I'm more than proud to be a Democrat.

[bigtree]

In my lifetime, I've NEVER seen a government or party which completely represented me.

I thought, when I first began to pay attention to government, and I'm certain now, that it's not designed to just represent me, but is responsible for a myriad of needs and concerns - some of which I may not share. *The only thing I've ever felt I was due was to have my ideas compete alongside the others. I've always understood that I'd have to generate as much enthusiasm for a candidate from my district or state to carry those ideas to the statehouse or Congress.

I understand that there will be opposition to my ideas, sometimes overwhelming opposition. But, I'm comfortable to have my ideas in consideration along with more popular or accepted ones. I see our political system as a mechanism to reconcile the many different and diverse ideas and concerns into action. I recognize that it's not always easy or possible. I'm not discouraged by that; I'm challenged to work harder.

In my lifetime, the Democratic Party has been outstanding in carrying and advancing those ideas I support and believe in. Those ideas haven't always prevailed, even among Democrats, but I have lived long enough to see some of those ideas revived, presented, and advanced after all, despite an earlier rejection or defeat. I fully intend to keep pressing my ideas and concerns until they can generate the support needed to advance them legislatively or otherwise.

I never expected to get my way with 100 senators and 500 representatives, but I'm satisfied with the progress we've made in achieving the numbers needed to gain the majority. There is obvious value in holding the majority, including the important ability to keep republicans from setting the agenda on the floor and in committees.

In all, the Democratic party remains the most effective and representative vehicle for my ideas and concerns, despite the disagreements I may have with the actions of this Congress or any other I've witnessed. My Democratic senators and representatives are working hard to represent me and I'm still pressing them for recognition and advancement of those ideas and concerns. I've had more than that opportunity. That's all I've ever expected.

I'm more than proud to be a Democrat.


http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

edit:*

[bryant69]

1. Well said

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Old and In the Way]

2. I'm more than proud to agree with you.

Yeah, we got warts....but the Syndicate has cancerous tumors.

[mdmc]

3. pride is a sin. I wish the Dem leadership left me humbled.

But it seems that the dems just want to be part of a larger corporate party. I am not too proud of the corporations. Corporations are not humble.

I am very proud of Bernie Sanders.

[bigtree]

4. the dems

form a diverse party with a myriad of motivations. I really don't view the majority of our party as a corporatist bunch -- at least not in the same sense or substance that I view the opposition.

[mdmc]

5. I agree

I see the GOP is completely in bed with corporations. The Dems are just fuck buddies.

[bigtree]

6. cute

[mdmc]

7. Thanks

I live in NYS, and all the Leiberman dems from 2003 are on board with Hillary now. I must say, while I dislike her, as many on the left do, we LOVE her compared to how the right feel about her. It will KILL the GOP/neo-cons to have the Big Dog back in the white house. I take comfort in that, my friend.

[bigtree]

10. I do love the way she pisses them off

Bill too

[William769]

11. There is a simple solution.

Put up or shut up. Run for Congress throw the bums out.

[PATRICK]

13. I am a Democrat

but I think generic pride is better left out of this. Pride for me usually comes at the end of work day of honest, strong and successful efforts to get the job done. Pride is seeing your children as good as and better than yourself in everything that really matters in personal character. There are days when being a Dem will make you cringe, ashamed, despair, rebel. But for Democrats and any other(at the moment Quixotic) third party that seek to do the commons decent work, the pride is in picking up the pieces and doing the job, day by day. It is the long haul of multi-generational lifetimes, greater than parties, but always the pride lies in the persistent building of hope and how much one is contributing to that.

Generic pride always seeks patriotism, puffed up heroes delegated to be greater or more responsible than ourselves, an inflated sense of self esteem or mythical blankets over reality. Its mirror opposite is cynical despair, bitter retreat, vengefulness against scapegoats. The particular pride in being a Democrat is being one who works within a community to make democracy work and serve the common good. it has been long, flawed haul to get this far. Those who believe in the future can save us from the tragic implosion of the GOP which is a mockery in any pretense of serving the common good or having any pride other than the fake, lying generic patriotism of the petulant destroyer. People caught up in that tragedy deserve our sympathy and should be a warning, not a temptation to seize their false banners in a "victory" redefined by their corruption of the nation.

[bigtree]

14. I've got more than 'generic pride'

I'm proud of what our party has defended, has accomplished, and is working toward. I define most of all of that as Democratic principle. Realizing all of that is a perpetual process which has to be perpetually nurtured, defended, and encouraged.

