My theory on internecine nastiness at DU.

[Pacifist Patriot]

We've all fucking had it! Many of us have hit critical mass and others have hit it well before now. We're frustrated and with good reason.

An appointed president
A monsterous terrorist attack that could have been prevented--A terrorist attack with too many unanswered questions
The Patriot Act
Jeff Gannon
Valerie Plame
An illegal invasion of a foreign country based on lies--The reason for the invasion morphing at least six times.
Mission Not Accomplished in Afghanistan
Camp Casey
Election Irregularities
Media Silence
Media Complicity
Fitzgerald Investigation / Libby Indictment
NSA Wiretaps
Hurricane Katrina
Roberts and Alito
Corporations with more rights than we have
Tax Cuts to the rich during a period of unprecedented government gluttony
High Gas Prices with record profits to the oil companies

Good heavens I could keep typing for the rest of the morning.

We've spoken to our neighbors, voted (we think), written letters to the newspaper, DUed countless on-line polls, written and spoken to our elected representatives, demonstrated in the streets, vented at DU, spread information in our own blogs, sent vital information to the media, screamed in the shower and cried in the pillow (well okay, I've done the latter, I can't speak for anyone else.)

It feels like no one is listening to us. So what if we've got polls that say Peewee Herman would make a better president than George Bush. He's still in fucking power! So what if the GOP looks like its scrambling for the November 2006 mid-terms. They're still in fucking power!

It's maddening. Six years of encroaching fascism and an administration that uses the U.S. Constitution as toilet paper. No wonder we're grouchy. No wonder our frustration is oozing out all over the place. We've had it focused for so long with no receptivity.

I really can't blame those who are distrustful and feel betrayed by their own. Our lives are surreal. SURREAL!

All I can ask is to try just a little bit harder for a little while longer. When you feel the urge to lash out at someone here, walk away for just thirty minutes. Think about who and what it is that you are mad at. I'm willing to bet it's not the person who posted at DU. You're pissed off at the circumstances we found ourselves in.

Yes, Democrats make mistakes. DU posters make mistakes. Liberal journalists make mistakes, can be misled, should know better. But we're all human. And who among us can take six years of frustration with constant gracious aplomb? We knew this was coming. We predicted it. And no one listened. Or at least it feels like it most of the time.

But they are listening. They are.

Come here, we need a :grouphug:

Edited to eliminate the freeper spelling of a word. i.e. I corrected it to proper English. ;)

[Lerkfish]

1. thanks

I think things have gotten out of hand lately as well.

:grouphug:

[babylonsister]

2. {{{{Hugs to you, P P!}}}}!!!nt

[zanne]

3. That's wonderful, Pacifist Patriot.

I'll try to heed your adivce next time I'm feeling snarky.

[Justice]

4. Bingo.

[MuseRider]

5. Thank you.

I'm staying out of it. I feel bad and angry enough all by myself so I am trying to stick to the things I can change, that is the only thing that is keeping me going at this point.

:grouphug:

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. Same here.

That's why I'm redecorating my bedroom. ;)

[Catchawave]

6. Thank you !

I've been wondering why I've been feeling so bitchy lately :hi:

:grouphug: feels good !

[stop the bleeding]

7. hugs are healthy n/t

[zippy890]

9. Yes, thanks. 'We all make mistakes'

There have been plenty of times I've said & done things
I've wished I didn't do but there it is, I'm human. We all are.

:hi:

Thanks for putting things in perspective, PP

[dogday]

10. Great Post

A toast to all DU members...:toast:

[acmejack]

11. Words of wisdom, Pacifist Patriot

I promise to try to the best of my ability. I will not snark anyone for any reason today, OK for the remainder of the day. Really!

I will endeavor to establish a tradition and build upon it. One day at a time, anger mangement!

[jojo54]

12. Thanks for the great post PP!!

:grouphug: Hugs to all.

You're right about us all being fed up and taking it out on DU sometimes. But if we all stick together, then we might come out of the debacle with the sun at our backs!

