These folks also remember Democrats.

[WilliamPitt]

Via email:

I just read your column "I remember Democrats" and it almost made me weep. My
husband and I are the County Chair and Vice-Chair for the Democratic Party in an
area of Indiana where it's so red that we bleed. I'm very outspoken about
Republicans and this administration and I really don't care what people think about
it. It's caused my husband a few problems at work, being a Democrat as well as the
County Chair that is. But, we have a 10-year old son and we want to be a part of
making his life better and his future bright. Well, it's getting harder every day
to keep it up. Without any leaders in the Democratic Party I feel like I'm showing
up for a street-fight in a dress and heels.

Sometimes I wonder what we're fighting
for since the Democratic Party seems to be MIA. Many times my husband and I have
threatened to resign because the local Democrats just want to come to meetings and
dinners, then go back home and hide under their beds. It's crazy!!! They want
things to change, but they don't want to participate. I blame this on the fact that
we have NO national leaders in the Democratic Party to inspire and motivate. I
don't think our Democratic lawmakers realize that people like myself are tired of
fighting by ourselves. The Party will slip into oblivion and they'll stand their
with their thumbs up their butts and wonder how it happened. I rant on a daily
basis, but it's not at the Republicans and this administration, it's at the
Democratic leaders for hiding with their blankies. Trying to get them to stand up
and fight resembles the task of nailing jello to a tree.

...responding to this:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/100305I.shtml

[stellanoir]

1. I agree that the Dems were once for

social justice, labor, the middle class and the poor, civil rights etc. but I'm sorry, I feel that we will inevitably reach a certain degree of intractability with a two party system. It's like a faux competition between Coke & Pepsi, or Macdonald's & Burger King. Damn it, there are more than two points of view in this land that was formerly known as the land of diversity. As an astro head I'd really like to see 12 parties. But oh well.

Canada has a host of parties. They have a sex party and a pot party and though I don't know their platforms as to whether or not they advocate more or less of either but it makes for great theatre.

I wish we had more of that and far less insidious divisiveness.
It's both boring and outrageously frustrating and not at all reflective of our culture.

[Lorien]

6. The problem is that it has BECOME a faux comparison between

Coke and Pepsi; Democrats are now often pro-war, anti-civil rights, anti-environment, pro-gun, anti-workers rights and pro-corporation, anti-government fiscal conservatives, pro-death penalty, anti-choice,etc. etc. We used to hold opposing viewpoints to those of the GOP, but now the entire political spectrum has shifted to the right. The new Democrats have done a great service to the GOP by allowing Americans to feel as if the Republican party is the place where all good ideas originate, and that one should distance oneself from "liberalism". The only way to truly return to a clear two party system (let alone multi-party) is to once again become the party of opposition and NEW ideas.

[PassingFair]

2. Don't like the party...there's the door!

"What good would political suicide do?"

"You are obviously NOT a democrat -- Take a hike!

:sarcasm:

Just thought I'd show you what happens around here when you criticize the democratic leadership.

P.S.:
I agree that we need to find a voice. First we need to acknowledge the truth.

[blm]

3. Does anyone remember when this country had a press corps and network news

investigated and followed real news stories?

Democrats can stand up and verbally cut the Republicans down to their knees and not even a handful of reports of that act will follow.

Democrats can petition the Republicans for hearings on the Downing Street Memos and not even a news network will repeat their pleas let alone DISCUSS the story.

[Dr.Phool]

4. I agree

I'm a DEC member in Florida. Everyone likes to come to meetings and go to dinners, but when there's actual work to do, try to find them. On the upside, we've gotten some new members since the Kerry campaign, and these people seem more motivated.

On another front, The party does a really shitty job of funding our candidates. I've spoken with several candidates, from around the state who are running for Congress next year, who have been trying to raise funds. The money just ain't coming in. The DCCC doesn't even want to talk with you unless you've already raised a $100k.

[Larkspur]

5. I guess they don't see Evan Bayh as a Dem leader

Neither do I.

I'm originally from Illinois and lived there when it was dominated by the GOP. It's not easy being a minority but my mom and I had hope in the national Dem Party. Now, I feel similar to these Dems from Indiana.

But I have hope in the future, in Dems like Howard Dean, who is rebuilding the Dem Party's infrastructure that was allowed to decay over a decade. And I have hope in elected Dems like Gov. Schweitzer from Montana and attorney general Eliot Spitzer.

The resurrection of the Dem Party will have to come from the grassroots and states. Inside the Beltway Dems are mostly Profiles in Cowardice or have been neutered by the GOP bullies to the point that we have a vaccum of leadership coming from Washington DC.

[Sadie5]

7. Another choice would be nice...but

I have checked out the Independent Party in my area(central IN) and they seem to lean toward the same conservative views as those already ruining the state. What to do???

[Voltaire]

8. No, we do NOT see Evan Bayh as a leader

And I am personally going to work as hard as I can here in Indianapolis to deny him the nomination.