I'll ask again: where are the Democrats?

[Q]

- The truth and nothing but the truth: I post these threads asking 'where are the Democrats' to challenge and even embarrass the party into ACTION. My motivation is this: I believe it's WRONG for our party to be bystanders in a time when the nation and people need our help.

- Even Clinton basher Maureen Dowd finally 'gets it' in her recent article about 'The Orwellian Olsens' and 'Bushworld'. So then...why is it taking SO long for the Dem party leadership to admit the truth about what so many others plainly see?

- Bits and pieces of the truth so far:

Election fraud and civil rights abuses in 2000 were not investigated or prosecuted.

Bush* broke the law by hiding the Reagan/Bush presidential papers

Illegal hiding of national energy policy documents

The Bush* government went on vacation, impeded investigations into (Saudi-sponsored) terrorism before 9-11 and ignored numerous warnings about impending attacks.

For some yet unknown reason...the Bush* government didn't lift a finger to even slow down hijackers as they slammed commercial planes into building after building.

The Bush* government insisted that investigations into 9-11 weren't needed. When public pressure became too much...they rigged an investigation and tied the hands of investigators.

Diversion of appropriated funds to secret plans to invade and occupy Iraq.

Lying to congress and the nation about the urgent NEED to invade Iraq.

Invasion and occupation of a country that had nothing to do with 9-11 or the war on terrorism.

Formation of a Shadow Government without the knowledge and consent of congress.

Breaking of international treaties and laws by waging a war of aggression.

- So where are the Democrats? What is their position on these issues? We see little or nothing in the way of an organized attempt to challenge the Bush* doctrine or make them accountable to the rule of law and the people.

- What good is a two party system of government when one of the parties refuses to participate in the checks and balances necessary to keep the other party honest? The Democratic party has an obligation and duty to protect and defend the Constitution and uphold the rule of law. Refusing to participate in the democratic process is tantamount to conceding to one-party rule of the United States.

- I'll ask again: where are the Democrats?

[Pepperbelly]

1. frozen out by the media ...

where else?

[Q]

2. The Democrats can use the media...

...just like the Republicans. The media will report what the Democrats have to say...IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

- Democrats MUST start acting like an opposition party...and not just a dependable rubber stamp for the Bush* agenda.

[papau]

11. Nope - the media will NOT report the above facts as stated - any Dem

that says any of the above will be set up by a context paragraph - unlike the presentation of GOP charges.

Indeed the context paragraph will tell the reader or listening that Dems may be folks you can not trust and that they should ignore and wait for GOP opinion - and then for much of the media - the discussion will be how evil and unAmerican the speaker of the truths above was in saying un-nice things about Bush.

Not that it is bias. It is business where the editor "knows" that such and such a topic or phrase will cut ad revenue and/or circulation/listeners - and he knows this because right wing GOP owners have made clear who signs the checks.

Our not right wing GOP controled media - they just act like they are.

[Q]

26. Of course one or two Dems speaking up will be singled out...

...as a target of the RWing Smear Machine. That's why we need scores of our representatives to band together as speak as ONE voice. Right now you have a handful of Dems brave enough to confront the Bush* regime head on. But the REST of the party and the leadership are leaving them to swing along in the wind.

- Get a couple dozen (or a hundred) Democrats to storm in front of the cameras and microphones at the same time and THAT will make the news big time. Get these same Dems to bring specific information and facts to the pubic forum and DEMAND investigations into the many scandals in the Bush* administration. Keep up the pressure and don't let them change the subject. The media and the people will respond.

- Americans WANT a leadership that will fight for them.

[Cocoa]

28. and frozen out by dem bashers at DU

they rarely talk about Henry Waxman's work, for instance. And some of them NEVER talk about anything that is actually going on, they only talk about the ideals that the dems fall woefully short of.

[radwriter0555]

3. Look what happened to McKinney when she spoke up. and wellstone.

when you speak or act against the bush regime and their crimes, you get dead or unemployed.

Kerry is barely withstanding the assault.... and it's going to get worse. Gore couldn't handle it... and he's a good man.

clinton barely survived.

how do you do battle with the nazis in the white house????? what are YOUR suggestions?

[bread_and_roses]

5. Speak truth to power

something we see far too little of from the Dems.

[lil-petunia]

6. suggestions

dynamite? naw, the thought police would be on our tail. :)

Comparisons between Herr Ashcroft's goons and the SS aren't far from the truth. What is worse is that too many people are buying into the WH version of reality.

The only way to get people to notice it to push, hard, in all media outlets. Write letters to the editor, call hotlines, write your local TV people

Heck, the moral majority (How's that for a contradiction?) does it. We should respond in kind.

