Election year. No to civil war. No to leaving the party.Post if you agree.

[Skip Intro]

Maybe it wasn't winnable.

We are in the minority for the moment.

Maybe there's a bigger, more important, more winnable battle yet to come.

Time will tell.

Surely the answer isn't to tear the party apart in an election year, when the majority party is disliked and set to explode, and we had (have?) some momentum.

[rfranklin]

1. Eviscerate Republicans...spill their guts...

much better.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

2. Absolutely Skip. Please See Here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x277099

[seabeyond]

21. i sure am liking seeing you in threads

we agree so often, wink

[Shortyfuse]

3. Patriot Act

How do you think our demo will vote on that.

[Teaser]

4. Mostly agree

certain people must be punished, but I'm a Democrat, now until they stop letting us be Democrats.

[seabeyond]

5. right there with you. didnt win, but learned lots and lots.

and i am not the only one that learned lots. i also found places to connect to that will allow a greater whole that was wonderful. this is going ot hurt bush even MORE with the american people. they will hear the dems tried to stop it, that is going ot help the dems, though they didnt succeed they are minority after all. filibuster doesnt happen to scj nominees. our dems did good, ... at least half. the repugs did bad for the nation, and not just half, all the repugs will be tainted. repugs are not in favor with americans and this will be another that will disappoint and yes, even scare many of them. it isnt good for the repugs. mroe shit is coming out. and 2006 isnt far, and i am seeing lots of lessons learned by dem org how to unite better

first thing i heard after initial disappointment on young turks. what did we do wrong, what do we need ot do better next time. and they started analysing. i like our dems

[Hekate]

6. Agreed. "We must hang together, or surely we will hang separately"

Wise words from Ben Franklin regarding divisiveness in the ranks.

Hekate

[rockymountaindem]

7. I agree.

100% I may not like everything every Democrat is doing at the moment, but I know that if they had the chance to actually set the agenda, they wouldn't feel forced to vote for Bush's misguided agenda. If the Democrats controlled the agenda, a judge like Alito never would have made it this far. If the Democrats controlled the agenda, huge tax cuts for the wealthy wouldn't be on it. Therefore, I will work to ensure the Democrats get to control the agenda, if nothing else.

Here in Colorado, we had to endure Republican legislatures for years and years, and the crazy Republican initiatives which came out of them. Now, admittedly the Democrats in Colorado aren't always the most liberal in the country, but since they've taken over the house and the agenda, all those crazy initiatives have stopped and the state has started making a lot of progress. So, even if I don't agree with some of the more moderate Dems on everything, at least when we are in charge, they have incentive to vote farther to the left than farther to the right, and that's a good place to start.

[LiberalAndProud]

8. I am still a Dem.

Will.not.vote.for.Ben.Nelson. Nor will I support him with my $.

$ going to Maxine Maul for Congress, and any other Dem who is willing to put their name on the slate in this state.

Howard Dean will get my $. I supported him for DNC chair and I will not withdraw that support just because Ben Nelson is an idiot. That's not Howard's fault.

[Jane Austin]

28. And it's not Harry Reid's fault, either.

There's not a hell of a lot Harry Reid can do if people from Arkansas and Louisiana and Nebraska continue to elect such conservative or spineless Dems.

[LiberalAndProud]

30. It is not.

[jsamuel]

9. hehe, tell that to the Dems that voted for cloture

[Inland]

13. That's exactly right.

Unity means unity, and if these same senators are going to tell US to vote for dems for the sake of unity, then why can't they do the same in the chamber for a person so clearly dangerous as Alito?

[Gregorian]

10. I think we need to engage the American public.

I agree with your post. But I also think we have been trying to hold up the country by ourselves. The majority of Americans don't even know who Alito is. Even my dentist, an educated man, wasn't sure what his name is.

They aren't paying attention. It's the media. They think they're paying attention when they watch Fox. That's worse than doing nothing.

Unless the entire citizenship is awake, there is no 2006. There will be no intelligent voting.

And my greatest fear is that that task is a long slow one. Education and media accountability.

But, yes to your basic point.

[Skip Intro]

16. absolutely, as massively and as potently as we can

whether those are real words or not, I agree.

If the people of this nation knew what DUers know, bush would be behind bars.

[LiberalAndProud]

32. Media accountability.

That is one problem to which we have discovered no solution (yet). Do you think Reagan knew he was dealing the death blow to the Democratic Party when he did away with the Fairness Doctrine?

[Gregorian]

37. There was debate about the Fairness Doctrine long before Reagan.

I know little about it. But have heard talks about the pros and supposed cons of what the FCC was doing. Chomsky is very clear about how the corporations want to keep us uninformed. The people wouldn't stand for what they are doing in our names, for one minute.

