"I've Pulled Back." The Saddest Words I've Heard Since November

Where do I go (4.00 / 1)

to get my soul back ?

Next time, there may be no next time.

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by: Jon Bresler @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 05:59:51 AM CDT

I think that Dodd is responding to that sense (0.00 / 0)

of betrayal.  Our country has become unrecognizable right before our eyes.  In a sense we've been mesmerized, Democrats and Republicans alike.  It's hard to recognize extra-ordinary evil when you're not used to it.
The idea that the desire to destroy men's souls actually exists is almost impossible to understand.  Greed is a lot easier.

If you consider that the American people are the government, then the expressed intent to "drown it in the bathtub" is not only a more sinister goal, but suggests that the victim will first have to be rendered comatose or mesmerized.  Which might well account for the surge in the availability of both legal and illegal drugs.

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by: hannah @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 06:17:10 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree (4.00 / 3)

We put them there, and we worked our asses off to do so.

Now, I have no complaints, because the particular person I helped put there, Paul Hodes, has been worth it.

But much of the time, I can't take top tier national Democrats, riding this wave as though it was of their own making. Did we build this for them? Or did we build this to stop a war, stop wiretapping, and bulldoze Gitmo?

We should be happy with what we got locally. But I'm pretty pissed nationally. And I still don't forgive Hillary and Obama their last-minute vote on the supplemental. Not only was it wrong, and the antithesis of leadership, but it shows a grave misunderstanding of the wave they are riding.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 06:47:31 AM CDT

Glass Half Full (0.00 / 0)

That lady is not alone. I have heard many Democrats complaining about the lack of progress in Congress. In the midst of all that complaining, they ignore the many accomplishments and changes that have occurred.  Congress has a long way to go but in the first six months of this new session, with a new majority, Democrats have achieved some successes which should not be ignored.

This article from Reuters on August 5 gives a good summary of the accomplishments of the Democrats in the last six months.

My guess is that much of the angst has to do with perceived lack of progress in getting out of Iraq.

Their top priority -- ending the Iraq war -- remains frustratingly unfulfilled. But the Democrats who took over in January were able to go home early on Sunday for a monthlong break having won more support in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for bringing combat troops home by early next year, marking a significant turnaround from last year.

Democrats also will be able to batter President George W. Bush and congressional Republicans for sticking with a war policy that droves of Americans increasingly oppose.

At the same time, some Democratic pollsters are speaking about a dramatic "enduring" shift of the electorate to the Democrats.

We have a long way to go to November 2008; Democrats should not let down our guard or let up our pressure.  It might help in this struggle to effectuate change if we consider the glass half full rather than half empty.

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by: gradysdad @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 07:03:49 AM CDT

That glass hasn't even been washed out yet. (0.00 / 0)

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by: hannah @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 07:15:01 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

We "get" it. (4.00 / 4)

As you all know, I have to be very careful with what I say... but I will let you know that on Saturday the Executive Committee of the Democratic State Chairs met privately with Governor Dean to express our thoughts on these same concerns. He "gets" it. More discussion is planned with other people of importance. I have hope. Don't give up.

Have you written a letter to the editor today? Have you donated today? Have you put up signs? Have you made calls? Have you talked to your neighbors?

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by: Ray Buckley @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 07:21:36 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Bush broke the glass (0.00 / 0)

And Rove too.

We have to make a new glass. It sucks, but we are Democrats. This is what we do.

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by: JimC @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 09:09:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Obama's response? (0.00 / 0)

I take it Obama's response to this lady's withdrawal did not inspire you enough to write about it?

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by: GreenVTster @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 09:37:37 AM CDT

Actually, the question that prompted this diary (0.00 / 0)

was a follow-up from another person's question (if I'm remembering correctly) that was much the same in tone and content, chiefly about feeling that regular folks are "not being heard."

And Obama actually did have a decent answer for that one, I thought something along the lines of "you are being heard," by the fact that you are hear today telling me this, and reporters are listening to this, and so on.