[PATRICK]

28. I didn't doubt it

For me it is a little grim at the current time, for others, devastating and constantly frustrating. Is this a bad era or a good one for the party? Still in progress with a lot at stake. Emotionally, the people, the truth itself has its teeth in the beast. Proud to say it will not let go and the party is instrumental in the bite.

[bigtree]

29. I have to have a long view. I've witnessed plenty challenges of leadership

This isn't the worst period I've seen or can imagine for our party and the nation, but it's certainly an important challenge to remove all of the nonsense and jeopardy the republicans have spread around during their reign. No way it'll be easy or quick to turn it all around.

But, we have to at least get to a point where we have the numbers in the legislature in order for our initiatives to prevail. Until then, given the present balance of power, we can either argue until the next election or reconcile. I happen to think, for instance, that there would be more than a little value in a compromise which would begin to bring our soldiers home from Iraq and end the occupation. Or we could just argue until the next administration is sworn in January 2009.

[ComerPerro]

40. idolatry is a sin as well

[Beelzebud]

8. I'm proud of being American. Our fake two party system is destroying this country.

[bigtree]

9. the alternative?

more parties? more splintering?

republicans are destroying the country. Democrats are trying to take it back from over a decade's republican rule.

[elocs]

12. I, too, am proud to be a Democrat. Here's rec #5.

Yes, we all do not get to have our own personal Democratic Party which lines up perfectly with all of our beliefs and always do exactly as we wish. Life, as well as politics, is a marathon and not a sprint. The Democrats have been in power in Congress now for 6 months and they get trashed because they do not do things exactly how some want them to be done and in spite of the fact that they do not have majorities in either house of Congress to over ride a presidential veto and they do not have the 60 votes in the Senate needed to cut off debate. I consider myself to be a Liberal, but there are far too many on the left who want to pout when things do not go their way. How easy it is to either get pissy or simply bitch and threaten to walk away. Next we will be hearing that same sad and sorry refrain that there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans which we heard in 2000 and helped to give us the disaster known as George W Bush for the last 6 1/2 years. Well there is a difference and I am a Democrat and proud to be one.

[Ezlivin]

15. Explain what "more than proud" is...

I'm curious as to the word you would use.

"Dick is proud of the Democratic Party. Jane surpasses Dick because she is _______ of the Democratic Party."

I almost typed "Jane beats Dick..." but had the good sense not to do so until now.

:)

Hyperbole and superlatives seldom mix well.

[bigtree]

20. as proud as I think I can possibly be of a political party

the 'party' isn't a static entity, and doesn't lend itself easily to one definitive characterization.

I'll just leave it that I'm satisfied to participate, and gratified to see my ideas and concerns advance into action with the help of our elected (and aspiring) Democrats. My feelings about my association with our party extend beyond pride. I also respect and appreciate the majority of individuals who identify their needs and concerns with our party and work to advance them. I'm also enlightened from the celebration and acceptance of the majority of different pov's that intend to advance under our party's banner.

More than proud.

[Zandor]

16. K & R

Good post

[leftofthedial]

17. me too

and I'm more than disgusted with the "democrats" who now control the national Democratic Party

[Toots]

18. I am proud to be an agitater

I want to create thought. I want to offer alternatives to status quo. I want America to improve. I want to keep up the pestering until at least there is recognition that things can be done better. I want to stir debate. Question Authority Yes Democrats are better than Republicans on most issues however they can be better and Americans deserve better. We do not deserve the Government we currently are living under. It is absolutely drenched with blood and corruption. We are currently spending over a hundred thousand dollars a second just on interest on our national debt. Who is offering to fix that outlay and turn it into a hundred thousand dollars a secon on health care and schools and levies and ??????Things can always be better and I will agitate for that cause against whomever is in power.

[bigtree]

21. Organize, agitate, educate, must be our war cry.

- Susan B. Anthony

[UrbScotty]

19. Thank you, thank, you, THANK YOU for posting this!!!!

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

[OzarkDem]

22. Always

Passed on to me by my mother, grandmother, great grandfather and great, great grandfather, it will always be my party. They revered FDR & Harry Truman,JFK, RFK, Warren Hearnes, Tom Eagleton and others.

I inherited it from them and its my duty to carry its banner, advance its mission and give its leaders a good swift kick if they mess up. And if push comes to shove, I'll do the job myself.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. K&R From A Fellow Proud Objectively Thinking Democrat!

Great post bigtree.

[endarkenment]

24. Break out the pom-poms.

Mindless cheerlead much?

