I Believe in the Democrats, and the Tooth Fairy

The Democratic party, as currently constituted, is a party carefully designed to fall over --seemingly at the last gasp-- when the interests of corporations, the military, the surveillance state, or Israel come into conflict with the interests of ordinary Americans.

The Democrats gave George Bush thirty-nine standing ovations at his 2005 State of the Union address

Yes, this party that you spend your time at DailyKos defending, strategizing for and championing, repeatedly stood and cheered a man who less than ninety days earlier stole the Presidency of the United States for the second time in a row.

So sure, I believe the Democrats will win this filibuster fight.  They would never allow these ludicrous corporatist judges on the bench!  And I believe the Great Pumpkin will appear in my pumpkin patch any .... minute ... now.

•  Pessimist

   !

  by David Boyle on Thu May 19, 2005 at 07:59:43 PM PDT

•  Realist

  !

  I am I and you are you, and we are both each other too -- Clair Huffaker

  by xysrl on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:04:45 PM PDT

  •  Genius!

    We share the same brain:)

    by JessicaDrewSW on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:06:21 PM PDT

•  yeah?

  many republicans applauded Clinton even after his impeachment in his state of the unions?  You applaud things you like, and you don't applaud at things you dont.

  What do you want them to do? sit on their hands when Bush is like "we must destroy the terrorists"?  yeah, that'll look good.

  As far as the filibuster fight. If they lose it, its not going to be because of Democratic defections or lack of trying. It will be because the republican senators are too afraid of their own party to do the right thing.

  by FleetAdmiralJ on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:06:04 PM PDT

  •  Naive

    I'm going to discuss Boxer, for 2 reasons.  1) She's one of my senators, and 2) I spend a fair amount of time watching what my elected officials do.
      Boxer is portrayed as the dissident on Capital Hill.  What a fng crock. When Stephan Johnson was appointed by Bush, Boxer was one of the few who took him to task over his appaling testing of insecticides on poor children of color.  The families of said children recieved as compensation for their troubles $945.00 and a video cam to keep(generosity is alive and well!) so they could record any (changes)observed in their kids.  
      I wrote my Senators post haste, as I am want to do over troubling issues such as this.  In reply I recieved a letter thanking me for telling her of my concerns and I could rest assured she would fight (fight!) to no end to spare the country the horror that would result from Johnson winning this appointment.
      A few weeks later, I recieved another form letter from Ms. Boxer.  She was writing to inform us concerned Californians that the fight had ended.  She had voted for Stephan Johnsons appointment. She was voting with her hopes, not her fears, and voting for him b/c she appreciated that he is a scientist, and a scientist will do a great job as head of the EPA.
      THIS BS is what we can expect from our Democratic freinds.  Backsliding, pssying out, and most of all backstabbing their constituents.
    There is no unity amongst the party.  What the F happend to FDR's party, someone for gods sakes tell me that.
      If I waste my vote again next time, it won't be on a dem.  It's Green all the way for me.

    by JessicaDrewSW on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:22:39 PM PDT

    •  yes...it is BS

      When I think about Congress, what comes to my mind is how many in Congress are millionaires? At least half or so, maybe more.  Ok now how many Americans are millionaires?  Maybe a couple million or so.  That's what... 1% of the US population. So someone please tell me how us non-millionaires are represented.  Do we even matter?  Or are those who are the top corporate executives and the rich elites, who donated thousands of dollars to republican and democratic campaigns, the ones who matter?

      by Darth Codis on Thu May 19, 2005 at 09:11:09 PM PDT

      •  We. Do. NOT. Matter.

        at all.
        And we won't till we take this country back.

        by JessicaDrewSW on Thu May 19, 2005 at 10:01:22 PM PDT

•  The Democratic Party

  I did not stand and gave President Bush a standing ovations.  

  I did not cheer, I did not clap, I did not smile.  

  Yes, I am a member of the Democratic Party.  You seem to think only office holders can represent the Democratic Party.  You are wrong, I have a voice.  

  by Eloy on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:06:49 PM PDT

  •  Give me a break

    noc

    by Alegre on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:11:10 PM PDT

    •  NOC?

      One day does not go by, that a diarist writes `GBCW' or Chicken little dairies.  

      The Sky is falling, the Sky is falling.  If he does not believe in the Democratic Party, it is ok with me.  Just stop crying about it or at least keep it to yourself.  
      

      by Eloy on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:18:30 PM PDT

      •  You believe in /this/?

