actions speak louder than words

for most americans, talk is cheap.  and when it comes to politicians, nearly completely worthless.

so honing "the message" if we ever figure out what it is, doesn't get us very far.  and showing "spine" when it's merely talk or even voting choices we know won't prevail doesn't do a whole lot except for activists and political junkies.

the reason americans aren't switching over to trusting us in droves as they wake up the the stench of corruption from the right is simple:  they don't trust us either.

the only way to fix that is to start doing things...

 start making changes that positively impact working people.  

but, but, but we're in the minority the politicos and strategists and democratic camp followers all whine, we don't get to set the agenda!

nonsense.  that's only true in DC.

there are plenty of states and municipalities where we are in control.  we can take action and move forward there.  i see very little productive being done, with the major exception of the reform ohio now effort.

take connecticut for instance.  republican governor who replaced another republican resigning under a cloud of corruption that got national attention.  democrats have a super-majority in the legislature there after last november.  what are they doing with it?  well they did get civil unions enacted.  good from the standpoint of the activist wing and the gay rights constituency.  doesn't do a whole lot for the average working joe, even though standing up for our principles will be perceived positively.  so where are the efforts to get universal healthcare for all residents?  why aren't they very visibly making serious changes to clean up corruption in the wake of rowland and help paint the whole GOP as corrupt?  why haven't they taken steps to prevent future home seizures for private developers as in kelo?  countering the new bankruptcy laws?  these are the kinds of things that get everyday people's attentions and get us some loyalty again.  that's just one small state - now magnify that by every state where we control the legislature or governor's mansion, every city where we dominate city hall.

if people think we're only saying the right things, they won't bother to show up at the polls for us.  once they see us doing things to help them, we get their respect and trust again, and then their votes.

•  for delaware dem

  i just wrote this as a (long-ass) comment replying to delaware dem's diary asking what "we" (activists and hard-core lefties) want from "them" (political strategists) anyway.  the diary got yanked, but this needed to be said anyway.

  by zeke L on Mon Oct 03, 2005 at 05:30:14 PM PDT

  •  the question was

    for context, DD's question was essentially:

    But instead of posting 112 diaries about ... how the Democratic Party has once again failed us, I thought to myself, well, why are they saying this?   What is the strategy?

    ...[I want] to bridge the gap between people like me and people like Armando or Meteor Blades or any of the other of what I call "Activists," the true believers of the left...

    So I want to understand your thinking.  What do [you] want Democrats to do.  And don't answer "Show some spine."   That is almost cliche now.

    i thought it was a worthwhile question.  not sure if DD deleted it himself for some reason, or whether it got canned by an admin for going over quota or something.  if he reposts it, i hope someone will give him a link over here if i don't catch it.

    by zeke L on Mon Oct 03, 2005 at 05:39:49 PM PDT

•  I Think Ronnie Earle Is a GOOD EXAMPLE

  As I understand it, he is a Democrat who has prosecuted more crooked Dems than crooked Rethugs.

  If that is true, we should be crowing from the roof tops about it.

  And every Dem in congress should end the "ethics truce".

  RMD

  by RedMeatDem on Mon Oct 03, 2005 at 05:31:40 PM PDT