[seabeyond]

13. good post. last couple weeks i have been walking away

what is there to talk about. nothing is ever done about these people. andi have HAD it with all the not nice, pissy people on this board, on the streets, all around. me me me. do it my way. must be my way. live as i say and if you are too stupid to do it my way, we will pass a law.

just enough of all of society

no respect

on edit: and this is as negative as i get, lol lol. i never talk this way

[Dogmudgeon]

14. Whaddaya expect?

We sit on our asses all day and stew in our own anger. Of course we're a bunch of mean, ill-tempered blow-hards.

There's only one cure of which I know: to actually talk to people. It's always worked for me.

I'm still a mean, ill-tempered blow-hard, but not quite so often.

--p!

[Warpy]

15. Add the cognitive dissonance the major media provide

when they chirp and burble about how wonderful the economy is while we struggle more every week as prices of what we need to live on skyrocket.

Turning those bastards off was the smartest thing I did.

However, the one thing I consistently get flamed on is telling the board where the line is for me: choice.

Fellas, my vote is my own and there is nothing you can do about it, no more than I can control yours.

Cross that choice line and you lose it. That's just a statement of fact.

[marions ghost]

16. true

:grouphug:

Your partial list of grievances is enough to make anyone's head explode.

There is a limit to how much stress any beaten down group can take. But good point--let's try not to take it out on each other. As a group we have great power. This is coming to a head and we must be ready to seize the opportunities that appear when the pieces start coming off the Hindenberg.

Yes our lives are surreal now. Gotta be strong to function in a waking nightmare. Lean on others whenever necessary. Keep the vision.

We deserve so much better.

[KoKo]

17. Great Post! and Yep that's how many of us feel right now.

But, beating up on our own with snarking only makes it worse.

thanks!

[tocqueville]

18. frustration is completely understandable, but... but...

IMHO the measures described above and implemented by many DUers have little impact on the whole, besides maybe some information provided to the media...

they couldn't have any effect on the sitting power, more than moving a little part of the undecided US population to the right direction for coming elections...

People like Cindy Sheehan, Murtha and others have a bigger impact because of the coverage they get, because they are signs of something to come...

The mistakes and incompetence of the sitting rulers is far more determining to change the opinion, I'll state the mess in Iraq, Katrina, oil prices as the most obvious examples....

I know it's harsh to say this, but to believe otherwise is delusional

Maybe it's not DU's aim to be nothing else than a big opinion builder. But things cannot REALLY change before progressive Democrats ORGANIZE in local structures that through direct information work and by creating services where they are missing, reach to the voters. To do that they have first to agree to a common political strategy that everybody respects...

that was the way it was done before, it's the way it's done in any country, it's hard work, it's unusual for many US citizens but there is no other way...

transform the frustration and anger into something constructive

or else there will be many tears on the pillow....

[Lib Grrrrl]

19. How About

-A shitty economy that has kept many of us unemployed so long-term that we are no longer even COUNTED as "unemployed?"

-A constant, unceasing attack on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans, who are guilty of the heinous crime of being honest with themselves and the world about who they REALLY ARE.

[Doctor_J]

20. Fuck off!!!

;-)

[titoresque]

21. I call BULLSHIT!!!

just kidding! :donut: Goodmorning! And I've already erased two snarky messages before I sent them off this a.m......gonna try to be good today :)

[peace13]

22. Thanks for this

I am right there with you. Sometimes it feels like a bad dream. I know it is bad if I have to ask it out loud. Never give up. Peace and love, kim

[myrna minx]

23. Thanks for this post, from someone who has cried into her pillow too.

:grouphug:

[AllieB]

24. Good moning, PP. And thank you for your post.

I am normally a calm, not combative person, and the constant outrage that I feel toward the continuing scandals has taken a toll on me, and everyone else I know. I have been bickering with others here on DU, and that's not my MO. Like many of us, I feel frustrated and helpless, though I do everything in my power to make myself heard, as you said above. Thank you for expressing what most of us feel!

:hug:

[Rude Horner]

25. Good point

I believe you're right. We're all just frustrated. I've said it before and I'll say it again - DU seems like a family to me, and families can argue but that doesn't take away from the fact that we're a family. We can disagree and still be friends. We can have differing opinions and still be friends. I think our hearts are all in the right place though. :)

[dalaigh lllama]

26. Your name says it all, Pacifist

I think your theory is right on. Thanks for being a voice of calmness and reason. :grouphug:

[Felix Mala]

27. Don't forget how the Iraq "issue" was used to win elections in '02 and '04

That helped pave the way for the looney, looney neocon agenda...

