What Do You think About "The Coffee Party"?

[Dinger]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/12/coffee.party.people/index.html?hpt=C1

[LiberalLoner]

1. I "joined" it on Facebook but now am worried I might have

made a mistake. I don't know. I hope I didn't make a mistake. I meant for it to be a gesture to say I am sick of the teabaggers and want our nation to be less dysfunctional.

[Mari333]

3. see my post below, looks okay.

[southernyankeebelle]

12. I unjoined. I read here on DU I think that this organization is really a

tea party lite and really are made up of republicans. I dunno if it is true. So I decided to leave and I will support the democrat party. No matter what it is still better then what the other side has to offer, even though at times I agree with some of their anger at wall street and the banks. But that is it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. No it's not made up of GOP or started by them

It was started by an OFA staffer. That's hardly Republican and not grassroots either.

[roseBudd]

19. Yeah because the OFA staffers I met during the campaign sucked (sarcasm off)

Young people actually being paid to work over 40 hour weeks staffing and coordinating campaign apparatus is not how McCain was defeated in your world?

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. Huh? When did I say that?

[lunatica]

22. democrat party?

It's Democratic Party. As a 'democrat' you should know that.

[rucky]

29. Or the Republicans planted that story?

It's the "DemocratIC" party, btw.

:hi:

[Individualist]

39. ...aided by their DLC pals.

[laughingliberal]

36. I know you meant no disrespect but a heads up, here: 'democrat party'

is generally consindered a RW slur they use to avoid calling us the Democratic party.

[Donnachaidh]

48. and all the advice given on DU is 100% correct?

okay.....

[quiller4]

73. Not true in my area where most of the coffee group are also

members of the local Young Dems. Others are attending their first political events. The latter included quite a few Native American Youth and the local gathering was promoted by posters all over Puyallup Tribal Health.

[Mari333]

2. this much I do know (the founders)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7904337

Medea Benjamin joined it, too.

I will wait and see.

[brooklynite]

4. Not much...

the term "Tea Party" has (however tenuously) a link to history that will resonate with the public. The term "Coffee Party" is simply a reaction to the success of the "Tea Party". If you want a group that will agitate for a progressive agenda, more power to you (I don't believe either group will have much political clout), but come up with an original and relevant name.

[roseBudd]

15. I disagree, Tea Party is actually a stupid name

Any name that is supposed to have a certain political meaning, I believe would be a mistake. Like dumbass PUMA

Plus I am a huge coffee fiend (everyday) and since I love my caffeine I say my caffeine is stronger than yours, you weak Tea Bags!

[global1]

37. How About The "Beer Party"........nt

[demwing]

55. What about "American Spirit Party"?

The American Dream has become a nightmare. The only thing that can fix it is a healthy dose of good old fashioned "American Spirit," for the establishment of a Social-Democratic Republic that promotes:

• Repeal of corporate personhood
• 100% Federally Funded Campaigns
• Universal Health Care
• Universal Education and High Speed Information Access
• Environmentally sound economics and politics
• True separation of church and state, with religious tolerance for the religiously tolerant
• Green Energy policies
• Peace through Responsible Diplomacy
• Security through Responsible Strength
• Restructuring of the US Credit Score Policy
• True Human Equal Protection under the law

[TankLV]

66. How about the "Liberal Party" or "Progressive Party"?!!!

naw - that would be too simple...

[demwing]

67. Not So Simple As You Might Think

Both your choices have history. The "Liberal Party" was created as a knee jerk, Anti-Communist alternative to FDR's Democratic Party, still operates in New York, and once backed Rudy Giuliani for Governor and John Anderson for President. Too republican for my tastes.

The "Progressive Party" has another name you may know better - the "Bull Moose Party" used by Teddy Roosevelt. This party has a platform I actually appreciate on many levels (though some seem antiquated now) :

• women's suffrage
• recall of judicial decisions
• easier amendment of the U.S. Constitution
• social welfare legislation for women and children
• workers' compensation, limited injunctions in strikes
• farm relief, revision of banking to assure an elastic currency
• required health insurance in industry
• new inheritance taxes and income taxes
• improvement of inland waterways
• and limitation of naval armaments

A mostly decent platform, though I wonder how women would respond to a paternalistic reform of social welfare in their favor, poor things. I'm also none too convinced that easing the process on Constitutional reform would be wise. What do you think?

