Defining ourselves on our own terms instead of Republican ones

October 26, 2006 by lynnell

by Lynnell Mickelsen

When the media and the dominant culture have been demonizing you for years, it's easy to start internalizing their crap.

For the last decade or more, the Republicans and their media pals have depicted Democrats as hopelessly weak, divided, hysterical, bereft of ideas or a plan, a drifting group of losers destined for the dustbin of history.

I swear, you hear the junk long enough and you start taking it in, sort of like second-hand cigarette smoke. Which is why it's important to define ourselves on our own terms, not in reaction to Republican ones.

This diary, posted on Daily Kos today, is a great example of how to see ourselves as Democrats. It's the sort of thing we're going to need to remember as we head into the election and beyond. I have no idea who UScitizen is. But hang in there through the first seven paragraphs---it's the set-up for the great stuff that's coming.)

Do you understand what the Democrats have become?
by UScitizen

"When the Democrats tried to get the votes counted and the Republicans tried to stop them from being counted in Florida, I had a discussion with a very close, life long friend of 35 years. He said that if they continued to count the votes that he would get his guns and hit the streets to stop it. I replied that if he did, I would get my rifle and would be hunting for him. I also reminded him that I was a far better shot than he. You see, I really believed that gun ownership was a right and a duty. Hold on...don't give up on me yet.

Voting is a privilege and a right by our constitution. I believe there has been a successful conspiracy to disenfranchise voters, on a large scale, the last two elections. It is every citizen's duty to make sure every vote counts. The voter's belief or party does not matter, we are obligated to stand beside them to make sure their vote is counted. I was troubled by the thought, but this must be why it is a right and duty to own guns...right?

What does this have to do with the Democratic Party?

As the blonde bimbo attack ad against Mr. Ford was being discussed on the cable news channels, one show compared the Democratic and Republican nastiest ads currently running. The Democrat's was the Michael J. Fox ad and the Republican was, of course, the blonde "call me" ad. This was the beginning of the epiphany for me.

I've listened to the Republicans call the Democrats traitors, weak and losers and wondered why they just took it. I watched the new "swift-boat" ads and then the Democrats reply with "If they could they would kick my dog too" (rough quote) and Michael J. Fox's plea for research that might help many diseases as well as his own. I have watched Republicans, during a discussion, accuse the Democrat of lying. The Democrat struggled to find what might possibly have been construed as a lie and wore a pained look with the effort.

Are the Republicans right? Are we just weak? Then the epiphany crystalized for me.

Democrats are doing what is needed to save our country without becoming like those who are destroying it.

The Democrat's take pains to tell the truth instead of creating their own reality.

The Democrat's are not invoking the basest of human instincts, they are invoking the greater good. End war. Cure disease. Individual's rights of privacy and freedom. Education. Raise up the least among us.

Isn't this the way we want our leaders to be? This is not the way of a traitor, but a patriot. This is not the way of the weak, but the hero. This is not the way of a loser, but the only way to truly win. The Republicans will bloody us, but we will remain steadfast and march on. There will be losses and the Republicans will dance on our graves, but we will march on. We will march on until our momentum turns our country towards peace, prosperity, human rights and honor.

If the perpetrators believe they can get away with it, the votes will not be counted. I once believed that is what "the right to bear arms" was for but now I have learned my lesson, taught to me by the leaders of the Democratic Party.

It is not violence.

It is not verbal or physical aggression.

It is peaceful resolve.

I will peacefully and resolutely join those who will insist the votes be counted. Not anger or hate but resolve. I will not abandon the cause until the votes are counted. I will stand shoulder to shoulder with my fellow citizens so the basic tenant of a Republic or Democracy, the right to vote and the vote to be counted, survives.

I hope you see what the Democratic Party has become, as I do.

Be ready, question and observe on voting day so everyone's right to vote becomes a reality. I hope you join the long vigil as we insist every one of those votes are counted...whoever cast it, wherever it was cast.

For those wondering, no..I do not talk to that former friend anymore."

Posted in

Lynnell's Blog

Hmmm.

Maybe it would be easier to get a significant number of Hatch voters over to supporting Hutchinson, than the other way around.

Hutchinson has 9% of likely landline-telephone subscribers. A useful set of trades might get Green support and add another 5-6%. Then add 50% of Hatch's vote, and you have the beginnings of a competitive three way race, and it encourages some GOP defection as well.

Who knows where the youth and the cellphone and no-phone weilding masses really are?

