I’m going to say something that will have my ancestors whirling in their graves, something I never thought I would say, something that even to me seems incomprehensible.
I’m willing to abandon the Democrats. There it is.
Understand, I come from a line of Democrats so long it has no known end. My peeps have forever been Dems, in registration if not always in action. My Uncle Bill, who like me was Democrat at birth, once told a former Republican friend who changed to our side, “It’s O.K. buddy. Before I was a Democrat I wasn’t nothing either.”
But times change. And I’m tired of our team losing, mostly at its own hands. I’m not for one minute suggesting that I would go over to the Dark Side. I’m saying I’m willing to entertain the idea of a third party if it will do what mine isn’t — saying what needs to be said and doing what needs to be done.
If Samuel Alito gets on the Supreme Court, it won’t be entirely the fault of the conservative whack jobs of which he is one. It will because good Democrats were too busy listening to themselves talk, since talk is all we can do. Others are trying so hard to please everyone that they end up pleasing no one, least of all “the base.”
The problem is that this matters so much. George Bush wants to stand democracy on its head, to abandon the constitution, to literally do what terrorists can’t — kill America and replace it with a fundamentalist totalitarian regime. All he needs is a compliant Supreme Court to go along with his compliant Congress.
I’m tired of being in the sheep party. I’m tired of hoping the next election will be the one that turns it all around. I’m tired of wondering if George Bush will have to roast babies in the Rose Garden before anyone who represents me will stand up.
I have emailed Sen. Bill Nelson, who has always done the right thing before, and asked him to vote no on Alito. Wherever you are, please let your own Democratic elected officials hear from you on this. They need to know we will back them up if they will just make this one brave move. They also need to know we aren’t kidding anymore. We are looking for a better party, either our own or a new one.
I’ve been a democrat over 40 yrs.But I actually wrote them yesterday and told them they were on the verge of losing me. I’m just sick about them losing their principles and courage.
When I read that Gov Kaine was chosen to respond to the SOTU speech I was just disgusted. Either we are the party of all people or we are not. Why would they choose an anti-gay person? It doesn’t make sense to me.
And this damn filibuster issue. I’ve written and called both my senators and they are good women, but one is up for reelection. IMO she should stand up for principle and take her chances. I have let her know she will have my support next Nov. if she supports the filibuster. Otherwise, I just don’t know.
Where are the democrats with balls? I just can’t imagine what is going on with the party. One of the problems with being old is I remember when democrats stood up for everyone.
So, I know exactly where you are coming from. For the first time in my life I too am considering a 3rd party. Sad, isn’t it?
Susan/Seattle
Waiting until the last nail in the coffin of American Liberty is nailed before you request a filibuster is, to say the least, slightly daffy. And waiting for a Democrat with spine is like waiting for a fish to climb a ladder. The American experiment in liberty is over. Finished. Done. Stopping Alito or impeaching the Bush-Cheney-Rice-Rumsfield-Rove gang isn’t going to do any good. Americans could care less, so long as they have their latte and DVDs.
Leave the Dems? Wrong idea.I know how you feel, but your energy is misplaced.
The problem is that we don’t have ENOUGH Democrats. If there were more Dems, then we wouldn’t even have to THINK about a filibuster.
That means, you should be saying “I”m going to volunteer for the Dems in 2006, this way next time we’ll have the votes.”
Sorry, but I’m not throwing in the towel. I’m not giving up on the Democratic Party. In fact, I’m taking this opportunity to say that this is why we need to be behind them and work harder come elections.
Trish - I feel your pain. My true political beliefs are somewhere between the Green Party and the Libertarian Party, but I have always voted Democratic, because I felt they were the only ones who had a chance to defeat the Republicans (who really have become more like fascists than anything). I no longer feel that way. While I don’t want to give up and let the GOP run this country into the ground, unless they change, the Democrats are no longer a viable political party.
Trish,
When Bushco won in ‘04 I changed my affiliation from “democrat” to “decline to state” out of sheer disgust with democrats seemingly unable to circle the wagons around Kerry and win. Especially when the alternative positions espoused by Bushco, hatred, fear, prejudice, and domination of the free world are antithetical to our American way of life. I’ll go you one further: If Bushco again manipulates the votes to secure and maintain their majorities in the House of Unrepentant and the Seenot, AMERICA WILL BE DEAD AS A DEMOCRACY, and I, for one, will leave my beloved country to go live out my days in a genuine democracy. I am 52, and like you a life-long democrat with a LONG family history of democrats.