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Our Democratic Leaders Are Not Weak, Are Not Cowards. They Are Dishonest.

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JFN1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 03:54 PM
Original message
Our Democratic Leaders Are Not Weak, Are Not Cowards. They Are Dishonest.
We elected the current crop of Democrats with a clear mandate: END THE WAR, STOP THE CORRUPTION.

But neither of these things has happened.

Sure, we can continue to believe that the Republican obstructionists are keeping the Democrats, and their slim majority, from doing anything meaningful in Congress to end the war, or to hold the Constitution violators in the Bush Administration accountable for their crimes.

Sure, we CAN continue to believe this is true.

Or we can stop being gullible, and look at the facts.

As I pointed out last week, I watched for over an hour and a half as the House, nearly empty, debated a bill as to whether or not an Army unit from Puerto Rico should be memorialized for their service during the Korean War. None of the 'big name' Dems were there; it was all 'junior' Members set to the task of 'debating' this bill for hours on end.

And as I watch CSPAN right now, Congress is debating a bill concerning DNA testing for missing persons, with the same cast of unknowns in the debate.

- {sigh} -

AS I TYPE THIS WE HAVE MEN AND WOMEN WOUNDED AND DYING IN IRAQ. WE HAVE UNPUNISHED CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATORS RUNNING OUR GOVERNMENT AS YOU SIT HERE READING THIS.

But hey - let's debate the 'important stuff.'

The TRUTH, in my humble, unwashed opinion, is that our Democratic Representatives and Senators don't want to end the war in Iraq any more than do their Republican counterparts.

Yes, Democrats SAY they want to end the war, and complain that they cannot, with such a slim majority.

Sorry folks, but I call 'bullshit' on that.

IF DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY WANTED TO END THE WAR, THEY HAVE ALL OF THE PARLIAMENTARY TOOLS NEEDED TO DO SO.

And I'll qualify my blanket statement: Democrats may indeed wish to end the war - but they ONLY wish to end the war on THEIR TERMS, in a manner which benefits them personally/politically.

Now, before you begin blindly defending the Democrats, answer this simple question:

What would YOU be doing if you were a Congressman?

Would you be debating bills about honoring Korean War veterans, even as our Iraq veterans are receiving "top quality" VA care in places like, and much worse than, Walter Reed? This issue has not gone away, folks, just because it isn't in the news. In the last month, the VA has had to disallow all surgery at the VA Hospital in Marion, Illinois, as all two of their surgeons for this REGIONAL, MULTI-STATE FACILITY have been SUSPENDED by the State of Illinois for shoddy medical practice. Sorry, I don't have a link for this - my father-in-law just had to have surgery three weeks ago in St. Louis, instead of Marion, so i know this first hand.

So would you debate such bills yourself, knowing what you know? Or would you be raising your voice every day, in every way, making use of every scrap of Constitutional power within your grasp to make your voice heard?

WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?

Personally, I believe we are being played - and played big time.

I believe Democrats and Republicans are playing 'good cop - bad cop' on the American people. I think the moneyed interests which fund both parties are working to ensure the war is endless. I think the American People are no longer being represented; instead, we are merely being factored.

These excuses the Democrats give for accomplishing NOTHING to end the war, just don't ring true when you weigh the actual People's 'business' being conducted in the halls of power.

The Democrats we worked our butts off to elect, are either outright lying to us, or are simply telling us what they think we want to hear, as they work the Beltway to better their own hold on power.
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jpgray Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 03:58 PM
Response to Original message
1. Having the tools to do something and being able to are two different things
We have a tiny majority that is divided on the issue, so there is no unified effort on some controversial issues. Some would do all you wish, some would go along reluctantly, and others would oppose. Then you have the Republicans, of whom some would go along reluctantly while almost all would oppose, using every radical move in the political playbook to do so. So neither party is perfect, but I know which one I'd rather have get more seats in '08, since it's a choice of one or the other.
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JFN1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 04:01 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. I suppose our soldiers dying in Iraq
can afford the same 'hum-ho' attitude about the conduct of our government...
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brentspeak Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 03:59 PM
Response to Original message
2. What a surprise! More Democrat-bashing on DU!
Edited on Mon Sep-24-07 03:59 PM by brentspeak
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JFN1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 04:00 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Nice
Very nice. LOCKSTEP, NOW, EVERYONE!!!!!
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WillyT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 04:04 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. Here's Some More... Enjoy !!!
Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x56494

