I am with some of the activists behind today, and they are reading this

[WilliamPitt]

forum, and are disgusted by what they are seeing here.

"Whining assholes" was one phrase used. "Depressing" was another.

There is a lot of happiness and well-won pride here in DC. Only on DU can a good day be turned to shit in five minutes flat.

Way to be.

[Worst Username Ever]

1. It's a discussion board. Although I disagree with the whiners,

there is nothing wrong with them giving their opinion, IMO.

On edit, by whiners, I mean those not happy with today's progress. If they want to be unhappy, that is their perogative.

[clydefrand]

29. It would be good to have civil discourse on these matters .

I know we all have different ways of expressing ourselves, but a little less seemingly hysteria would be good.

We're getting accomplished what most of us here had been hoping for and I believe this is the doorway to getting more things done in the future.

Just think! It's historical; and it will be discussed! That's more than we had yesterday.

[righteous1]

2. What happens when hopes are built up too high n/t

[fertilizeonarbusto]

6. You get something good enough and work with it

if your hopes are too low, you get barely adequate, if that.

[helderheid]

3. It's really unfortunate people here

(not all of course) don't see how much has been accomplished today!

Thanks for all your help and insight Mr. Pitt

[mzmolly]

4. I predicted it yesterday in my "whiner" thread.

I suggest the following :nopity: response.

;)

[crispini]

17. Nah, don't even kick the whiny threads. Kick the good threads. n/t

[Wilms]

40. Yes. Don't kick the violins threads.

I try to remember that.

Kick the the threads of those actually DOING SOMETHING!

[fertilizeonarbusto]

21. LOL

I love your style, lady.
:hi:

[BattyDem]

5. Hey, come on ... we're not all whining - some of us are very happy

This is just the beginning!

:bounce:

[NoPasaran]

7. I am disgusted too

I don't know what sort of unrealistic expectations some people had. To tell, the truth, I really didn't expect this happen. I am proud of my party for taking a stand today.

[mordarlar]

8. I hope they realize some of us want to fight the long battle...

I am ready and i am prepared. We will succeed.

[Der Blaue Engel]

9. Are they bothering to note all of the proud DUers

who believe this was a victory?

There IS a lot of happiness and well-won pride right here on DU. Take a poll.

[WilliamPitt]

16. Good idea

[crispini]

26. Yeah! Post a poll! Go Will! It's your birfday! Go Will! n/t

[Cocoa]

10. it was completely predictable

anyone who knows DU knew with certainty that some would portray this as a defeat.

In fact, for some people who supposedly wanted "just one Senator!" to join the challenge, that was actually their worst nightmare, and they really didn't expect it to happen. Now they have to revise their rhetoric from "just one Senator!" to "one Senator is not enough!" because what they really want is to keep people angry at the dems.

[Miami Liberal]

11. Not everyone's whining Will

This is indeed a beautiful day!

[mattclearing]

12. Please direct them to my post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x252205

At the Re-Defeat Bush rally at Capitol Hill, they had C-Span audio of a republican congressman talking about how the election in Ohio wasn't perfect, and that there were certainly some problems. That concession would never have been made if not for our efforts.

This effort today will draw attention to the issue. There was real support in the streets for action today thanks in large part to DU. This is an important gain over what transpired in 2000. People should be patting themselves on the back.

[itzamirakul]

13. Gotta have SOMEPLACE to vent, Will....

As I said in another post, "I'll get over it."

I am both happy and sad with today.

Very happy that Sen. Boxer stood up and that we were heard.

Very sad that the rest of the Democrats proved to have the backbones of earthworms.

That's how I feel right now. What's wrong with saying it?

[fertilizeonarbusto]

14. Thanks again Will

I have faith most of the distraught today will get over it soon, see that we actually won today and get back in the fight.

[Caution]

15. And I would fully agree with them

unreal. it's great that congress people stood up for voting rights but anyone who seriously thought this was going to have the end result of the election being overturned or anything of consequence beyond beginnning a real debate on voting issues was just flat out kidding themselves.