        I mean, I thought we were supposed to be having a serious progressive political discussion around here.  If instead it's the Democratic Party Mickey Mouse Fanclub then yeah, you're right, I ought not bother:

        Hillary Clinton     30%               30%
        Al Gore             19%               14%
        John Kerry          13%               17%
        John Edwards        8%                9%
        Wesley Clark        6%                5%
        Bill Richardson     3%                3%
        Evan Bayh           2%                3%
        Joseph Biden        2%                3%
        Ed Rendell          1%                1%
        Tom Vilsack         1%                1%
        Barbara Boxer       1%                1%

        Feh.

        by krag on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:24:42 PM PDT

        •  Debate!

          Hey, I am a Liberal.  I am all for political debates between fellow liberals and versus conservatives.  The more voices the better, I just dissent from diarist rhetoric.  

          I am not part of no fan club, I will call out a Democrat which I disagree with.  I am also not part of a Democrats pessimist Club either.  
          

          by Eloy on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:36:26 PM PDT

•  My Momma Taught Me Not to Use

  the kind of lanuage I'm thinkin' right now in public.

  One question - who do you think will defend us and have a snowbal's chance at winning if not the Dems?

  Me-thinks your'e the one who believes in the tooth ferry if you think it's anyone BUT the Dems.  Either that or you're just tossing in the towel before it's over.

  Bottom line - you're trying to set up another circular firing squad and that's something I can't bear to watch.  Seeya.

  by Alegre on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:09:59 PM PDT

  •  I do, I do believe in the tooth ferry

    because how else will my dentist get to the shore?

    by Cream City on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:23:25 PM PDT

•  Norweigian Easter Bunny

  That's its name at our house.  You might call it Welsh Rabbit (Rarebit):

  4 tbs butter
  4 tbs flour
  2 cups milk
  2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  salt and pepper to taste
  8 slices whole wheat bread, toasted

  melt butter over medium heat in medium saucepan or saucier.  add flour, cooking into a golden rioux.

  slowly whisk in milk, taking care not to form lumps.  bring to light boil and simmer for two minutes or until an appropriate thickness.  remove from heat.

  add in cheddar cheese.  once melted, pour over toast.  eat.

  variation:  sub 1/2 cup beer for 1/2 milk

  by folkbum on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:11:18 PM PDT

  •  Mmmm, yummy

    And perhaps, folkbum, you would care to give us tips on the best type of bread to use for . . . well, your toast tips . . . as we race to the right margin?

    by Cream City on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:22:10 PM PDT

    •  I'm partial to

      Brownberry Natural Wheat.

      As for taosting tips, I usually just put the bread in the toaster oven until it's brown.

      The trick is cooking the rioux.  It's not enough just to whisk the flour into the butter; you have to cook out the raw flour taste, and cook in some flavor.

      And there's no need to be light-handed with the fresh-ground pepper.

      by folkbum on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:28:25 PM PDT

      •  Aha. Now as for the cheddar . . .

        both of us being Wisconsinites, and thus able to discuss and debate cheeses endlessly -- grated or shredded, up or down, whichever -- I note that you recommend a "sharp" cheddar . . . but I'm always partial to our own Colby (named for the Wisconsin town of Colby, of course, and I have seen the historical landmark sign at the site).  Would this be not sufficiently "sharp" to serve up a truly tangy taste treat?

        by Cream City on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:33:29 PM PDT

        •  Colby would be good

          I'm just more likely to have cheddar around the house than Colby.

          by folkbum on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:45:01 PM PDT

        •  Cream...

          I find I must at last disagree with you (although you have correctly anticipated the attack).  Colby, while possessing superior melting qualities, is simply not strong enough to stand up to Brownberry Wheat Bread.  Nope, Extra Sharp Cheddar is what you need ("It's the single most popular cheese in the world!?".  "That's why we're out.")  I'm the son of a Yooper, that's why I feel such a cheesehead affinity.  Hope I didn't intrude, I watch too much FoodTV.

          Hello Devil.  Welcome to Hell.

          by ek hornbeck on Fri May 20, 2005 at 02:21:55 AM PDT

          •  And on further review...

            I didn't contribute my fair share to margin busting, so here's another recipe for the cookbook.

            I like to make latka's, potato pancakes, but you don't need to make them with potatoes- almost any root vegetable will do (sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots, turnips, rutabagas, etc.), even cooked rice or mashed potatoes will work.
            

