Dammit people!

Dammit people! What good is all the hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing to each other about the Bushites' latest outrages and what terrible people they are? You've all known this since they pulled off their superficially legalized, silk-suited coup d'etat in December 2000.

They're gonna do what they're gonna do. They want power, the maintenance of power, and the expansion of power. Take that for granted. Anybody who was willing to do what they did to take power in 2000 is willing to do anything they can get away with for the sake of power. All the moaning and groaning to each other isn't going to change it one iota.

Spend your time planning, organizing, and campaigning to defeat them. We have a Constitution to save.

David Van Os
Democratic Candidate
For Texas Attorney General 2006
Give me a hand at www.vanosfortexasag.com

We are a group of motivated activists here. Spend some time and you'll see we do much more than just bitch.

:thumbsup:

I'm already on your list...

He's also hip to the power of organizing. A lot of DUers are doing the good work, but there are also many who just moan. It's a forum made of humans, it's bound to have both the workers and the complainers. We need the posts that kick the complainers out of complacency as surely as we need the posts that highlight the hard work that's being done by DUers. :hi:

The last time someone ran a poll about activism among people who hang out at DU - the level of activism was impressive. And, yes, we all occasionally need an elbow in the ribs - or better yet - a tip about what we can do to make things better.

:hi:

... is that some people eschew the whole notion of patting themselves on the back in public for their latest and greatest "act of conscience." Lots of people "just do it" without advertising the size of their ... heart. (I often think some of the more vocal are the least active ... but I'm naturally skeptical.)

report charitable giving on their income taxes, even though 2/3rds of Americans say they donate. The person who cited this thought it indicated that far fewer Americans actually donate than say they do. I think it indicates that fewer Americans track their charitable giving or take time to itemize...

I hope we are right - that there is often more going on than is evident to the eye.

:hi:

form. You can't claim charitable deductions on the 1040A, so looking at reported charitable giving on tax returns is not an accurate measure.

people are just like me.

Well, all polls on DU are voluntary, which means the non-activists may not have responded in like numbers, or even seen it if they don't hang out in whatever forum it was posted in. But I agree, DUers are probably more active than most.

I'm really just commenting on human nature. In any large group of people, there will inevitably be workers and complainers. That's been true in every "do-gooder" non-profit I've ever worked in, from energy conservation to churches to higher education to summer camps. Sometimes the complainers (or maybe I should call them non-workers) legitimately don't have time or energy to devote to volunteering or working on issues--there are bills to pay or children to raise or health issues or whatever. Other times, they believe their complaining is actually a form of activism; they see themselves as the bearers of ideas that need serious consideration. As with all things, and perhaps especially on anonymous internet forums, it all boils down to personal perception of any given situation (or post).

:hi:

Sometimes we all need a good "come to Jesus" to get us back in touch with what we CAN do.

:hi:

inspiration, motivation, creative ideas AND an outlet to vent frustrations and engage in wicked humor. All of which are important.

Good for you for running for AG!!

Peace.

I interviewed you for truthout.

This site does far more than simply talk to itself. This is GD, which admittedly talks to itself a lot. But there are fifry zillion other forums which do far more.

There is an extraordinary amount of activism here.

...at Camp Casey. Your writing has been an inspiration to me throughout the nightmare, and I'm sure to millions of others too.

David Van Os

It is a critical position in the State government. Let's give Texas back to the people.

I've been far more active since I arrived at DU. I attended the Cindy Sheehan vigil because of this site and I hadn't done anything like that in years. My painfully shy daughter attended as well. Now THAT is saying something!

Sure I bitch and moan; we do a lot of that here. I hate to think what life would be like for many of us without this "therapy". If you want to start something, put it out there. THe brainstorming here is unsurpassed and the people here put their actions where their mouths (and keyboards) are.

Fantastic. Attending a Cindy Sheehan vigil is way beyond hand-wringing and moaning. As for "If you want to start something, put it out there," I'm putting myself and my family on the line all the way. See www.vanosfortexasag.com. Many other people are putting it on the line too.

I'm not criticizing brainstorming in this forum. Brainstorming about taking action to defeat the Bushites is what we NEED. It is extremely valuable to me and I assume to thousands of others. My point is that we have got to be devoting our energies to concrete measures (including brainstorming - that's the "planning" part of my original post) to defeat them. Endless discussion about how terrible they are is a luxury we don't have, for my $.02.

Thank you for commenting.

became precinct chairs, worked a campaign, or got otherwise involved with local politics, we'd really have something now wouldn't we?

