The Mass Defeatism Popping Up Now Is A Bit Premature I Think.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

Firstly, I think everyone here should be damn proud of what we accomplished the past week. It may not have been enough, but the distance we climbed up the mountain mostly due to grassroots movements themselves is definitely commendable, respectable and worthy of praise.

But, and a big BUT, why does that movement end right now? We saw MONUMENTAL progress the past few days because of OUR efforts. If you suspend your disappointed emotions for a moment and keep the passion going, why are we any less motivated to CONTINUE the phone campaign to our dem senators, and now even the REPUBLICAN ones, for a NO vote tomorrow? I don't give a rats ass how impossible that seems since from where I'm sitting, the odds for that prospect prior to our efforts are actually better than the odds were for a filibuster prior to our efforts. So why be defeated now? Ain't over yet baby. If we keep it up for the last hurrah, and now include moderate repubs as well just maybe we can climb that mountain again with an up or down vote instead of a filibuster. Yup. Odds ain't in our favor. They weren't in our favor yesterday or the day before either, but I sit here with pride at my fellow progressives that took to the phones and mail with focused passion and made monumental gains on a practically impossible effort. Why not try one last time, and come noon tomorrow collapse from exhaustion with either beaming accomplishment or the same disappointment we feel now.

That's all I want to say.

[DemInDistress]

1. what does it mean? is the filibuster busted? DOA ?

[Armstead]

2. You're correct -- but right now Venting is appropriate

I know all about the long view. And many Democrats came through for us.

But after 30 years of Democratic Bullshitism we deserve to vent a bit after this stupid defeat that should not have been.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. I'm not talking about a long view. I'm talking about until 11:30 tomorrow

[WildEyedLiberal]

8. I agree with both you and the OP

Short term, venting is totally appropriate. But long term - this was a victory of sorts. Stopping Alito was a long shot, and most of us knew that from the outset. We HAVE to rally around the good Democrats who stood up for us - John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, and everyone who stood with them.

[CottonBear]

3. I'll keep calling. I have to call out of state because I have two idiot

chickenhawk Republicans holding my state's senate seats (which they stole via Diebold and smearing Max Cleland.)

[MissWaverly]

21. If you don't want to call them, fax them

I think that this is part of the problem, we have been giving them a free ride, just
because they are Republicans, why don't you give them Murtha's quote about the tombstones
in Arlington Cemetery don't read democrat or republican. Also if you can get the quote
Hagel said yesterday about Senator Hagel criticizes Karl Rove-I posted about noon yesterday in General Discussion-Politics, he says that the Republicans should not fracture America but try to work with both democrats and republicans on issues.

[crikkett]

5. how does the vote stand at this time?

How many for/against?

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. If this was the first time, perhaps I would agree with you...but this

is not the first time... and it will not be the last.

[saltpoint]

7. A lot has been accomplished and I bet most of us are still up for the next

round.

This president has earned the world's disdain. I say we continue to hold him accountable, whether Wolf Blitzer does or not.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

12. NOTHING Has Been Accomplished

Sorry to join the chorus, but we lost again, that's the bottom line. Another Fucking loss, in a series of Fucking losses. To Be Continued.....

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

17. Here's A Tissue.

[Jo March]

20. Well, perhaps we should all just go and do - what, exactly

With the tone of your post, maybe we should all just go and drink some poison, perhaps? Would that make you feel better????

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

9. I'm Damn Proud Of Everyone Here!!!

Hooray! Thanks for all your hard work folks. We lost again. Let's get ready to lose another battle down the road. I can't wait.

[William769]

14. Thats the spirit! keep it up.

:eyes:

[Jo March]

16. There's no reason to be a jerk about it

We all worked hard. It's not OUR fault that we have turncoats in our party.

Keep your sarcastic bitterness to yourself or take it elsewhere.

DUers should celebrate their hard work. Yes, we lost but we fought. We didn't just roll over and die.

[MissWaverly]

22. Yes and we still have coins in our pockets to out the turncoats

we should keep a tally of every DINO that votes for Scalito and when the primaries comes
around, ding, ding support the challenger.

[jenndar]

10. You are right.

Today we found out who our true leaders are, and that's worth something.

[Coexist]

11. I agree - we just all need to vent a little.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

15. Believe Me, I feel the need to as well. But I don't want valuable time

going by that we could've still used to try.

For example, think about a death row inmate that is desperate. When one last minute appeal is rejected does he stop and vent? Hell no. They rush the briefs and IMMEDIATELY start on the last avenue for clemency. They don't feel defeat until they run out of options. Think about the schiavo case etc... With each loss the GOP had, did they roll over? Fuck no. They IMMEDIATELY rushed to the next step to attempt to achieve victory.

That is what fighters do. If there is still an opportunity for victory, put all your resolve and strength into that effort until no opportunities are left. Alito isn't confirmed yet. I think these boards should be filled with calls to action right now to call as many senators as many times as possible between now and tomorrow in hopes of convincing them that though alito gets his up and down vote, they should vote their conscience and what's good for our country and vote NO. Whether dem or repub. That's all I'm advocating.

[mvd]

13. All of this grassroots effort is a great start

Unfortunately, the corporate media in this country helps to keep too many Americans in a state of apathy. Even many Democrats.

I'm still optimistic about the '06 elections. People are ready for change, and I think Dean will be good at helping to craft our message and respond.

[Jo March]

18. Me, too! I am pretty optimistic as well

I think that we should march on DC every chance we get. We need feet in the street to get our point across.

Feet in the street.

[StoryTeller]

19. I totally agree!

The mess our government is in took an entire generation to develop. It's silly to think that it's going to be reversed in one decade, much less one vote. But this was a step.

And hey, you don't know how many people you've woken up with all this work. DU woke me up. This week I called and participated in this "netroots" effort. I've never done anything like that before in my life.

Maybe it wasn't enough this time. But it was a step forward. It's not the time to give up. You keep going.

Look, I was raised in a Republican family. We weren't politically active, other than voting, but I do know that when there was a set-back, they didn't run off crying. They got back up and fought. Now, if they can do that for their unproductive, often unethical ideals, can't we match their passion with greater fire of our own for what we know is right?

We knew it was a long-shot. We did what we had to do anyway. We should all be proud of that, and get ready to do it again. For as long as necessary.