So creating a new party out of these historic choices, both of which are heavily influenced by Republicans, is not what I think of when I think of "too simple".

[demwing]

69. Let's set aside a name for now

by talking about an appropriate name, you agreed to the need.

Let's concentrate on an acceptable platform. How does this sound for a start:

• Repeal of corporate person hood
• 100% Federally Funded Campaigns
• Universal Health Care
• Universal Education and High Speed Information Access
• Complete autonomy over personal medical decisions (including decisions regarding birth, preventative treatment, and death)
• Complete Secularization of Marriage
• Environmentally sound economics and politics
• True separation of church and state, with religious tolerance for the religiously tolerant
• Green Energy policies
• Peace through Responsible Diplomacy
• Security through Responsible Strength
• Restructuring of the US Credit Score Policy
• True Human Equal Protection under the law

[RandomThoughts]

5. There concept of getting people together to discuss issues that effect society

Is noble, and furthers both communication and ideas of involvement. They also believe, from the interview that I saw, that rational reasonable debate and conversation can further a society, a basic belief in the ability for people to be able to self govern and solve problems.

From the limited comments made about the organization, I like what I have heard, instead of promoting hype they are promoting issue related thought on topics. Education and sharing of ideas, is also a belief that people are mostly good and just getting them involved can make a difference.

[roseBudd]

11. The main issue is that government is not the enemy

"We recognize that the federal government is not the enemy of the people, but the expression of our collective will."

That is the antithesis of the paranoid style of the Tea Party

[RandomThoughts]

17. I agree with that, government is suppose to be the advocate of the people.

If there are problems, it is not the government, but the sources that pull them away from advocating for society.

[Bjorn Against]

38. That is actually one of the issues I have with the Coffee Party...

The fact is that the government often does put corporate interests ahead of the people they are supposed to represent, and it is difficult to argue that the federal government has ever truly represented the collective will of the people. Being able to choose between two different politicians every four years hardly represents citizen control of government.

I think that as citizens we have to recognize when government is doing good as well as when it is working against our interests, and when it is working against our interests we need to stand up to it.

The problem with the Tea Party is not that they are angry with government, the problem is that they are angry at government for the wrong reasons.

I think progressives need to do a better job of making it clear that we do not support government intrusion in people's lives, that is why we oppose the efforts on the neo-cons and their allies to expand American empire and it is also why we stood up to the Bush Administration when they were shredding the Constitution. We can support the government when it provides health care, but we can not support it when it sends our brothers and sisters off to die for oil.

If progressives want to be effective we can not buy into the right-wing's false talking points about who we are, we are not for "big government" we are for creating a government that works for the people rather than for the corporations.

[leftstreet]

54. +1

[roseBudd]

58. By government is not the enemy, represents the opposite vie of the Tea Party, that Gov't is

incapable of doing anything for the betterment of society, and seeking to roll back the New Deal, which has always been a goal of the right

[secondwind]

6. I don't care for this "Coffee Party"concept, as it elevates (or actually, lowers) us to

their level. It smells a bit too much like a tit-for-tat (pardon the term here, folks, but what the heck, let the comments begin!)

[Stevenmarc]

7. I don't think it serves our best interest to create a second rate copy of a second rate concept

[roseBudd]

9. I seriously doubt that the rational high information voters flocking to the Cofffee Partty would

ever present themselves as absolute buffoons behaving badly at Town Halls & carrying illiterate racist signs

I think the contrast will be helpful

[Stevenmarc]

13. Then come up with an original branding concept that is worthy of the message

Don't hang on the back of the buffoons branding.

[roseBudd]

16. whatever

Hang out on DU all day complaining

I admire the founder Annabelle. This idea of hers is consuming all of her time.

She worked hard like a lot of us on the Obama campaign.

Most of those volunteers aren't doing anything, and the healthcare reform was stymied by the Town Hall bullying tactics and the death panel lies.

I have been fighting the smears everyday since July 2008. I spend countless hours refuting the liars on the right. If I had 50 more people helping me in my media market that would be huge.

you in?

It's a swing state & our freshman D rep is endangered

By the Tea Party

[laughingliberal]

40. +1 nt

[Stevenmarc]

50. Thank you

for inadvertently proving my point. The moment you used the phrase "Whatever" you conceded the argument you ran out of the intellectual steam to refute my statement. One word "Whatever" sends as powerful message just like any kind of branding should do.

