I am a yellow dog democrat

[AverageJoe]

and have been one since 1979. Before that, I was young, naive, and a Republican. I was a Republican because I grew up in a rural Eastern Kentucky county where the Democratic party ruled everything and was clearly corrupt. I declared myself a Republican because it seemed the only ethical thing to do. As I say, I was young. But I was sincere, too. Heck, I was even voted president of the Young Republicans at the community college I attended then.

And then the Republicans nominated Ronald Reagan as their candidate for the presidency. And even as young and naive as I was, I knew this was both bad and wrong, that it was horrifically bad for America. So I quit being a Republican and joined the Democrats. I never even called a meeting of the Young Republican club and, perhaps, it died on the vine. By the time the election rolled around I had transfered to the University of Kentucky where I grew and learned and experienced a world I'd never known before. It was a world of ideas and excitement and hope and fun. And all of the good people I met and loved were Democrats.

I have loved the Democratic Party for a long time.

So it is as puzzling to me as it is painful to say what I'm saying now: If the Democratic leadership doesn't stand up to Bush right now and call him on his crimes and malfeasance, we are finished. If he is allowed to get away with twice stealing the white house, with waging his war of choice in Iraq, with letting New Orleans die, with appointing two reactionary justices to the Supreme Court, then the Democratic Party no longer exists. Period.

These are dark days and they are made darker by the blunt silence coming from our supposed leaders. John Conyers and Al Gore excepted, I wouldn't walk across the street to piss on most Democratic officials if they were on fire. And the thing is, AMERICA IS ON FIRE. We are burning and dying and our leaders are doing not one goddamn thing about it. Okay, there is the occasional mass emailing or a few minutes here and there on television, but nobody is speaking truth to power. Nobody is calling Bush out and demanding that he resign. Nobody is demanding the immediate drawing of articles of impeachment.

Please, please, please: If you are a Democrat who is an elected official, or if you work for one, or if you just have their ear, PLEASE TELL THEM THAT NOW IS THE TIME. Tomorrow is too late.

Call Bush out. Make him leave the People's House.

Goddamn it, this is your duty. This is patriotism. For God's sake, do your job and save America.

I'm on my knees begging you.

[smurfygirl]

1. another kentuckian that agrees that dems need to step up

at least make some statements...

Dems where are you?

[wellstone_democrat]

2. Texas votes "yes" on this

if not now when? when its "ancient history" and we shouldn't "reopen healing wounds?"

that the time???? too late

[elehhhhna]

3. then nom this thread! (I did!) Fort Bend Dems reporting for duty, sir.

[Bluerthanblue]

4. Gotta use my sons remark from this am when comments

during last nights concert were criticized as having been being spoken at an inappropriate time:

"there is NEVER a good time to say what people don't want to hear"

The time is now- we can't wait for never-

[AverageJoe]

5. I just wanted to thank you all for responding

I am about to burst with rage and horror. Kayne West can speak the truth. Why can't our elected officials? If they continue to be silent, we are doomed.

[Cleita]

6. I still believe the Democrats could be less corrupt, but

they are far from being as corrupt as the present day Republican Party. But now it's crucial that we light a fire under every single one of them, no matter how we do it, to force them to make meaningful change.

[AverageJoe]

8. I'm not suggesting the the Democrats are as corrupt as the Republicans

But I am screaming that they are moral cowards. There is no defensible reason for any Democrat to remain silent. Our elected leaders need to lead. This is a horribly dangerous time for our nation and our planet.

For God's sake, Democratic officials, do something. Do the right thing. Do the only thing that might give a future to my son and all the children who will pay for Bush's horrors with their hearts and minds and blood.

GEORGE BUSH MUST BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE BEFORE HE KILLS US ALL. Democrats, speak up!

[MadeinOhio]

10. AGREED!!!! Howard Dean, SHIP them all into action and begin the march!!

[derby378]

7. I am SO yellow dog right now...

Between Camp Casey and New Orleans, there's no going back.

[Greyhound]

9. K & R

[kster]

11. Yes,calling for

another M*THER F*CKING investigation will be worthless,DO NOT let them get away with it this time. Kick their ASS out now.

[applegrove]

12. What as the silence done? It means we sit here and focus on the

issue and Repukes cannot go on the attack. It is working. Truth is speaking to power all over the place.

[Demoiselle]

13. Mary Landrieu sounds pretty pissed...and on the record too...

Today she called Bunnypants' tour of the disaster area a fake photo op....and she's on at least two Sunday AM talk shows.... Maybe she'll fire the first shot...(I live in hope)

[jillan]

14. They all come back on Tuesday, and I have a feeling the

shit is gonna fly!!!!!

If sweet, moderate, repug-lite Mary Landrieu is calling Bush out on his lack of leadership and his lies, and making demands from him....

It's going to be an interesting week.

And if it's not, you will not be alone in abandoning this party.

[MsMagnificent]

15. The Dem politicians are afraid, demoralized, sans support.

They have no real backbone, and I use that word strictly in terms of support
--the DLC is a Republican arm, there is no support coming from them.
Dean is meeting with the grass-roots, that is his plan, but I see no public, outspoken support (on ISSUES, not the evils of Repukes!) to shore up the Dem's in office.

Democrats and Liberals, both politicians and laypeople alike, are demoralized. We here at DU decry the 'Kool-Aid drinking' of the listeners of all the many Right-wing talking-point pundits; yet we are drinking the Kool-Aid too for we are also buying their spiel and have allowed ourselves to be ashamed of all we have done -- which has been standing up for what is right for our fellow US Citizen, not profit$.

I'm not excusing them... I've been a Democrat all my life because we did what was the right thing to do (note past tense); but now... there is too much fear, demoralization and lack of support from whom we need it most.

Our only hope is a Democrat leader who will finally take a very-public stand and reiterate the excellent reasons WHY and WHAT we truly and historically have stood for; unlike Kerry, unlike Ms. Clinton, et.al. -- as much as I admire most of what they have done, it's been FAR from enough! The SAFE way, in these times, is not the RIGHT way!

We need someone to finally, fearlessly, intelligently and CONSISTENTLY tackle head-on the anti-Democratic/anti-Liberal propaganda the Wingnuts have spewed these many years!
And not just sporadically!
And not give up!

Instead of apologetics and those who go-with-the-Republican-flow, we need someone to remind us all what our core beliefs and reasons are:
PEOPLE, NOT PROFIT$!!!

[Mythsaje]

16. I'd nominate THIS if I could...n/t