It is probably a competitive race already.

And lots of real caucusing and organizing Democrats are not and never will be there for Hatch, which is why he has a major-media buyiong virtual campaign.

We know who he is, and the people he had to rely on to get the endorsement, and to monkey things up for Entenza and the Steve Kelley for AG.

That part of the DFL killed all of the post-Wellstone afterglow of the DFL for me. At this point progressive voters, and peace-pursuing voters have to either capture the DFL like the Hatch-machine did, or build a new party in the the Green Party and/or IP. By following the message with at least 5, but hopefully as much as 51% of the vote, we preserve all of our options.

Next time, we need a Becky Lourey with better campaign execution, or a Ford Bell that doesn't blink. Until then, we have non-DFLers that are still on the message that motivates us.

Vote for Hutchinson and have some hope that we can build statewide network with grassroots and netroots components that will eventually win.

I appreciate your call to arms but it rings hollow. If my exercise in civil involvement gets Tim Pawlenty elected because I didn't vote for his "only realistic opponent" then so be it. It will be another 4 years of staying on our toes. Remember, extremists always go too far. This may cause short-term problems but aren't long-term solutions what we are in dire need of? We can't keep putting off the search for long-term solutions every election cycle. This is what has gotten us here and it is only getting worse. Especially, if we keep being told that we have to pick the "lesser of two evils" or else!

I also found it quite interesting that you NEVER mentioned Jesse Ventura and how people were saying the exact same thing just days and weeks before the election of 1998.

Lastly, what I find sad about your commentary is that your advice plays right into the hands of the two dysfunctional entities known as the Democrats and Republicans. You use the same stale argument that now is not the time to vote for who you want but what will be best for the common good. Any pronouncement regarding the common good is subjective at best. I certainly use many grains of salt when I hear someone us the term. Especially, when it pertains to siding with a Democrat over a Republican and vice versa.

Please, in your next published commentary write about the need for vision, courage, and long-term solutions. And please include the caveat that none of these things will ever be found in either parties platform.

Sincerely,
Jim Card

PS-Do you actually think that Tim Pawlenty will ever got the nod for President or VP when he can only win a three-way race in Minnesota? Highly unlikely.

buy zyloprim online
cheap zyloprim
order zyloprim
prilosec
prilosec otc
generic prilosec
buy prilosec online
cheap prilosec
order prilosec
prilosec coupon
bunco prilosec
retin a
retin a micro
retin
retin a cream
retin a wrinkle
buy retin a
retin a online
retin a acne
testosterone
low testosterone
testosterone cream
testosterone gel
buy testosterone online
testosterone pill
testosterone for woman
testosterone propionate
testosterone cream for woman
cheap testosterone
order testosterone
tylenol
tylenol 3
tylenol pm
buy tylenol online
cheap tylenol
order tylenol
neurontin
neurontin gabapentin
buy neurontin
drug neurontin
medication neurontin
buy neurontin online
cheap neurontin
order neurontin
plavix
generic plavix
plavix cheap
prednisone
prednisone asthma

book guest org shawn site valium xanax
online purchase valium
purchase valium online
roche valium
valium withdrawal
valium overdose
effects valium
valium effects
cheap valium
valium vs xanax
buy cheap valium
dose valium
valium mexico
dosage valium
diazepam valium
xanax valium
valium pharmacy
advanced book guest valium
side effects of valium and diazepam
drug valium
does in long stay system valium
valium 10
valium for dog
buy overnight valium
valiums
buy valium without prescription
book buy generic guest site valium
4.01 line valium
3.75 discount valium
discount valium
use valium
3.75 order valium
10mg 3.54 valium
buy myblog.de online valium
suicide valium
by valium
valium com
blue valium
3.53 buy valium

xanax
buy xanax
cheap xanax
buy xanax online
buy online xanax
buy line xanax
buy xanax on line
diet pill xanax
online prescription xanax
order xanax
effects side xanax
generic xanax
xanax bar
picture of xanax
online xanax
withdrawal xanax
xanax withdrawal
xanax side effects
xanax prescription
tablet xanax
addiction xanax
xanax addiction
xanax xr
order xanax online
online order xanax
prescription xanax
symptom withdrawal xanax
alprazolam xanax
alprazolam effects side xanax
xanax abuse
abuse xanax
overdose xanax
xanax overdose
dosage xanax
xanax dosage
xanax information
xanax online pharmacy
online pharmacy xanax
does in long stay system xanax