Do you want a different president in 2004? I’m asking this as a serious question, not a rhetorical one. Do you want it badly enough to actually do what is necessary to win the election that will take place just 17 months from now? Everywhere I go, everywhere every Democrat goes, we hear, “Where are the Democrats?” I take that challenge… return to article
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Reader Comments (94)Page 1 of 1 pagesEveryone has to start speeking up - this can not go one for another term. Bush is a very dangerous man and his programs are distroying the country.
Posted by Kathy Evilsizer on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:07 PM The Bushista regime has a new environmental push which includes a part of the energy agenda too entitlted…..“BAKED ALASKA”.
Posted by LARRY TALLY on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:08 PM In Response to this story,
She’s right and also there
is a treasure in the wings:
Dennis Kucinich D-Ohio
is running for President
in the Democrat party.
He is the Clearest, Most
Responsive candidate
that covers every issue
we face today. Please
look to his 10-point plan
and endorse him today.
He is clearly the BEST
Progressive Democrat
we have running! and
Absolutely Brilliant!
www.kucinich.us
Thanks,
Kathryn Fairbanks
Posted by Kathryn Fairbanks on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:15 PM I think Representative Schakowsky has summed up this administration very well. We certainly need to get more physically involved with our future. America is doomed to failure at this rate. We are the last mighty nation. We should be returning to our efforts to bring peace and the hope of freedom back to the the world. I miss the level of prideI once had as an American before 9-11. Now,it seems that as of that very day the whole world was an American and this administration has squandered all the worlds goodwill toward us down the drain. In fact,the very first world leader to step on our soil to offer condolence to our country was President Chirac of France! What are we becoming? How can everyone turn a blind eye to the truth and still hope it will get better? Thank You
Posted by B Allen on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:17 PM One more point,
People NEED to be insured
that their vote wont be
Manipulated again by the
“gov. scandals” Everyone I
talk to is afraid of this. Is there
a way to insure them that their
vote will be counted, and the polls
administered correctly?
k. fairbanks
Posted by Kathryn Fairbanks on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:18 PM Excellent piece! “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country” & women too.
Posted by Mary O'Sullivan on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:21 PM Wonderful speech, and how horrorifyingly true! If I could add my #1 concern for our future, it would be the reliability of the results of the 2004 election. We desperately need to have our votes counted honestly and accurately and the current system is sadly lacking. Seems like we should be more vocal on this issue as it really is the foundation of our future. Respectfully, Ms. Never Prouder to be a Democrat.
Posted by Ruth McAlister on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:29 PM Jan: You are absolutely right! I have voted Democratic for almost 50 years,and have come to the conclusion that retaking congress s/b our goal.If it is Lieberman vs.Bush,I will stay home for the first time ever ,Pity!!!
Posted by Clarence Fisher on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:43 PM Jan: You are absolutely right! I have voted Democratic for almost 50 years,and have come to the conclusion that retaking congress s/b our goal.If it is Lieberman vs.Bush,I will stay home for the first time ever ,Pity!!!
Posted by Clarence Fisher on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:43 PM Thank you…................I’m hoping this gives non-Republicans some sense that everything is not going down the drain. Yes, our Democratic leadership in the House and Senate did “CAVE” (sorry but there was NO opposition powerful enough to keep legislators from fearing being called “unpatriotic”). We will have our Democrats back when they can speak the truth regardless of public spin-opinion. An Administration that calls everything by the opposite name (Call it what it’s not) has to be held accountable. It is very American to dissent. Our moral strength as a nation depends greatly on the power of opposition voices. I don’t like to see people loosing hope. This is a wonderful perspective.
Sincerely, Jerre Miller
Posted by Jerre Miller on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:44 PM We must defeat Bush and rid ourselves of his right-wing, neo-con handlers. I believe Howard Dean is the candidate who can help us do it. He may not be as progressive as some of us would like, but he IS electable, if we get behind him. FYI, I’m no 20-something internet “nerd”—I’m retired and angry at what is happening in and to my country. I intend to do everything I can to un-elect Bush by working for Dean. Go to Deanforamerica.com and find out how you can help. Rep. Schakowsky is right, by 2008, there will be little left of “the land of the free”, so now is the moment we must show that it is still “the home of the brave”—and that means you and me!
Posted by Jackie Giles on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:44 PM Dean and especially Kucinich don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting elected. Both of them are so far left of what Americans want that they can forget about appealing to anyone other than the far-left wing of the Democrat party. By the way, that Department of Peace idea is about the dumbest thing I’ve heard of in a long time.
Posted by Clint on Jul 21, 2003 at 6:53 PM Fantastic! Right On! I might add that one of the best ways to beat GB is to use his own words against him. Flood the airways with short, concise ads of GB speaking on almost any subject and then, follow that statement with what actually happened. There is such a scism between what he says and what he sets in motion that doing this would actually show the people how rhetoric is just that ... rhetoric. Beat him with his own words. “Bring ‘em on” certainly comes to mind before all else. And there is plenty… else.
Posted by Virginia Weldon on Jul 21, 2003 at 7:15 PM I agree with almost 100% of Rep. Schakowsky’s article, and that certainly is enough for me to say I would do ANYTHING to get George Bush out of the Oval Office. I have never in my 73 years been so horrified, disgusted, dismayed, and fearful as I am today. All one has to do is read the “Statement of Principles” from “The Project for a New American Century (PNAC), to be terrified about what is happening in our country, and what has been happening subversively for a long time (thanks to Wolfowitz, Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc.)
I would be glad to find a candidate that could beat the moneyed ranks of the Republican Party. Who is it? We need to get behind ONE person soon. And, someone, please get to Ralph Nader before he screws up another democratic hopeful!
Posted by roundhill on Jul 21, 2003 at 8:08 PM We are seeing some of the fruits of the campaign for better representation of women in the person of Ms. Shakowsky and others. While the male dems are relaxing in their good old boy Barcoloungers, fearing to rock the very comfortable national boat that brought them there, the women are not afraid to speak the truth.
I think of myself as a very middle of the road guy, but I am tired of being conciliatory and bending over backward to be fair. This is war! I echo Ms. Shakowsky when I observe that the kid gloves treatment of Bush by the media is partly because they are still shaking their heads and blinking their eyes in disbeliefóthat the perfect system of checks and balances we all learn about in high school could stumble so badly! But I really believe Bush and his bozos can’t keep it up. The trust and good will he got bestowed on him by 9-11 are nearly used up. Picture the Roman general returning from a triumph in Gaul, who is elevated to emperor by acclaim. After a couple of years of dirty dealings angry mobs are dragging him through the streets. Thatís what happens when the people give you their trust and you betray it.
P.S. The fact that I hesitated to send this e-mail, because I wondered if John Ashcroft might put me on a list, is exhibit A in why getting rid of Bush is the greatest imperative!