[saracat]

18. Can't we be happy with some and not happy with others?

I am happy with the House Dems and unhappy with the Senate except for Boxer! I also am unhappy about the media.Will, no one is covering this!It is all Andrea Yates!

[denese]

19. Well, tell them, for me....

THANK YOU!!!!!
And thank you too, for being there for those of us who could not be.

[ET Awful]

20. It seems like many of the posters here would only be satisfied if

all the Democrats in congress had charged the capitol with torches and pitchforks in a Frankensteinian lynch mob.

I think a lot was done today, and it amounted to what I expected. In fact, the majority here were whining just a week ago saying "whaaaaaa, no senator will sign on." So, in fact, many of the naysayers already have more than they expected.

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. Tell them that many of us will take today's energy and jump start

some big changes at the grassroots level.

------------------------------------------------------
Election reform can help save this country!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[Cheswick2.0]

23. ask them why they don't believe in freedom of speech

and then tell tehm to go blow it out their ass. People have a right to their opinions and while it is great that two people voted against the electors from Ohio, there was way too much CYA amoung the democrats today. What the F was with all the "bush won" talk? CYA, that's all it was and it wasn't necessary for them to say.

Freedom of speech Will, it's in the constitution.

[stray cat]

24. Tell them I'm proud - one person one counted vote is worth fighting for.

[mycatforpresident]

25. Please ask them to refrain

from labeling the whole group as whiny when there are multitudes here that understand the victory and appreciate it...and you guys, too.

[EFerrari]

27. Tell them some of us are so HAPPY we can hardly type! And

tell them, thank you!

[keithjx]

28. Relax a little

Yes, this is an incredible step - one that should have been taken 4 years ago, and I know how slow government moves. But at the same time, there's legitimate frustration that so many D senators spoke up but didn't put their vote where their mouths were. In the end, we must hope that they will take action on their words in the future. You said it yourself, Will, it's ironic that they are claiming so loudly that the system is broken, but the vote from Ohio is okay. If they really believe it's broken, shouldn't they vote against certifying Ohio? (at least to make the statement that much more emphatic?)

KJ

[Coexist]

50. I'm proud of what happened today

We didn't even think one Senator would sign, and several got up to speak. That alone was hard won.

I am very proud of these leaders - and all who helped get them to speak.

[catgirl]

Great things happened today

democracy found a voice, there will never be such a
corrupt vote again, and Blackwell is SCREWED!

[No Exit]

30. OOOO!! This is sooo GREAT!!!

(That was Flounder, from "Animal House".)

And that's EXACTLY how I feel!! This is the greatest thing that could've happened short of Kerry being sworn in on Jan. 20, 2005.

[DearAbby]

31. No Retreat No Surrender

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

No Whine here, I am elated. VICTORY in this battle.

[Walt Starr]

32. some of the whiners are probably not even really DUers

:shrug:

[saracat]

33. But if the speeches are only heard by C-Span Junkies, who is listening?

We must go after the media !

[cyberpj]

34. Only one excuse -

Rally participation with uplifting speakers and cheers is always much more cheery and motivating than having to sit and watch politicians debate.

Yes - the challenge is a victory!!!!!!!!!!

But some of us had hoped that Conyers' 100+page report would make more of a difference - even tho it only came out last night.

It was hard to sit here for hours and listen to people say there was absolutely positively no credible evidence of fraud after we've seen so very much of it here.

One last point - we ALL need to take lessons from Rev Jackson and the Rainbow Coalition ---- and remember we need to be in it for THE LONG HAUL. Nothing about this is going to change overnight. No one knows better than every single person in the CBC how long the fight against power takes. They're STILL fighting it and we've just joined in.

[Not_Giving_Up]

35. I'm happy!!!!!

I get to go home tonight and show my children a moment in history that happened today!

To those of you who were really out there, necks on the line, asses to the fire - THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! You have made a difference! Some people might not it just yet, give it time. I'm not sure what some expected to see today, but I am thrilled. We're on the record with voting issues. We have been heard. Things don't change overnight in the governmental process.