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 10:06:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Perhaps we need to use different verbiage. (0.00 / 0)

Being "heard" or "listened" to is obviously not what we want.

I've long held the opinion that the difference between Republican and Democratic politicians lies in the fact that the former are intent on what they can do to the public, while the latter are directed by what they can do for the public.  Neither is prepared to DO what the public directs or wants.

The politicians' excuse runs along the lines of "we can't satisfy most of the people all of the time," so they don't even try.  It's the same kind of logic that informs the journalists' rationalization that they must be doing something right, if all sides are dissatisfied.  What I'd argue is that most people don't expect to be satisfied all of the time; all they want is to be satisfied some of the time, instead of seeing the corporations satisfied all of the time.

P.S. It was interesting to note, during a discussion of campaign finance regulation on C-SPAN, that one of the presenters made the point that almost every interest group has been formalized as a corporation, the implication being that the impulse to regulate corporate lobbying and donations is misplaced.  In his mind ordinary citizens who aren't interested in protecting themselves from financial liability don't count.

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by: hannah @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 10:54:44 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Listening (0.00 / 0)

As a volunteer that works closely with the Obama campaign, I can say emphatically that I have never witnessed a candidate (and staff) that listens as well as Barack Obama.

Consider momentarily the simple premise of his campaign, "Let's begin the work. Let's do this together. Let's turn that page."

He listens because he needs us. He needs us to stand beside him, because he knows that one person can leave their mark, but many can create fundmental change.

He listens to us because he needs to hear our voices, so that he can bring an American consensus to Washington and to the world community.

He listens, he considers and then he acts. He acts in our collective best interests as Americans. That is what we truly are, Americans - indivisible!

SGS is Jack Mitchell of Lowell, MA. The symbolism of the "sleeping giant" is based on my HOPE for America.

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by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 10:55:17 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

This is why we need (4.00 / 1)

to support the people like Markos, Ned Lamont, etc who are willing to have it out within the party to ensure that we stay true to our principles.  Not all Dems are the same -- sometimes we need new blood to get things done.  This is another reason that, as Dean noted, it's great to be represented by Carol and Paul.

We need to remain the party of free thinking and new ideas.

Where do we go from here?

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by: Gavin @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 11:29:13 AM CDT

In the interest of objectivity--- (0.00 / 0)

Schwarzenegger approves.

How someone can use so many words to say nothing is beyond me. 

Increasing CAFE standards one mpg per year!!!!

Providing subsidies to an industry that's been resistant to change???????????

And note the total omission of clean nuclear energy.  Though that's no doubt what he means when he says we all have to sacrifice.

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by: hannah @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 12:06:11 PM CDT

"I've Pulled Back" (0.00 / 0)

I think there is something deeper here. There hasn't been the feeling of general consensus of "the people" of this country for a long, long time. Maybe not since the Pro Civil and Women's and Anti-vietnam War Days.

The "progressive politicians are waiting to see if we really mean it. They want to keep their jobs - for both good and not so good reasons. They know they will lose them if they get way ahead of the DC crowd and then "we the people" lose interest.

We have to keep at it and at it and at it to let them know we really mean it. No more "Politics as Usual". No more war! No more domestic spying! No more Drug Companies and HMO's and Insurance Companies running the Health Care System.

warndog

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by: warndog @ Tue Aug 14, 2007 at 16:13:55 PM CDT

Keep in mind and a MUST READ (0.00 / 0)

I agree that I wish the Dems did a better job on the FISA ammendment. But then again, look at the Dems in the House that voted for it. Out of the 41, over 20 of them were Blue Dogs. A lot of the key Dems we support voted against it. So in a sense, they're doing the job we expect them to. It's just that we gotta get those Blue Dog bums out of office in 2008, if the netroots can get some folks to run against them, by all means. Let's support them. Then maybe this won't happen again..... I hope.

