Hey, folks, about last night...

[derby378]

I have to admit that I am still floored by Pete Stark's retraction and apology, plus the chilling effect his statements could have on others who would speak out against the occupation of Iraq. Last night I was both demoralized and furious, and it showed in some of my posts.

And I do realize that Stark is not the only one at fault for the retraction - Nancy Pelosi had publicly distanced herself, congressional Republicans were pushing for censure, and even some congressional Democrats were ready to tag Stark with a black mark on his name.

What you saw last night was yet another manifestation of frustration from a grassroots DUer who is simply sick and tired of Democrats backtracking from any semblance of speaking truth to power. But I know a lot of people in Stark's district love him to pieces and support him - and some of his constituents made their displeasure with me known in no uncertain terms.

If you're happy with Stark and want to see him remain in Congress, that's cool with me.

I'm still waiting for a Mr. Smith Goes To Washington moment that will break the stranglehold that the Bush junta has on Pelosi, let alone Congress. But y'all are still just fine in my book.

Truce?

[hisownpetard]

1. Funny. Pete Stark's apology was a 'last straw' kind of moment for me, as well.

I wrote a post entitled "Off Day," saying in effect that I was too demoralized to write any emails, sign
any polls or make a single contribution to anyone.

I think the contrast between how happy his original statement made me and how deflating it was to hear
that he had apologized just crystalized in one huge melt-down for me. It seems that many other people
had the same reaction.

I mean, I can keep going and going and hoping and hoping, as long as - once in a while - I get tossed even
a crumb. But the disappointments never seem to stop.

I'm back on track again today, but I wanted you to know that you're not alone. We all go nutz, every once in a while!
January 2009 cannot come a second too soon.

[Javaman]

2. Mr. Smiths body was found in a trunk of a car at the bottom of a fast moving river. nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. I don't see why anybody's surprised.

It's been a pattern for the last seven years now. Some democrat stands up to Bush, rightfully. Right wing media acts shocked and insulted. The democrat then "apologizes" several days later.

Same shit, different day.

[SmokingJacket]

4. I'm not surprised, but have really, really had enough by now.

I'm thinking I might be ready to take a break from politics, DU, the news, etc. I've had outrage fatigue for years; now I have fatigue fatigue.

Maybe I'll pop back up in time for the primaries. Or not...

[walldude]

7. I pop in once or twice a week

once for the top 10 and once to play with the trolls. Every once in awhile I'll start a thread but lately DU is no longer the sanctuary it once was. I used to come here for sanity's sake but now, it's just another noise machine. If it weren't for a certain few members I'd have bailed long ago.

[Ladyhawk]

14. Then I'll ask you. :)

What was your sign DU jumped the shark? :)



I remember you well, walldude. It's funny, but I check in every so often (like you) and just shake my head, glad I pretty much left DU to its own devices some time ago. This place is more smoky than Southern California with flamebait and the hypocrisy is stunning.

I learned that quite a few (most???) of the people here really don't give a rat's ass about actual living, breathing people.

[hisownpetard]

5. A lot of thought that this was going to disrupt that recurring pattern. Wrong, again!

[TornadoTN]

6. No need to truce with me, I'm with you

I posted about it yesterday and put it in my journal. I'm just about at my wits end at how much inaction and complacency there is in our Congress.

[PassingFair]

8. I'm glad he said it, apology or not.

Everyone HEARD it.

We know the apology was coerced.

[monmouth]

9. Yes, the memory of Stark's words will linger, that's what matters...

[Pastiche423]

10. No

When a Dem finally stands up and tells the truth, he should be backed by his party.

He should not have been forced by the party's "leaders" to apologize.

They are already a number of Mr. Smiths that went to Washington in Congress. Unfortunately, the Dem "leaders" will not allow them to speak.

I have been paying attention to the representative across the Bay for many years. He has always spoken truth to power. And I believe it was despicable what the Dem "leaders" did to him.

[derby378]

11. I agree with you...

While I am upset with Rep. Stark for backing down, I am also upset at a Democratic-controlled Congress for even allowing a Republican-backed censure vote to make the Congressman from California apologize in the first place.

It took a hell of a lot for the Senate to censure Joseph McCarthy back in the 1950's. What exactly has Stark done to warrant similar treatment from his colleagues in the House?

[Pastiche423]

12. Why do you keep saying you are upset with Rep. Stark for backing down?

He did not back down. He was FORCED to apologize by the Dem "leaders".

So no, we do not agree.

[derby378]

15. But the censure motion failed...

To me, that signalled that Stark was free and clear. Now, maybe something else happened behind the scenes that pressured Stark into recanting, but if so, I'd like to know about it.

[Pastiche423]

16. Are you actually saying

that you are unaware of the pressure Steny and others put on him over the weekend?

He was told that if he din't apologize, he would be censured. That fact as been all over this board for the past four days.

Have you watched or read his apology?

[derby378]

17. Saw it myself, and here's the text

I want to apologize to my, first of all my colleagues, many of whom I have offended, to the President and his family, to the troops that may have found in my remarks as were suggested in the motion that was just voted on. And I do apologize. And, for this reason: I think that we have a serious issue before us - the issue of providing medical care for children. The issue of what we do about a war we are divided about ought to end. I hope that with this apology I will become as insignificant as I should be, and that we can return to the issues that do divide us, but that we can resolve in a better fashion.

And lo, the hate-bloggers are chiming in: "Yeah, you are insignificant, and I hope you stay that way, you loudmouth liberal Saddam-lover." You know the extreme right considers Stark's apology as a victory. And I've seen enough DUers who are demoralized by the apology to know that the retraction did not help out our side at all.

[Pastiche423]

18. You would rather he been censured?

[derby378]

19. I would rather that Stark called their bluff

Something along the lines of: "You're fellow Democrats. And just take a look at your approval ratings because of your complacency. You wouldn't dare censure me. You don't have the fucking nerve."

These are the deeds that separate the men from the boys...

[Pastiche423]

20. Oh for god's sake!

He had no fucking choice! But you go ahead w/your bs.

What part of the Dem "leaders" would not back him do you not understand?

[Ladyhawk]

13. So, what was your sign that the Democrats jumped the shark?

:)

I would ask what your sign was that DU jumped the shark, but that might get me in trouble. Wait a minute. I did ask. Ewps.