Posted by james on Jul 21, 2003 at 8:09 PM OK. I really want to do something. I am sure there are many that do. We need someone to tell us what to do. Are we to boycott? Fine, tell us. When and where and how are the best measures. I have seen one call to protest and that was on the East Coast. So many of the people we should be able to call on have been operating their own groups for so long, it appears that they think that is all they have to work with. PUT MORE STUFF ON THE INTERNET - TRY SPAM if we have to. Maybe it will jar people into figuring out what it happening. Name the pivotal people we can support. Maybe, I’m ignorant because I don’t know many names or what they stand for. I’m trying to support myself and take care of people in my life. I would love to research all this stuff but I don’t know how. Give us someone/something to wrap our arms around.
Posted by P.J. Benet-Davis on Jul 21, 2003 at 8:41 PM A very nice article.
Another danger, often not spoken about, is the Green Party. Ralph Nadar is well meaning, but, if he runs he will manage to chip away at Democratic votes. We should show a solid front, and get out the vote!
Posted by Edward on Jul 21, 2003 at 8:48 PM God help me! The other night I watched George W. on TV explaining the infamous 16 words and I had a flashback to when, as a kid, I accidently cornered a small, mean animal! What a metaphor!
Posted by Tim Snyder on Jul 21, 2003 at 8:52 PM Progressives can win, and the reason is because they are appealing to people in a new and different way, on a basic level, person to person, with facts, common sense and reality. We aren’t going to beat the conservatives at their own game, trying to wrestle the airwaves (thanks FCC!) and corporations from them. We are going to come at them from the side, blinding them! We are already starting it by using the internet. Moveon.org is a perfect example of the possibilities. We need to run with it. We need to be unconventional. We need to take big pieces of sidewalk chalk and start scrawling, “SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!” as well as “SEPARATION OF CORPORATION and STATE!” anywhere and everywhere we can. The candidate I support, and who gives me hope, is Dennis Kucinich. I know he’s a long shot, but he is the only candidate I can truely, honestly stand behind. I believe in him. www.kucinich.us
Posted by Sarah on Jul 21, 2003 at 9:14 PM Not all of us have the cash to live, let alone support you with cash. I do support you, and want Bush impeached, and expect this country’s leadership to care more about the Tribe of Americans as a whole, and not just those with cash.
Guy Koehler
100 Hensel Rd
Hoquiam, WA 98550
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Posted by Guy Koehler on Jul 21, 2003 at 10:11 PM If you agree with Sen. Schakowsky’s speech as strongly as I do, then let’s not preach to the chor by posting our responses here. E-mail this article to everyone you know, and urge them to read about the real issues in the 2004 Presidential campaign. Urge them to realize that every vote will count. Too many people are not voting because they feel that it won’t make a difference. We need these people to vote!
Posted by Cheryl Anne Brummer on Jul 21, 2003 at 10:54 PM You Democrats need to get a life.
Stop whining!
Posted by Joe Republican on Jul 21, 2003 at 10:56 PM It’s too damn long and it might be myopic. There is a culture here on the internet that is screaming the progressive message. Jan, how could you miss Alternet, Moveon.org,The Real Majority and so many more. I am with you, let me introduce you to some of my connections like Dennis Kucinich. Grt back to me so I can find how we can work togeth better.
Posted by Art Hambach on Jul 21, 2003 at 11:30 PM Here is one Green who will back whichever Democrat wins the primary. I wish Ralph had supported Gore—I wish I had supported Gore. I WILL REGISTER 100 DEMOCRATIC VOTERS BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY. I’ll ask each of them to try to do the same. We HAVE TO win.
Posted by Pat Ryan on Jul 22, 2003 at 3:09 AM Great speech. We are all responsible for Mr. Bush’s antics. If each of us does not speak up, in some way, then we are allowing him to guide our country down the road to ruin. We must become activists. Write your representatives in DC, send letters to your local papers, investigate websites for accurate reporting. Each of us can make a difference…and we can stop this evil, and I mean evil, regime.
Posted by C.A.Lodewyks on Jul 22, 2003 at 3:23 AM I have volunteered all over the computer with their email forms…not one has ever called me back and I am as serious as a heart attack. I hear you!
Where do I go from here? I email my senators weekly with my updates. I want to help!!!!!!!!!!
I want to remove Bush more than any one person, my friends and family don’t want to talk with me because I am a walking newspaper. I read everything, I know what’s going on and I am scared to death. I am, incidently, of native descent along with spunky Irish…I am ready to preach the words of truth!
Posted by Deborah Rodriguez on Jul 22, 2003 at 3:24 AM “Get over it.” Yeah sure. Get over the cave-in after the stolen 2000 election. (We’ll blame Nader, yeah, that’s the ticket.) Get over the cave-ins on everything from the War Powers Act, Patriot Act, Abrogation of Constitutional Responsibility Act on Account of Them Scary Aluminum Tubes Act.
Get over this, Schak: Dem cave-in artists nominate a Lieberman or Gephardt and just watch millions of voters give up and tune out.
Posted by Bruce McNaughton on Jul 22, 2003 at 4:29 AM The American people are far too ignorant and apathetic to maintain any real democracy. The international banks and corporations control the money and the money controls the people, including the politicians. Americans don’t have the intelligence or the courage to vote for Dennis Kucinich, the only candidate with the insight and integrity to save American democracy. A one-party fascist government is what Americans deserve and one-party fascism is what we will soon have. The truth is ugly because America has become ugly - and the truth is what Americans fear most.
Posted by J. Jacobs on Jul 22, 2003 at 4:32 AM While I certainly agree that Bush is horrible, and needs to be gotten rid of… blaming the Greens, or just Nader, isn’t right. What exactly have the democrats done to win my trust? Clinton sure wasn’t someone that I could get behind, and Gore wouldn’t have been either. Democrats have been Republicans with a different name, and that’s all. While it was a nice speech, and I agree with a lot, you can’t just say “Trust Democrats because you have no other choice” and expect people to follow. Does anyone recall when Carter was elected? It wasn’t quite as bad then, but the country was fed up with Vietnam, military spending, Watergate, etc… and Carter came out with all these promises of making it better, and he certainly preached a good word. But what did he do? NOTHING! Clinton was just about as bad as Bush (bombing Iraq for even less of a reason, Kosovo, the environment, etc…). I just don’t see this as a time for baby steps. Bush is horrible, and has to go, but do we want just another democrat that’s taking big business money and killing children to come in after him? If instead of all pushing for little changes out front, and most likely getting barely any change when it’s said and done; we push for radical change (someone like Kucinich would be ok), get someone that’ll do something. At the least, let’s not blame Nader for running an honest campaign, he’s not the reason Bush is squatting in the White House, blame the Supreme Court (or blame Gore for stealing Nader’s votes).