            • If you start with a root vegetable, grate up a good portion of it on the wide holes of a box grater.
              
            • Grate (my choice) or finely dice enough SWEET onion (Vidalia's are best, Bermuda's will do) to get a roughly 3 (Root Veggie) to 1 (onion) ratio.
              
            • Mix it with JUST enough eggs to moisten and then add a generous pinch or two of Baking Powder (the secret ingredient) and salt and pepper to taste.

            Heat a skillet medium high, add your favorite oil, dish out your patties and fry.  On my electric stove, on medium, it takes about 10 minutes per side.  You want to select a heat level that allows you to cook the veggies ALL the way through (nothing like raw beets, yuck).  Cook until you see the cooking oil percolate all the way through the patties, flip them and brown the other side.

            Serve with Sour Cream, or Ketchup, or whatever (I'm a broadminded guy).

            Have a great day!
            

            by ek hornbeck on Fri May 20, 2005 at 03:16:02 AM PDT

          •  No intrusion at all, and point well taken!

            . . . even if, as a Yooper once removed, as it were, you really are a Canadian or something.  

            Certainly not a Wisconsinite (not since the UP was stolen from us pre-our-statehood), not really a Michiganer . . . so has your father heard lately from the 51st State Movement?

            Hmmm, maybe it could gain ground by offering to be the refuge from the culture wars in the "lower 50" states, as it were!

            by Cream City on Fri May 20, 2005 at 09:24:41 AM PDT

•  you make a good point

  How many Democrats in the Senate stood up for democracy after the stolen election of 2000? What about the rigged elections of 2004? If I remember right only Sen. Boxer wouldn't approve the electoral votes or whatever...With all the shitty crap that went down in Ohio during the elections, Kerry could have fought it, maybe even get the MSM do cover the BS, but no...he was silent.  Did he really want to win the election?  

  I guess in the end it doesn't really matter because, as we all know, at the top it doesn't matter if you're Republican or Democratic, their strings are all pulled by the same puppeteer, big business and bankers and such....the Powers that Be.  If Kerry would have "won" we would still be on the same road to fascism it would just take a little longer to get there.

  by Darth Codis on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:12:53 PM PDT

  •  All i can do is shake my head

    I dont think i can even create a rational response to statements like this anymore.

    by FleetAdmiralJ on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:17:45 PM PDT

    •  why?

      be more specific man!

      by Darth Codis on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:22:24 PM PDT

      •  asdf

        How many Democrats in the Senate stood up for democracy after the stolen election of 2000?

        I never was on the "2000 election was stolen" bandwagon.  Why?  By no means is it guaranteed that Gore would have won had there been a full recount.  Yes, there are some counts that show him winning, but there are probably just as many showing Bush winning.

        Did the republicans do bad things? yes. did it amount to "stealing" the election? Hardly conclusive. Not enough for me to try to dispute it if I were a Senator.

        What about the rigged elections of 2004?

        Whatever evidence we have of a "stolen" election in 2000, we have even less evidence for a "rigged" election in 2004.  Did irregularities occur? Yes.  However, having fewer voting places in dem areas and things of that nature are a far cry of "rigging" an election.  To this date, I have yet to see anything but circumstancial, and still questional, statistical evidence suggesting election rigging.

        With all the shitty crap that went down in Ohio during the elections, Kerry could have fought it, maybe even get the MSM do cover the BS, but no...he was silent.  Did he really want to win the election?

        One again, "all the shitty crap" in Ohio doesn't necessarily (and to this date hasn't) amount to fraud, and even if it did, there is little to no evidence that the result would have changed anyway.  You're essentially talking about having to switch at least 50,000 votes in Ohio alone.

        I guess in the end it doesn't really matter because, as we all know, at the top it doesn't matter if you're Republican or Democratic, their strings are all pulled by the same puppeteer, big business and bankers and such....the Powers that Be.

        If you want a "seperation of politics and business" you're not going to do it.  The fact of the matter is that business creates jobs. If you dont have businesses, you dont have jobs period.  Being anti-business is probably dumber than being as pro-business republicans are.

        However, congress still has a right to protect labor as well, and up to this point the Democrats have appeared to have done a resonably good job on that.  Perfec? no. Good? yes. Better than the republicans? absolutely.

        If Kerry would have "won" we would still be on the same road to fascism it would just take a little longer to get there.

