http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9459736adnelson60087 (560 posts) Wed Nov-03-10 07:31 AM
Original message
We Had our best shot in a generation and blew it.
In 2007, when the US was beginning its economic meltdown from 7 years of Bush-era debacles, the Liberal Wing of the Democratic Party had its best chance at really affecting generational change. We could have chosen a leader who was a firebrand, with passion and burning desire to fight the corporate poison and conservative nonsense that had permeated our party since the early 90's. We could have chosen a true liberal voice with a clear vision for America.
Instead, we chose someone who wasn't a fighter, who believed in "bipartisanship" with an enemy who was never going to work with us, and has no political guts to speak of. How many people have been thrown under the bus in the name of political expediency? And the one thing this leader did do, a healthcare bill that did indeed pass, only allows insurance companies to get fatter, while millions of Americans will still go without care, and Children who won't get the care they need since Insurance companies have stopped selling insurance for kids. And when the Liberal voices that worked so hard to put the leadership in place cries out about the policy problems, they are told to sit down and be quiet, since no one wants to hear what they have to say. Unless it is our unfettered energy, support, and cash. Teachers are the problem. Unions are the problem. Working towards bipartisan goals are not the problem. SIGH...
We wasted the opportunity of a generation.
Whatever but some really funny and pathetic comments.
chimpymustgo (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-03-10 07:35 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. And we NEEDED a Roosevelt to save this country. This has been heartbreaking and infuriating to watch
and endure. We gave our blood sweat and tears to change this country and all we got was a lousy t-shirt.
adnelson60087 (560 posts) Wed Nov-03-10 07:38 AM
Response to Reply #1
6. We needed an FDR. Heck, I'd even settle for a Carter!

leveymg (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-03-10 07:40 AM
Response to Original message
8. Such a firebrand leader never stepped forward, and alas there is no one in the party leadership
to take that role. Grayson in the House, perhaps a few others. In the Senate, Feingold, can't think of anyone else. No wonder the GOP targeted them for extinction. Leaders, if you have been hiding, now is the time to emerge. Who will accept command?
That they were out of touch and step with the voters never occurs to you does it?
eilen (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-03-10 08:33 AM
Original message
Feingold/Grayson 2012 nt
Please please please!!!
NightWatcher (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-03-10 07:46 AM
Response to Original message
16. WE didn't blow anything. We saw in Obama what we Hoped for
That's how he was sold to us. We worked hard, donated time and energy, and WE won. Unfortunately all political capital was wasted. Wars continued, no one was held accountable from W's admin, Gitmo remains opened, Pakistan is smoldering- threatening to explode in to an inferno, stimulus was aimed at the banks and the crooks who brought us to our knees, gays were thrown under the bus, unions and teachers were shat on, .........
The next time WE want to take OUR country back, I hope we DO it outside of picking another Establishment political commodity and DO it by taking to the streets as they do in more mature Social Democracies.
At least maybe we'll get nice and screwed hard in the next few years so that we get pushed to the point of doing something different than voting for another cookie cutter politician.
If we keep doing what we've always done, we're going to get what we've always got. I hope we change this pattern.
Obama an empty suit...who knew??

madmax (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-03-10 07:48 AM
Response to Original message
17. I care deeply about President Obama
I have defended him to people in my life everyday. Remember the AA Lady - she was at the rally in DC but, also spoke to President Obama about being tired of defending him. That's how I feel now.
Grew up with listening to my Mom telling stories of FDR. I thought Obama would be our generations FDR. The election night, the Inauguration, the fact that I lived long enough to see an bi-racial man elected to the Presidency of the US. It was magical, uplifting a multitude of positive feelings and emotions.
Hope and Change. I wanted it so bad, could taste it, feel it. I let him play it his way - co-operate, work with them, get something rather than nothing passed. Keep the powder dry all the excuses.
However, now I believe he should have seized the moment. Gone in and really shake things up. More my way or the highway - work for that bastard and he wasn't even elected. Obama won handily.
Whatever happens in the future I will never not vote or not vote Dem but, now I'm not hoping for change or anything anymore. I'm just going along for the ride.
There may be a few people here who believe our President did all the right things - I've changed my mind and hope I don't get stomped on for writing how I feel.
Feeble surrender with sobbing helplessness really is the answer for you.
cascadiance (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-03-10 07:49 AM
Response to Original message
18. We should make this THE MOST productive lame duck house session!
And have us get some very strategic bills passed by the House that we could pass along to the new Senate in 2011 that could "fix" the fillibuster so it would no longer allow the minority to block us then. Then perhaps we'd get some things done in that short period of time. And then if Republicans throw CRAP at us that doesn't work afterwards, we can build momentum to get the House back in 2012.
The next week DU should really sit down and try to figure out which bills we want to get passed that won't go through in the next two bills otherwise with a Republican House and get them through the House NOW... And we should lobby HEAVILY on the phone now to those still there that if they want our vote and to those going out if they want our support in the future, that they will do this to help save America now. That could help revive their careers in other places later.
Yeah...that will work.
Go for it DUmbass.
Please suffer miserably.