Speaking of Obama, read Vermont Daily Briefing's account of a Barack Obama fundraiser. Philip Baruth had an amazing day (and story to boot) about his exchanges with Barack Obama.

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 10:32:32 AM CDT

11. Use tangible simile (0.00 / 0)

One of the best blog paragraphs, ever!

Philip Baruth of VDB wrote:

Now, trying to meet a famous actor or politician in the middle of a crowd gathered in their name is an arcane art, not susceptible to logic. Why? Because it?s like watching a drop of water streak down your windshield: you may think you know where it will finish, but you don?t, because along the way a hundred small impurities on the glass will nudge it to the right, and then the left.

 

There is a deeper tone to this comment, after further consideration.

SGS is Jack Mitchell of Lowell, MA. The symbolism of the "sleeping giant" is based on my HOPE for America.

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by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 14:43:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

On the one hand, (4.00 / 1)

I completely agree that on several fronts the Democratic leadership should stand more firm.

On the other, comments like that also piss me off a lot.  What the hell do people expect with a non-majority in the Senate (majority on paper, yes, but completely lose Lieberman on Iraq) and a president who's going to veto almost anything?  Seriously, saying you're disappointed with the way particular members of Congress are voting is reasonable - there are several of them I think need to be on the receiving end of strong primary challenges and I'm always in support of lobbying them to vote the right way - but expecting a government with this makeup to do all that much better than what it's done is just unrealistic.  The FISA vote is an exception - I think leadership should have done more to prevent it - so I understand that people are rightly pissed right now.  But I hear so many people talking like they genuinely expected that this level of Democratic control was going to get the US out of Iraq within 6 months and do a million other things that just aren't possible under the circumstances. 

You want to know what we got from 2006?  A big part of it is that things aren't getting worse.  And some things are getting better - I for one care about increasing the minimum wage.  I care that the EFCA passed the House, even if it got filibustered in the Senate.  No, the US isn't out of Iraq but there's pressure for it in a way there just wasn't going to be with a Republican Congress.  And as a great diary at Daily Kos pointed out, since the elections, these administration officials are gone:

Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense: GONE.  Resigned November 8, 2006.

John R. Bolton, Ambassador to the United Nations: GONE.  Resigned December 5, 2006.

Harriet E. Miers, White House Counsel: GONE.  Resigned January 4, 2007.

Peter Wehner, White House Director of Strategic Initiatives: GONE.  Resigned March 29, 2007.

Meghan O'Sullivan, Deputy National Security Adviser: GONE. Resigned April 2, 2007.

J.D. Crouch II, Deputy National Security Adviser: GONE.  Resigned May 4, 2007.

Sara M. Taylor, White House Director of Political Affairs: GONE.  Resigned Late May, 2007.

Dan Bartlett, White House Counselor: GONE.  Resigned June 2, 2007.

Rob Portman, OMB Director: GONE. Resigned June 19, 2007.

KARL FREAKIN' ROVE, Prince of Darkness: GONE.  Resignation effective August 31, 2007.

Is it enough?  Hell, no.  But it's reason to keep working for 2008, not to fucking whine or give up.

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by: Laura Clawson @ Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 13:09:35 PM CDT

Game ON! (0.00 / 0)

I got my game face on, sista. 

"No time for Mud Club or CBGBs, I ain't got time for that now!" -DB

SGS is Jack Mitchell of Lowell, MA. The symbolism of the "sleeping giant" is based on my HOPE for America.

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by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 14:50:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This ain't no party (0.00 / 0)

this ain't no disco
this ain't no foolin' around

Next time, there may be no next time.

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by: Jon Bresler @ Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 21:35:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

My God, Thank You (0.00 / 0)

Couldn't agree with you more, Laura. . . .

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by: Dartmouth Dem @ Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 17:09:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

one more misbegotten name (0.00 / 0)

Arie 'Make No Mistake' Fleischer got good and gone, good and early. It is so weird, his mom works with friends of ours and is a stand-up Dem.

Next time, there may be no next time.

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by: Jon Bresler @ Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 21:38:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]