Is it time?

[MadHound]

After pouring our money, sweat and blood into the 2008 Democratic campaign on all levels, those of us on the left are finding ourselves increasingly locked out of much of the government. Issues that are near and dear to us aren't just being actively ignored, but are being actively worked against by these centerist, corporatist Dems in charge.

Instead of being rewarded for our hard work, we're being ignored, marginalized and mocked. The list of these transgressions is a long one, LGBT rights, ending the war, single payer (or at least a decent public option) all of these and much more are being actively opposed by the very people that we helped put in office.

So the question is quickly becoming this: Is it time? Is it time we walked, time we told a party that is actively working against us goodbye? We have relentlessly mocked those on the right who worked and voted against their own self interest, yet here we find ourselves in the same position, working and voting against our own self interest.

For me, my own personal answer is yes, it is time. I am tired of fighting for a party that over the past thirty seven years has increasingly worked against ideals and positions that I hold dear, a party that has become increasingly part of the problem. I never expected a pony or whatever from the Obama administration, in fact I was quite reluctant to vote and work for him due to what he said and promised. However I did, because the alternative of Palin, not McCain mind you, but Palin a heartbeat away from the WH was too horrible to contemplate.

But in spite of knowing full well what was coming down the pike, the reality of the Obama WH and the Democratic Congress has just astounded me. A party that is actively championing an illegal, immoral war. An administration that is all to willing to throw one group of supporters after another under the bus for their own political gain. A Democratic party that is willing to reduce the rights and choice of women just to claim some sort of victory.

So again, is it time? Is it time to walk out of the party? Apparently the only thing that is going to get their attention is the lack of votes, money and foot soldiers in their campaigns. Is it time to make the Democrats pay a price for their actions. Is it time to show the party that they have, for the last time, ignored us at their own peril?

Is it time? For me, personally, the answer is yes, it is.

[DURHAM D]

1. I left the party on May 31, 2008. nt

[debbierlus]

2. They left us. We need to understand that fact.

Not the other way around.

If we continue to support democrats who betray us the second they are elected, we are nothing but a group of pathetic enablers....

We allow this to continue.

We should have stopped long ago.

[elocs]

3. For those for whom it is time to leave, it must be worth the risk of temporary dominance

of Republicans until the Democratic Party learns it cannot simply take all of its supporters for granted or promise them whatever is necessary to keep them in line and then not delivering. I can understand how, for some, there is a line in the sand where enough is enough. Where that line may be is for each individual to decide, but I certainly hope good can come from it. Maybe that will be the change we can actually count on.

[griffi94]

4. i never thought about it like that

but i have been confounded for years by right wingers who vote against their own best interests by voting gop.
you're right it seems the left is now doing the same.

[Jamastiene]

5. We should do them how they did us.

We should stay in they party and talk a big game, then when they ask for our votes and our money and our time, ignore them, marginalize them, actively work against them in favor of candidates we know will work for us, then sit back and laugh at the surprised looks on their faces. Then go behind closed doors and talk shit about them and plan how to get actual, real progressives elected and run roughshod over the sellouts who laughed at us on election day.

They REALLY do NOT think we'll jump ship and start supporting more progressive people than they choose for us. We don't even need to leave the party to find real progressives. We just need to start supporting real progressives over the DLC's choices for us, no matter what tactic they try to use against us.

[Thickasabrick]

6. No - it is not time to leave. It is time to stop contributing to ANY

candidate that has accepted contributions from corporations/lobbyists. I personally cannot wait to get the phone calls pleading for my contribution/time. Any future candidate must pledge to not accept contributions from lobbyists/corporations or they will not get my vote, money or time.

Fuck the democratic sellouts and the lobbyists they rode in on....and fuck Rahm too.

[MadHound]

7. Then, with the exclusion of Kucinich, you will be donating to no Democrat

I'm cool with that, and see your point. However I think that the bigger effect can be in our votes. If the left stops donating money, the Dems will simply make up the slack by selling out even more to the corporations. However votes, that's something that corporations can't provide, only we the people. Hit them where it hurts the most, in votes.

[cali]

8. Nope. Not for me. First of all, I really like my state dem party

they haven't let me down on GLBT rights or healthcare or the environment. And I appreciate Peter Welch and Pat Leahy.

