Anyone else getting very impatient with the Dem leaders?

[Dawgs]

Yes, many are reacting to current news and some are actively doing things, but we aren't making any ground with the American public.

Do they need to come up with something like the "Contract on America"?

I personally wish they would take one issue at a time, and define the Democratic point of view on that issue. Either that, or tackle the issues that matter to the country, such as high gas prices.

Attacking Bush and the Republicans is working, but it's only working to hurt the Republicans. In case you haven't noticed, the Democrats aren't exactly killing the pubs in the polls.

[Mojambo]

1. Yes. For about 15-20 years now. n/t

[iconoclastNYC]

2. I think there has been MAJOR improvement

Reid is 10x better than Dashole and Dean is on the Sunday programs talking like an actual person.

When our leaders are beginning to talk like us, you know the Netroots are having an impact.

The Democratic Party is finding its voice right now. Expect a big roll out for 2006 campaign.

[iconoclastNYC]

3. BTW......why don't you become the leadership?

We need more common people in the leadership. We just can't have lobbyists and corporate lawyers running the party.

[napi21]

4. I think something similar to the Contract with Am would be great,

but it must have a different name! Anything similar to CWM will just sound like a copycat to Newt's idea, and we don't want that!!!

I'd like to see a list of proposals, numbered say, 1 to 10 and one sentence long. A backup longer description to be attached.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Impatient? Hell Yes! Leaders? Who?

With a few notable exceptions, we have no leaders. Kerry? I don't think so. Dean? Yes, he's doing a great job, but he's party chair, not the 'leader' (more on this later). The rest of the usual suspects? Just reactive.

Leaders lead.

NO ONE is doing that.

And into that vaccuum our next leader will step.

But until then .......

........ back to Dean. The good doctor is quite an oddity in his role as party chair. In can't think of many (any, actually) former party chairs on either side who enjoyed the name recognition that Dean has. He is a personality in his own right. A rock star to some and the WWF villian to others. But never an unknown.

As party chair, it is not his role (at least based on past traditions) to set policy or lead the parade. But ya know what? Until one of our currently somnabulent 'leaders' steps up and actually fucking LEADS, he's our best bet.

Look at his opposite, Ken Mehlman. He's out on the yak show circuit regularly. He spews his spew on show after show. He sneers on cue. He vilifies our side.

And he's largely doing this unopposed.

Get our rock star out there.

Now.

No need to change Dean. He's perfect as he is. He speaks in whole sentences. He has a brain and he's not afraid to use it. He's clear and unambiguous. He's a tough guy. He's passionate and honest.

Calling Dr. Dean to the ER.

Stat!

[snot]

6. YES.

With the important exception of Conyers, I feel like we've been DRAGGING most of them toward even beginning to deal with some of the most urgent and important issues that have arisen in my lifetime.

I'm glad the Dems have begun to be a bit more vocal, but I'm not very impressed. E.g., why aren't they speaking up even more about the war--the fact that many of them voted to authorize it doesn't explain their taciturnity, for they have only to point out what should be obvious to all by now, that the * Admin lied about virtually everything relating to the decision to go to war.

I feel partly mystified and, to the extent I can imagine no admirable explanation for their delinquency, disillusioned.

I have stopped contributing $$$ to any Dem campaign or org., other than Conyers and the few others that have stood up for what needs to be done.

I've kept hoping that Kerry or others will turn out to have been hard at work on some secret investigation or strategy that's going to call the * regime to account, once and for all. But that's gotten harder to believe as month after month has gone by; and meanwhile, if the Dems had simply OBJECTED to all the b.s. and DEMANDED investigation to the same extent WE have, I can't help but think we'd be further along.

[CityDem]

7. Hell yes!

When are our elected leaders going to leave their comfortable vacation homes in Martha's Vineyard or the Hamptons to travel to Crawford. Our leaders are on vacation when they should be standing arm in arm with Cindy at Camp Casey.

[wli]

8. since I was born, yes

I'm being led to the rather sad conclusion that they're in on it. They wouldn't be turncoats for CAFTA et al if they weren't.

[RethugAssKicker]

9. All of 'em,... except the Black Caucus

Conyers,
Barbara Lee, Waters...etc.

The only ones not afraid to speak up. Why is everyone else so fucking afraid?