Posted by Toby Fraser on Jul 22, 2003 at 1:15 PM Although much of the above article does ring true, i wonder if the time might be right for dis-enfranchised democrats as well as independents to put serious effort in building a VIABLE third party. The lack of participation in presidential elections by a large number of eligible voters which can’t be written off entirely as laziness etc. Perhaps a “party of common sense” could begin to make inroads in attracting many of those who don’t vote as well as drawing credible candidates and start to gain a base of power from which it could then compete with the other two parties. Should this come to pass then perhaps the swinging pendulum of partisan politics would settle where it belongs, in the middle.
Posted by eric sorensen on Jul 22, 2003 at 2:08 PM As long as the broadcast media continues to sell Bush lies America does not stand a chance.
Learn the tecniques of media deception here:
http://tvnewslies.org
Click on Explanation on the left and start with history. You will learn a lot.
For fun look at this:
http://cards.tvnewslies.orgWe have to wake up. We are in big trouble folks!
Posted by Jesse on Jul 22, 2003 at 2:40 PM I tend to agree with Tobey. Rep. Schakowski might not be in a position to attack the DLC, but I am: the DLC is a terrible, dangerous force in American politics, and as much as I hate Bush I absolutely will not support Lieberman, and would need to think seriously before supporting a DLCer for president.
The DLC has not only set out to sell the Dems to big business, moving the party more and more to the right; it has also provided a “moderate” haven for pro-choice, pro-business centrists, who used to be Rockefeller Republicans. The country would be much better off if Joe Lieberman were a Republican—he would be pulling the GOP, not the Dems, into the center. As it is, it’s too easy for a pro-choice conservative like Lieberman to be a Democrat, and so he and his cohorts aren’t fighting to stay in the GOP.
Lastly, on electablilty and the “left.” Clint, how is Dean on the left? Because he supports balanced budgets, the death penalty, and a large American military? It’s way to early to worry about “electability.” Let’s stop worrying about getting over McGovern—if only the GOP had been as obsessed with getting over Goldwater ‘64…
Posted by Nick on Jul 22, 2003 at 2:47 PM As much as it pains me to type this, I have to concur with J. Jacob’s assessment. The sick reality is that the average American is fat, lazy, self-centered and just plain stupid. I understand having to look out for #1, and taking care of one’s family.
But until people wake up from their McDonald’s-induced cardiac coma and start realizing there’s otter people on this earth than themselves, nothing will change. People in general in this country suck up whatever shit is shoveled to them by the mass-media, and sit back smug in their knowledge that the U.S. military can kick ass whenever and wherever they want.
Fine. But is that what’s it all about? Does overwhelming military might give us the right to trample all over the globe at will, abdicating any sense of responsibility in favor of corporate interests? Apparently so, according to most Americans.
Jan, I hear you. However, as stated elsewhere, you’re preaching to the choir here. I enjoy this site, but let’s be honest: an article or two in a liberal “fringe” website isn’t going to sway Joe/Jane McNugget. And Jan, that is where you and the rest of the sorry Dems have failed all of us. Shame on you, get to work!
Posted by Gary on Jul 22, 2003 at 3:40 PM Well, I WON’T get blackmailed by the Democratic Party ever again. The Demos WON’T free the tortured at Guantanamo Bay, they WON’T repeal the Patriot Acts, they WON’T bring our boys home from Iraq ... in fact, to keep any suburbanite from thinking they’re “soft,” they’ll even be WORSE than the GOP and overcompensate in order to look “macho.” No ... either I’ll vote Green or I’ll vote for myself. We won’t be fooled again.
Posted by Saab Lofton on Jul 22, 2003 at 5:15 PM Representative Schakowsky seems to be ignoring the growing case for impeachment. I suggest some serious discussions with Henry Waxman.
Beyond that—on taxes, I agree that the Democrats have become the party of “fiscal responsibility”—after all, Daschle’s opening bid in the 2001 tax cut follies was “only” $800,000,000,000, compared to Bush’s $1,200,000,000,000. And Clinton engineered the biggest cut in capital gains taxes in history. Perhaps the Representative would tell us why Democrats would sign on to such economically-idiotic measures, designed to transfer wealth from those who produce it to the already-wealthy.
Of course, they’re just following the lead of the Democratic Leadership Council—the champions of tax cuts, balancing budgets by cutting services and privatizing, self-regulation by industry, consolidation of media ownership, cutting capital gains taxes, privatizing social security, privatizing utilities, laissez-faire accounting regulations, NAFTA’s infamous Chapter 11 that gives corporations the right to sue local, state and national governments over environmental, health, safety or labor legislation that interferes with their projected profits, etc.
Gephardt. Daschle. Lieberman. Kerry. Edwards. Gore. Clinton. Others unfortunately too numerous to mention.
Does Representative Schakowsky really expect us to support candidates like these, that support the policies I mentioned?
There is virtually no chance that GWB will be re-elected, even if he isn’t impeached by then. The Democrats will likely win the White House whoever they nominate—the question is when are we going to get a real choice of candidates? When are the Democrats going to live up to their name and work to eliminate roadblocks to a truly democratic process—for instance by opening up the debates? The answer is—never.
I have never voted for a “cheap-labor conservative” and I never will—even if they call themselves a “Democrat”. I promise to work as hard as I can to prevent the election of any DLC-types to any position, at any level.
Posted by Shannon Lynagh on Jul 22, 2003 at 6:09 PM “There is virtually no chance that GWB will be re-elected, even if he isn’t impeached by then. The Democrats will likely win the White House whoever they nominate…”
Shannon Lynagh, where the hell did you come up with this theory? Did somebody tell you this as a joke or did you come up with it all on your own? The fact of the matter is that Bush will not be impeached. I’ve read the arguments for it and each point is easily rebutted. Additionally, the economy is improving (slowly) and the Democrats are looking like a bunch of losers, with nothing to say other than that Bush was wrong to take us to war. And the ironic part is that most of the Democratic candidates were in favor of invading Iraq. The Democrat Party is in shambles, and you are seriously deluded.
Posted by Brad on Jul 22, 2003 at 6:27 PM This is absolutely on the mark. Organize or perish!
Posted by Jeremy Tobin on Jul 22, 2003 at 6:28 PM “...and start realizing there’s otter people on this earth…”
say it ain’t so, Gary. where are these “otter people” you speak of? does the human race stand a chance against such slippery mutants?
Posted by archibald on Jul 22, 2003 at 7:04 PM You can call yourselves progressive
BUT you’re still rightwing! (remember clinton)
the democrats are also backed by multinational coorporations with profits in mind.
BUT IT IS A STEP FORWARD to vote democrat if only to get rid of
the Extreme-right Bush clan.vote democrat and hope that this time ALL the votes count.
cause unfortunatly the rest of the world feels the impact of it.
