Category: Democracy Means You

The Democrats’ real dilemma

I’m still in a mild state of shock after the re-selection of Dear Leader and company. Like many Democrats, progressives, moderates, and varied sane people, I’m trying to wrap my brain around enough people casting their ballots for the crew that’s eviscerating our economy, demolishing the federal budget, betraying our fundamental values at home and abroad, getting the troops “we support” killed by the Bushel, and otherwise making an utter and unholy mess of everything they touch. Confusing me further is a phenomenon I am at a loss to explain: California voters who chose Bush for President but also helped reelect Barbara Boxer.…

…as democracy withers…

At the moment, the message throughout the liberal/progressive end of the blogosphere is “don’t give up.” We lost the Big One, but built the foundations to counter the right wing Scaife/Limbaugh/Newsmax/Fox/Washington Times noise machine. This Is Only The Beginning.

Well…maybe.

As much of an incurable optimist as I usually am, I can’t help but see the fundamental flaw in such thinking: movements only matter if those in power can be removed by them. Optimism about our infrastructure would be justified if we could reasonably believe that we will have freedom of speech, press, assembly and petition in the years to come.…

Remember. Then Vote.
Part three of three

There are so many reasons to vote Anyone But Bush Again. From abortion to war and everything in between — and I hate to sound like a party shill, but it is so true — W really does mean “Wrong.” Though I am proud to be able to support a candidate like John F. Kerry, I would be fighting hard for the Democrat, whether we had Dennis Kucinich or Joe Lieberman.

(Well, okay, if Lieberman had been the nominee, it would be tough to put my all into the campaign. Fortunately, that is not the case.)…

Liberty and Justice need you!
Part two of three

We all have issues near and dear to our hearts. Even those whose beliefs pretty much run the progressive gamut (like myself) tend to worry about certain topics more than others. For me, there is nothing more important than protecting the basic rights that form the core of the American dream.…

It has been truly fascinating, in a darkly humorous way, to watch Republicans whine about Democrats being “divisive” during this election cycle. Translation: “hey, you’re not supposed to fight back when we hit you!” As usual, they can dish it out, but they sure can’t take it. Bullies never can.

Kevin Drum put it extremely well in a recent post of his:…

Or, Why Bush Is Still Wrong

You’ve heard the bleating from Bush and Cheney. “World safer without Saddam,” “Mushroom clouds if Kerry wins,” blah blah blah. In spite of the overwhelming evidence that Iraq was a horrible mistake and Bush is a freaking moron, they keep using the bloody place like a cudgel. We tough, them weak. We Texans, them French.

The sick, sad thing is, people are buying it. I actually got into an argument with a relative over whether or not hitting Iraq was a good thing because — I swear to God, this was his argument — we had to hit somebody, and it didn’t matter who.…

Conservative Media Owners for Swift Boat (and other) Bullshit

It’s time to stop pussy-footing around and speak truth to power. They’re not the “so-called liberal media.” That’s being too kind. Anyone watching the Swift Boat Veterans for Bile coverage knows that it’s time to call them what they are: the conservative voice of corporate America.…