"My Democratic senators and representatives are working hard to represent me "
perhaps yours are. Generally this is not the case. You continually deny that there is endemic corruption in the system. Either we are all wrong, or you are willfully naive.

[bigtree]

25. system's always been as corrupt as our society in general

in fact, I think the make-up and direction of our national political institutions have, mostly, tracked and mirrored that corruptive nature of our society.

That doesn't mean that I shouldn't find solace and pride in those in our party who've challenged and tried to change all of that. I don't go around hating life because of the corruption around me, and I won't cast off my party or my government just because there are corruptive influences there. I've always understood that positive change - both inside our political institutions and without - was a difficult and perpetual process. That's why I'm engaged in it all.

I just happen to feel that our party has done the most good in advancing those ideas and concerns that I think are important. I think that 'generally' most Democrats are engaged in all of that. I'm proud to stand with them in that fight.

[endarkenment]

26. As I said, you appear to deliberately lack

critical or historical perspective. Out Party, right now, is barely distinguishable from 'their party' in policy and practice. We have a corrupt Duopoly, and until we wake up and start to understand that, and start to act to end it, nothing much is going to change no matter which half of the War Party officially wins the election.

[bigtree]

27. I just lack your point of view and you choose to ridicule me for that

You don't seem to have any better perspective on this government than I do. I will say that to view our party as 'indistinguishable' from the republicans' places you in a radically different position than most folks, including myself.

From where I sit and operate, there is only one party which supports continuing the occupation of Iraq. There is only one party which is responsible for the invasion and occupation. There is only one 'war' party: the republican party.

[endarkenment]

36. Indeed I find your uncritical party loyalty ridiculous.

What can I say?

[bigtree]

37. you're just bent on ridicule. I guess you think that ridicule makes your argument in and of itself

But it's just crass and insulting. It's like you're in a junior high school cafeteria and you're trying to impress the cool kids.

[endarkenment]

38. No its like I've seen your repeated posts on this before

and the debate is pointless. You keep posting the same 'proud of my party' nonsense, flying right in the face of the obvious reality that we do not have much of anything to be proud of from our circa 2007 congress and much to be very critical of. So debate is pretty much pointless. Meanwhile you keep repeating your "proud to be"s, so I'll keep ridiculing them. Oh well...

Break out the pom-poms. yeah team. rah rah rah. So what if we are losing every match, we are going for the team spirit trophy.

[bigtree]

39. Of course, I post much more than that

and my argument here is much more than 'rah rah rah'. It's a sound defense of the ONLY viable political counter to Bush and his republican enablers. Like I said, I've never experienced a party or government which represented my views or concerns completely, but the Democratic party remains the most viable and representative vehicle for the advancement of my beliefs and goals in our political system. That's not a small thing. There's nothing to be gained by wallowing around outside of the system, grousing and whining because you didn't get your way. The only real solution to any rejection or defeat of the initiatives we support in our political system is to stay engaged and press for more representation within the system to effectively advance those ideas and concerns into action.

That's not exactly rah, rah . . . you've missed my point entirely in your zeal to belittle me for my support of our party. But, it's not like I really had to say anything at all to elicit that criticism which you say you've gathered from my 'repeated posts', yet appears to have come right out of your own imagination.

[rockymountaindem]

30. Me too. But, according to some in this thread, any satisfaction is "mindless cheerleading"

I guess all we're supposed to do is complain about the party we're supposed to be here to support.

[donco6]

31. I've been more proud than I have lately.

Sorry, that's the best I can muster.

[bigtree]

32. we've seen better days. But, I don't think the new crop has peaked yet

There are some very fine individuals in our party membership.

But, you don't have a thing to be sorry for. We haven't accomplished our most important goals yet, and there's plenty of work left to be done.

[spoony]

33. Well put!

I think this line in particular is one that people should seriously take to heart:

"In all, the Democratic party remains the most effective and representative vehicle for my ideas and concerns, despite the disagreements I may have with the actions of this Congress or any other I've witnessed."

And, indeed, despite the disagreements we have with each other (everyone on DU I mean). It's the best thing going, and there's a lot to hope for yet.

[Robson]

34. I'm proud to be a Democrat...but

I don't buy into the corporate sponsored media that sounds good and feels good yet screws 99% of Americans.

That means I don't support illegal immigration or AMNESTY. It disgusts me to see true Democrats manipulated by the DLC and George W. Bush.

[bigtree]

35. kick for equal time

with the perennial critics and their endless Democrat-bashing