Posted by zen on Jul 22, 2003 at 7:34 PM Archie, you laugh… but beware the Fearsome Otters, they will kick ALL our asses!! LOL, I discovered that after I posted it, I wish there was some kind of edit function on this site. Oh well…
Posted by Gary on Jul 22, 2003 at 8:07 PM Hey, everybody! Realize that this sort of discourse, never before possible, must be , at the least, disconcerting if not downright nervewracking, to those seeking to control “politicalthink” in our society.
Dean collected $800,000 IN ONE DAY! $25 of it was mine—which I never would have contributed if it weren’t for what is going on over websites like this one.
And like the demise of Louis XVI, which began in the streets, so the demise of GWB must begin in a similar fashion.
It won’t be easy but it is do-able. And I guarantee the next guy, whoever or whatever he is, will be much more aware of little people with their $25 donations!
Posted by Tim Snyder on Jul 22, 2003 at 8:16 PM Jan has the right idea, particularly that Bush is increasingly vulnerable on Iraq and the neoconsevative agenda. I am amazed, however, that so many of his detractors continue to focus on his lies as opposed to his motives. Bush’s motives were substantially announced by Charles Krauthammer in a piece “Coming Ashore” in TIME 2/11/2003. Of the Bush push for empire, Krauthammer said “Americans (wouldn’t) like it”...which is why Bush instead used specious WMD to incite support for war.
Like the rationale for preventive war, let’s try Bush for his plans and motives rather than his means (lies).
Can such motives be exposed and proved? Maybe. Although Bush steadfastly refused to discuss the costs of invasion and ocupation before the fact, it’s certain that he went to war in Iraq on the basis of many intelligence estimates / scenarios regarding such action. Those estimates are sure to be classified top secrect, but someone (special prosecutor / whistleblower) needs to ferret them out (supposing them haven’t been shredded (ala Iran / Contra) and place them in public evidence.
All too many Americans are susceptible to deceptive patriotism, but politics is a numbers game and Bush would crumble like a sugar cookie if the true motives of his actions were made public. Where are the voices to make those motives known? Surely there are an adequate number of people in Washington and elsewhere who have the means and courage to make him known.
Regards,
David Sicks
Posted by David Sicks on Jul 22, 2003 at 9:01 PM I wish there was an edit function of some sort too, Gary. thanks for being a good sport… it was the highlight of my day reading all this serious back-and-forth political jargon and happening upon “otter people.” now that’s what those lazy folk need to motivate them: the fear of otter domination. hell, that would probably be the new #1 reality TV show.
Posted by archibald on Jul 22, 2003 at 10:04 PM Democrats, by tradition, begin their campaigns by forming a circular firing squad! This has to stop! The ONLY way to win this time around is to arouse the public that has been fed the Karl Rove WH propaganda script by the mainstream media. An informed public will be an enraged public. Some good advice can be found at: http://www.tvnewslies.org/html/don_t_yell_-_sell_.html
Posted by Reg on Jul 23, 2003 at 1:18 AM Schakowsky can talk all she likes about Democratic party policies, but the fact remains that there is no point in having the most brilliant policies in the world if you are defeated on the day by a rigged electoral system. Personally, I see almost total silence within the Democratic party over the one thing that is likely to guarantee a Republican win in 2004, and that is vote tampering. I still cannot believe that after Florida the Democrats did nothing to rectify the situation by 2002 (indeed I understand the same 95,000 people who had been unfairly disenfranchised in 2000 were still not back on the rolls in 2002). If the Democrats lose in 2004 the odds are, in my view, that it will be due to extensive vote tampering. Given how slow the Dems have been to mobilize against the conservative juggernaut that is currently destroying America, they might start thinking about the security of electronic voting in about 2032 - if we’re lucky.
Posted by Carl Wernerhoff on Jul 23, 2003 at 1:46 AM If the Democrats are serious about beating Bush they need to nominate the only progressive running - Dennis Kucinich.
Give us a real choice and we’ll defeat Bush. After all we did it in 2000.
Better yet let’s impeach Bush before 2004.
Posted by John Kesich on Jul 23, 2003 at 1:49 AM Right On! Take Back America!
Dems, please make more noise. We need to reach the silent majority—those who, feel disgusted and disenfranchised and have neglected to participate in the process-Mobilize them!
Posted by C.A. vanderLoos-Dailey on Jul 23, 2003 at 7:33 AM Right On! Take Back America!
Dems, please make more noise. We need to reach the silent majority—those who, feel disgusted and disenfranchised and have neglected to participate in the process-Mobilize them!
Posted by C.A. vanderLoos-Dailey on Jul 23, 2003 at 7:35 AM I think it might help if Dems rally around a candidate sooner rather than later. Although my own politics are of the Kucinich variety, I think Dean is the most (only?) electable progressive. He has managed to become one of the front runners, which Kucinich hasn’t done. There’s no reason to think that Kucinich can last the distance. Surely, it’s better to help the Dean campaign gain added momentum than hold out for a miracle.
Posted by Carl Wernerhoff on Jul 23, 2003 at 7:58 AM What a shame you don’t have a preferential voting system. On a two-party preferred basis, Ralphs ‘wasted’ votes would have been reallocated to Gore, who would have then won comfortably.
But….would the inexplicable society between Mexico and Canada be very much different than it is now.
I suspect not. Why? Because the root cause of all of your (and consequently our) current problems is the insane policy perpetuated by ‘The American ruling class’ (of which Nader is clearly not a member)
of retaining a cold war stance after the collapse of the USSR, and the continuing policy of keeping ‘hostage nations’, such as Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea, to name but a few.Please, please, please learn _something_ about your own f*&$ing 20th Century history.
Start with ‘blowback’ by Chalmers Johnson, and then move on to ‘The Best Democracy Money Can Buy’.
While your’e at it, have a cursory glance at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Jesse, you, and therefore the rest of us, are indeed in big trouble folks, worse than you think, because you have to oust ALL the Republicans and NEARLY ALL the ‘Democrats’ before most of the people on this planet even get half a chance at a decent life.
Posted by Matthew Quinn on Jul 23, 2003 at 12:44 PM As long as the “Democrats” keep embracing the big money like some
cheep whore, the real progressives
will be totally disenfranchised.They need a real progressive who is
not afraid to speak the truth and
stand up for what he or she beleaves in, even if it may piss off some Wall Street greed heads.
Posted by chris on Jul 23, 2003 at 2:38 PM Gary & Archie, you are great! Thank you for that bit of mammalian humor! I can’t help but think that, like Jimmy Carter, Dems. are too good…a sad commentary. The notion that most Americans are too lazy, and/or self centered to stand up and get involved, is right on. Why do barely 50% of eligible voters actually VOTE??? This MUST be changed in order for any populist movement to succeed. Until then we are stuck with a bunch of tight-assed neo-con loud mouths. Get out there and register some voters!!! (it ain’t easy). Thanks to Rep. Jan for her excellent speech!