>became precinct chairs, worked a campaign, or got otherwise involved with local politics, we'd really have something now wouldn't we?<

I have to second the above. DU would be even more powerful than it is now if those here were each involved in some facet of local politics.

Julie

After what he did to Dallas progressives in 2002 - 2003.

I live 300 miles from Dallas. It would be nice to know who mhr is and what mhr is talking about.

Take a shot then leave with no links, no explanation. Not Cool.

This morning I tune into DU and said the same thing. Damnit, stop looking back.

The beautiful thing about this forum is that it is a great place for helping each other. We're not all on the same level. Some are way ahead of other. I'm still coming up to speed after dropping out for many years. When you are trying to build a house, and the vandals are lighting matches on the other end, it's hard to stay focused, let alone positive. DU has brilliant people who can pull people like me up a notch or two or ten. And that's the beauty.

I'm glad you posted, because I realize that bitching can go side by side with planning. It's beautiful in its broad acceptance.

Let's stay together. We have a house to build, even while they're trying to burn it down. The fire brigade are on their way. There are laws.

"When you are trying to build a house, and the vandals are lighting matches on the other end, it's hard to stay focused, let alone positive."
Aint it the truth!

:applause:

Go David! Great audio -- http://www.audioblogger.com/media/79313/283875.mp3

Welcome to the DU :hi:

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

maybe you can help me a bit with my confusion though?

i thought the constitution was upheld because wise people many moons ago saw this coming and put into plain enough speak for anyone to understand where and when THE LINES HAD BEEN CROSSED ... i dont think anyone disputes what they have done, let alone them, they seem to almost brag about it

so just why are they still in office? why hasn't someone made an arrest? What on earth is your constitution to your people if none of them are prepared to defend it?

Who/what is protecting them?

yours confusedly

The gangsters are unwittingly protected by leaders of the opposition party who think the normal protocols still apply.

that time has passed

im starting to think through inaction they have the same agenda/paymasters

worrying

good peice btw :D

a lot of good goes on at DU even if it is just pass'n the word or venting/commiserating.

anyways in GD it is primarily discussing the days events with other DUers, let me tell you some great ideas have bubbled up from DU GD discussions.

so, chill and thank GORE he 'invented' the INTERNETs to help you communicate more broadly then EVER before with like minded souls.

welcome to DU :toast:

peace

you. i was about to speak aggitatedly.


peace and solidarity, always!

Sorry.

I don't apologize for bothering your comfort zone.

It has ALL to do with a completely arrogant display, preachy tone and assumption that what most of us do here is twiddle our thumbs and complain. This board is full of stand up democrats who work tirelessly to fight the good fight, yet your little self-righteous rant above didn't pay them homage at all. Instead you came off like a mel gibson in braveheart acting like you are about to rally the troops, but we've already been involved in the thick of battle and you can join us, not the other way around.

It was that preachy, arrogant, you-wouldn't-know-what-to-do-unless-I-the-annointed-one-was-here-to-guide-you type tone you displayed that turned me off to you. I want our politicians to fight the good fight, but I don't want them to do it while coming off arrogant, showy and while ignoring all the good efforts that have already been well underway without them acting like they invented the concept.

Sorry bub.

Couldn't agree more. The last thing we need in office - PARTICULARLY in Texas - is another arrogant, I-know-more-than-anyone-else type.

Don't apologize for insulting everyone. Yeah, that's strategic. Pfft.

The American public was out to lunch in 2004.

They fell for the demonization of Kerry.
They fell for the ongoing onslaught by Limbaugh et al to demonize liberals...that they were weak and unable to stand up to terrorism.

But prior to this the public has been successfully worked over to believe that America is all about survival of the fittest, that they don't deserve benefits or health care, etc. This has been easier and easier to sell because Americans have undergone a mass psychosis since 911, and generally they're overworked, frustrated, and stressed out.

In essence, America is going through a cultural crisis.
The Republican machine likes the crisis, and wants to feed on the crisis.
Better yet, why not have the public constantly under the notion of an unsolveable global war on terror. You can get a lot of mileage out of that concept.

Just a brief look at possible solutions.