[CrispyQ]

28. You are absolutely correct!

I am so tired of being outraged every day. Has there ever been an administration with such a long, dirty list?

Thanks for the :grouphug:

:hi:

[lumberjack_jeff]

29. That's good

It's important to remember that our primary goals are in alignment.

The devil is in the details, and our debate of them is not a weakness.

[femrap]

30. You're right....

we're all experiencing our possible 30 something attack of Outrage Fatigue. Many of us deal with RW idiots on a daily basis and we can't lash out at them like we'd like it (well, if we want to keep our jobs, that is). So that anger and frustration spills out here, I guess.

And I don't know about you....but Rove holds a special place in this administration that really makes me want to see him come down HARD! We've all waited so long for that. I want him indicted so bad I can almost taste it. I just want to see some JUSTICE for a change.

[The Wizard]

72. Rove indicted?

You gotta know the Chimpster will pardon him. The fucking scumbag needs to be dragged into the street by an angry mob and publicly horse whipped. Remember what Italian partisans did to Il Duce.
My true feelings will not be posted here. I hold back because Torquemada Gonzalez has his lackeys monitoring this place. Prepare to goose step.

[femrap]

73. I know how you feel....been thinking of getting the old

passport out and updated....just in case. And there are other licenses, etc. that need to be attended to. I do fear that if we don't get the House or Senate this year, the * regime is going to start jailing lots and lots of dissenters.

[wabranty]

31. Or maybe it is time for a new direction

One has to question just why the Democrats cannot get their act together when this seems the perfect time for a Democratic resurgence.

Maybe it is because there is something fundamentally wrong with the party, its positions, and messages.

Like environmentalism, could this be the death of progressive politics? (http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2005/01/13/doe-reprint/)

And don't think that the possible retaking of the Congress by Democrats points to a resurgence. If we win, its not because of a Democratic message but because the GOP self-destructed. And if we don't regain the Congress, think about the profound implication that has for the party.

True, the Republicans are becoming a party of no ideas but what do the Democrats have as ideas other than a set of procedural fixes? (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/09/AR2006050901504.html

Maybe something will come out of the DNC Spring Meeting - but I doubt it.
http://www.publicradio.org/columns/minnesota/polinaut/archive/2006/04/what_is_the_dem.php

The fundamental point that keeps me up at night is that most people truly know that W rigged the elections - AND THEY ARE OK WITH THAT! It's as if the alternative of having Gore or Kerry was so dismal, the majority would rather just accept the fiction that W won.

What does that say about the Democratic Party?

[marions ghost]

41. I don't believe

that everyone who knows the elections were rigged is OK with it. Not at all. But they feel powerless to do anything about it. It is a huge, multifaceted problem. Beyond them so they think.

Some changes were made in our society in the past at a time when people were more connected, not so isolated, more inclined to work in groups. And an important factor--they BELIEVED they had the power to change things. Obviously we have lost that synergy. There was a last flowering of it with the support for Kerry. But we've been pushed so far back now that most are totally demoralized and unwilling to get involved. Dems are retreating from the mess just as much as discouraged Republicans.

We might as well throw the old playbook out. It's not working. What people want is truth--spinless hardcore reality--so hard to get a line on now. They want to believe again. They want to trust again.
But we are a long way from that in a churning sea of disinformation. When you're clinging to a liferaft, it's hard to be excited about carrying out tasks that seem to be a drop in the bucket.

Both parties are now dealing with downtrodden constituencies. But if the Dems can't get some momentum and make a strong push now, given these opportunities, they really won't be a party to follow. The system, now overgrown with corruption, is more the obstacle than the party paralysis IMO.

[beltanefauve]

47. From your link:

"In a recent spate of interviews, Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi has emphasized her party's fast-forward version of its first Hundred Days in power -- in this case, what the Democrats would do in their first week running Congress. They would raise the minimum wage for the first time since 1997. They would repeal the section of the Medicare drug plan that forbids the government from negotiating lower prices with the drug industry. They would fully implement the recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission, and they would restore the congressional rule, suspended by Republicans, requiring that all new programs be paid for by a specific new spending source or offset by a commensurate cut in another program.