Posted by lenats on Jul 23, 2003 at 2:54 PM Very inspiring. I’d like to see Ms Schakowsky run for the presidency
Posted by pat mcdonald on Jul 23, 2003 at 4:14 PM On behalf of Archie and myself, thanks for the kudos. Hey!! Wait a minute… how ‘bout an Archie-Gary ticket in ‘04? Personally, I don’t really care whether I would get top billing or just Veep… just as long as I get to “hand pick” the White House interns!! LOL, thanks..
Posted by Gary on Jul 23, 2003 at 7:12 PM right on, Gary… you take intern patrol and I think I’ll organize some sort of contest whereby the nation selects who will be the First Pal (a truly fun position where one lucky citizen gets to help form national policy and toss back a few cold ones with the most rockinest cabinet d.c. has seen since the U.S. Grant days)... Now that’s a populist message. Imagine the wacky things that folks will witness when they tune in to see what really goes on in our White House: crazy otter people, skee-ball in the oval office, all night poker games, etc. Things will get done the old-fashioned way, with hard work and lots of elbow grease. That’s right, kids, we work hard, but we play harder… now that’s American.
Posted by archibald on Jul 23, 2003 at 9:36 PM Republicans have become the most vicious, unrelenting and lying pack of thieves ever elected to public office. Virtually every vote is partisan, unlike when Democrats were in control and could see both sides of an issue. We need to be angry, outspoken, relentless and just as righteous as they are, in telling them we won’t stand for the dismantling of this country’s progressive ideals. They would like nothing more than to see women in burquas and the middle class back where it belongs…in relative poverty. Let’s defeat the dangerously cocky SOB’s and get our dignity back. Get our country back. Get our international friends back. Remember, liberals are trusting and optimistic because they believe people are much like themselves. Conservatives are fearful and hostile for much the same reason.
Posted by Steve Cooke on Jul 23, 2003 at 10:19 PM Truth and wisdom from Rep. Schakowsky, as always. It’s too late for her to initiate a campaign for Pres, I think, but what is everyone’s sense of the chances of her being the VP on the Dem ticket?
And Rep. Schakowsky, if you or your staff reads these comments, would you consider it?
Posted by Essae Y. on Jul 24, 2003 at 2:40 PM left…right…liberal…conservative…they’re all capitalists. money and self-interest run the parties. they will not put forth a candidate willing to sacrifice the short-term prosperity of the ruling class/socio-economic elite in order to set this society on a path towards long-term equality and justice. in other words, you can vote for whomever you choose in the primary (if you are registered democrat or republican) but this forum is an exception to the rule. the vast majority of voters will know little to nothing about candidates that do not fit the monied profile because the party will not push them through the various means of political marketing. the parties have already decided which candidates they want to do their bidding, and have deemed the others “unelectable.”
if i have to read one more comment that blames nader for 2000, i’m going to…well, i’m not going to do anything…but i’ll be sad. what sense does it make to castigate people for voting for the candidate that most represents their ideals, or has earned their…trust?
i think things are starting to look up. now that the political situation has reached its current depths, more of us seem to be becoming active. if it takes 4 more years of this regime to darken the horizon enough to get almost everyone active, then so be it. of course, i can’t really imagine them making it through 4 more years without another impeachable offense.
Posted by mike on Jul 24, 2003 at 4:46 PM I do not like the Bush administration, nor the direction our nation is taking. I fear for the future of my sons, however, I cannot buy into the type of socialism you seem to advocate. I won’t vote for the far right or the far left. I feel disenfranchised by my country and politicians who have sold us down the river for a few lousy bucks. Between NAFTA,GATT, WTO, USAID, EPA and massive over-regulation of everything, it is all but gone. You need to come up with some better ideas to interest me. Ross Perot layed it all out for you, but warring ideologies demonized his ideas. I think you are a day late and a dollar short. No one is interested in fixing the problem, only in promoting their vision of governing.
Posted by mcpat on Jul 24, 2003 at 6:09 PM Great speech, very idealistic. Sorry, but I can no longer trust the Democrats to do their job - they have repeatedly blown it, time and time again. I voted Nader, and I will again if given the chance. Why? Because there NEEDS to be a third party alternative - our two-party system has proven to not work - period.
Actually, we need a Parlimentary System, or similar, so all people can be equally represented and have to own their actions and political positions. As it stands, only 1/3 of “Democrats” are true to their Party, and its Mission. Most Democrats are worried about re-election and the bottom-line, not “the People.”
Tell you what, Opening the damn debates would be a great start - could you imagine those two bufoons up against Nader? A Complete paradigm shift would have happened. Afterall, MOST of Americans are hard working, good people that strive for the “American Dream” on a daily basis. Nader has, voluntarily, been a consumer advocate for over thirty years (Hey, I’m a consumer! And, so are all those hard working Americans). I believe Nader would have bee a REAL threat. His politics are hardly “liberal” more than they are based on common sense. Those who bash Nader know nothing of the Man or his work, let alone his politics.
I would have voted for the young Kennedy that died in that mysterious plane crash, alot of people would have. The Democrats need to offer a viable candidate or I vote Green, its that simple. Am I wasting my vote? Not really, I see it as the 60% of people that choose not to vote as wasteful - at least I vote.
And for all those that say a vote for Nader is/was a vote for Bush. No. Each non-vote was a vote for Bush - as most non-voters would most likely vote Democrat if given the choice, that’s a fact.
So, the speech is correct that more people need to participate the the political process in order to elect a Democrat. Regards.Gary (definitely NOT a “liberal”)
Posted by Gary R. on Jul 24, 2003 at 11:59 PM The slogan for this election has to be ABC: ANYONE but BUSH/CHENEY!
Hold your nose, if necessary, and vote AGAINST the evildoers in the WH! Getting people to vote has been the problem in this country! Less than 21% of the electorate voted in a GOP Congress because only 40% went to the polls.
Spread the word about all the culprits who are destroying this nation by ordering the LOADED DECK of America’s LEAST Wanted!
It’s free with a donation to the non profit alternative news site…but has so much information on all those who are part of the horror, including the media pundits who spread the propaganda for Karl Rove.
Posted by Vera on Jul 25, 2003 at 4:47 PM “ABC… Anyone But Bush/Chaney” Love it. Short and catchy enough for even the laziest, stupid American to remember it. Right on.
Posted by Gary on Jul 25, 2003 at 7:09 PM This article and the responces to it from the readers are really ahistorical and disgusting in my opinion.
Yes the Bush administration are capitialist whores [I don’t mean to insult whores by connecting them with Bush, sorry], but the democrats are no better. Ok, maybe a little better but not much.