[Q]

7. Brave men and women are dying needlessly in Iraq...

...to enrich Friends of Bush* and keep him in office. Shouldn't we expect at least a bit of bravery from those we elect to represent us?

- Those representatives that can't or wont do their jobs and honor their oath to protect and defend the Constitution should RESIGN or step aside and allow someone willing TO LEAD to take their places.

[Tellurian]

17. I agree, rad.. one person cannot take on a behemoth of megalithic

proportions alone.

All of the people you mentioned in your post tried valiantly to come through for us. We know now, their failure was due to suppression of the Truth and lack of public support

[Ardee]

22. sheeesh

McKinney was villified and abandoned by democrats not republicans.For cripes sake open your eyes! Wellstone was killed in an unfortunate accident and seeking to don ones tinfoil hat every time something bad happens to good people is a big waste of time and energy, spreading hopelessness instead of energising and creating positivism.

Blaming the media for the silence of the democrats is just another excuse as well. While there are certainly elements in our media that seek to distort any democratic message there first has to BE a message to distort.

The Party, under the guidance (so to speak) of the neocon DLC, has abandoned you and I for the lure of the corporate buck. It is that simple really.

[boobooday]

4. They were intimidated

Anthrax, and as the other poster mentioned, McKinney & Wellstone.

A chilling effect took hold. It's the most frightening thing I've ever seen in this country.

But are we in for a spring thaw? I'm thinking JK has been holding back while Bush is self-destructing.

They better get their nerve back soon -- all our lives are at stake.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[Forkboy]

8. worrying about jobs

Thier own.

[mmonk]

9. The "me too" democrats

aren't going to really challenge anything except job outsourcing or environmental policy. The dems that aren't "me too" dems are not enough in number to be a force.

[LynzM]

10. I don't know...

I, for one, have been calling my senators and area rep. and talking to everyone who will listen about all the crap that Bush&Co are getting away with, and writing to media outlets. Going to meetups, plans to hand stuff out and talk to people at local events. At the moment, that's the extent of what I'm able to give. Think about if all the democrats started doing even all of those little things, though.

I understand the need for the democratic leadership to step up and do something about all of this garbage, but I also think that we, as ordinary citizens (or not-so-ordinary ;)) need to do what we can! Call those who you would like to see take action, and make a suggestion. Get everyone else you can to do the same... keep the pressure on from our side, too!

[Kanary]

16. You are soooo right!

Thank you for putting your thoughts into action! It's people like you who are going to make the difference.

Another DUer made the commitment to spend 15 minutes every day making calls or writing letters. If we would all do that, it would make a huge difference.

That's what so many reich wingers do, and look where it got them. We have some catching up to do.

Thanks for doing your part.

Kanary

[nannah]

12. out in record numbers at county conventions in WA state yesterday

In Washington state, yesterday's democratic county conventions were filled with real people speaking truth to power. In Thurston County, democratic platform called for
........SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE,
........RECOGNITION OF PUBLIC OWNING AIRWAYS AND MEDIA REFORM,
.......ELIMINATION OF CORPORATE PERSONHOOD

however, it should be noted that in a show of hands, half of those at yesterday's Thurston county meeting were new to the convention process, myself included.

In Thurston county, Kucinich delegates turned out in numbers to write the platform and move a progressive agenda forward. Throughout the state of WA, democratic caucuses and county conventions were filled with activist, participating citizens trying to bring the democratic party into line with progressive, life affirming values of health care for all, mitigation of corporate domination of the political arena, and public airways that offer full debate and information on issues that affect everyone.

[wyldwolf]

20. the media is full of democratic criticisms of Bush

[Khephra]

13. They died when Wellstone fell from the sky.

[Guava Jelly]

14. Where are the conservatives??

Besides Lou Dobbs And PAt Buchannon Where are they??
all we have here are Fundamentalist religio extremist Who read a black book and morph it into their own wills.
reminecent of the extreme fundie Muslum talibanesq extremeist who morph their own book into their own wills.
The democrats are here the democrats are there and the democrats are nowhere!!!
Where are the conservatives

[Kanary]

15. Quite simply... where are WE?

It's clear that it's up to US to push them. Are we all writing and calling all the time, making sure they remember we voted them into office in order to represent us? Yes, it would be nice if they did that all on their own, but it's clear they need "help" from us in order to make those decisions. If we are complaining among ourselves, but not putting it into action and TELLING them what we expect, they we must realize that we're leaving a part of it undone.

Democracy demands that we be involved.

Call 1-800-839-5276 or 1-877-762-8762 Ask for the office of the Dem of your choice, and express your desires for their action.