The troops, our Democratic troops, are restless, no?

:shrug:


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jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 05:20 PM
Response to Reply #2
10. Your point being...???
Edited on Mon Sep-24-07 05:21 PM by jgraz
Other than suppression of dissent, that is...

:shrug:
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Jacobin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 08:53 PM
Response to Reply #2
13. If you are satisfied with the way congress is conducting itself
what can be said?
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MODemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 04:37 PM
Response to Original message
6. Republicans are obstructionists; have been for many years now
That's their fascist plan in order to make the electorate believe Democrats are not effective enough to get their bills passed. That's why Bush warns the Democraats ahead of time that no matter what bill they try to put through, he will veto it. He doesn't give a tinker's damn about the people. It's all about power and greed, they prove that every day; and to hell with the sick, poor, and precious little children. Everything the Republicans do is all about politics; Republicans think nothing of the killing going on in Iraq if they can just get permanent control like they've been seeking to do. We shouldn't be helping them every step of the way.

Maybe you could suggest a plan for the Democratic Congress; since it looks so easy to you. :smoke: :dem:
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JFN1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 05:13 PM
Response to Reply #6
9. Sure, no problem
Edited on Mon Sep-24-07 05:56 PM by JFN1
1. Make every day about ending the war
-- a. Constant media appearances (use those 'junior' Reps for something useful)
-- b. Make constant, definitive, unambiguous statements about ending the war
-- c. Involve (not merely use) the blogosphere in building public awareness
2. Stop all other legislative business
-- a. Present for debate a constant stream of bills intended to end the war
-- b. Loudly investigate war profiteering
-- c. Constant attempts to fully fund the Veteran's Administration
3. Begin impeachment investigations/hearings


Simple enough? DON'T FORGET - THIS IS WHAT OUR DEMOCRATS PROMISED US WHEN WE WERE WORKING TO ELECT THEM. They promised an end to the war, an end to the corruption, an end to the abuses of the Constitution.

What do we have right now?

- Impeachment is off the table
- 'We're trying...!' and other excuses
- Funding of every Bush request for more Iraq money, without conditions
- Further erosion of our rights as they rubber-stamp Bush's spying programs
- No habeus corpus, a cornerstone of our Constitution
- Senate condemnation of MoveOn.org
- Lots more dead and wounded soldiers and Iraqis
- $120 million an hour to Bush's cronies and contractors

If you look at the facts, it sure looks to me like the Democrats are not doing EVERYTHING in their power to stop this war - they seem to be awfully interested in their own personal political futures. If this continues, I remind you, the Democratic party will end up looking as foolish and broken as the Republican party does now. And if the situation is as you suggest it is, then why are the Democrats playing along? Why are they not doing more of what I suggest, instead of this half-assed showing we're getting right now?

Or do you honestly believe we've got their very best? Do you truly believe their FIRST thought is of their Constituents, and not their own political futures?

Tell you what - if you think what we have right now is THE VERY BEST our Democratic Congress can do, I suggest you empathize with our soldiers a bit, and try again.

And to those of you reading this who lack the patriotism and good sense to question your leaders (yes, even the Democratic ones), please read some of - hell, any of - Thomas Jefferson's writings. Perhaps Mr. Jefferson will help you locate your backbone.
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Jacobin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 08:56 PM
Response to Reply #6
15. De-fund the war, for starters.
MAKE republicans filibuster, rather than backing down when they threaten to.