The democratic party is the grave yard of all progressive and radical causes, anyone familair at all with the history of the US should be well aware of this.
The answer to fighting Bush, does not lye with the democrats but with building a strong vibrant antcapitialist, and thus anti-imperialist grassroots movement, that seeks real radical change and not the same bullshit reforms that usually end up hurting more people then they help.
I’m truly shoked to see so much support for the democrats from In These Times readers. I was under the impression that it was an independent Socialist magazine.
Wake up democrats!
Posted by EG Smith on Jul 25, 2003 at 7:27 PM it’s aboyt da time to hear the truth. Bush s the worst preident ever and if gose to anothe term were in for even more hard times.
Posted by brian on Jul 25, 2003 at 7:49 PM Most of the people posting comments are Americans and most of the comments are against the GOP policies. If you want change YOU have to get involved and hold your government responsible. Some of you bitch that the democrats aren’t making enough noise or aren’t doing the right thing. The democratic polititians aren’t the one’s suffering from the policies of the Bush administation it’s the people of America who are suffering not to mention the people all around the world. YOU have to get involved and make changes, YOU have to get mad, YOU have to organize and start making noise. You all leave it to someone else, calling people dumb or corrupt or whatever. The people your relying on to figh for the people aren’t the one’s suffering by having trouble paying the bills, or getting good education, or affordable health rare, or any other of the issues the Bush administation has assualted. Their not going to chaange unless their made to. The only constraints their are on states is either outside force or their internal populations ecspecially in a one time democracy. And all of you hippie’s you seem to hate Dean because he’s not perfect on every issues have to put your idealism up your ass and support a guy who is playing the game. Look at Bush, that’s what playing the game get you, anything you want. I to think Kucinich is right on every issue I have seen but as a nation your not ready yet. I thought your country was screwed up under Clinton. Good luck.
Posted by Steve on Jul 25, 2003 at 11:36 PM Schakowsky’s description of her meeting with the nuns who were on their way to serve jail time for protesting the School of the Americas gets at the heart of the problem.
Contrary to the tabloid politics of the Democrats, we are not in danger because of George W. Bush the person. We are in danger, and we are being confronted with the most right-wing, militaristic policies of my life because of George W. Bush’s POLICIES.
Edwards, Lieberman, Gephardt and Kerry supported the Patriotic Act and supported the war, and continue to support the occupation (although to be fair, they seem to be moving towards some kind of fantasy world of continued American control of Iraq, with the participation of UN forces).
There is something fundamentally dishonest about a politics that attempts to demonize the President, while evading your own personal responsibility. I can only conclude that the Democratic Party has determined that it cannot meaningfully distinguish itself from Bush on civil liberties and the war, and has decided to personalize the election in an attempt to hide this from the electorate.
Clearly, most Democratic candidates, with the exceptions of Edwards and Lieberman, would be better than Bush on domestic economic and environmental issues. But, is the Democratic platform going to be centered around principles equivalent to those advocated by Humbert Humphrey in 1968?
In other words, support mildly labor friendly policies, while continuing to support “free trade” and the WTO, support mild measures to protect the environment, while refusing to repeal the repressive aspects of the Patriot Act, and continuing to keep detainees in Guantanamo in horrific, inhumane conditions, and trying to stabilize Iraq and enable global multinationals to loot the country while Americans and Iraqi die daily?
Contrary to Schakowsky, this is not a platform that demands unquestioning support. Many can, justifiably, decide that they cannot morally do so, something that the nuns may have well explained to her.
(con’t)
—Richard Estes
Posted by Richard Estes on Jul 26, 2003 at 12:06 AM (con’t from previous post)
Indeed, Schakowsky, whether intentionally or unintentionally, expresses a thinly concealed condescension towards the admirable, principled civil disobedience of the nuns by implying that they would be more effective registering people to vote for non-descript, moderate Democrats!
My guess is that the nuns had already been there, done that, and left the meeting shaking their heads. Indeed, the nuns may well have done so for Bill Clinton in 1992 with the hope that he would close the School of the Americas, only to discover that he refused despite serving EIGHT YEARS in the White House.
Furthermore, it ignores the fact that many Democrats have tried to do what Schakowsky has recommended over the years, only to be reviled and ridiculed by the Democratic Leadership Council on numerous occasions, subjected to a rhertoric frequently as hostile as Schakowsky directs toward the Republicans here. And, Schakowsky wonders why the nuns said it would be difficult to register Democrats.
If the Democrats expect to win next year, they are going to have to do more than what Schakowsky does in this article: frighten people, Friday the 13rd style, into voting for the Democratic candidate. They are going to have prove that their policies and beliefs are demonstrably better than those of the Republicans.
I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, and say that it is early.
Out here in California, Gray Davis has embarassingly failed to do it, despite a wealth of issues that enable him to do so, instead relying of the type of fear tactics expressed by Schakowsky, and, as a result, he’s overwhelmingly like to get recalled on October 7th.
There’s a lesson here somewhere for the Democrats, but I’m not optimistic that they will learn from it.
—Richard Estes
Posted by Richard Estes on Jul 26, 2003 at 12:06 AM I know exactly what Jan means and
how she feels. At age 70, I wake up and say what can I do today to stop this crazy Pres. Bush from destroying anymore of our great country. Then I realize I am alone and see only a few others writing to the Editor and so on, and yet the destruction is so obvious.
Posted by Tom Farley on Jul 26, 2003 at 3:21 AM Didn’t Nostradamus predict the 3rd WW was started by an Unexpected enemy? Well, it has and the enemy is the USA. Not some Islamic lunatics, but the ‘democratic’ 2party USgovernment.
Posted by zen on Jul 26, 2003 at 11:39 AM Where does PCpat get the idea that there is a far left in the US? There is barely a center left. Sadly, the terms of political debate have been set for some time by the right, who distort every view but their own.
Posted by teddyk on Jul 26, 2003 at 1:20 PM As citizen of a nation that feels US jurisdictional imperialism very direct I feel I have a right to intermingle in US politics, even though i am not able to vote i am able to influence others to do.
Yes, when citizens of my country are target of your DOJ or other offices then my country has to extradite this duch citizen to the US to get a trial in a unknown and unfair juridical system that is based only on previous jurisdicion and all moral left out of it.
The same US has told us literally that they will invade our country if we dare to put a american citizen to trial.
I will never forget this thread in my life and many fellow country men neither, and we are supposed to be the closest allies of the US.
Also the behaviour of your corperates is really disgusting on many fronts, introducing patent laws that hyjack the rest of the world, it really stinks.
A small exerpt: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=54430 036.WKU.&OS=PN/5443036&RS=PN/5443036
Thus forcing other parts of the world, including the EU to impose similar silly copyright and patent laws.
TCPA/Paladium and similar DRM (Digital Right To Shup Up) techniques are build on these lies.