[MadHound]

9. And on the national level?

You know, the one where they're selling out LGBT rights, women's rights, and escalating an illegal, immoral war. Are you cool with that as well?

[Mithreal]

16. That is the best reason. We get so twisted up in the national politics.

[cascadiance]

10. I registered as a Democrat the day after Howard Dean took over the DNC.. I might follow his lead...

... again, and leave after the primaries. I'm going to try and vote in the primaries to see if we can make some change then, as Thom Hartmann has advised us to do, but if we can't get choices to effect change then, I will be seeking independent solutions come general election time.

[MadHound]

11. Yeah, I could very well take that route also

However I think that the game is so rigged at this point, even the primaries are becoming exercises in futility. We'll see.

[cascadiance]

12. That will be part of what I judge on whether I leave at that point...

If I feel the primaries are rigged every place, and we aren't being heard then, that's the time to leave the party.

And perhaps if enough of us join together to do this all on one day and make it very public we are doing so, it will send a message to the Democratic Party that they can't F with us any longer or its going to be very costly to them! Perhaps even "count down" to this day during primary season as we see the different states voting and perhaps remind them publicly of the day of reckoning coming if certain states show a lot of abuse.

[G_j]

13. after thirty years of voting D

I'm definitely ready. Most of these folks aren't just spineless, they are dishonest and duplicitous.
We're being played.

I also, may very well cut it off at the primaries

[MissDeeds]

14. Sadly, I agree

My great-grandparents were Democrats, my grandparents were Democrats, my parents were Democrats, and I have been a Democrat longer than I have been eligible to vote. But I'm nearly done with what is currently trying to pass as the "Democratic" party. And it breaks my heart.



:cry: :cry:

[eridani]

15. For me it's time to ramp up working for local progressive candidates

Primary challenges to Dems as well. Lefties dropping out of electoral politics in the 70s is exactly what has gotten us into this mess! What if there were hundreds more like Sanders and Kucinich now? There could have been if more of us Boomers on the left had joined them in running for local office.

[chimpymustgo]

17. We must immediately identify and support primary challenges to ALL of them.

[cascadiance]

18. Send a brick back instead of a check with every postage paid solicitation from DCCC and DSCC!

Hopefully at some point they get the message that we want to bring the corporatist leadership that doesn't promote progressive ideals DOWN and that we'll find the ways to cost them money instead of donating money this coming election.

[walldude]

19. Well then it will be all your fault when Sarah Palin becomes president...

:rofl: Sorry, had to do it.

And frankly, Guantanamo is still open. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are still raging, Gay rights are still a joke to them, the Patriot Act's "sunset clause" which were all told would end that piece of shit has come and gone, warrantless wiretapping, abortion under attack, the list goes on and on and I don't see how it will be any worse when the freeps get back into power. The only difference I see is the freeps will lemming right off the cliff gladly while we are being dragged kicking and screaming.

[Thickasabrick]

20. I know you were joking but seriously, what do you say to people

when they pull that "good luck with President Palin" shit. I am so sick of hearing it.

[MuseRider]

21. You have hung in there longer than I did.

My husband and I left after Alito. Been very happy to be on the outside of it all.

I could not agree with you more. We only donate to those who work for the people (a great way to save money sadly). I read here, rarely post anymore because it is becoming very hard to stay engaged. Really, what is the point now? We have tried everything and learned over the years that the Republicans did not care even if they were your reps, then the Dems and all their "keeping the powder dry" became less and less responsive. Now I don't think anyone listens to calls, email, snail mail, protests and when meeting them in person their eyes glaze over as they look around the room for someone who apparently agrees with them. Those of us who feel differently have precious little reason to stay in what was once a big tent party that started on the far left and ended before we became Republicans.

I understand that there are people who are very happy with the way things are going. Fine, they have as much right to feel that way as I feel the way I do but the demeaning tactics here (ahhh, did not get your pony huh?) are exceedingly rude and have no place in any party I want to be a part of. I no longer know who these people are but I do know I don't want to be around them nor do I want to work with them. We need people who listen to the needs of all rather than money. I don't honestly know what it will take. I wish I did but every thing we have tried so far we have come up lacking. If they care at all about people and their needs then they are certainly good at disguising it. It has truly become an embarrassing country run by the wealthy who can't or won't relate. Why should they, they have everything they ever wanted. Nothing is going to change until more people who believe as we do wake up and see that all their complaints and worries do not matter.