Should the left start a Patriot Party to combat the Tea Party....

[WCGreen]

We have ceded, for what ever reason, all the patriotic symbolism to the crazy assed right.

It's almost if the left is frightened by overt patriotism.

I know that isn't the case, but it appears as if "we" do openly disdain the very idea of patriotism.

The thing is we are the true patriots, we are the ones who want to expand freedom, we are the ones who are always trying expand voting...

And yet, and yet...

We are somehow branded as against America.

The part of America that we don't like is the dream scape that the white people's party disguised as the Tea Party have created.

We are the true Americans.

It's time we take back the country from the people who want to limit access to government, limit voting and limit opportunity.

We are for the people, of the people and by the people...

It's time we started acting like it...

Well, that's my grumpy old liberal rant for the year...

Have at it!

[Bonobo]

1. It was an effective prod to get the Republicans to move to their right, so yes.

In fact, that is precisely the same leverage that some of us here speak of when we speak of witholding votes unless the party moves left.

The DLC centrists may sneer about "ideological purity" but you can see just how effective the idea of a strongly committed block of voters can be in affecting policy positons when you look at the Tea Party.

In their willingness to concede to political triangulation, the centrists have gotten us nothing but a steady move the the right.

[WCGreen]

4. The DLC is full of suits...

Who act like they are privileged and know what's best for the party.

They can't deliver any votes and they can't even develop anything but a pragmatic agenda that is devoid of emotional appeal.

[Horse with no Name]

22. The DLC is full of republicans. That is the problem.

Those of that are uncomfortable with their policy shift...are really Democrats. The ones that are comfortable with it...are republicans.

It really is that simple.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Your grumpy old rant (lol) is right on target!

It dovetails neatly with my rant too.

I just don't know how to accomplish this.

Recommended.

[Demeter]

3. Call it a People's Party

as in: government of the people, by the people, for the people.

[newspeak]

34. I don't mind patriot party or people's party

How can you be a patriot if all those "free enterprise" greedheads would willingly sell off the country to the highest (foreign) bidder? A patriot believes that government is for and by the people, a patriot believes in the health and wellbeing of its fellow citizens, infrastructure and communities over the profits of corporate interest. A patriot believes in not sending its' military into fabricated wars to line the pockets of international corporations. A patriot believes in fair, incorruptible elections where policy discussion is more important than using dirty malicious tricks to get elected. I swear our elections have become less substance and more dirty tricks and sleaze.

[SugarShack]

5. we need real alternatives to vote for, in PRIMARIES!!!

[RagAss]

6. Why bother...even if we were 50 million strong the media would ignore us.

[WCGreen]

7. Fuck the media....

We need to show the elected democrats that there is a liberal base out here that is pissed off and willing to organized without the help of Washington...

[Bluenorthwest]

9. It is time to update the old 'it is cool to sound jaded about media'

routine. It is overly simplistic, it serves no one, accomplishes nothing. Frankly, when I hear this sort of thing, I wonder if the speaker even knows what 'media' means. It is old, tired, and lazy thinking that keeps too many paralyzed and paranoid.

[WCGreen]

11. Shit, alternative media is the way to go....

There are fewer people watching the mainstream media than watch an episode of Glee...

[RagAss]

13. ABC NBC CBS CNN MSNBC and FOX.... there's my "overly simplistic" answer.

[newspeak]

35. many americans watch mainstream media

And media does influence who is elected. Remember the Dean Scream, that the corporate mcpravda repeated over and over again? I remember some talking heads saying that he may have a temper or maybe mental just because he was talking over a crowd. And, ya'll know Gore is a liar because the lamestream media told me so. Then there's Little boots with alleged insider trading, drug use, questionable military record. The media aided in playing it down, while informing all good american citizens, that he's the man ya'll want to have a beer with. Of course, we won't mention his brother's part in the S&L scandal, that we also bailed out. And before the election of Poppy Bush, the S&L scandal was already realized, but someone influenced the media to let it go until after the election.

The lamestream corporate media has a lot of influence on the masses.

[RagAss]

14. ...and by the way, I am fucking cool.

[azul]

8. But no jingoism or war dancing allowed?

How do you combat war mongers and profiteers hiding behind a flag?

John Lennon, we need you now more than ever.

[WCGreen]

10. By redefining what the flag really stands for....

Freedom to object, freedom to speak-out, freedom to have contrary opinions, freedom to participate...