The big plan for the next 20 years is to eliminate middle class and making a predominantly poor society with a small upperclass, the US is hard on it’s way to become the next 3rd world country but one with a extremely powerfull top.
All the jobs they are moving aboad.
The conglomerates are swift on their way to goto 75-90% independence of consumers, they make their money from other companies, once they think they see no use for us anymore, than we can boycot ourselfs dead.
Yes it will come that far as there are always evil spoiled people on this earth.
These people: http://www.newamericancentury.org/
are so full of tostesteron and biblical lies, including the woman.
I am afraid that zen from belgium is right in that the US is the worlds nr 1 threat and center spil of the axe of evil.
Posted by Bas on Jul 27, 2003 at 12:51 AM cont’d
I am afraid that since they even are prepared to wrick a election there are not many ways left for the American people than violence as these (religous) fanatics know no reason.
They wont stop if you don’t stop them, you wanna bet?
This figure is the Ace of spades in this deck of evil extremely right wing ruthless people: http://www.counterpunch.org/madsen1101.html
People like him really make me puke.I am afraid this world is doomed unless the american people take extremely drastic measures…
Oh yes, i havent mentioned your private prisoner system that need a increasing number of clients to meet business goals.
Guess who is recruting clients into your formidable prisoner system?
Yup your wonderfull war on drugs, it is already making a big part of the poor people guilty and ready to serve as slave, business is business.
What must a country do with such a large population of just made poor middle class people, you make them work in prison for a shit wage instead of giving a social welvare and try to solve problems,that costs money and business is about making money not loosing money…I can go on and on but will not at this moment to keep me from becomming depressed…
Poor you, poor me, poor all of us… :(
Posted by Bas on Jul 27, 2003 at 12:52 AM This is the scary truth, we need to be more aggressive in getting a candidate to get rid of George Jr.
Posted by Jason, Ph.D on Jul 27, 2003 at 4:49 AM 1991 a Bush started an oil war.
2003 a Bush started another oil war.Am I delusional or is there a pattern in there?
Posted by Dr Undies on Jul 27, 2003 at 12:30 PM Better an oil war than a nuclear war, Dr. The first gulf war was fought to prevent Iraq from assuming ownership of the Kuwaiti oil fields and subsequently those of Saudi Arabia. Saddam would then assume the role of puppet master to the world economy. As it turns out, he was much closer to nuclear capability than we thought when inspectors entered after the war. Imagine the scenario if Israel hadn’t bombed his reactor a decade earlier.
Saddam is quoted as saying that his greatest mistake was not acquiring nuclear weapons before invading Kuwait.
The second gulf war was fought for a host of reasons, this time oil much less a factor. Some would claim politics to be the prime motivator, but I would disagree. The political risks were huge in taking over Iraq. Imaging all that could have gone so horribly wrong. (And still could) However, few doubt that Saddam or his sons would have eventually resurrected their nuclear ambitions once world attention was focused elsewhere, especially given the French and U.N. willingness to provide aid and comfort.
Your oil pattern kind of breaks down somewhere between 91 and 03. Another pattern I see is this: A Bush acted and acted properly. Then a Clinton deferred action and did so improperly. Then a Bush acted and acted properly.
Posted by Owattajer Kiam on Jul 27, 2003 at 4:02 PM This article gives me hope. We need to not only stand up for our values, but to take the offense and demand that our government reflect our open and caring ways. I believe Howard Dean is the only Democratic candidate willing to stick his neck out for what we believe in. Read about his most recent statement against the unfair and unpatriotic agenda of the Bush Administration here: http://www.deanforamerica.com
Posted by Matt Bennett on Jul 27, 2003 at 4:15 PM We are going to have to be a step ahead of these people who believe in winning at any cost. I believe Carl Rove, Ken Lay, and W screwed California on purpose to impoversih them and make them upset with the Democrats, so the Repubs could take over their 55 electoral votes. Better than Florida!!!
I also believe we need a paper back up to the black voting boxes or we haven’t a prayer. What about a new instant poll watch system? I believe they rigged the boxes in the last election. Texas had identical numbers in some races. I don’t believe Lloyd Cutler, Max Cleland, and other Dems really lost.
Posted by carolyn griffin on Jul 28, 2003 at 5:28 PM The Progressive voice in the Democratic party will always be drowned out by the money interest.
In the end Dennis Kuncinich run for President on the Democrat ticket will acomplish nothing.
there will be more acomplished by voteing for a left leaning 3 rd party such as the greens over the Dems who will always ignore the left because they feel the left has no other place to go.
well they do.
I am voteing green
Posted by Possum on Jul 29, 2003 at 4:52 AM Apparently, I was too optimistic in my original post.
These people decide the Democratic nomimee, it explains the non-substantive, tabloid type demonization of Bush as an electoral strategy:
From today’s NYT (7/29/03)
[Centrist Democrats Warn Party Not to Present Itself as ‘Far Left’
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
PHILADELPHIA, July 28 ó The moderate Democratic group that helped elect Bill Clinton to the White House in 1992 warned today that Democrats were headed for defeat if they presented themselves as an angry “far left” party fighting tax cuts and opposing the war in Iraq.The warning, by the Democratic Leadership Council, an organization of moderate Democrats that helped move the party to the center 10 years ago, was largely a response to the popularity enjoyed in early presidential primary states by Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont.
Dr. Dean has attracted wide notice for his criticism of the Democratic Party for supporting the Iraq war and some of President Bush’s tax cuts.]
No wonder those nuns told Schakowsky that registering people as Democrats would be difficult.
If the DLC has its way, the message will be, Bush is evil, but his policies are great.
Vote for __(Kerry, Edwards, Gephardt, Lieberman)__ the LIKEABLE Bush!
—Richard Estes
Posted by Richard Estes on Jul 29, 2003 at 7:35 PM So glad i found this website and the liberals of America in your pain over the current state of world affairs.For a while there US seemed lost in some myth of it self and when banks in Sweden obeyed US goverment dire¥ctives without Swedish goverment meddling one started ty wonder what is goig on.
They froze Swedish citicens money just at a wave of a hand and it became policy!And So therev are you guys,Happy happy happy that not all of you turned into Paranoid oil lovers of the holy church of bibletruth depending idiots.I love the bible dontget me wrong but some influential people in your country dont understansd it so they do there own prison of thoughts instead and for a while they where all we heard from your shores.But you tryesand you despair and our state in Europe is following every mood your gov falls into. As i see it Bin Ladens campaign is a total succes.He made a afraid country terrified and theres no need for no terrorthings you jail yourself screaming about freedom.very strange.Imageing if US had acted after Jesus ideas instead. forgivving its foes and be the bigger man.Impossible but true that its an strange thought an Gentle America turning the other cheek and declaring;love is the right way.No more fundamentalists could answer to that.But there are the christian fundamentalists troubeling your intelligence and by fare as dangerous as the moslem.Double up.bye.
