Democrats have only themselves to blame over the Rice/Gonzales fiasco

[Q]

The Democratic party has given Bush nearly every policy and appointment he's ever wanted. With little dissent...they even gave him Ashcroft...one of the nuttiest, religious fanatics ever to hold the job of AG. Now they're getting lambasted for their objections to Rice and Gonzales and rightfully so. It's their inconsistency that has done them in.

Democrats complain that Gonzales approved torture and Rice lied about the war. But where were they when the torture scandal was ongoing and Rice was lying about 'mushroom clouds' and helping Bush rush this nation to unnecessary war? Where were they? They chose not to speak out as a party and now they're paying for what looks like another flip-flop. Their inaction on these issues have come back to bite them in the ass.

Many of us looked on with horror as the Democratic leadership...

allowed the 2000 election to be stolen without complaint

allowed Bush and Cheney to conduct government business in secret

agreed not to make the Bush White House part of the investigation into 9-11

voted for a 'patriotic act' they KNEW would eliminate civil liberties

voted for a war with Iraq that they KNEW didn't need to happen

continue to support the Bush doctrine of aggressive, 'preemptive' war

allowed the 2004 election fraud to go unexamined and fade into the memory hole

The Democratic leadership is just now realizing that they're looking like hypocrites for rubber-stamping Bush policies and nominees in the past and now object to these same policies they helped create with their votes and inaction.

Democrats are now paying for their cowardice when they've had many opportunities to set the record straight in the last four years. They thought compromising and capitulating to the Bushies would make them popular with the Right and the mythical swing voters. Instead...they now look like sellouts and political opportunists to both sides.

[latebloomer]

1. AMEN!! n/t

[Skidmore]

3. Well, the second to say

Amen, Q!

Who says you are a late bloomer?

[latebloomer]

11. LOL!!

Well, I done bloomed already!!

[Q]

10. Do you know why Democrats can get away with their two-faced...

...politics? Because there are so many rank and file Democrats that excuse their behavior.

Take a look around DU. You'll see thread after thread rationalizing why too many Democratic leaders are voting against OUR best interests.

They're acting like this is some sort of game. They seem to think the leadership has a long-term strategy of 'choosing their battles' when it's nothing more than political cowardice and fear of losing their lucrative careers. This is the ugliest kind of political opportunism...when they complain about corruption and a criminal white house ONLY when it's safe for them.

[Skidmore]

2. Let me be the first to say

Amen.

Thanks, Q.

[Q]

5. It has become a running joke...

...that our leadership can't get enough Democrats together to oppose Bush on ANYTHING. They're bitching and moan about Gonzales and Rice is too little, too late.

Democrats helped create the very policies they now find objectionable. Thet knew about the 'torture memos' long ago. Why didn't they speak up then? They knew that Rice was lying about Iraq and 'mushroom clouds' when she spoke the words. They...as a party...had no 'official' position when they knew she was lying.

And it's too late to plead ignorance. 9-11 didn't change anything but the leadership of this country. And THEY let it happen on their watch.

[AverageJoe]

4. Looks like this is the amen corner!

Yes, I could not be more disgusted with our "leaders," though I hope the spine some of them appear to be growing takes root and spreads to their colleagues.

I pray that they do finally get a consistent and clear opposistion/resistance movement afoot....

[Q]

6. Take your disgust and turn it into action...

...write or call your 'representatives' and tell them what you think of their 'leadership' or lack thereof.

Government NEVER changes unless the people force it to change.

[latebloomer]

12. Done!!

Just thanked Lautenberg and told Corzine's office how very disappointed I am in his vote.

[cali]

7. codswallop.

No amen corner for me. There are far too many half-truths in your rant.

They did not allow the 2000 election to be stolen. Gore fought, albeit with the piss poor decision to go for a recount only in certain areas of Florida. After the Supreme Ct decision, there was very little they could do. Refuse to certify? Wouldn't have changed a thing.

Allowed bush and cheney to conduct policy secretly? Many dems have been fighting against the secrecy of the administration.

Agree with you that voting for the Patriot Act and letting themselves get steamrolled on the 9/11 investigation was a huge mistake.

Voted for the War? Shame on those that did so, but 23 voted against it. Not enough, but a significant number.

Support the bush agenda of agressive pre-emptive war? Name someone aside from Joe Lieberman who supports this policy.