The one lesson Progressives have failed to learn, in the past 30 years, that Conservatives are absolutely genius at, is their ability brand their ideas like No Child Left Behind that leaves plenty of children behind or a concept like Fair Tax which has nothing to do with being fair. They get it, feed people compelling bite size bits of information in bumper sticker sized doses and fuck the details, because after all they know perception is today's reality.

If you had 50 people like yourself you wouldn't get any further than you are right now, you're a Progressive Sisyphus, you said it yourself, you spend countless hours refuting liars, how's that working for you?. You don't need 50 people you need one professional person with the talent to create a message that resonates to a majority and that's why the Coffee Party is doomed before it begins, you need to be ahead of the curve and branding yourself with a cheap imitation of your opponent automatically puts you behind.

Am I in, no way, I'll save my effort for someone more public relations savvy.

[demwing]

78. I thought you were just an ass to me

but you're not. You're an equal opportunity asshole.

[demwing]

72. Liberal Party and Progressive party are taken

but by talking about an appropriate name, we have agreed to the need.

Let's concentrate on an acceptable platform. How does this sound for a start:

• Repeal of corporate person hood
• 100% Federally Funded Campaigns
• Universal Health Care
• Universal Education and High Speed Information Access
• Complete autonomy over personal medical decisions (including decisions regarding birth, preventative treatment, and death)
• Complete Secularization of Marriage
• Environmentally sound economics and politics
• True separation of church and state, with religious tolerance for the religiously tolerant
• Green Energy policies
• Peace through Responsible Diplomacy
• Security through Responsible Strength
• Restructuring of the US Credit Score Policy
• True Human Equal Protection under the law

I am promoting the "American Spirit Party" with this as a platform. The name isn't taken, it has a good emotional connection, and it takes "Party Spirit" or partisanship, and flips it on it head.

Had enough of blind partisanship? Had enough of parties that can't - or won't - get anything done? Drop your Party Spirit, join the American Spirit Party. A party by the people, of the people, and for the people. We don't need a revolution - we ALREADY have a form of Government where the source of power originates from the people. WE are the government! Why overthrow OURSELVES?

The problem is that we've lost the American Spirit - the will to govern ourselves, the need to live free, the desire to participate in the great experiment called America. We've abdicated our power, turning it over to Corporate interests and Partisan Politics. Without the power that comes from the People, America will not survive.

Regarding partisan politics, our first president, George Washington, wrote: "It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another."

It isn't time for a revolution. It's time for an infusion of American Spirit.

[Stevenmarc]

76. It had such good emotional connection

That's why a cigarette company branded it.

https://www.nascigs.com

[demwing]

77. Yes, thats true. Despite your fucking snark, you are correct.

So what else do you want to snark about? Anything of value this time?

[Stevenmarc]

79. Actually

That was a valuable piece of information despite your fragile ego.

If you had presented that name in a branding meeting you would have been told the same thing and hopefully you would have had a Plan B. You really can't base the name of a Progressive Political movement on a cigarette well unless you were counting on the potential media attention from the expected tobacco company lawsuit.

[demwing]

82. It's not based on a cigarette any more than "Fair and Balanced" is a trade mark of Fox News

If you hear the words "American Spirit" and the first thing that really comes to your mind is tobacco - you're not just fucking with me - then have a great day.

But, FYI - the actual name of the cig is "Natural American Spirit" and if you're truly concerned, you might be pleased to hear that "American Spirit" is also the name of a federal credit union (which has not been sued by a tobacco company), a cruise ship (which has not been sued by a tobacco company), a Mannheim Steamroller album (they have not been sued by a tobacco company), a charitable foundation (which has not been sued by a tobacco company), and most importantly, a medallion bestowed by a corporation known as the Citizens Committee for the Army, Navy and Air Force, Inc, and awarded to members of the Armed Services for "the display of outstanding qualities of leadership best expressing the American spirit—honor, initiative, loyalty, and high example to comrades in arms."

The last I heard, the Citizens Committee for the Army, Navy and Air Force, Inc has not been sued by any tobacco company. If you have evidence to suggest otherwise, then I'd be happy to review it. I'm always open to new facts. but don't come at me with what would happen in a marketing meeting, because I really don't care. this isn't a branding meeting. This is a free for all political forum. Your rules mean nothing :)

[roseBudd]

8. I am attending one today to recruit writers for my MSM writing team...

We use a newspapers comments and recommend features to fight smears and ridicule the opposition.