Issue subpoenas and when they are not complied with, go to court to enforce them

IMPEACH the motherfuckers, and try them. Let the republicans defend them. If we lose? What have we lost?

Its called being an 'opposition party'

Oh, and stop passing resolutions braying about MoveOn telling the truth in a newspaper ad.
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JFN1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 09:07 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. Democratic apologists
stress how impotent the Dems are to take such an action in the face of Republican obstructionism. If this is so, than Democrats cannot claim a majority, and thus we should be positioning ourselves still, as an opposition party. Otherwise, under the excuse of a Republican "stealth" majority, Democrats appear as invincibly arrogant teenagers, strutting around like cock-of-the-walk, claiming a majority where none truly exists.
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shance Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 09:47 PM
Response to Reply #6
17. So are many if not most of the Democrats. They are playing the old tried and true game of
good cop bad cop.

Google Diane Feinstein and war-profiteering and see what comes up.

Nancy Pelosi called San Fransisco anti-war activists 'nuts' after they sat out of her house because she continued to refuse to meet with them.

Steny Hoyer is trumpeting the call of war equally to Joe Lieberman.

How many of our esteemed Democratic representatives voted for the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, the Bankruptcy Act, and of course I could continue.

After a while its time to realize they are in on the game as well.

At least 90% of them are.
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jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
7. Why can't they be both?
I hate having to choose...
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JFN1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 05:55 PM
Response to Reply #7
11. No doubt
And I think we do have both, in many cases...!
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Carolina Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
8. K&R
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JFN1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 08:51 PM
Response to Reply #8
12. Thanks
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wildbilln864 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 08:54 PM
Response to Original message
14. I agree completely JFN! K&R !! n/t
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Disturbed Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 10:01 PM
Response to Reply #14
18. JFN1 Excellent framing of the issue.
I have been posting similar statements for many months. Many Dems here do not like their party being criticized.

The Dems do not want to end the Occupation of Iraq. The Dems take their party members for granted because they figure that all will be forgiven &/or ignored because the Repugs are the evil ones.
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Harper_is_Bush Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 10:02 PM
Response to Original message
19. "STOP THE CORRUPTION" didn't happen? Are the democrats corrupt, that it?
What are you trying to say?
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JFN1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 10:21 PM
Response to Reply #19
21. Yes
They are corrupt, on so many levels...
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Harper_is_Bush Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-25-07 07:00 PM
Response to Reply #21
25. Maybe you should step off from making sweeping accusations of corruption against all democrats.
If you wish to contribute to the board, that is.
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Greeby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Sep-24-07 10:15 PM
Response to Original message
20. Where does this myth come from that Democrats were elected to end the war?
Apart from the few principled people like DK, they didn't run on ending the war. Their elections man Rahm recruited right-wingers to win in the primaries, and even where anti-war candidates did get through in the primary, they lost in the GE thanks to Rove's "math"
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JFN1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-25-07 11:59 AM
Response to Reply #20
24. From the candidates themselves
Almost all made promises and noises indicating they wanted to end the war - including Joe Lieberman (when he was running as a Dem).
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dave123williams Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-25-07 01:45 AM
Response to Original message
22. Or, perhaps they're "E". All of the above.
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OneBlueSky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Sep-25-07 01:52 AM
Response to Original message
23. "Democratic Representatives and Senators don't want to end the war in Iraq any more than" . . .
than do their Republican counterparts" . . .

Bingo! . . . if they wanted to end the war, they'd stop funding it . . . period . . .

our so-called representatives in Congress are all part of the same corrupt system . . . their campaigns -- and therefor their very lives in Congress -- are funded by the same corporations currently raping the US Treasury as war profiteers (and as healthcare profiteers, banking and credit card profiteers, and a whole bunch of other profiteers) . . .

they vote the way the money tells them to vote -- and that's for more war and bigger corporate profits . . .
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