"The Democratic leadership is just now realizing that they're looking like hypocrites for rubber-stamping Bush policies and nominees in the past and now object to these same policies they helped create with their votes and inaction."

Are you forgetting that 42 dems voted against Ashcroft? That many opposed his tax cuts, and that they filibustered right wing judges.

It's just not as simple as you make it out to be.

[Q]

8. Nothing is 'simple'...

...but there is one consistent truth: the Democratic party has dug their own grave in the last four years and now they're trying to 'resurrect' themselves with a few complaints about liars and enablers of torture.

I have always given credit to the Democrats that have voted AGAINST the Bush regime. But they have failed as a PARTY. Or more precisely...the leadership has failed to rally the party to vote against the most corrupt executive branch in American history.

Any party is only as good as its leadership. They are the weak link in the chain and have failed to set the agenda and course for the party. In fact...they have done the exact opposite. Many have actually SUPPORTED Bush and his horrible policies and many more have praised him for his bold leadership.

It doesn't matter that SOME Democrats are voting against Bush. It's the end results that matters most.

[sherilocks]

19. I agree with your post with one minor exception

The SCOTUS decision came down in the middle of a statewide recount in 2000.

Add to your list, the Democrats who voted against the infamous Prescription Drug bill.

[WildClarySage]

9. As we have sown so do we reap

the party has been without consistent and innovative leadership (in the grips of a powerful few who like power and dislike responsibility) and now the party is waking up to how that allowed the repubs to take control of the 3 branches. Now we are going to have to start ground up and we are hungry for good leadership.

Hopefully Dean will prove to have the 'oranges' to lead us into a new democratic era, but we need leaders in the party on all levels, so if you aren't active in your local/state dem party, why the hell not? we all have awesome contributions to make and sometimes I suspect a lot of DUers just like to sit and gripe and don't get involved beyond that.

Think global, act local. True in the 80's, still true today.

[Q]

13. First we must...

...wrestle control of the party from the so-called 'moderates' who think they can compromise with 'fascists' and walk away unscathed.

Dean or anyone else would have little power to change a party under the full control of those who would rather compromise than fight.

Many won't accept that the Neocons run the GOP and their counterparts...the Neodems...run the Democratic party. It's even more difficult to accept the fact that they're working together to achieve certain goals that would mean the end of democracy as we've come to know it.

[WildClarySage]

14. Good points

all the more reason to get involved and fight from inside.

And to all who go out and *do*, thank you. Keep up the good fight!!!!

[Q]

17. And it IS the good fight...no matter what the detractors tell you...

...Americans MUST make ALL politicians accountable for their actions and inactions.

It's NOT TRUE that the Democrats can't do anything because they're in the minority. This is simply another excuse for inaction. AT THE VERY LEAST...they can go on record as opposing the worst Bush policies. They could then use this record as proof they're fighting for the people. This much needed sign of leadership would go a long way in winning elections.

[freestyle]

15. Around 40 Democrats voted against Ashcroft

This is the second time I have come across the totally incorrect idea that Ashcroft sailed through with Democratic help. He did not. The rest is unfortunately and tragically correct.

[Q]

16. Isn't the POINT that he became AG...

...even though he not only lacked the qualifications...but was a religious zealot?

I'm not surprised that you're missing the point. That being...the Democratic party is not unified in their message and too many in the party are actually working to make sure all of the Bush agenda moves forward.

[Q]

18. Democrats need to pay attention to this message:

"...Sadly, though, when governments, politicians, and bureaucrats make mistakes and refuse to reexamine them, there is little the victims can do to correct things.  Since the bully pulpit and the media propaganda machine are instrumental in government cover-ups and deception, the final truth emerges slowly, and only after much suffering. The arrogance of some politicians, regulators, and diplomats actually causes them to become even more aggressive and more determined to prove themselves right, to prove their power is not to be messed with by never admitting a mistake. Truly, power corrupts!

 The unwillingness to ever reconsider our policy of foreign intervention, despite obvious failures and shortcomings over the last 50 years, has brought great harm to our country and our liberty.  Historically, financial realities are the ultimate check on nations bent on empire. Economic laws ultimately prevail over bad judgment. But tragically, the greater the wealth of a country, the longer the flawed policy lasts.  We’ll probably not be any different..." Ron Paul --- http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2005/cr012605.htm