I have been doing it since July 2008, and my county voted 2 Democrats (POTUS & house) in what was a reliably blue county in the swing state of

OHIO!!!!

And as you know McCain could not win without Ohio

[tabbycat31]

10. going to one today

we'll see what happens there.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. It's OFA, Ding

Not exactly grassroots.

[Catshrink]

35. I didn't know that..

So it's not exactly nonpartisan? I want nothing to do with OFA DNC DLC, etc.

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. The woman who started it is a film maker who made videos for OFA

There was a big deal on FB about her and who she was. Then I saw her on CNN and did some Googling.

I also am troubled that this coffee party sprung up right after Plouffe returned to the WH to help on Obama's 2012 election.

For me it's not so much that it's OFA, but that it is being promoted as grassroots. We were all over the teabaggers for claiming they were grassroots. Why support this group who is also obviously not grassroots?

[AllentownJake]

45. OFA has been an absolute failure

This is them trying to reboot.

[roseBudd]

57. Working for OFA is in no way equivalent to Dick Armey & Freedom Works

[proud2BlibKansan]

61. And no one in the WH is capable of setting up such an organization

and pretending it's grassroots.

:sarcasm:

[DavidDvorkin]

20. I'm going to a local meetup today

Trying not to let myself hope that this will be the beginning of momentous change. At my age, I should know better.

[Emit]

34. After you rmeeting, let us know how it went

I'd be curious to know.

[DavidDvorkin]

56. I left before it was over

Too weak, too diluted, too much emphasis on holding hands and playing nice and working together. It's not left or right, Republican or Democratic, not an answer to the Tea Party. It's just lots of good intentions and optimism.

Also, despite the lip service to the organization being grass roots and bottom up, the whole event was predetermined and dominated by the moderator and his script, which parroted what's on the Coffee Party Web site.

I want an organization that will tap into and represent the anger of the left. I don't know if such an organization would have a political impact, but I don't think the Coffee Party will, either.

[rucky]

21. They don't seem too serious.

but I'm okay with that.

[roseBudd]

27. Like anything on Facebook, the serious members will be the ones who are actually activists

[rucky]

33. If the meetups actually happen face-to-face, this could go somewhere.

Did you go to one this morning? How was the turnout?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

24. Seems o.k. to me

I don't see anything objectionable about it offhand. They certainly makes the "teabaggers" look like a bunch of whack-a-loons by comparison and I appreciate that they don't seem to have the hysterical and paranoid reaction to governmental intervention that makes worry so much about the "teabaggers" (and Republicans). I also appreciate that they're sick and tired of the obstructionism in Congress and want to get things done. Maybe they will help re-invigorate the moderates on the right end of the spectrum.

[xchrom]

25. It doesn't seem objectionable.

But that very may contain the architecture for critique.

[gulliver]

26. I think it is excellent.

Hopefully it stays enlightened. I'll be watching for demonstrations to start to see if it gets overrun by attention seekers from other interest groups. If it stays true to the principle of rational, civil discourse in our politics I may go to one of their meetings. If it turns into just another media brand where everyone shows up for publicity for their pet cause, count me out.

[seabeckind]

28. Ambivalent

I went to the site...first thing I saw was a Coulter ad. So at that point I had some automatic bias.

Looked to be all over the board, definitely not anti-tea. Maybe it had good intentions but it appears to be in the midst of being co-opted by the right wing.

Didn't see a strong set of principles so that I could make a decision one way or the other.

Lastly, I don't care for facebook or any of the other sites like that. Maybe it's my security background but... I found it difficult to go in and wander around without "signing up". Made me feel like one of those "special drawing" thingies you get at the bottom of the Home Depot receipt.

Then again I might be wrong...

[AllentownJake]

30. Movements named after Beverages are silly nt.

[AngryAmish]

49. No "Beerr Bong" Party for you, eh?

I myself was born a Jello Shot man, and will die one.

[AllentownJake]

51. I was part of that movement 11 years ago, I called it my Fraternity days nt.

[BrotherLove]

31. It’s been interesting to watch the absolute hate the Tea Baggers have leveled at them

It’s been interesting to watch the absolute hate the Tea Baggers have leveled at them on the different mediums.

