Unity among Democrats-More important than EVER before

[Boxerfan]

I just want to make a basic point...

Every time we take a stance that divides our own we do harm. I believe we must take a cue from the "bots"-much as I hate to say it.

The upcoming elections are a popularity contest-nothing more. Facts that you & I debate daily will likely not decide the election-personalities will.

It is a sad but all too true fact. The other fact we have to belly up to is that as such any display of division gives the opposition a chance to divide & conquer. It's basic strategy & it should be apparent that Re pukes have held an advantage in this area for waaaaay to long.

This has allowed a MINORITY to act like it's a majority.

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Having said that,regarding the current situation(s). If we are to do ANYTHING in the future about who we have in charge of OUR party we have to play this GAME like a GAME. Stand hard on issues held by the Dem's a give no ground when debating. ZERO. Straying like grazers on a hill on a given subject is our nature. But like the grazers that stray to far they can be separated from the flock & prey to the wolves that await at all times...

Once the game is ours we can start fiddling with the machinations. But till then ANY disunity is a error on our part.

Won't be easy folks but please give it a try!

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Yup, conformity uber alles.

Anyone who questions the wisdom and absolute rightness of the Party Leaders is a traitor who hates America and should be treated as such.

Crimeny, do you have any idea how you sound?

[Boxerfan]

8. Only now that you mention it (yikes).

But I truly believe we must keep the "jabs" to a miniumum for our own sake.

We stand zero chance of doing anything about the 2 party system if we don't win all 3 branches this '08.

Frankly it looks like a cakewalk from here.

Look, I know I'm a no-donor(broke)
I'm a low poster(spend most of my time on Hobby boards,not preachin to the choir)
And I make lots & lots of spelling errors.
But I am a Democrat who sees the upcoming elections as the most important in our nations history

[TechBear_Seattle]

15. Jabs or legitimate complaints?

Just out of curiosity, how would you define the difference? Because, again, it sounds to me that you want everyone to just shut up if we can't enthusiastically cheer on the party leadership.

[Birthmark]

2. We were unified.

Then came the cave in. Sorry.

[renie408]

3. I think it is better to be loyal to ideas than to a party. I will support the candidates, whatever

party they are in, that best articulate what I consider a workable plan for the future of this country. Right now, it is looking like a Democrat is most likely to do that. Ten years from now? I will have to get back to you on that one.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

21. Support the candidate who will do most for the principle, not the one who holds it most strongly.

If you want to support a principle, the best candidate to pick is the one who will do most to uphold and promote it, not the one who holds it most strongly or in the form closest to your own.

A candidate who may win and has similar views to yours is more worth supporting than one who would do everything you want if they could win office, but can't.

In practice, that means that in national elections in the USA the best way to promote liberal prinicples is almost always to fully support the Democrats, even if other candidates or parties may have better policy platforms.

[Adelante]

4. Let's try the Truth

Instead.

[welshTerrier2]

5. unity must be built

i think everyone understands that a house divided against itself cannot stand. unity is critically important if Democrats are going to win.

but unity can't just be mandated, it has to be built. it has to be earned. and therein lies the rub.

there is a huge gap between those we elect and their constituents. our reps are badly out of touch. unity cannot be demanded just because we share a party label. there must be real communication; there must be real negotiations; there must be real democracy.

when you lay on top of that this last betrayal by the party regarding Iraq, unity becomes almost impossible.

you've identified the right goal but the wrong way to achieve it.

[Le Taz Hot]

6. Country before party.

It's my new mantra. Get used to it.

[sampsonblk]

19. Count me in

I am with you 100%.

[MadHound]

7. How about this radical idea

The Democratic party, including our Reps and Senators decide to stand with the wishes of their boss, we the people, rather than putting their own goddamn careers ahead of doing what is right and moral.

Too many times have I been told to ignore the fact that Dems are going against what is best for we the people, and that I should continue to remain a good loyal little Dem, voting against my best interest time and again. OK, to some extent I could fall in line with that, but not this time. Lives are on the line this time, both American and Iraqi. And as long as the party continues refusing to do the right thing to end this war, defunding it, then I cannot line up with bloody handed politicians of any stripe.