Pelosi doesn't deny that Congress would resume its oversight functions, but she has made clear that any decision to impeach anybody (which is not on her agenda) would be hers and the caucus's -- not John Conyers's, certainly not the Democratic blogosphere's.

Her critics on her left and right notwithstanding, Pelosi is one of the smartest pols on the political landscape -- as is attested by her ability to unify her fractious colleagues and designate John Murtha to attack the administration on the war. Now she's begun to outline the Democrats' own Contract With America. It ain't bad -- and for Republicans, that ain't good."
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

And yet, from your post, I'm picking up on the old, "The Democrats don't have a plan" meme. ("One has to question just why the Democrats cannot get their act together when this seems the perfect time for a Democratic resurgence.")

This is exactly the sort of thing that's been putting me off about DU lately, and I LOVE DU.

[wabranty]

77. A collection of policy fixes is not a message

Democrats have always been good at proposing detailed policy fixes but not very good at packaging them. The only Democrat in recent years that was brillant at this was Clinton with his 1992 campaign message of "People First." True, he had a large book full of policy proposals and fixes but he masterfully summed it up with two words.

The Democrats have plenty of plans and plenty of policies. But when you are trying to win elections, you have to give people a reason to vote and, unfortunately, the key voters are the ones who don't pay attention and rely on sound bites for their information.

[Sad4world]

32. Religious Wrong

The (Un) Religious Right have a lot to do with this mess.

Those that voted for "morals and values" instead of commom sense should be at the forefront of outrage.

Where are they??

Why are they not condemning this administration in mass and in the media on a daily basis??

Could it be that the leaders of religion are just as corrupt as the clowns leading us into hell??

Maybe they are just praying their anger away or would suggest we do as such.

What Religious Right? They are just a bunch of hypocrits.

Just a thought.

[Pacifist Patriot]

33. That's one of my key frustrations.

I have never in my life witnessed more immoral and inhumane consistency in behavior from a president and his administration. Why in the world aren't people who claim to vote "morals and values" clamoring for his resignation or impeachment????!!!?? I honestly don't get it.

[slor]

34. We all just need to take a deep breath...

and keep in mind what you have said. Yesterday, people went off on someone that complained about the injured horse dominating the news. Now I love horses, and personally, I would rather see more of them, than many of the fuckwads I have made contact with in life, but the reaction that poster received was heavy handed. I understand his resentment that the news is covering that kind of material, rather than actively pursuing the stories that would lead to the arrest of the chimp and gang, which is a story I anxiously await reading (or watching)!

[Teena]

35. I'm with you...

but I really don't think we have anything to apologize for or the need to explain our anger. Everyone understands it...they may just not agree with it or realize how deeply we feel about the issues. I propose that instead of trying to cope or forget or whatever, we simply declare ourselves the "Angry Left" as we have been labeled, and then list the reasons for our anger as you have done. The list has changed only in that it is growing....a sad fact...and the number of those discontented with the Bush administration grows along with it. In other words, not only do we have angry "leftists" we have angry "righties" too. Soon there will be no need for explanations for our anger...only nation-wide celebration as Bush/Cheney et al are removed, bodily, from office. I like to dream big!

[Beelzebud]

36. I'm burned out on American Politics.

I'm nearly at Timothy Leary mode. Tune in, turn on, and drop out.

I'm fucking sick of it.

The more I observe American politics, the more I am convinced that there is NO difference between the Democratic and Republican parties at a national level. They are BOTH corrupt, LIARS, and they ALL have their own interests to serve, and could basically give a shit less about America, and the American people...

Oh. And if I see "Fitzmas" one more time from some wide-eyed daydreamer, I'm going to fucking destroy something.

[Pacifist Patriot]

37. LOL!

That phrase is like nails on a blackboard to me.

[Skelington]

42. NO F-ing SHIT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How about ANOTHER useless fucking poll? like-what do you think of Bush's poll numbers, do the Dems need to do something, Is all hope lost yet, why is America stupid????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the FUCK is the point of polling bushes fucking approval rate HERE!!
Jesus jumped on a fucking pogo stick I'm sick of POLLS !!!!!