I’ve seem some really evil stuff by the Tea Baggers from fake ids/accounts pretending to be coffee party reps to flooding message boards with mis-information campaigns about them. Followed by fake outrage against anyone who points out the lies.

The Coffee Party is a massive threat to the Tea Baggers. This is a good thing for America.

Progressive Solders need to fly their wing to help them get started, they need some protection.

[AllentownJake]

32. This is 1984 horseshit

Middle class people divided into breakfast beverages arguing over nonsense while the country is looted.

[scarletwoman]

63. "Middle class people divided into breakfast beverages arguing over nonsense while the country...

is looted."

Exactly! Well (and humorously) said. "breakfast beverages" -- *snarf*

sw

[roseBudd]

59. The Tea Party is afraid the Coffee Party will look sane, unlike the Tea Party

[Wizard777]

41. I'll take George Washington Coffee over British Tea any day.

Even if the stuff did taste like mud with pencil shavings in it.

[DavidDvorkin]

42. I only drink tea, preferably British

and hate coffee.

I'm going to a Coffee Party meetup anyway, but I hate the absurdity of tying coffee to Americanism and depicting tea as un-American. Joke or not, it's absurd and annoying.

[jonathon]

44. wishy washy with no plan

[DavidDvorkin]

60. Yes, exactly

I wasted two hours today finding that out.

They want everyone to be nice to each other and have a dialog and get the two parties working together. I want the bad guys to be cast into the outer darkness.

[JitterbugPerfume]

46. I view it with a healthy dose of skepticism

[Zomby Woof]

47. I can't join it

It calls for civil discourse, of which I refuse to comply - especially with the teabaggers on there.

[Faygo Kid]

52. Giving them a chance

The folks I have seen interviewed seem like good people. The Right Wing has taken after them with both barrels - another good sign.

[ima_sinnic]

53. PDA and DFA are already doing things--why do we need another group, splintering progressives

even more?

Besides PDA (Progressive Democrats of America) and DFA (Democracy for America, which spun off of Dean for America) there is also MoveOn, CREDO, Democrats.com, and a bunch of others. I already get e-mails from so many different progressive, truly grassroots organizations, I have no use for another one, esp. one that seems a bit contrived, and ESPECIALLY one named in reaction to a totally ineffectual fake "grassroots" group of total arseholes who don't even know what they're angry about but just doing what other people tell them to do. The aims of the group also seem a bit wishy-washy, not radical enough for me, and if they are a spin-off of OFA, they are just a DLC front group. Rather than forming yet another "citizen" group, people should be trying to bring all the progressive groups together into a solid lobbying and voting coalition.

[applegrove]

62. I don't think we need to be dividing ourselves. Sounds like something the repukes

would like us to do.

[demwing]

70. We are already being divided. It seems like we might

acknowledge that, and either work for unity, or direct and manage the division so as to ensure the greatest benefit.

[applegrove]

80. Or we could try and stick together under a big tent ...for the good of the party.

[demwing]

81. I believe I covered that option

by saying "we could work for unity"

But honestly, I'm getting to the point where I am no longer sure that working "for the good of the party" is the best thing for America.

[XemaSab]

64. I think in some ways it's hard to be the party out of power

and in some ways it's hard to be the party IN power.

[TankLV]

65. I just joined - and it's amazing how much work I can do now!!!

I almost NEVER sleep and just seem to search for more things to do...

gotta run...

[Atman]

68. It reminds me of George Castanza yelling "The Jerk Store called...they're running out of you!"

Late, a little lame, smacks desperately of "the comeback" that falls short. I mean...the coffee party? Clever names are usually rooted in some other reality-based moniker. Who the hell has ever heard of a coffee party?

I haven't read all the responses here, and I see that it appears to have been addressed, but I don't know why anyone thinks this is any more "legit" or grass roots than the GOP-funded Tea Baggers. The whole thing sounds like just another way to split votes.

.

[mmonk]

71. Some things concern me about it.

They talk about fiscal responsibility but do not mention proper taxation or the causes of the fiscal mess.

[Marr]

74. I think that if corporate media outlets are willing to talk about it, it's innocuous at best.

They would never cover an actual left-wing grassroots campaign. Especially not in it's infancy. Look how they cover big demonstrations that counter the corporate line. Or rather, how they don't cover them.

I heard the woman who organized this thing in an interview, and she really gave me the impression of being some kind of party establishment hack.

[Name removed]

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