THANK YOU! :bounce: THANK YOU! :bounce: THANK YOU! :bounce:

[bufftiger]

36. Hey Man, Not everyone is whining, some are CELEBRATING!!!

[Darknyte7]

37. Man...it's just a discussion board....

frequented by a lot of freepers too as you well know.

I'm happy as hell with what we accomplished today.

[katinmn]

38. Not all gloom and doom. Some of us are happy!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=252802&mesg_id=252802
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x252973http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x252417
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=252573&mesg_id=252573

[understandinglife]

39. Will; lets not be distracted. We are on course. My # 1 Question to you...

...and everyone reading this thread is:

Is it time to form a "Boxer for President '08" campaign working group?

Peace.

[Stephanie]

41. Tell them there are many different levels of understanding of the process

some people are not understanding what is happening today - they were expecting something unrealistic - that getting a Senator to enable the debate today would somehow turn over the election. tell them democracy is messy, especially in a free-for-all message board. tell them we are the base, we are the grassroots, we care more than anybody else. but we have various levels of sophistication about the process. it's not personal.

[Pacifist Patriot]

42. They should recognize that venting disappointment

after having spent days and weeks lobbying for a different outcome is understandable if not commendable. People will gradually overcome the tunnel vision and be able to see the landscape. Give them a little time.

[cali]

43. I'm happy.

I was against contesting. Now I'm happy to say I was wrong. Democrats in the House and Senate stood up and defended democracy in a clear and non-partisan way. They were brave and eloquent, and I have hope that this is indeed the first step on the long, arduous road to electoral reform. And you and the activists you're with can take a good chunk of the credit. Thanks to all of you.

[seito]

44. This is a GREAT DAY for Democracy

I am so damn proud of what we have accomplished.

[Walt Starr]

45. Some of us aren't whining

I'm impressed as all get out with how the Democrats handled this!

[frictionlessO]

46. heres another post to show them Will!

it will get kicked later when there arent 10 posts a second going up!


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=247810


Many of us our so proud we cant contain it!! I am very very proud of all of you, you are a hope to my family and friends keep fighting!

[flpoljunkie]

47. The fight for transparent elections has been joined! We must now hold

our Representatives' and Senators' feet to the fire until real election reform is passed and signed into law. We must have elections in whose results we all can trust or we have no democracy at all.

No more 2004!

[renate]

48. I feel as though I'm watching Neil Armstrong in 1969

History was made today, beautifully and dramatically.
I'm beyond happy; I feel ELEVATED!

[nadinbrzezinski]

49. Will this is a problem with DU

Even when we have a clear victory... some cannot accept that and realize this is just a begining... of a long fight ahead.

[seabeyond]

51. hey and yawl dont get to easily dismiss me aND MANY Others

either. it is a small handful. all of us working our ass off in our own ways how we can sittin in the middle of texas............and be steady and true and yada yada, dont need to be labeled in this manner by yawl either

grinnin.

take it back, lol lol

[merh]

52. A lot of the whiners are faux DUers - they have been trying to

discourage the efforts since before the election. Ignore the whiners, We made HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE THE PEOPLE!!!

[Firespirit]

53. They are entitled to their disappointment

if they believed that it would be overturned.

There's nothing at all wrong with being an eternal optimist and idealist. So I can't be too harsh.

It'll pass.

The important thing is, this debate happened because they LISTENED to us. They listened to what was important to us and acted on it.

[Jamel]

54. Sorry, BUT I"M NOT FEELING POSITIVE

What has been accomplished here? Will this get us voter reform? Have the criminals been held accountable? Can someone please tell me what the victory is here? Will this illegal administration NOW help the people who will be hurt by his policies?

[Imalittleteapot]

55. Happy here. Never expected a change in election

outcome. Never expected ballzy Dems. Some were kick ass.
Dems are keeping the election process issues alive.

[KaliTracy]

56. History happened today. I wish more people were seeing that

this is about our future and our children's future. Ney or whoever is in charge of the "Election Reform" can't Ignore paperless voting, or e-voting problems - or machine disparity -- by putting it OUT THERE in the public record... they cannot ignore us. We will not let them.

