When Giving UP is Giving IN

[Sparkly]

We're all disappointed, pissed off at "the 25," and sick to see all the worst fears we had, back when this Chimp first announced he was running in 2000, come to horrible fruition, one after another. Alito may well be the nail in our once-great country's coffin.

The question is: How do we fight?

Think of the three ways Alito could have been prevented:
- if we had a Democratic majority in the Senate
- if we had Democrat in the White House
- if we had enough Democrats (and consciencious Republicans) in the Senate to shut the government down

We want to effect CHANGES and we want to express how PISSED we are. Those are two separate things.

I suggest that if we express our pissed-offedness by leaving the Democratic party -- taking our money, voices, and votes with us -- we only weaken the Democratic party. There is no "third party" for liberals that will do anything but strengthen Republicans. We may wish there were, we may want to believe that Democrats would have the ability to court us all back by changing, but that isn't how it works.

A progressive Democratic party needs a progressive Democratic constituency. It requires fighting for media reform and verified voting. It requires grassroots, primary-level battles for progressive candidates. There is only so much we can do, but in my view, we HAVE to do it -- even things as small as letters to the editor or comments to people in the supermarket -- to get confident Democratic majorities in Congress and in the White House.

The alternative is to try to effect change from the outside-in. Look at how well that worked for Nader! In that approach, we can talk a blue streak and never accomplish a THING. Change can only happen only from the inside out.

Finally, look at our leaders today. I don't see John Kerry or Ted Kennedy resigning from the party in disgust at the way their fellow Democrats turned their backs on them (and they have every right to feel that disgusted!). I don't see my good Maryland senators changing from Democrats to Independents. I don't see my woman Maxine Waters quitting to express her feelings about the danger Alito represents. I don't see Dr. Dean resigning as if that'd be a proactive move.

It's a REactive move. The fight will continue whether we're in it or not; and the surest way for it to lose is for us all to back out. The country's not perfect, but it's still my country; the party's not perfect, but it's still my party because it is the ONLY party with a chance to take back the country. What we need is a stronger progressive constituency -- not a weaker one. And I for one, believe the country our ancestors worked for and fought for is still worth defending.

Just my 2 cents.

[babylonsister]

1. Ah, a voice of reason! Thank you, Sparkly! nt

[rockymountaindem]

2. Sun Tzu said "The enemy is hurt more by desertion than by slaughter"

In the same way, the liberal (or any political cause) movement is hurt more by people quitting or acting in ways that will not end up furthering our goals than it is by losing political battles.

[mmonk]

3. I think you have that backwards.

[Sparkly]

4. How so? nt

[Kralizec]

5. Me too.

The Democrats have given in, and in the process, given up.

I thank the Democrats who tried to represent The People.

To the others, go to hell, you'll get yours.

No more pep talks. This Democratic Party isn't my Democratic Party.

[Sparkly]

6. WHO is the "Democratic party?"

Our representatives? Or ourselves?!?

[sherrys]

7. Not giving up, giving in

I felt defeated after hearing the vote on closure, then I felt pissed. I felt like I wasted time and energy calling..faxing..emailing

But that was a few hours ago. Now I feel better

Agreed we can't all let this defeat us, we all knew going in, this would be a longshot. We just ended up believing in the last few hours before the closure vote, that it might really happen

So when it didn't, and we saw the amazing amount of Democrats voting yes..I was flabbergasted!

Actually I blame myself, those who had not stated emphatically that they were voting NO on Alito, and No on the closure(the ones we were begging and pleading for with emails, fax and phonecalls. That told us they never had the intention of going the Kerry/Kennedy route

They wimped out...I am not sure the best method of dealing with them right now. But if you have a Democrat that acts like a Republican, why support them ever?

It justs make for disappointment

My hope is getting real DEMOCRATS in office, and that is what I want to work for. Replace these redemocratlicans with the real deal