What good is it to have a "party of the people" when they refuse to listen to the people? What good is it to have a representative democracy when the people aren't represented?

[Boxerfan]

9. And if we vote Independent that'll help??. Just have to work in the system & have patience

I wish I had my beliefs entirely represented but that's not how it works. Fixing the problem from within is only possible if we win. That is job #1

[Le Taz Hot]

10. That's what they told us in 2006.

We're still in Iraq with no timeline on the horizon. Our jobs are still being shipped overseas. The devastation from Katrina remains. I and 45 million other Americans still can't get health care. No one expected them to fix everything all at once but they've accomplished NOTHING. There's nothing even on the horizon. NADA!

If the Democratic Party wants my vote they'll have to EARN it! Shut up and vote doesn't work anymore.

[bdamomma]

13. or shut up and give us your money doesn't help either.

[MadHound]

11. I've been working in the system and having patience for thirty five years now

When the hell are the Dems going to start following the will of the people? When the fuck are they going to start putting what's best for the people and for this country ahead of what is best for their corporate masters and political careers? When are they going to stop becoming a copy of the 'Pugs and remember that they're the party of the people?

Patience? I've long ago run out of patience friend, and yet soldiered on anyway. However this last stunt that they've pulled, the fact that they are putting their own careers ahead of the lives of innocents has broken it for me, and for many, many other people. This latest outrage simply goes to show that the party is beyond fixing, from within or without. Since they can't seem to bother with following the clear mandate that we the people gave them last fall, I can't be bothered to support them anymore. It is that simple.

The party is broken in such a way that it can never be repaired. Better to start fresh, with a party that no only promises to put we the people ahead of corporate interests, but actually does so. Best to let the Democratic party fade into oblivion and let a newer, stronger, more responsive party take its place.

Repeating the same action over and over again, while expecting different results every time is also another definition of insanity. I've been insane a long while now friend, and I no longer wish to continue down that path. If you wish to do so, that's your perogative.

[Cameron27]

12. Not all Democrats are equal in value, and

not all deserve our support and votes to get them elected president or to any office. That's what the primaries are supposed to be about. Skinner's made this point very clear and yet "my guy's swell, you meanies stop criticizing him" threads keep popping up. If what's posted is the truth, it's not a smear.

I will never support advocating against the Democratic Party itself however. I believe that's against DU rules, and it's the reason I keep donating here.

[Pithy Cherub]

14. Your rose colored glasses and earplugs

are keeping you blind to hearing Truths. Unity is earned not given away as cheaply. If you believe Democracy is to be held in the highest Esteem, the Bill of Rights is a civilized Requirement, the Constitution represent the Rule of Law, then this post will now represent the height of non-thinking and betray the Principles this nation was founded upon. No one deserves blind unswerving loyalty unless the supporter is afraid of their own shadow and criticism.

As Socrates said, A Life Unexamined is not worth Living. A Democratic Party unexamined is not worth supporting.

:eyes:

[Bitwit1234]

16. The way people bashed Cindy and are still bashing Hillary

shows that the democrats can't get their act together. Cindy had a perfect right to protest the war. Maybe we didn't like all her methods but that was her decision.

Hillary is a very intelligent person. It is too bad she is not a man because the nomination would be hers without exception.

I think Edwards is going to be our best candidate but I don't think that will happen. The democrats as usual will pick the candidate with the lowest electively at they usually do. And to make matters worst the swiftboating from the right will start and people will believe it.

[Doctor_J]

17. The voters are unified

unfortunately the people in DC don't represent us.

[GeorgeGist]

18. You DO you understand ...

that this GAME is bullshit. In reality, this is not the UNITED states of america. Nor has it ever been.

[Totally Committed]

20. They should have thought of the need for unity before they stiffed us.

TC

[blm]

22. Better to unify behind anti-corruption, open government Democrats and drop support

of any Democrat who sides with secrecy and privilege.

Gore's book should clue more Dems in on that score. If Gore can turn his back on the secrecy and privilege wing of the Democratic party than more should find the strength of convictions to do the same.

Hey Democrats, Truth Matters!

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html