        So you think that Kerry would have been just as corrupt as Bush is? Hiding evidence? Lying to the American people? Starting wars that are unneccessary? Needlessly pissing off our allies?

        by FleetAdmiralJ on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:32:09 PM PDT

        •  alrighty than

          About the 2000 elections:  I guess I am just very cynical and more willing to believe that that kind of crap goes down.  Scum always rises to the top so I don't really know what to believe anymore.  What gets me is that the 2000 election in the end was decided by the supreme court and not the people, but that's a whole other topic.

          About the 2004 elections: After looking through the Conyers report and watching them on CSPAN, I am completely convinced that dirty tricks were being used in Ohio.  It just seemed very obvious to me.  The point is our elections need a lot of work and how can we expect to spread democracy when ours is in dire need of an overhaul?  What about the head of Diebold saying he was going to get Ohio for Bush or whatever?  I'm sure you are aware of Conyers investigation into the elections in Ohio.  What about that?

          The thing with big-business is that how can they be trusted? They look out for themselves, not for us.  They make most of the decisions I think.  Wasn't it Mussolini who said that fascism is the merging of state and business? Can't remember exactly how it went. Something like that.

          John Kerry is a wiener.  No I don't think he's anywhere near as bad as Bush, but like I said if he would have been elected, I think we would be on the same road...maybe not as bumpy and full of giant pot-holes, but never the less, the same destination.

          I guess I just dont have as much faith in our leaders as you do.  To me they are the elite, we are not, the elite for the most part look after themselves and whoever funds them.

          by Darth Codis on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:55:55 PM PDT

•  I believe the correct description of the diarist

  is "historical materialist".
  And I don't need to believe in the Great Pumpkin to know how they screwed up things. So for now, against my historical materialist leanings, I back the Democrats.

  by ThanxAl on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:33:10 PM PDT

•  So what do we do about it?

  I agree the Dem Party has been doing a shitty job representing the interests of the working class. What do we do about it?

  by tiggers thotful spot on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:41:57 PM PDT

  •  Revolution, my friends!

    We need to start in the 4th estate, with all of us Kossacks alone, we must have the connections needed to secure publishing on a large scale of a paper, written BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE.  I am certain that Larry Flynt would sign on for publishing of such a vehicle.
    We need huge scale outreach education efforts, from kids to adults, sharing with them the principals that our government is based on and how we need to get them back.
    We need, to demand campaign finance reforms that actually work, and demand an end of Lobbyists in DC.
    And you know what, sometimes revolution goes beyond the outreach, the grassroots activism, everything, and goes to the streets, to following the actions of Paul Revere and the raiders, and I don't mean the band.  We need to have our own Boston Tea Partys, in EVERY CITY, EVERY STATE.  And we need to not stop till we get our country back.

    by JessicaDrewSW on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:53:41 PM PDT

    •  Love Your Writing, Jessica

      You're one of the good ones.

      Here's my idea.

      by krag on Fri May 20, 2005 at 09:21:06 AM PDT

      •  You're too kind!

        Considering my slavish dedication to the typo!:D

        by JessicaDrewSW on Fri May 20, 2005 at 11:00:54 AM PDT

•  RECOMMENDED

  Not so much for the thing about the applause, which is a ceremonial perfunctory thing, as for your opener:

  "The Democratic party, as currently constituted, is a party carefully designed to fall over --seemingly at the last gasp-- when the interests of corporations, the military, the surveillance state, or Israel come into conflict with the interests of ordinary Americans."

  That pretty much summarizes the reality of it, whether Kossacks want to post recipes for denial pie or not.

  About the applause, I have lamented the sad state of affairs that I would call the "god-king-president" complex in my diary  The Five Presidential Hats

  I do not think that the term "god-king-president" oiginated with myself, but I have frequently used it to describe the mythological (depth-psychological) origins of the complex of "duties" that are somehow assigned to a U. S. president.

  So the knee-jerk applause is discouraging, even disgusting, but I don't know what we can do about it.  I think I got 4 comments and maybe a couple of recommends for my diary.  Everybody knows that president worship is stupid and inane, but nobody thinks anything can be done about it.  In the movie, "The Last Emperor," people were still awe-struck and bowing for the emperor even years after the success of Mao's revolution.

  by BornOn911 on Thu May 19, 2005 at 08:42:33 PM PDT

•  I feel the same way, krag.

  The people may be able to save America, but the DumboQuislings as a party will not.