Tell them what you've said here, and what you expect of them.

If we want action from them, we're going to have to demand it.

Kanary

[ShaneGR]

18. Blah, blah, blah

Some thread, different day. Go do something with your time.

[wyldwolf]

19. yeah, gotta agree.. and everytime someone responds...

..he ignores it and just rewords the same crap the next day.

[Q]

24. I'm not asking anyone to 'agree'...

...but to acknowledge reality and the truth. The truth is that Democrats aren't doing much (or anything) to impede the progress or success of the Bushie far-right agenda. As a party...they didn't even have anything to say about the Bush* government outright CENSORING the free press.

- They ran away and hid in the shadows when it was PROVEN that Bush* lied this nation into a WAR OF AGGRESSION.

- How many instances of enabling, inaction and capitulation do you need before you start screaming at your representatives to do something about the anti-democratic, anti-representative government forces that have wrestled control of our nation?

- Not with a bang...but a whimper. That's the 'new' Democratic party in a nutshell.

[wyldwolf]

25. question: Being that they don't currently control any part of gov't...

...what CAN they do other than openly criticizing the BUSH admin daily in hopes of drawing voters to our side? They do this daily.

[Pepperbelly]

31. how many exceptions do you need before you admit that your brush was

too broad?

-snip-

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is being urged by colleagues to threaten to close down the Senate for the rest of the year unless Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle ends his disruptive tactics.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20040424.shtml

[wyldwolf]

33. good one!

[Q]

21. As expected...the same posters clap their hands...

...over their ears and eyes and insist there's 'nothing to see here'. Isn't this the same thing you said after the 2000 selection and the dozens of Bush* lies and scandals that were to follow?

- When will Bush* implode like so many Dems have guranteed for over three years now? All we have to do is WAIT...they said...and Bush* will self-destruct and the Dem nominee will cakewalk into the WH.

- You're mistaken if you think I'm the only one fed up with the inaction and irresponsibility of the Democratic leadership. They're not inspiring ANYONE to vote for them beyond the most hardcore ABBers.

- The future of this country DOESN'T depend on voting in a Democrat. It depends on Democrats doing their jobs and making the OTHER party accountable.

[wyldwolf]

23. you're not paying attention

Democratic action and criticism of the BUSH admin by the dem leadership happens daily.

[lil-petunia]

27. Terry McCauliff

One thing we should consider is the impact of him heading up the DNC.

It is one thing to be a good money raiser, it is another to remind the muddle of the roaders of the worst excesses of Bill Clinton. Too many moderates i know see Terry and think Bill. Mostly for worse, not better. Not a criticism of Bill, so much as some people had a real problem with his behavior and testimony.

The current administration has so pissed off so many, so often, so badly, especially moderates, that it should be an easy task picking them up. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

If Graham from Florida, or someone with similar intellect and honesty were to replace him, the whole face of the party would improve. McCauliff has two volumes, high and ultra-high. While that motivates those who are committed, it does nothing to convince those in the middle to leave Darth Vader and join the good force. Just like Newt the GRinch who stole Christmas or Scaife, Cheney's evil twin, he is a polarizing force, not one able to convince, cajole, connect or capture.

[Tellurian]

32. Here is one of many issues, Dems should be screaming about..

and STOP following Bush's lead:

By turning the tables on Bush, Kerry's voice will be heard IF he changes his campaign tactics.

NYT: Administration Says a `Zone of Autonomy' Justifies Its Secrecy on Energy Papers." read (Enron)



WASHINGTON, April 24 — The Bush administration's effort before the Supreme Court to shield the names of private citizens who helped devise its energy policy might appear on the surface unrelated to its defense, in cases also before the court, of the detention of those the administration has classified as enemy combatants.

But the legal arguments are strikingly similar, projecting a vision of presidential power in both war and peace as far-reaching as any the court has seen and posing important questions of the constitutional separation of powers.

Just as the administration is arguing in the detainee cases for the exercise of presidential authority without judicial interference in policies related to the war on terrorism, it is making sweeping claims in the energy case for the existence of a constitutionally protected "zone of autonomy" for presidential advice received in the ordinary course of proposing legislation.

(snip)

As its primary argument, the administration asserts that the order permitting pretrial discovery is based on a mistaken interpretation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, a 1972 law at the center of the dispute over how the task force conducted its business.

more…

http://nytimes.com/2004/04/25/politics/25SCOT.html

[Cocoa]

29. check out these sites

www.democrats.org

www.johnkerry.com

kuchinich.us

www.house.gov/waxman/

[bushclipper]

30. don't confuse him with facts...

..you'll destroy his argument and might get a few personal attacks thrown your way.