I honestly think the country will slowly turn into a third rate society, with most citizens never knowing what happened. I hate to be so cynical. Until they stop our internet, we have a very powerful tool for spreading information. What we have learned in just five years, is absolutely amazing. I was sitting around drinking beer and watching Green Acres. Bush sure got my attention.

[LiberalAndProud]

43. Me too. Bush made me sit up and take notice.

Slept too long. I didn't recognize this for the coup it was.

[insane_cratic_gal]

11. Of course but will you promise

to fight to remove the trash from this party and replace them with Candidates that have democratic ideals and will fight for them?

We have trash to haul off, best to start looking for their replacements now.

[Skip Intro]

25. yes, I promise. but my focus is on regaining the House or Senate first

Let lieberman stay if he makes it 51-49 Dem.

We have to stop this nation's bleeding first and foremost.

We MUST retake the House or Senate.

I merely suggest we withold our own housecleaning (except maybe for lieberman) until after this year's elections.

[insane_cratic_gal]

27. Even if his votes goes for the other side?

then where are we? 50/50?

Maybe that will embolden him?

With the worst president in history, an illegal war, illegal wire taps, an attack on American soil on their watch, slipping polls the lowest 2nd term poll numbers for any sitting President?

If that wasn't enough love, I don't think stiffing Lieberman's spine with 6 more seats will do make him sit up and take notice

[Jane Austin]

36. Do you really not understand that if we get 51-49

that WE get subpoena power, committee chairmanships, and OUR leaders set the agenda?

That's why we need the numbers. It's not just for issue votes.

Oh, and I'll take Lieberman's votes on the environment over some right-wing rethuglican any day.

[stillcool]

12. No to computerized voting....

First.

[insane_cratic_gal]

14. Paper ballots

Problem is we can't get any real reform because we can't get any legislation passed due to our numbers ... Sort of a pickle wouldn't you say?

[Jane Austin]

29. Isn't election reform (verifiable ballots) a local issue? Why aren't we

working for this at the county level.

[insane_cratic_gal]

35. Yes but wouldn't be nice if it were a federal law?

they had to allow the choice on what to vote on?

You got say 3 days to vote vs 12 hrs?

What if it were a federal holiday?

By just pushing for country (which is what we need to be doing too.. don't get me wrong) we are taking our eye off the bigger picture.

[Jane Austin]

38. I'm just trying to be realistic.

Changing things at the county level is actually possible in many counties. Imagine Florida in 2000 if Palm Beach County, for instance, had had verifiable ballots. That would have changed the course of history.

It's also possible to get good election reform legislation where there are Dem majorities in the state assembly.

I just don't think it's as likely to happen soon at the National level.

[stillcool]

45. HAVA ...or the federal elections law....

called "help america vote act"...is a typical Republican 'fix' as the cure is worse than the illness. All you need to know is here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=394234

[AndyA]

18. No to computerized voting - VERY IMPORTANT!

We must make elections fair and honest again. There are too many coincidences involving the last few elections.

And we MUST have a paper trail! NO ELECTRONIC-ONLY VOTING!! This should be top priority for Democrats before November. The current system is too easily manipulated - that has already been demonstrated.

[insane_cratic_gal]

24. It's been a priority but we can't get legislation!

If you can't get time to discuss on the floor or get the votes to pass a bill you can't get reform. Far as I know there is no bi partisan legislation or even a bill that contends with election reform.

It's a nice little trick the republican party has been doing, squashing all attempts at open and honest election reform.

[Justitia]

15. I support REAL dems & the party. I support Dean, Kennedy, Kerry, etc.

I will work my ass off to rid ourselves of the POND SCUM senators who write a "D" after their names and stop a REAL dem from getting their seats.

BTW, I want to thank Chafee for his "no" vote today. I still believe "never trust a republican", but he did the right thing today (better than these so-called dems who sold us out), and it had to have been a courageous act. Credit where credit is due.

[cry baby]

17. i agree...

but i'm really sad tonight, almost sick.

[The Magistrate]

19. We Must All Hang Together, Sir

Or we will surely hang seperately.

Faction fighting is the curse of the left, just as money corruption is the curse of the right. We must resist the temptation to turn this into an occassion for splintering conflict; that will only benefit the enemy.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[mmonk]

20. So you gain a majority somewhere

after the court has been made a federalist society majority. This gold ring that they have been planning for twenty years so progressive legislation, enforcement and funding can be struck down in the courts is now a reality. What can be accomplished?

[More Than A Feeling]

22. I support replacing Republicans. I also support

primary challenges to the Alito 18. I disagree that it will tear the party apart. Take a look at what happened in Pennsylvania to Arlen Specter. He was primaried by the Club for Growth, and came within a hair of losing, and that was with the support of the Republican party establishment. Now they have had his balls on the mantle for a year. He had to jettison his dignity to remain chair of the judiciary committee. We can do the same to our wayward sheep. Primary challenges will ultimately remind our strays which side their bread is buttered on, and the survivors of said challenges will be much more cautious about crossing their supporters in the future. Status Quo senators must wake up.