1. The party needs a frontrunner that will articulate a heart felt explanation of the American dream and why we should be proud to be democrats....aka ....Clark.
2. Get Hillary to instantly pronounce she will not run in 2008. Better yet, keep the Clinton's in general out of it. I'm a great fan of the Clintons, but the problem is that the Repukes have successfully made them into the icons of democratic failure, government gone wrong, etc.
3. Explain clearly why the Republican party has lied to the public about tax cuts and what they mean....ie...that the cuts have favored the rich, etc, increased the debt. Display clearly the growing disparity of wealth in the country, how the middle class owns less and less assets. Take head on the discussion that democrats stand for socialism. Explain how democrats believe in efficient enterprise and smart investments in our future.

But you're right...we can't win at their game of demonization....and many have pointed out that although Bush is a failure, the democrats gain nothing in 2008 by pointing this out. The republicans will merely put forth someone who they dub the REAL conservative.

I'm not criticizing discussion in this forum in general. That's what DU is here for, and I'm a constant visitor to DU because I learn so many good ideas and so many better ways to articulate old ideas. Brainstorming about ways to defeat the Bushites is what we NEED. It is extremely valuable to everybody, most definitely myself included.

Nor am I saying that the DU community is not a community of activists. My point is that we have got to be devoting our energies to concrete measures (including discussion - that's the "planning" part of my original post, as in "planning, organizing, and campaigning to defeat them") to take our country back. The whole point of my original post, which apparently I didn't make clear enough for some, is simply that engaging in endless discussion about how terrible the Bushites are is a luxury we don't have. We need to spend our time defeating them. My apologies for not being sufficiently clear for some visitors.

To take it a step further, the comment that suggested people should run for precinct chair or get involved in a specific campaign is the best idea of all. That's what is meant by taking action.

Reading the comments has been a stimulating exercise.

David Van Os
Give me a hand at www.vanosfortexasag.com

Doesn't contain that tone at all that I took issue with in the OP. I agree with your call to action wholeheartedly and have posted threads of the same intent myself. I just had taken issue with lack of acknowledgement for all the work we already do here.

Sure, DU is full of bickering, talk and inaction at times, but it is after all a message board. What you have to realize is all the things going on behind the scenes that many of us are still doing. Many of us are constantly writing LTTE's, campaigning, donating, researching, educating etc.. though it may not be completely evident with the fast pace at which DU moves. Believe me though, the group here at DU is one of the most effective grass roots movements I've ever come across. That's all I wanted you to acknowledge.

Thank you for sticking with me through the dialogue. That's the way we find truth, together.

Truth, justice, and democracy, forever.

Now if you could just clone yourself, move to Connecticut and go after Lieberman I'd be real pleased!


Welcome to DU and good luck!!!

Thank you!

Good luck to Connecticut Democrats in producing a good primary opponent for Republicrat Joe Lieberman.

You'll be in Galveston soon fr Turn Texas Blue, right? Look forward to seeing you and rachel! :hi: :patriot:

:hi: What is going on? Haven't seen you post in a while or maybe I am looking in the wrong place.

Off this whole week so Ill be a posting. Happy New Year to you!

Make sure you keep your link posted. I rarely start donating money before the primaries but can always help out a bit from time to time!

and welcome to DU :hi:

We all need that here in Texas, but remember, there are plenty of people doing lots behind the scenes here. Good luck!

for flamebait(Dammit people?) and talking about Choir preaching. But saying that your running for attorney general in Texas gets you 19 greatest votes?

Maybe it's the late hour?

He pissed me off, fer sure.

What the hell gives you the right to conclude that none of us are doing anything but whining? You waltz in with this judgmental post, telling us stuff we already know, then insinuate that all we do is "moan and groan" at each other. WTF?

Good luck on your election. You're really gonna need it.

...for clarification.

I saw you post a while back, remembered that you were running and went to your site...

But then I hadn't seen you in a while. I had wondered what happened to you!


:hi:

That your tone and patronizing statements didn't go over well here. Here's a clue for you. The members of DU are well aware what this administration is capable of, and is no longer willing to enable Republicans or Democrats that seek office to think that we're an ignorant lazy lot that don't care, and that there's some "superman daddy" that's going to save us and show us the way.

The new meme come election time is "we don't want to hear the talk, we want to see the walk", and as Bill Cosby so famously said - I brought you into this world (think voted in) and I can take you out (think voted out).
If elected, you work for us, we are your employer.

Meanwhile - 2nd clue - work hard at your campaign and don't - I repeat - Don't pull any punches and we, DU members, in Texas will work hard for you.

I've been on it since the first time I heard his speech. It seems his tone rubbed some the wrong way, but I happen to love his fire and brimstone, pull no punches delivery. Don't judge him only on the way his tone affected you. He is good people, and he's a fighter.