You Say You Wanna Leave The Party?

[rucky]

Well, ya know... Lots of us feel disenfranchised. Lots of us are angry that once again, the establishment has sent a message to the longtime core Democrats & progressives that we are not as important as the Reagan Democrats, DLC-ers, the NASCAR Dads.

But we feel conflicted, no? We want Bush out. We need Bush out. All this third party talk is making everybody feel uncomfortable - even folks like me who see it as a battle worth fighting. I feel equally uncomfortable that the ABB-ers seem to be hunting down the detractors - bullying you into your blind support. Makes you want to send that message back to them even more, doesn't it?

But there's still Bush to reckon with. 4 more years would damage all of us.

We can win this two-front war: ABB in 2004. Third Party in 2005.

If you want real change, it's time to start thinking strategically & incrementally. It's not that a progressive uprising isn't a worthy cause - it is. We just need to be patient & time our battles carefully.

Suppose our Dem wins the General Election: There's still congress to deal with. There will most likely be gridlock for at least the first two years. Last time there was gridlock was when we saw third party movements at their peak. Nothing at stake, personally, if party members leave. Much at stake to the party, tho. Go Green, Go Independent if you want. It's the leaving part that will grab their attention. We can leave in droves, unconflicted, send the message, and focus all the attention upon us. We wouldn't have the distractions & emotional intensity of an election year. The message would be clear. We can have some honest, respectful dialog. We will have some leverage. The DLC centrist strategy may have gotten a Dem into the White House, but they couldn't have done it without us. They'll know who left. They'll know what to do to make it right.

This is not something I would even bring up until after the election, but seeing the anger bubbling up now is hurting the credibility of a very worthy cause. There'd be alot more people on board, if we just time it correctly.

ABB in 2004!
Third Party in 2005 (if necessary)!

[info being]

1. I kind of agree with you...

Getting a new party going isn't something that can be done between now and November. I'd be willing to start in December. I'd be willing to help build a grassroots organization with regular meetings and events throughout the country.

Let the over 70 year-old crowd have their Democratic Party. Now what about the rest of us?

[pezcore64]

3. lol

"Let the over 70 year-old crowd have their Democratic Party"

Im glad someone else sees that too!!

how do you think kerry came from behind?
how do you think bush did so well in 2000?
its the elderly!!!
they play no role in the process until the day of the election when they go vote. most of them go vote just to get out of the house!

[MuseRider]

8. I am not in the

over 70 group but I think you are very wrong about that. You would be surprised at how politically acute many of them are.

[enki23]

10. we owe a lot to the 70+ group

they seem, to me, to be a whole lot more involved, informed, and leftist than the baby boomers.

[Chef]

12. Over 70?

While I thought original the post has merit, I find your comment ageist.

[Iverson]

2. Wow.

Your case is calmly stated, free of polemics, and takes into account the sensitivities of arguing parties.

Pardon me. I think I need to sit down, maybe get something to drink.

:wow: :beer: :wow:

[MuseRider]

4. Good post.

4 more years may do more than damage us so I reluctantly agree with you. All bets are off if we get the office and nothing changes.

[Walt Starr]

5. I'll probably be third party in 2004

I may change to independent before the election even. I will definitely change after the election.

I've been registerd as a Democrat my entire adult life. I'm sick of the party garbage and will probably re-register as an Independent before this year is up.

I will stay a Democrat, however, at least until March 16, 2004. That's the day I go vote in the Democratic Primary.

[mmonk]

6. The party can be worked within

to change it by people refusing to submit to certain political positions or by creating a large enough organization within the party to win influence and produce candidates.

[creativelcro]

7. I'm voting Dean in GE. That's it.

[CWebster]

9. As Ronald Reagan said

"I didn't leave the party, the party left me"

Maybe Reagan would feel more at home in his old party again?

[salinen]

11. Good idea

Because I am leaning towards non-ABB. But your idea has merit. I'd feel conflicted had I voted for Nadar in 2000, and also not voting, or voting write-in Kucinich in 2004. Nothing against Nadar people, I just loathe the fraud more than anything in this galaxy.

[Redneck Socialist]

13. We'll see

I've been thinking along these lines myself. Unless the Democratic Party begins to stand up to the pubs and show some spine, this fall could very likely be the last time I vote for a Democrat. Unfortunately the winner take all nature of our system makes it very hard for any third party to have any sort of relevance.

[Crunchy Frog]

14. I've already decided that

if the party blows it this time and allows Shrub to win, that I will go 3rd party after the election, although I will support the nominee during the election.

If the Democratic party has become a party that is no longer capable of winning elections, what is the point of being a member anymore? I can be a member of the Green party. They can't win elections either, but at least they stand for something.

However, it is ABB all the way for me until the election is over.

[GumboYaYa]

15. No one wants to leave the party.

Unfortunately, the party has left many of us. People will react to it differently and I can understand all of those different reactions.