MUST READ from Daily Kos: Channel your fury (& don't blame ALL Dems)

[UrbScotty]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/22/20613/8150

...
However, it is also beyond frustrating, deeply troubling, indeed, to see rank-and-file Kossacks folding or threatening to fold, abandoning ALL the Democrats because of what SOME have done.

Yes, the Democratic Party is deeply flawed. We all know that, whether we voted in one election or the past 20. But progressive politics is about the long haul. It wasn't merely about 2004 or 2006. It's not only about 2008. It's about 2010, 2012, 2016, 2020. It took the Abolitionists 40 years (and a civil war) to win their crusade. It took the suffragists 80 years. It took the civil rights movement, depending on how you count, 60 to 80 years. Amazing how people who talk about standing tough and fighting back surrender so easily.

<snip>

If you're lucky enough to be represented by elected Dems who voted for Feingold-Reid or McGovern, call them and praise them. And urge them to vote "nay" on this terrible legislation. If you're not so lucky, call up one of the 29 Senate Democrats or 169 House Democrats who did vote for those pieces of legislation and add your voice to those of us who will be doing what we can to send this bill to the trash bin. Channel your fury.

[BurtWorm]

1. I can get with that program.

:thumbsup:

[napi21]

2. And if you're represented by all Pubs??????

I write to my 2 Sens and my Rep all the damn time, and they just don't GAS what I say. One doesn't respond, and the other two answer things I didn't ask about! I will still continue to work to get dems elected here in Ga. but it sometimes feels like it's a lost cause!

[GoodSpud]

8. I feel for ya

I am in Texas and get similar responses. Just keep pushing, if nothing else you let their staff know that no one like the boss...

I have often wanted to send my original and their response back to them with a large red WTF scrawled across the page, but I am guessing that would just get me another utter sequitur response.


T.D.P.

p.s. Maybe we should get a group together and just send absolute gibberish to see if we get any response.

[w8liftinglady]

18. me,too-hence my non-stop LTTEs...they have all been published

Here are three of 81 I have had published...enjoy


http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2007/03/08/dailylight/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/00-letter-dawson.txt
http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2007/01/31/dailylight/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letter4.txt
http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2007/02/07/dailylight/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letter6.txt

[bvar22]

17. Write LTTEs instead of wasting ink on the Repubs.

*

[jgraz]

3. roll call results on Feingold-Reid

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00167

[BurtWorm]

4. I still can't get over that both Clinton and Schumer voted yea.

:wow:

I'm so used to having them disappoint the shit out of me on Iraq votes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Sent to Bro in law

thanks forgot, dopey me, I could get it

[rpannier]

6. Gee...LIEberman voted Nay. Color me SHOCKED! Absolutely SHOCKED!

Yeah...he's really listening to his constituency isn't he.

on edit: WTF is up with the wortless rockefeller? He seems to be on the wrong side of this issue constantly. It's getting to the point where I can't tell the difference between him and LIEberman.

[acmavm]

7. DLC Dems will NEVER vote in the best interests of the party or the

people. The only vote in the best interests of themselves. And this will go beyond 2008, 2010, 2012 etc, etc, etc.

Some things never change. And all the 'chin up my buckos, keep up the good fight' bullshit will never change that.

[pnwmom]

9. Did you read the list of "yeas" on cloture? It includes DLC Dems. n/t

[Eurobabe]

10. Both of my senators voted no (one is Repug) Casey-PA (D)

not my senator yet, but why did Webb-VA (D) vote nay? Has anyone heard?

[avrdream]

13. I read this earlier when my work computer wouldn't access DU..

and I wondered the same thing: why did Webb vote against this?

In fact, a lot of these nays make no sense to me and I wish someone could explain it all.

I understand what the Kos is saying, though. I feel so helpless sometimes - like the administration just keeps getting what they want over and over and over and over again, and there isn't a damn thing we can do about it. I guess letting Congressmen and women know that we are happy with the way they voted is one thing we can "do" about it but it just doesn't seem enough for me.

[snot]

11. ALSO . . .

Is there such a thing as a single website with a chart or something that clearly shows how all members of Congress have voted on key legislation? If not, we need to make score-keeping easier for the general public!

[annabanana]

14. Try this place:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

They have plenty good links!

[KharmaTrain]

12. Call This A Hangover

No sugarcoating...I'm pissed that the Democrats appears to have gotten nothing from the deal...no assurances from the regime it would stand down on important legislation being bottled up...such as minimum wage, presecription drugs, student loans and other bills that would make a big difference to millions in this country.

Anyone who thinks booooosh would just fold up his war for profit by a Senate or House vote has far more faith in this regime than I have. Even if there had been overwhelming majorities, boooosh would still find a way to fund in war...even if it meant fighting it all with contractors (and reports are that there are now 100,000 there).

People are pissed that now it appears boooosh is gonna have his war until 1/20/09...guess what, that was his plan anyway. He laid it out during the '04 campaign and no one said boo. Yes, it would have been big to have won this won and forced asshat to eat some crow about his war, but I see far bigger fish to fry here.

As the Kos poster points out, we are neither monoliths (or bushbots) and some of us are looking at a far bigger picture and all the mess that has to be cleaned up. It's gonna take years, not months for this to happen. And it's not just about Iraq...it's many, many other issues...from our civil liberties to the people starving on the streets of our own cities.

Be pissed!! Stay pissed!!! Maybe this will get a few off their rear quarters to get involved with a campaign or two NOW...when they're starting to form. Find a candidate who believes the way you do...and get to work, NOW.

[OzarkDem]

15. Doing the job Pelosi & Reid were too incompetent to do

With nearly 70% of Americans wanting out of Iraq and 30% approval ratings for Bush, it should have been incredibly simple to persuade Dems to vote for timetables. Those votes are a clear report card of how these two have failed.

We've seen this same mistake repeated by these two time and time again, like a bad wreck on an endless film loop. We need to replace them with people who are capable of leading their own members in Congress.

[mmonk]

16. Blame the leadership.

They have given bush more troops, not less for war. They have given bush more money, not less for war. They refuse to hold the administration accountable for violations of law and the constitution therefore keeping the bush administration status as a branch above the law and constitution. They have cut secret trade deals and given corporations more power than people. In my opinion, the leadership is a failure but I know they have their die hard supporters who say they are taking the right approach. I cannot nor will I agree. I agree with Dennis Kucinich and the progressive caucus, not because I'm extreme leftist or liberal, but because I can detect right from wrong, reality from spin, and I'm pissed. I'm tired of watching my country get so damn screwed up from America's extremist rightwing party, the republicans, and their allies in my party that I keep being told are essential for victory in what I believe in but don't see one shread of evidence that is true.

rant off.
gather breath.
hope against this dark reality and try to carry on.