[bush_is_wacko]

23. Not leaving the party. Not going to war. My Senator was a traitor

but he is not up for re-election for another 3 years anyway so I have plenty of time to think about whether I'll vote for him or a BETTER Democrat. I just hope a better one steps forward.

It really isn't the time to go ballistic yet but Salazar will hear how disappointed I am in him one way or another. Thinking about sending him a bag full of white feathers as another DUer suggested. That and a letter to express that I have been keeping a running tally of his flip-flopping (he's done this twice in a BIG way) and hope he never plans on running for higher office!

[Heewack]

26. I agree.

This whole idea of making the party smaller is ludicrous.

IMO, those that are advocating such have already left.

[skipos]

31. I AGREE. When we have majorities we won't have to

deal with Alitos.

[RoyGBiv]

33. I Will Die a Democrat

I was reading a post by a DUer a few hours ago, just after it became clear the vote for cloture would pass, and as I waded through the fiery rhetoric, I began to realize this was too good to be true ... for Republicans.

No more money for Democrats, registering independent, working to oust Democrats, declaring war on the party structure ... a nice, late Christmas gift we seem to be giving them there. In the entire tirade, and in the thread that followed, I didn't see a single supporting the ouster of a single Republican who voted for cloture.

And yes, yes, I know all the arguments.

I worried about this from the beginning. I said to myself that people would set their expectations too high, and when it all comes crumbling down around them back to reality, it will be nothing but chaos. The effort itself was a good one, excellent, in fact, and I did my share to support it by calling two Senators repeatedly whom I knew would never, under any circumstances, listen to a single word I had to say. In barely over a week we went from no one but bloggers and message board enthusiasts talking about the possibility of a filibuster to it being national news and Senator Kennedy delivering some of his finest, heart-pounding rhetoric ever. That was incredible. And we did that. We forced it to the front. But the vote failed as surely it would have done eventually even had cloture not passed today. This was a game we were bound to lose from the beginning, but the game had to be played knowing we would lose it in the end. I am certain Kerry and Kennedy knew that even if some of us didn't.

Did anyone see DeMint after the vote? That was an attempt at intimidation, rhetoric designed to make you feel your loss, make you despondent, make you believe you will never, ever win anything again. Don't buy it. We lost today, but we won every day for the last week, whether we want to admit it or not

[incapsulated]

34. If we had the majority we would be celebrating victory now

2006 is our real next to last chance. This appointment was in the bag since November 4, 2004.

[Demi_Babe]

39. I will never leave the party

we ARE in the minority right now and that sux. I will not be a part of keeping us the minority. We have a lot of work to do and I suggest we stick together and get er done!

[GOPNotForMe]

40. Thank God someone else here is showing some sense in the midst of this all

There have been too many temper tantrums on DU today to count. Yes, today was disappointing. But did anyone really think a filibuster was going to happen? It's just delusional thinking.

The votes. Weren't. There. I know it's frustrating because the Republicans seem much more effective in whipping their members into lock step when it comes to voting, but I am rather proud to be in the party that allows its members to think for themselves. The reason the Republicans are so "effective" is because they have little trolls like DeLay running from person to person bribing, threatening, and blackmailing to get votes. I'd rather have a couple Dem "turncoats" then a "unified" Party racked with corruption.

The bottom line is this: the President gets make Supreme Court nominations; the Senate gets to drill the nominee; the Senate then votes on whether this person should serve on the bench. We have a Republican president and Republican Senate. Unfortunately, this means they get to nominate people they want to and confirm them. If you're not happy about it, do whatever it takes to get a Dem elected to the Senate in your state (or someone else's if yours is either an off year or safe).

[DemonGoddess]

41. Whether or not this was actually winnable today

it was still a valiant effort. The important thing is, we got people to LISTEN to us. We keep at it, we can do it again, only next time, we can succeed. The senators who had the guts to stand up and be counted as against cloture, and against Alito deserve our support and thanks. :)

[stillcool]

46. Presidents may get to nominate who they wish...

confirmation is another matter. You seem to think that Republicans actually won the last two presidential elections, as well as the other various 'questionable' contests. Are you of that opinion?

[applegrove]

42. 2006 is winnable. And then - push can only put moderates on the Supreme

Court. And then a Democratic President.

[msgadget]

44. Stand firm. Keep fighting. That's what the republicans did

when they felt their world threatened. If you feel threatened, get the moaning out of your system and move to the next big fight. There'll be plenty and there'll be other losses but it ain't over until everyone gives up.