That's what this was about. And, Will, thanks for your blog -- it's how I kept myself updated through it all. :hi:

[buzzard]

57. I'm happy it was more than I expected to see. I personally like our paper

ballots in Canada.

[drummer55]

58. Dont whine.....mobilize

find your local groups and effect change on the local level.

Be supportive of the senators who stood up and spoke out! Call them and thank them.

Be super supportive and vote for Boxer as President in 08. what she did today was the most difficult thing a Senator can do. She was honest and spoke from her heart. She put her neck on the line. Senator Boxer is what democracy looks like and it looks good on her!


For the rest of the slimey bastards who said nothing and did nothing

do everything in your power to remove them. They are the deadwood on the tree of democracy and we need only healthy, growing branches on this tree.

Thanks Will for all of your hardwork you are awesome.

You are what investigative journalists used to be like!

[Sydnie]

59. Give them this message from me please Will

Thanks to you all for all of your hard work, your sacrifices and your dedication. Thanks to all of you for putting democracy first and never waivering from that goal.

Thanks to all of you for volunteering to "wear the bullseye" for all of us.

You are the leaders that the "whiners" have been begging for. Perhaps they just can't recognize that anything worth having is worth working for, as well as worth waiting for.

Some want instant gratification. That's not how it works though. Change comes one step at a time, one movement at a time, one voter at a time.

The Reps didn't get control in one day; they didn't start us down this long road back in one day nor with one single action. It was many days and many actions that have brought us to where we are today.

I thank you all for your leadership and beg you to continue making your voices heard. You will be supported by many of us today and in the future.

and for you all!

[Alizaryn]

60. Take note of the post count where you see negativity in many

cases.

[imenja]

61. tell them it's not all of us

Too many prefer to complain than do anything. Others are willing to work. Count me with the latter.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

62. I'm disappointed mostly with my own Senator

I understand the use of the objection as a parliamentary tactic, and I can even see the merits of not voting for the resolution.

[dooner]

63. wildest dreams

Will, you have to admit that this congressional exercise does not exactly fulfill everyone's wildest dreams. The inauguration of Bush is a foregone conclusion, and has been since well before the November "election" apparently.

It's understandable that some are disappointed. The democrats can't even stick together, and many don't seem to understand any detail of what has happened. Most of the republicans are acting like ignorant creeps.
The media has been AWOL. Come on, it is depressing!

Please forgive the less jaded for not applauded democracy in action.

Us older folks are already so programmed to expect the worst, we are easily lifted by the least bit of progress, however tiny. That's wonderful, but a bit sad. Don't you think?

[coffeenap]

64. Not everyone is whining!

Thanks for what all of you have done. Tom DeLay is on now and while listening to him, I applaud you even louder. Here's to the future! It will be ours.

[SammyWinstonJack]

65. Whining assholes.

How nice! "Way to be" This is just disgusting! I hope "election reform" happens before the 2006 "elections" but if the last four years are any indication of just what our elected Leaders will do, I am not holding my breathe, speaking as a "whining asshole"

[NVMojo]

66. you are right ...and I got good news!!! Reid's office just contacted

me about the Sequoias in Vegas that didn't have printers and I've sent it along ...so there LoZoccollo!!!

That was the one thing that pissed me off, the lie about Nevada having all paper trailed machines on November 2nd when they didn't. Only half, in fact less then half.

The rest of today was a success and we need to let Boxer, Conyers and Tubbs-Jones know how much we appreciate them!!!

[Moderator]

67. locking -- flame bait

[snot]

68. Please tell all, many of us are thrilled!

I think this is a v. impt. accomplishment.

No way was Bush going to be ousted today; but all we really needed was to open the door for more public discussion, investigation, and reform. I think we accomplished that--hooray!--and did it without wasting Dem. political capital.

This was an important battle and it was important to make this push, but we're in for a long war and it's equally important NOT to burn more resources than we need to.

Congrats to us!