreneurial if we are going to make progress this year.

I appreciate the OPer trying to get a handle on where the Left stands on the "issues." I agree that there is a lot of "noise" on these boards. We are, in fact, all over the place. Just scroll through the subject lines in GD. We cover the bases--and then some. And our representatives have their pet issues.

I was reminded yesterday while listening to the online Town Hall Meeting conducted by House Dems that it's the grassroots efforts of people like you and me that will truly make the difference in this next election. Remember, with the current makeup of the legislative branch, the 9/11 commission--regardless of how flawed its findings were--never would have happened if those Fire Department widows hadn't pushed and pushed and pushed to MAKE it happen.

We've got to get disciplined and organized and push and push and push our reps to support an agenda that WE determine is the most relevant. and MAKE them accountable to US! It's that simple. Now I really must get back to work. These boards can be so distracting sometimes.

Peace,
AL