DISQUS

jamesl05 · 3 months ago

I have lost complete faith in the Democrats. I recently changed my voter registration and left the Democratic Party. I thought they were a Party that represented my views but I was fooled. I'm not boycotting funding, I'm boycotting them entirely.

I fully understand that by not supporting Democrats that my vote for a 3rd Party is "wasted" in the eyes of many. That my abandonment will allow Repubs to regain control and that I wouldn't like that even more. Though this is true, the way I look at it I'll be unhappy either way and I don't see the logic of being less unhappy is somehow better. I'm still unhappy!

So from now on I will do my part as an American and a Voter and only vote for what I believe in, not some regurgitated garbage. I'm not saying that anyone labeled as a Dem I will not vote for, they just have to actually stand up for what they believe in.

SCLiberal · 3 months ago

I'm with you. At this point we have a choice of voting for corporate control or against it... and this is regardless of party labels.

rduke · 3 months ago

Count me in. No more holding my nose and voting for Corporate owned Democrats just because they have a "D" after their name. I'll vote for change. Real change, not the Obama BS change.

currier · 3 months ago

Sorry, but Dems have no one to blame but themselves. In the almost year that Obama has been in office it seems like they have accomplished little.

Additionally they have demonstrated that in so many ways many Dems in congress are just as in favor of Big Business as the GOP is -- just look at the healthcare bill we're getting as opposed to the one the people want.

I never thought I'd say this, but it is time for a viable third party -- the US Governmental System is very, very broken.

naschkatzehussein · 3 months ago

It is time to start a third party which represents the progressives and liberals. The Democrats no longer do. And 2010 is a good time to start, with congressional seats not the presidency. Bernie Sanders started in the House. A seat in the House costs a lot less than a seat in the Senate or the White House.

larryv · 3 months ago

No its time to work hard to define the Democratic party from the inside. It takes a lot of work...block by block, precinct by precinct....a "progressive" third party will be no more successful than any other party without basic hard work. You cannot win elections..even Obama..via TeeVeee and a yard sign. You have to knock on doors...sway your neighbors. Howard Dean laid out a blueprint...note, I said blue print not blue dog who are Rahms creation....grassroots democrats are not centrist, grassroots demmocrats are not as conservative as they are portrayed....its the weak kneed democrats who run for office kissing ass trying to get GOP votes which do not and will not come.

nicho · 3 months ago

Republican - Democrat is a false dichotomy. Yes, there are some differences between them, but they are all employees of the corporatocracy. Democrats are, on the whole, nicer people -- Republicans tend to be shits -- but they still do the bidding of the lobbyists.

naschkatzehussein · 3 months ago

We know up front that the Republicans are shits, and while I agree that the Democratic rank and file are on the whole nicer people, I always feel stabbed in the back by the party leaders. So maybe the Republicans are the "gentlemen of the Balkans": they stab you in the gut when you can see them.

TheOriginalLiz · 3 months ago

What do you expect in a country whose citizens have been dumbed down to the level of considering Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh worthy of their admiration?

dula · 3 months ago

This will just push the Democrats further to the Right. They will never learn that their failure to be aggressive with Republicans makes them look weak and inneffective. I don't get why the Independents who voted Democrat in the last election would go back to Republicans because they are dissappointed in Dems rather than go Third Party.

SCLiberal · 3 months ago

Me either but if people did vote third party, regardless of the outcome, it would send a strong message.

condew · 3 months ago

It would also ensure a Republican victory.

NotTimothyGeithner · 3 months ago

Yes, but when the choice is Republican policies from Democrats or Republicans, not voting or voting for a third party doesn't seem like that big of a deal.

jamesl05 · 3 months ago

Isn't that what we have currently with a few small differences?

SCLiberal · 3 months ago

At this point I no longer care.

nicho · 3 months ago

So?

Andrew · 3 months ago

Because many indies vote for people they like or believe in, not necessarily their specific stances. W got re-elected because people trusted him, liked him, and he was a fighter (this last one being the most important). We thought BHO would be a progressive, thoughtful version of W, but instead he's proven to be another typical wimpy D. The D's Congress will never understand that Americans like bold actions, and people who fight for what they believe in (even when its wrong).