4 8 15 16 23 42, that fucking TV show is more interesting than jerking each other off in another fucking POLL!!!!!!!!!!!!

thank you for your ear, sorry to freak out, feeling better. Now...off to see the wizard.

[mntleo2]

38. Thanks For The Reminder, We DO Need To Hug Together

I walked away from a snide remark myself a couple days ago. Thought about responding to it in order to try to make it better, and then I thought, "Nah, you will probably just make things worse, and maybe they (or me) just had a bad day," you know? And you are right, when you are the one who has been seeing this crap coming for years and years, are laughed at by media whores, family, friends, and coworkers for being looney when it is the other way around, and when you have to grieve the truth because it seems nobody else is noticing what is happening right under their noses, well it IS our worse nightmare all right!

Cat In Seattle

[marions ghost]

43. people ARE noticing...

but a lot of people cannot deal with fearful realizations very directly. Denying is so much easier. It's so much easier to focus on your own small world and abdicate any responsibility. Let those of us who are willing to talk about it, do something to fix it...is their thinking.

We as a society, are suffering from a terminal case of expediency. When you have jobs to hold down, maybe kids and elders to support, and spend so much time weeding through the red tape of a society that is drowning in it...not to mention trying to steal a little escape once in awhile, AND THEN you're being asked to 'do your part to save Democracy'...on top of all that --well, it's not admirable but it's no wonder people get to the burn-out point. And that's exactly what the opposition is hoping.

[Betsy Ross]

39. Do one more thing to improve your mood.

Help a veteran. Mentor a child. Do something that helps someone who sure ain't getting the help they need from our govmint. Try a random act of kindness. Do something that we have a real, immediate impact on another human being. We can make the phone calls, write the letters, march in the streets. But we also need to keep living, we need to take direct steps (outside politics) to make this a better world. It can vastly improve one's mood.

[beltanefauve]

48. Best post I've read so far today, Betsy! n/t

[Pacifist Patriot]

54. Absolutely!

[flashdebadge]

40. I don't think OUR representatives are listening to us at all. :(

[Alamom]

44. Thanks .............I've been worried and scared everyday since

Bu*h stole 2000.

I had problems and worries just like everyone else (before), but now my personal problems are overshadowed by what has happened to our country and what is happening in Iraq and what will they do next and how will we get back to some kind of normal life....

There "IS" too much stress & anger for everyone when your government can not be trusted and everyday is a bad day or a worse day.

[bozo299]

45. It's called POWER, kids.

Power, by definition, can only be TAKEN. They took it, and
they couldn't care less about your feelings.

Either get off your PC asses and TAKE IT BACK, or go back to
sleep.

But stop whining.

[Pacifist Patriot]

56. You know, that's a point of view I have never been able to...

understand. Most of the people I have met from DU are activists. Some might even be considered radical activists. I take every action (within my ability as a stay at home mom to three young boys) that I can.

I do far more than whine and I would suspect most people around here are the same. None of us are sleeping. That's WHY we're here. I'd be willing to bet even those IN power right now bitch and whine about things too. Aw heck, I know it because I see them do it in speeches. It's nauseating.

I'd like to know exactly what you are advocating. Armed rebellion? What are our options for TAKING IT BACK if we're to abide by the frameworks of the Constitution we commit to uphold? I don't know about anyone else but the means at my disposal are pretty much limited to my voice, my literacy and my presence in a voting booth. I don't have the access to money and corporate power enjoyed by those in power.

Hence. The frustration.

[bozo299]

76. Step one: Find a strong leader

Right now there is nobody with the courage to present a
platform that might offend someone. To undo what has been
done,and still being done, will take a leader willing to kick
ass rather than kiss it. 

Hence the frustration. 

[shaniqua6392]

46. Thank you for posting that!

Our country has a horrible illness. But it is not terminal. Together we will persevere and find the cure. It is only a matter of time before we are healed. It is stressful. But we must all be patient and remember that we are all in this together and not take out the stress on each other.

[Gelliebeans]

49. What a great post!

:hi:

[LibertyorDeath]

50. Thanks I needed that

:hi:

[Point-X]

51. Add to the List.

Yes, this list could get so long as to make a person crazy. There is one lie though that really still bothers me and that was the fake Jessica Lynch crap that was pulled on us.

