Progressive Democrat Issue 129: THOUGHTS

There is some discontent among Democrats because of the FISA fiasco where some 57 Democrats sided with the Republicans against the Constitution. Disappointing! And I want to discuss that a bit with some solid suggestions on what to do about it.

Let's keep one fact firmly in mind before we discuss the Democrats: the erosion of American civil liberties, the destruction of our defining document, the Constitution, and the betrayal of our founding fathers' dream for America, has been led by Bush, the bulk of the Republican Party, and that Benidict Arnold, Joe Lieberman. Most of the blame for this crap is squarely on the Republicans.

Most...

But not all.

And therein is a massive problem for those of us who want to fight against the destruction of American democracy. We don't have too many choices in how to fight. As I recently outlined, the Republicans are actively attacking America's very foundations: the Constitution, our economy, our national security. Being an independent or Green or whatever other nobody flash in the pan is tantamount to having no role in how our nation is run whatsoever. Political insignificance, the path of the independent, the Libertarian, the Green, the apathetic...that is doing nothing but abandoning American democracy to destruction at the hands of the Republicans. Like it or not, that is what it is.

Which leaves us with the Democrats. And sadly, though, as I have proudly explained before, the Democrats CAN do great things, right now the Democrats have failed us.

But that isn't quite accurate, and it is critical to keep that in mind. It isn't the majority of Democrats who have failed us. It is some 57 SPECIFIC Democrats who failed us.

And, to quote a recent dKos diary, "Enough Already with the Pathetic Excuses!" There is NO EXCUSE for ANYONE in Congress, Democrat OR Republican, to further erode our civil liberties. Unlike some around here, I recognize getting us out of Iraq is a process and we have been moving, slowly I admit, in the right direction. Impeachment needs more work, but I expect slow progress on that. Hoping for MORE progress on that, but the impeachment of Nixon took awhile to take off, too.

But more abandonment of the Constitution? No! To the 57 Democrats who joined the Republicans in attacking America: ENOUGH WITH THE PATHETIC EXCUSES! You are NOT protecting America. Enough already. Enough. You are HURTING America. The Republicans and those 57 Democrats are SURRENDERING American democracy to Muslim extremists. Bush, the bulk of the Republican Party and those 57 Democrats are letting their fear of terrorism defeat America.

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

--Benjamin Franklin

We should tatoo that on the foreheads of every single politician who supported the Bush/Republican FISA fiasco. We should FORCE every single one of them to get that tatooed on their heads...in the name of national security, because if we lose the Constitution to fear, we lose the war against the terrorists.

But I am not one to just yell, or give up. Nor am I one who will blame all Democrats for what 57 Democrats did. Most Democrats voted against it...yet it still passed. So what do we do?

I have two suggestions.

The first suggestion I am taking from another disgruntled dKos diary:

This diary begins by saying that primary Challenges are a weak response. Although I believe a lot can be accomplished in primaries if more people paid attention, in genral I agree. Don't look to the next election to get busy. Just get busy now. The author of this diary has some excellent suggestions for those who are pissed as hell. They essentially boil down to on't get angry. Don't get even. Get busy. Here are her specific and very powerful suggestions:

What else can we do?

* Go to town halls. Make your voice heard as a constitutent
* Schedule regular constituent meetings with staff and representatives wherever you are.
* Schedule lobbying trips to DC to discuss at length the issues that matter.
* Create our own legislation, like Energize America and find sponsors.
* Create focused media events LOCALLY, addressing specific positions of your representatives, to appear in the local media.

Two examples:

In Buffalo a year or so ago, a small group of people scheduled a series of events on Net Neutrality, specifically requesting that Chuck Shumer take a position, and planned a rally and invited the media. i think they did it at his local office, or at a local event he was appearing at. At any rate, before the event happened, Shumer came out with a position, supporting the group. In the end the rally became a thank you, instead. The group gave him ample warning and made many requests. The pressure worked. Not everything will be that easy, but if we're smart and focused enough, it'll wear down, it'll work. I can tell you one thing for sure, it'll work a LOT better than ALL DEMOCRATS SUCK! I'M NOT PARTICIPATING ANY MORE. Why did this one work? It was focused, it was specific, it was local.

Also, another Buffalo group that was focusing on housing issues spray-painted a picture of Governor Pataki on all the abandoned houses in town that a company that Pataki had dealings with owned and were sitting on, letting rot and damage neighborhoods and communities. They did lots of media events, lots of lobbying and collaborating with other elected officials. They hit ALL ANGLES. And they're making progress. They got money from Pataki, thanks to all these pressure points, to start dealing with some of the housing issues. It wasn't everything they needed but it was a significant step forward that wouldn't have happened with out targeted pressure. Embarrassment can work. Also, hitting multiple angles. Focused action.

