Liberal Democrats: Why don't we leave the party?

[JVS]

We've become an embarrassment to our slick moderate bretheren. I really don't see the point in staying around much longer. So what say ye, should we hit the road?

[gully]

1. The Democratic party is a 'big tent' party...

So, I'm stickin around :)

[Padraig18]

4. No one's asked you to leave.*

*Unless you equate refusal to be blackmailed with being asked to leave, that is.

[JVS]

9. Sometimes big can be imprisoning. Case in point: Siberia

The Tsars used to exile people to Siberia because it was so vast that the chances of them getting back to civilization were slim to nil. Sometimes I feel like we are out in the Taiga wishing for a train to take us back. Maybe if we went to a smaller country this wouldn't happen to us.

[Blue_Chill]

2. Why don't you vote Republican?

If you split the democrats GOP wins all races. BTW - the way moderates speak of you, is the same way you speak of moderates. So spare me the whining bull shit.

[Terwilliger]

10. there you go

prime motivator to saty with the Dems #1...Blue_Chill's love for the "big tent"

[Blue_Chill]

16. I'm sorry should I grab a box of tissues

and go chasing every intolerant left winger that can't stand a moderate speaking his/her mind? Sorry but let's be realistic, my post was spot on. Left leaves the dems and the right wins EVERYTHING.

BTW - You spend more time bashing dems then almost anyone on this board and you also defend Nader all the time. Seems to me your the one that has problems with the big tent.

[jiacinto]

What a great idea?

Split the left and only get like 25% of the vote while allowing the GOP to win.

Then again, this is DU, so I forgot. Defeating Democrats somehow is more important than beating Republicans.

[Blue_Chill]

18. Because the Green party is looking to grow

and they need that pesky big tent to fall before they can do so. Who cares if we are ruled by RW wing nuts for a few decades. What are a few decades when compared to the eventual glorious rise of the green party!

[eileen_d]

3. Rhetorical questions: Why can't I ask one?

Wait, I did. :crazy:

[JVS]

5. Good job on getting in touch with your rhetorical curiousity!

I hope to see the fruitful results in the future.

[shirlden]

6. Hey.....it is our party

If non-liberals don't like it they can start a new party. We need to take ours back from the DLC Republicans.
I didn't leave my party ....it left me....I want it back.


:bounce:

[mhr]

12. I'm With You Shirlden

The democratic party is liberal and embarces progressives policies.

Why do we want or need to be republican light.

[PDittie]

7. You are not an embarrassment

but you are a bit petulant and intolerant of opposing viewpoint.

Why don't you stay and we'll all work together to defeat Bush?

Much better idea, don't you think?

[Padraig18]

13. Indeed!

:toast:

[Terwilliger]

19. sorry, that's tripe

left issues...AS A POLICY...are to be "de-emphasized" over more "pragmatic" and "moderate" politics

I think you aren't paying attention, or don't have a problem with it

[Julien Sorel]

8. Not all of you have...

[Zuni]

11. That is what George Bush and Karl Rove want

Do you want to help them return to the White House? If you do, split the vote.
Democrats of all stripes have to march together against these thieves that have stolen the white house.

[Terwilliger]

26. OMG...the same exact bullshit reply AGAIN

"come back from the wilderness, ye wayward leftist sheep"

You'd better come back before you alienate all of the base.

[roughsatori]

14. It is now OK to have voted for Reagan and Nixon

but not to have voter for Nader. That is what I have been reading here lately. Some of the most rabid anti-Nader Duers defend the "Reagan Democrats." I think that is sadly funny.

I did NOT vote for Nader, Reagan, or Nixon.

[JVS]

15. Isn't it a bitch when your loyalty is spat upon? I feel your pain.

The sense of betrayal is so crushing.

[Julien Sorel]

20. ROFL

Need some help pulling the nails out?

[Closer]

17. I WILL leave

if a war hawk like Clark, Kerry, or Lieberman gets the nomination.

[Skinner]

21. I'm locking this thread.

It's just flame bait.

Skinner
DU Admin

[Cheswick2.0]

22. No thanks

The majority will win as the majority always does. I can bitch about that or I can try to educate the majority. But voting for a lesser candidate just because they are third party is not an option for me.

[MODemocrat]

23. Not me; what we have is way better than being a republican

The only other place to go would be to the Greens, and there is not a one that I'd be interested in voting for.

[david_vincent]

24. I say follow wherever reason and your conscience take you

That's what democracy is supposed to be about. The old tired argument against doing so is a result of one of the biggest inherent problems of American political culture: the total dominance of only two parties. America is the only nation on Earth that pretends to be democratic while also maintaining that two parties are sufficient to represent the political spectrum.
It seems to me that in the future, this might change. If there is a significant rise in the fortunes of other parties, then the Democratic party will become more openly centrist. The Republicans may dominate for awhile, but as the Democrats win over some of their more moderate members, the Republican party might find itself both shrinking in size and being forced farther to the right. This process would, of course, take some time, and it's just speculation on my part, but democracy is messy. More parties, not fewer, are needed. Accomplishing that, and doing away with the Electoral College, would put America firmly on the road toward becoming democratic in fact, rather than in theory.

[carpetbagger]

25. Because Bush would win with 34% of the vote.

Republicans would gain about 10 seats in the Senate and about 60 seats in the House.

Then you'd find out just how much different mainstream and moderate democrats are from the republicans, just like the less foaming Greens have figured out the same thing since January 2001.