The wounds will never heal in this generation at the very least.

[Tyler Durden]

Our progresivism and "big tent" that can include Socialists like me have been demonized since the Reagan years. Now in the age of terra-ism (remember that THEY think they are "freedom fighters"), Global Warming, hunger and pandemic disease, we have gone (in the eyes of the neo-cons) from objects of ridicule, to allies of dangerous enemies whether true or not.

Examples:

"...a commie f-ing pig..."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2541378
(I could say that I am a card-carrying Communist if I could find my CARD. I was always just a Socialist anyway.)


The endless slander of OUR war heroes like Kerry and Cleveland,

Usurpation of due process at will,

Trashed federal elections we are told to "get over" like children,

End-runs around review of the Judiciary,

Wholesale and unpunished Corporate theft right out in the open,

Etcetera, ad nauseum.



WE are the enemy, not the feeble regiems on the Neocon hit list. WHY? BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE WAY. That makes us not only the enemy, but the worst and only enemy: the others are only there for propaganda purposes; the Neocon cheerleaders have to have something to scream about.

The truly fascinating parade of future history marches at double-time, and their aim is to leave us in the dust. They no longer care that they are running off of a cliff.

I have fought many electoral fights since 1970. I have fought hard and well in this one, knowing still as I do that it will be my last. I will not run off of the cliff trying to head off the Neocon fools. It is up to the next generation to pick up the pieces: I hope the deck will not be stacked against them, as it was against us.

[aden_nak]

1. I got email that called me a "fucking muslim commu-terrorist".

Which I find funny, since I am not a terrorist, not a communist, white, and was not even engaging in a sexual act at the time.

There are wounds that won't heal from this election. I think a large portion of our voting age Americans (and perhaps even pre-voting age Americans) are going to hold a grudge against the Republican party for a long time coming. I mean, the youth in this country has always been more left than right, but it is my sincere hope that the motivation will stay along with the vitriol.

The NeoCons will be around for a while (or until the influencial ones die, at least), and we're going to have to deal with being their sworn enemies simply because we don't want to be cannon fodder for their imperialistic ambitions. That's going to be the new constant. But their power is largely dependant upon thier ability to wield political influence. If we can keep them AWAY from elected office, they can be effectively neutered.

[Tyler Durden]

4. How about THIS one?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2540194

To even SUGGEST the blasphemy that we would wish ANY soldier, ours or theirs, to get "...shot in the head..."?

Monstrous.

[bryant69]

2. Change takes time

On the other hand did you check out this article at the Washington Monthly? http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0410.wallace-wells.html

Basically it suggests that where the republicans are now, is where the democratic party was in 1980. There are huge fractures in the party--Bush and a few other Top Republicans are holding them together for now, but the splits are real and growing; hopefully we will soon see the Republican party move back to more moderate centrist rational positions.

Anyway worth checking out.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[American Tragedy]

3. The key is getting their asses out there to vote

Democracy without the participation of an informed electorate is little better than tyranny. If disenfranchised groups do not even vote and present themselves as a valuable demographic to politicians, their issues will not be addressed and they will remain marginalized. It's that simple. There are millions of potential voters in the United States who could collectively change American policy and all of the traditional party platforms permanently, if they just took a detour on the way to work once every four years.

Unfortunately, I have come to conclude that the right-wing has done a better job of turning out its base. How can we improve upon it?

[Tyler Durden]

5. For starters:

We can make the concept that MONEY=FREE SPEECH obsolete. Nationally funded elections, instant runnoff. DIRECT ELECTION.

I would make the case that the Electoral College is not only obsolete, but that it violates the concept of "ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE" by giving artificial weighting to less populated states. Sounds Unconstitutional to me, guys.

[cally]

6. I doubt this will be your last time to be active

Too much sincerity, too much passion, and too much knowledge about what is right thing to do. Let the right wing tell us how evil we are because it means nothing. I truly believe that we will persevere. (I'm in an optimistic mood today ;-))

After Kerry wins, I think my focus will be on either the media fairness doctrine or public funding of elections. We have much to fix in this country.

Yeah, I've been called a crazy liberal, communist more than a few times. I own a small business so that is more than insane.

[Tyler Durden]

8. Small Business?? Yep. You're nuts.

Actually, it's been 35 years next Spring that I've been beating my head against the Political Wall...and to a more or less degree, the Pigs Always Win. Even Clinton was a centrist, and giving up on Healthcare Reform was almost unforgivable to me. But the voting public seems determined to demonstrate its ongoing ignorance on a regular basis, so you get one last HURRAH, and I'm DONE.

We're going to Canada, so my kids can afford College, and I can afford to RETIRE in 10-12 years. I stay here, and I work in harness until I'm dead, then they butcher me for dog food (I don't mind the last so much because I love animals, especially dogs).

[BiggJawn]

7. The Enemy at the Gate will fall back, re-group, and come again.

The Rethugs and Neo-Cons have laid down the battle lines this time like no other time in History. I see crap like Ann-Thrax Coulter's screeds where "Liberal" is a nastier word than "Baby-Fucker", RNC ads blaming Kerry "and his Liberal Friends in Congress" for all their woes, and I have to wonder...

When will the mouth-breathing Legions who listen to every word out of Limp-Ball's and Insannity's mouths like gospel come gunning for us?

The fuse has been lit on the Class War. Not even John Kerry can snuff it out.

To think that after Nov. 2nd that the Right and the Left are gonna smile, shake hands and say "well, that was fun, see ya in 4 years?" is pretty childish, and to our credit, I've not seen that kind of thought in print.

yeah, we've been Demonized. Maybe our grandkids will get beyond this, but I know I'll not live to see it.

[Tyler Durden]

9. WELL SAID.

It seem as a species we have to do this every few generations. I honestly wish I had shown up well before or well after this one: it'll be a DOOZY thanks to the NEOCON/NRA and their arming of every hate group on the block.

[CBHagman]

10. Keep fighting.

I think you are right about the damage that has been done, but thousands of people before us were told their cause was a failure -- and they succeeded, though after countless setbacks. Female suffrage is a perfect example. Think of all the activists who died before they won the right to vote.

Don't give up.

[Tyler Durden]

11. I do not know if this will work or not....

Acrobat may be needed, and it may not link:

http://us.st5.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/demotivators_1811_922937

I use this as a screensaver at work. This may hint at the true depth of my dissatisfaction.