And she ends with something most of us forget...and forget at our peril, as I will highlight at the end of this diary:

Listen, this shit is hard work. I understand people's frustration, but if we really want things to change, we gotta get focused and be willing to think and change course and strategize.

That is my first suggested course of action: Get Fucking Busy and Get in Their Faces! Democrat or Republican, call them, ask for an appointment. Call every day if you have to. Meet with them. Call them again. FAX them. Get your friends and family doing the same. Call them again. Ask for another appointment. Organize a local group to keep on calling them and getting in their faces.

That is the first thing to do.

The second is to focus attention more on organizations that are pulling the Democrats back to traditional, progressive American values rather than staying focused on the Democratic Party itself.

But first let me say that some Democrats in Congress deserve, and need, our help more than ever. Recently I set up a "Freshman Allstar" list. This was a list of Democratic freshmen Congressional Reps. who are being targeted by Karl Rove who have to date shown considerable leadership on progressive issues. Let me go on record right now that every single person I chose for my Freshman Allstars list voted AGAINST the Republican led attack on our Constitution. Every one of them. This is why I still stand up for the Democrats as a whole: because in the Democratic Party there are some EXCELLENT men and women and if we attack the party as a whole, then we are abandoning our best allies.

So let me once again highlight the Freshmen Allstars, who CONTINUE to show excellent leadership on practically every issue that matters to most of us, and hence are going to be heavily targeted by Republicans in 2008. You want Democratic spine? Show your support for these men and women who genuinely SHOW spine. THESE are the people we want representing us, so let's let them know that. This can be one of the best ways to influence Congress: support those who DO vote the way you like.

But in general, I say it is time to focus less on the Democratic Party per se, and to volunteer and donate far MORE to those groups who push a true, American progressive agenda on issues like Iraq, impeachment, clean elections, minimum wage, marriage equality, environment, civil liberties...etc. Give time and money to the groups that have organized around the agendas that matter to you. This is another part of fighting hard: strengthening the infrastructure that we have really just barely gotten up and running. With this in mind, I give you a new list of mine, highlighting NOT candidates, but America's Progressive Organizations. (For those who wonder, people DO donate to my Act Blue lists. To date I have collected more than $3000 towards the 2008 elections.)

I choose organizations like Stem Cell Action and Clean Water Action that focus on issues, I choose organizations like Mainstream Moms Operation Blue and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America PAC which are spearheading the fight to get us out of Iraq, I highlight organizations like South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families that are fighting for a woman's right to choose, and I highlight Democracy for America and it's offshoots that have revitalized, to some degree, the left thanks to Howard Dean's leadership. Fed up with the slow progress in Congress? These are the organizations that have given the grassroots an infrastructure that has started to make them effective for once. Let's make them MORE effective.

Republicans remain a threat to our democracy. Political insignificance is plain dumb. Some Democrats deserve our whole hearted support because THEY are doing what we elected them for. But mostly, we need to focus on fighting harder, louder and more on message than ever. And it will take time and effort.

Here is a dKos diary describing one person who confronted one of those Democrats who voted against democracy on the FISA issue at a Town Hall meeting. THIS is what we need to be doing. The experience was frustrating for the Kossack who confronted him, but make no mistake: I guarantee that the confrontation made an impact on the audience AND on the Senator. If it is an isolated event, then it will mean little. If it happens again...and again...and again...then it will have an impact. I had a similar confrontation, in the company of a couple of dozen MoveOn.org activists, with a staff member of Chuck Schumer's over the first $87 billion Congress approved for Bush's illegal war. The confrontation we had DID make an impression. Sadly, those of us who participated allowed it to be an isolated incident. That was our mistake. And, too often, it is the mistake we ALL make. We need to make MORE phone calls and make appointments with our Congressional staff and attend town hall meetings. Confront the bastards who can't muster the spine to stand up to Bush. And confront the Republican bastards who are LEADING the attack on American democracy. Confront them ALL, Dem and Repub, on our Constitutional rights. Confront them ALL, Dem and Repub alike, about getting us out of Iraq. To quote the one, single good thing Ron Paul has said, "just bring them home now." And confront them all, Dem and Repub, on impeachment. Does American stand for the rule of law or arbitrary, authoritarian rule by the President?

Don't give up the fight. INTENSIFY the fight. That is my answer.

Remember:

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

--Benjamin Franklin

And:

Listen, this shit is hard work. I understand people's frustration, but if we really want things to change, we gotta get focused and be willing to think and change course and strategize.

Let's get busy.

Here is this week's Newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

IRAQ BY THE NUMBERS

NEGLECTING AMERICA PART II

REPUBLICAN RACISM

NEW YORK FOCUS: NY-13 Congressional Race

MISSISSIPPI FOCUS: Revisiting the Insurance Issue

NEW HAMPSHIRE FOCUS: Getting rid of Bush-Booster Sununu