Keith & Dustin · 3 months ago

I don't know why the Democrats continue to fail at leading over and over. They fought so hard to get the majority and the White House and now they just continue to piss it away. Why do they fight for the leadership positions if they don't want to lead once they get it? Every republican falls in line when needed but the Democrats always fight amongst themselves on key issues. However, I think the most blame falls on Obama for not being the leader he said he would be.

Griffon · 3 months ago

"It's fixable. But, it requires boldness and leadership. Democrats being Democrats, instead of acting boldly, they will probably become captive to those who want to do less."

The biggest hindrance is that truly bold and insightful leadership would want nothing to do with the spineless, sycophantic majority of democrats or the ruthless, hypocritically unstable republicans.

The Compliant Media would dutifully marginalize the best choices.

The alternative would be to foster a networking entity (moreso a plexus) apart from the MSM and support a qualified example of real leadership.

SCLiberal · 3 months ago

"The Compliant Media would dutifully marginalize the best choices."
We saw that when they shut out Kucinich during the presidential primary.

therepguy · 3 months ago

My God, just how may times must the American be reminded of the simple fact, that g.w. bush, the nation's wonder child and the republican congress gave us in this mess, (i.e., finical, military, social and every other category one can thing of) over an eight year period!

As a result, I cannot image of any reason to put this party back into power in my lifetime!

I will go to my death convinced that g.w. bush planned & engineered his economic collapse to hinder whom ever followed him — so as to slow progress and cripple future reforms!

The "Wigs" during its demise gave the nation the "Republican Party" and what will the GOP give the nation after it's demise — the christian fascist movement?

NotTimothyGeithner · 3 months ago

Its a 30 year problem that began with a belief that "capitalism is magic." Its not merely George W. Bush. He was an inept and probably sped up elements, but the basic mess is direct result of a flawed economic philosophy that the current President seems to share.

nicho · 3 months ago

Exactly. Bush was merely the denouement of a process that began actually earlier than 30 years ago. It began with Bush's grandfather and his pals in 1934 who plotted to overthrow FDR and install a fascist government. When discovered (and were not hung for treason as they should have been) the movement went underground and began to resurface after WWII. It kicked into high gear in 1980 when the mentally ill Reagan was placed in the White House -- the corporations were given unfettered power -- and the rest is history.

SCLiberal · 3 months ago

"My sense from the 2008 elections was that American people wanted leadership and wanted Obama and Congress to actually solve problems. Based on the these latest Gallup findings, that's not what they're seeing."

I totally agree and, like you, believe the Democrats will become even more conservative. Despite being on the hill, they can't see anything around them. As of right now I'll be staying home next election.

tim · 3 months ago

"It's fixable"...Are you serious?
2010 is going to be a slaughter!
Unless of course all the Black and Latino's vote for their candidate, he is NOT mine. Their votes are likely and they'll save the day, I suppose, if you want to consider that "fixable"?
But for a proud male homo like myself, there is nothing for me in the future, or as far as I can tell in my lifetime, that would make any change, of any kind, relevant to my existence/hopes/efforts as a progressive liberal and I'm only in my 40's.
Fixable??????????????
OMFG!
What kind of fantasy country do you think you live in?

tim · 3 months ago

I realize my comment above may read a little disrespectful. That was not my intent, my apologies. Still, these ridiculous notions of a country or institutions that may still be relevant to any progressive liberal is just too much nonsense to abide. There simply is no evidence to support any notion of that sort.

condew · 3 months ago

Of course Republicans are doing well; they've simplified their entire agenda down to a single word that even a two-year-old can understand; "NO".

NotTimothyGeithner · 3 months ago

Modern Republicans are tribal nuts, loyal to the tribe at all costs. George W. Bush could come to their house and break their stuff, and they'd thank him and ask him to shit on their kitchen table.