[OmahaBlueDog]

12. I want the progressives to claim the Bull Moose Party

Aside from the bouts of foreign adventurism, I say Teddy has more in common with us than today's Republicans.

[WCGreen]

15. Yea, that would be a great symbol....

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. Great idea!

I love it!

[glinda]

16. No. The name makes me want to barf. Just preface with Progressives and Libs as part of Dem Party.

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[WCGreen]

18. And there in lies the problem....

People want to be patriotic, they love the trappings of patriotism...

I'm sorry you are so jaded that you the idea of being a patriot makes you want to barf...

[napoleon_in_rags]

19. I wish I could Rec many times.

Yes. If you went to the grass roots of the Tea Party (not the fox defined one) you had a lot of people concerned with the totalitarian direction of the Bush admin, also the emerging corporatism...things like the ludicrous power of the banks. The Republican establishment had to bend over backwards to try to get them back, the whole thing could have been a coup for bringing power back to the people. But the prevalent liberal culture didn't want to dirty their hands with talks about the constitution and flag waving, so the culture wars continue. Three ideas I advocate:

1) Wave your flag, be a patriot. This crap that's going on isn't what America is about.
2) Proudly advocate your moral stance, such as that old people should be taken care of with social programs instead of insulting people with different political stances.
3) Talk with people directly and honestly and see what they're about.

The third is the most important.

[saras]

20. Not a political party, but yes.

We also need to take the Democratic party back from the corporatists, as they have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted or worked with.

my party...

Sue wants a barbecue, Sam wants to boil a ham, Grace votes for bouillabaisse stew
Jake wants a weenie bake, steak and a layer cake, he'll get a tummyache too.
We'll rent a tent or a teepee, let the town crier cry
And if it's RSVP, this is what I'll reply...

In the cool, cool, cool of the evening
Tell 'em I'll be there
In the cool, cool, cool of the evening
Better save a chair
When the party's getting a glow on
And singing fills the air
In the shank o' the night, when the doings are right,
You can tell 'em I'll be there.

- Hoagy Carmichael

[Horse with no Name]

21. The way that I see it is

The loons took over the republican party. The republicans took over our party.

We were left in the cold.

I believe we need a progressive or populist party.

We've obviously been shut out of our party because these fucktards in Washington with D's behind their names? The majority don't represent ANYTHING that I stand for.

[WCGreen]

23. Very good analysis...

[SoDesuKa]

24. Party Line Voting for Democrats

I always vote straight down the line for Democrats and I will continue to do so. The Tea Party isn't a gift to the Republicans; it's just the opposite. Democrats picked up a few important races in the '10 election that we would have lost were it not for the Tea Party.

But as far as setting up a splinter group among progressive Democrata, nothing doing. That's a mistake.

[Scuba]

25. We'd better start something as the right has taken over...

...all three branches of government. Dems in Washington are wolves in sheeps clothing.

[ThomWV]

26. The thing you must keep in mind is that there is no such thing as the Tea Party

Show me one state in which a person may register to vote as a Tea Party member. You can't find one. You can register as a Democrat, a Republican, or in some states some others, but in no state is there a Tea Party. They are all Republicans, no more, no less.

[lunatica]

27. Though I get the gist, I've never been big on patriotic symbolism

It appeals to emotion and although I don't think that's a bad thing, when it drowns out thought and reason it isn't a great thing.

[WCGreen]

28. Well, the way I see it, the min reason people, normal people who don't eat, sleep and breath

politics, view the democrats as cold fish, that there is no passion.

We are always operating at a loss because it is easier to tear things down than to build hope in an imagine future.

If our party had more of a connection to the essence of what America is we could wipe the floor with the faux lovers of America.

People want that connection. They want to hear about that shinning city on the hill, they want to love our country.

[progressiveinaction]

29. We do already have the Coffee Party.

[WCGreen]

30. I understand that but Coffee Party has no real connection for anyone

It's really just there.

Tea Party has an emotional, historical pull that Coffee Party simply doesn't.

No passion, no connection to history or anything really.

[JustAnotherGen]

31. Check Out - Rebuild the Dream

;-)

[kentuck]

32. Well, the Tea Party got the attention of the Republicans...

Does someone need to get the attention of the Democrats? The answer lies within.

[Hubert Flottz]

33. Do you think the Koch Roches would pay for it?

[defendandprotect]

36. Given the Democratic Party being turned upside down ... think we need a Plan B -- !!