Mind Numbing it is and as intended I suspect.

Peace

[987654321]

52. Oh shut the hell up!!!

Just kidding! Thanks for your post!

Yeah, I'm new here and have thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I have learned so much and feel more empowered to work harder to make changes happen than I have in many years. At the same time I also share many people's frustrations and have wanted to punch my monitor a few times.

I have noticed tension in some posts, and downright disrespect at times. It is counter-productive. I have a suggestion. We all could paper-mache our own personal pinatas. They really aren't too hard to make, just some balloons or cardboard, wall paper paste and, of course, paper. We can each shape them into whatever political or media figure we are most angry with. You can even have different ones for different days. Let's say Monday is Bush day, Tuesday could be Cheney day, Wednesday could be Bill O'Riley day, etc, etc.

Now comes the fun part. Every time the frustration builds just take that pinata and give it a good whack! You can even invite your friends over and have parties, fill the damn thing up with candy or something like that. And if you happen to have a hard time getting motivated, just turn on FOX News, and I think you'll have enough motivation to tear Bush a new one.

Above all let's direct our real anger toward where it belongs. Regardless of whether we agree or disagree on certain subjects, I know we're all tired of feeling f#@ked over by the fascists running our government and the corporate mob syndicate that is raping our country. But we need each other to make the changes necessary to take back our country. Imploding will only serve the enemy, and they are indeed the enemy.

[Jazz2006]

57. Love the pinata idea :)

I'm going to whip up a big batch of paper mache tonight and get busy creating!

Welcome to DU :hi:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

53. You have a point.

I think there's also a good theory on it over in this thread.

[Pacifist Patriot]

55. Nothing A Pet Goat wouldn't cure.

Sorry, couldn't help it. I was born in Atlanta. I've probably got Kudzu in my veins.

[Jazz2006]

58. Good post, PP

:grouphug:

[nevergiveup]

59. Constructive criticism is one thing,

political bashing is quite another. Sometimes when I read a post bashing Obama, Kerry, Reid, Hillary, Dean or whoever I get almost as angry at the poster as I am at Chimpy and the other idiots in this administration. Getting angry at a member here is not a good thing. You post was timely and well done. Thanks

[lukasahero]

60. That's one freaking righteous rant. :)

K&R.

And :hug: to you.

[lala_rawraw]

61. running in

to hug, slip, fall, skirt over head, lost shoe... go figure;)
muah
:pals:

[Generator]

62. Are you calling me a freeper

because I spell for shit? (that's a joke-and YEAH spell check freezes my computer)

I was thinking the same thing. But also-this kinda brings out a few people that well face it- really aren't on our side. I'm not calling them a freeper-jeez I hate that word as much as "swiftboating" and would like to never see it again. I never heard of stupid "Free Republic" until I came here. Never heard of freepers. Anyway-it's also an excuse-any weakness for those that don't like x y or z to attack! I find it very human but petty. I don't care about x y or z's personal life. I don't care about their past. All I care about is what they say is true or not. And since I've been fucked up the ass for the last five years by the "respectable, mainstream media" I continue to reserve my pounds of disdain for them. They have all the power and they use it for bullshit stories like the runaway bride. Where's the outrage I tell you?

In my world Rove has certainly been indicted. This freaking world with "mainstream TRUTH" makes no sense to me. I don't even know if we'd know the truth anymore if it hit us in the head. And there are at least 3 types of people. The standard everything is what the governmnet tells us people-and there are many many of them on DU. They believe we lost in 2004 fair and square. They believe 9/11 was only incomptence-nothing more and the unasnswered questions don't even bother them. What bothers them is "nutcases" like me asking questions. Then there are the middle group like me-who question every damn thing. I don't know for a fact what happened on November 2nd, 2004 but I sure as shit know it wasn't fair and square and the truth of that election will probably never be known. I don't say I know for a fact what happened on 9/11-but I know for a fact my government is lying about many of the events and much is unknown. The third group is certain whatever they believe is absolute fact because it already fits what they believed before the event ever happened.