Fletch · 3 months ago

Dede Scozzofava might disagree... Not to mention that Bush's bank bailout only passed on the votes of the Dem majority in Congress

NotTimothyGeithner · 3 months ago

Are you saying trying to win over Republican voters and operating on a one dimensional (left, middle, and right) political spectrum is a flawed concept?

barts · 3 months ago

If the Dems don't want to shed any more congression seats they'd better insure that the Healthcare gets passed and installed quickly so the people can see that it is working and the sky is not falling.

If they can't get united and more aggressive behind at least one piece of legislation then they don't deserve to govern.

Too bad so sad, I guess we'll need additional years of evil repub rule until the Dems get it right.

teammarty · 3 months ago

But, even if passed, it won't take effect until after the 2013 election so O'Same can run on it before we notice (we're not supposed to look behind the curtain) what a disaster it is.

Kelly · 3 months ago

I'm not too worried. There are no "generic Republicans" left! There's only the Bat-Shit Crazy Brand left on the shelves!

obamacrat · 3 months ago

We just had another lay off in my town. 300 jobs gone close to Christmas. What is it about this that the White House does not get. He promised fundamental sweeping change. Then he puts people in charge of the economy who had a lot do to with its current condition. Reneges on about half a dozen well publicized promises. And when it becomes a jobless recovery as Paul Krugman worried it would, who are the people going to blame? He ignores the economists who were right and puts back into power people who were not. WTF!

nicho · 3 months ago

If it's "jobless," it's not a "recovery."

larryv · 3 months ago

Well believe me they...the WH ...will get it next November and again in 2012. Welcome to Nero redux.

synical · 3 months ago

More like a jobloss "recovery". This administration's economic team are worst than jokes, they are enemies of the working class.

Democrats will pay dearly for it at the ballot box. Then the Republicans will get to finish destroying the country with what I'm sure will be an able assist from the spineless Democrats.

Constant Comment · 3 months ago

I fear that Tim Kaine is/will be totally useless.

larryv · 3 months ago

You are absolutely correct! He is a straw man who is looking after Obamas interest and not the party. No I am not convinced Obama is looking out for the democrats..I think he is looking after what he thinks is HIS legacy. Its the parties legacy that needs care and feeding will guarantee the long term health of the nation...Obama and the WH brain trust will see to there own legacy and we have to make sure that is not on the back of the long term health of the party. Bring back Gov Dean as DNC chair. Screw Rahm.

Griffon · 3 months ago

Is.

NotTimothyGeithner · 3 months ago

He's not useless. He's a negative.

larryv · 3 months ago

Gallup also found McCain close to closing the gap last November. They were off by some 6-7 percent.

devlzadvocate · 3 months ago

I'm not exactly sure how things would be that much different. Iraq? No. Afghanistan? No. LGBT Progress? No. Economy? No. Health care? Probably, but we aren't there yet and we don't know where "there" is. Jobs? No.

If you're boycotting the DNC, I'm not sure I even understand the "This isn't good" statement.

Isn't that what would be expected? You can't expect to pull financial support away and have the Dem numbers go UP!

ReaganiteRepublican · 3 months ago

The Dems can't pass ObamaCare with abortion OR a public option- and reconciliation is just an empty threat, the remaining legislation would be a hollow shell- and still no tort reform or interstate competition.

And will they pass Cap-n-tax? With the evidence looking weak lately, Obama's own #s tanking... and 11% unemployment? Good luck!

That leaves the only major legislation enacted -even with Democrats dominating both houses- the misguided and wholly-ineffective Porkulus. Obama has no political cover on that one, due to the paucity of GOP collaborators, he owns it. And all it will ever stimulate is inflation... in the months leading right-up to midterms in Nov 2010.

The Democrats face a bloodbath next fall, with some already predicting a 100+ seat loss.

And by 2012? People will wince at the very mention of the name "Obama"- and the GOP could take 40 states running Miley Cyrus- LOL

Party's over kiddies- time to put the grown-ups back in charge.

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com

devlzadvocate · 3 months ago

yep, those GOPers sure know how to run a country . . . into the ground.

Lemay · 3 months ago

Party's over kiddies- time to put the grown-ups back in charge--I am with you and that is my favorite line--use it all the time around my lefty loonie friends.