Mail me if you like. we could exchange worldwievs.
Posted by jim bjorklund on Jul 30, 2003 at 12:34 AM Jim, you’re an idiot. Get your head out of your ass, you sanctimonious little bastard. Don’t tell anyone to forgive his enemies and “be the bigger man” after terrorist thugs kill over 3,000 Americans. And no, Bin Ladens campaign was not a success. We’ve killed thousands of Al-Quaeda in the wake of the Sept. 11th attacks and we’re not finished yet. Saddam’s sadistic sons are shot full of wholes and Saddam will be dead any day now. Gadhafi in Libya is so scared he announced that he is through with fighting the United States and wants to cooperate with us. Muslim extremists are running scared, so don’t tell me Bin Laden’s campaign was a success.
Posted by Tom on Aug 1, 2003 at 1:23 AM Thank you For speaking out on this.
President Bush and his Administration are not for the people.Most of the members of this Administration is a group of greedy, unethical, corporate puppets doing what they are getting paid to do. What they are doing is unknown because they are secret about everything. They will not let the American People decide what is right for the American People. They use underhanded methods to get what they want. They threaten foreign countries for standing up to what is right. They threaten anyone who gets in their way from what I have been reading lately on some websites.
They want control over the media so that they can only let Americans hear and see what they want. Check out some overseas newspapers to find out what the World thinks of this Administration.
I personally would like to see Dean And Kucinich as next President and Vice President not necessarily in that order. Thats for the chance to be heard.
Posted by Scott Cheuvront on Aug 1, 2003 at 7:15 PM isnt impeachment still around anywhere? he didnt legally win the presidency, how can he be expected to govern legally? not that there are really any laws in the first place it seems these days anyway, just smokescreen….....who and when will someone in the government grab the fraying reins…......who will love?is it just “govern-mental” nature, to destroy, lie, steal, slaughter, not care? ............and they sleep well at night, after their steak tar-tar and 8 martinis…...where is practicality? reality? humanness? where is love? reverence for the living? the planet is dying, people suffer in ways that are unfathomable…........and then die, or just get killed somehow….....what kind of new government can take on this burden Make the changes and get into the chairs in the first place!
Posted by sacha on Aug 2, 2003 at 12:16 AM Rep. Schakowsky asks where are the committed Democratic activists who she feels are necessary for a BUsh regime change in 2004. I was a committed Democratic activist most of my life, but seeing how in the last 15 years fellow Demo pols catering to the same corporate interests while jeetisoning support for its traditional base has now made me a Green. I am for more regulation of business/corporations, for them to pay their fair share of taxes, to reduce military spending for social justice programs, to end nuclear power and environmental destruction for the profit and benfit of a few elite and already wealthy campaign contributors. Sadly, your question hides why so many are now abandoning the Democratic Party that has abandoned their interests. Take up the banner once again and mean it and maybe more people will take the Demo Party more seriously.
Posted by G. Akito Maehara on Aug 2, 2003 at 4:58 PM I am not sure if Republican policies are going to be their downfall. They have money on their side, and can smear any politician who runs against them. The thing that troubles me most is, the hate they spread against Liberalism, like we should be run out of the country or bred out of existance. They want other conservatives to think we dont have jobs and are living off their hard work. They will not except the fact that we have families and are also part of the working class, fighting for survival, while trying to send our kids through college. So they (our kids) wont have to work as hard as us to make it in life. I am so tired of being labeled Gay, Communist, Non-patriot, bunny or tree hugger, lazy, Non-Christian. This is the way of the “New Conservatives” and we owe it all to the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, just to name two of many. We need the liberal message to get out there using any media and debunk these people, without the hate. There is a song that sends the message, it was recently released, called, “Where is the Love”, Released by Black Eyed Peas. I play it loud and sing word for word every line. I know it is not easy for anyone but it is for me, so I do. I went out and puchased it and support anything Liberal. I wont even rent a movie by 20th Century Fox, and refuse to watch any of their programming on Television. There are small ways to refuse the Conservative message being rammed down our throats. Remember, we are the majority and if we stick together and do the small things as suggested in the words from the Sen. Schakowsky above, we will prevail, for the good of this country and the good of the common decent people who choose to love not hate.
Posted by Kevin McMenemy on Aug 5, 2003 at 5:05 AM Feel the love, Kevin….....
From one of MANY similar columns by Jeff Jacoby:Just a few weeks after the slaughter in Littleton, Colo., asked for his thoughts on Charleton Heston, Spike Lee recommended assassinating him with a .44 special.
Rosie O’Donnell, hosting a Hillary Clinton fundraiser in October, described Rudolph Giuliani as New York’s “village idiot” and compared his looks to “a Pez dispenser.
Margaret Carlson of Time magazine said, apropos congressional Republicans, that “the only thing that could explain this love of tax cuts is a lowered IQ,”
The Washington Post’s Richard Cohen commented on the fact that Newt Gingrich was cheating on his wife even as he was denouncing Bill Clinton’s moral failings. “For hypocrisy, for sheer gall,” Cohen wrote, “Gingrich should be hanged.”
Newsweek’s archliberal Eleanor Clift was one of many who erupted with venom when Bill Clinton was impeached. “That herd of managers from the House,” she hissed in January, “I mean, frankly all they were missing was white sheets. They’re like night riders . . . .” The left-leaning Arkansas Times spat poison at the independent counsel. “Kenneth Starr,” the paper editorialized, “is cunning, ruthless, and about as well-mannered as Heinrich Himmler.î In the Los Angeles Times, Karen Grigsby Bates wrote, “Whenever I hear Trent Lott speak, I immediately think of nooses decorating trees. Big trees, with black bodies swinging . . ..î
1999 topped Salon’s hate-filled attack on Ann Coulter, an attractive and well-known conservative activist and Clinton critic. In June, Coulter wrote a nonpolitical column lamenting the state of romance in Washington. Soon after, the web magazine Salon, an avidly pro-Clinton publication, launched a malignant personal attack. It purported to offer 11 tips for improving her love life. Among them: “Quit injecting yourself with your own urine,” “Stop being a mean bitch,” “Buy a vibrator,” and “Get your head out of your ass.î It urged her to tape a sign in her kitchen reading, “Men don’t want to date castrating bitches.”
If a conservative web site had hurled such vileness at, say, Cheryl Mills, Clinton’s liberal young attorney, there would have been a furious outcry. It would have become a national scandal. Pundits and talk show hosts would have torn the web site and its writer to shreds.
But Salon is liberal and Coulter is not. So nobody said a thing.
Posted by Owattajer Kiam on Aug 5, 2003 at 6:39 AM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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Posted by elizabeth correy on Sep 8, 2003 at 1:13 AM 
Also by Rep. Jan Schakowsky
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