My biggest idea in life-nuance-that TWO things can both be true-never makes for snappy retorts on a discussion board. Maybe Rove was indicted. Maybe Leoplold is lying but that fact actually happened. Maybe he's a liar and a crappy journalist and maybe he also got something right.

Finally,I put nothing past these CRETINS (yah inside joke there) that are in power in this country. I have this wild horrible idea that anything can happen. I hope the truth can be known some day but until then I keep my sense of humour.

But great post-we've had enough and the reality of the mainstream is not the truth EITHER. That seems to be the real problem. We have no real journalists digging into things and actually bucking the truth we are told is absoulute.

[lividtiff]

63. I agree

But, I find that most of my frustration comes from the Democratic party's total lack of a backbone. There are thousands of people right here on DU that know the issues, and are fed up with what is going on, but sometimes I feel that we are alone. Where are the leaders? Cindy Sheehen has a greater ability to motivate people and bring about a change than any elected democrat. We can sit here and scream at each other over the issues, but if there's no one in power to stand up to the crooks in the WH, Proven again by todays Hayden vote, What can all of this frustration and anger accomplish but an ulcer?

[bluescribbler]

64. Amen

We need to fight the GOPigs, not ourselves. :grouphug:

[blm]

65. The ONLY people who don't make mistakes are people who don't do anything.

Peace, kiddo.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

66. Absolutely.

These are trying times right now, and I think we are all in at least some state of utter disbelief in what continues to unfold before our very eyes, while appearing that we are totally powerless in making it stop. That is definitely an extremely frustrating concept.

At least in reality we aren't completely powerless, as we can start by winning congress this year. But the amount of issues we take in each day mounting on top of each other while wanting so badly to be able to run outside and scream it to the world and start a revolution, are enough to drive anyone insane.

So we all must hang in there and stick together, agreed completely.

:hug:

[SeattleGirl]

67. Excellent post, Pacifist Patriot!

The fights, and snipes, and everything else negative we get into here on DU is, I agree, our frustration boiling over, and unfortunately, it boils over onto each other, because as angry and frustrated as we are, sometimes it seems that all our actions to change things are for naught. No, I don't really believe that; I do believe things are changing. It's just that it's happening more slowly than we want, more slowly than is good for our country. So many of the things that Bush and his cabal have gotten away with are illegal, immoral, unethical, and evil. It must stop, and I know there are thousands of us working toward that end, even when it seems to do no good.

I agree. We need a :grouphug: .

And here is an extra one for you. :hug:

[orleans]

68. k&r you used the word "surreal" and that is a very good

description as to how i've been feeling lately--viewing my life, my days, my interactions with people

there is a strange detachment

i feel as if i'm not completely present

i'm preoccupied and (i admit) obsessed with all the crap going on in this country

and in my day-to-day there is definitely a surreal quality

and i wonder how different my life would be, my mental state, if gore had been in the white

and i imagine i would be extremely different (focused, happier, dealing with my life rather than blowing it off and feeling misery about the bigger picture)

[Random_Australian]

69. K & R. I will be here to try and damp flames.

[Hekate]

70. Voice of peace and reason -- thank you

Kicked and recommended.
:kick:

Hekate

[Hekate]

71. dupe--self-delete -- guess I needed to say it twice

Voice of peace and reason -- thank you

Hekate

[Paul Revere]

74. We Have Morphed Into Being The INFIDELS

I do fear that if we don't get the House or Senate this year, the * regime is going to start jailing lots and lots of dissenters.

'They' (MIB) are 'personally' discouraging dissent made on some blogs........
They WILL knock on your door and 'highly recommend' cessation of anything counter to the Chimp's beliefs.
The First Amendment is gone. I have a 'friend' that can attest personally to this being factual.
Now, we're going to put the fox (Hayden) in to guard the hen house (us).
And, Y-E-S... 'they' A-R-E monitoring these internet sites along with more than just phone numbers called/received, etc.

It's hard for me to digest the fact that WE are not the 'good guys' I thought all my life that we were.
My parents always taught me we would be on the side of justice, right and proper with integrity and honesty.
The current administration has totally reversed that.
Sad, sad, sad. It just makes me want to cry.

[JuniperLea]

75. Welcome to DU, Paul!

Yes, when we become what we hate, it's time to change our tune;)