  Every time I say this some delusional turd gives me a 0 or 1, but yanno what? I don't care any more. As Fidel once said, history will absolve me.

  by Eleftheria on Fri May 20, 2005 at 12:47:10 AM PDT

•  krag,

  I'll give you the dignity of a straight answer-

  On your feet or on your knees.

  You got arguments that there is a third way, bring 'em on, otherwise-

  I plan on going out on my feet, standing up for what I believe in.  How do you plan on going out?

  Hello Devil.  Your hands are so cold and yet Hell is so hot.

  by ek hornbeck on Fri May 20, 2005 at 01:48:37 AM PDT

  •  I Do, Actually

    Read here.

    How do I plan on going out?  I don't.  I plan on a restoration of peace and justice.  If you think you're going to get that from waving a gun around, you're lost.
    

    by krag on Fri May 20, 2005 at 09:16:37 AM PDT

    •  You've changed my mind.

      Well Krag, you've changed my mind.

      I thought you were a troll, now I just think you're nuts.  A 'shadow government' that by the brilliance of it's ideals, the moral rectitude of it's members, and the purity of it's heart, some how shames the Rethugs out of office?

      Even Ghandi worked against a backdrop (implied to be sure) of full bore armed nationalist rebellion.  Neru was NOT a saintly pacifist.  How fast did Hindu-Muslim violence lead to the India-Pakistan break (course now that they both have nukes I feel much safer)?

      Poland-Solidarity is not that much better an example.  Distaste for the occupying Soviets and their puppet government (if it smells like Iraq) was nearly universal.  I personally would argue that from an Imperial standpoint the 'Iron Curtain' would be standing today if Gorbachev weren't such a weinie.

      In America, where is our occupying power, our external nationalist enemy?  Where is the consensus about the moral and material bankruptcy of the current regime?

      I think we look much more like the self imposed fascist states of the 1930's than we do India in the 40's or Poland in the 80's.  The people loved Mussolini, until they strung him up with piano wire.

      And they luuuuv W too, just ask any of them at those 'Town Hall' meetings.  Then try to get them to shut up.

      And my alternative is not dusting off my AK-47 and taking to the streets, heck I don't even own a gun.

      But I do believe in action.  I talk, I organize, I lick envelopes and make phone calls, I drive little old ladies to the polls on election day.

      Oh, and I vote.  And I do it all for the Democratic Party, not because they're perfect, but simply because they're way closer to what I believe in than the Rethugs.  They are also the only organized political force that has any hope at all of changing things and if we all stick together it just might work in '06 and '08.

      And if not, and we end up standing next to each other in the gas chamber line, I promise not to shake my finger at you and say "I told you so".

      Hello Devil.  Welcome to Hell.

      by ek hornbeck on Fri May 20, 2005 at 02:52:55 PM PDT

      •  Exactly, I'm Nuts

        Then again, they say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

        So you keep driving those little old ladies to the polls to vote for your bankrupt political party and see what changes.
        

        by krag on Sat May 21, 2005 at 01:08:17 PM PDT

•  I disagree, but recommended

  I recommended because I think its good to have some debate around here.  If there were 10 diaries like this per day, I'd say "troll rate 'em"  But once in a while we need someone to stand up and speak some home truths such as:

  The Democratic party, as currently constituted, is a party carefully designed to fall over --seemingly at the last gasp-- when the interests of corporations, the military, the surveillance state, or Israel come into conflict with the interests of ordinary Americans.

  This is all correct... to a certain extent.  All these interests do tend to dominate the Democratic party.  But I don't think that the  party was "carefully designed to fall over."  It's a bit more subtle than that, I'm afraid.  

  Where I you're really missing the boat is that most Kossacks are well aware of the interests that have always taken the demos out of the Democratic party.  The difference between us and you is that we're working to put it back in.

  Can it be done?  To tell the truth, I don't really know.  I'd say there's at least a chance.  And that's what we're all fighting for.  If you don't believe it, go join a Marxist rebel group in South America or Africa... 'cause the revolution sure ain't gonna happen here.

  In the mean time, the rest of us aren't about to roll over and let the corporations simply have their way.  Unlike you, we're not prepared to give up without a fight.  

  If you want to call us naive. Fine.
  If you want to call us idealistic. Fine.

  But maybe, just maybe, we'll win this thing.  Do you feel like lending a hand?

  by Nate Roberts on Fri May 20, 2005 at 02:41:46 AM PDT

  •  Your Problem

    is that you're not idealistic enough.

    You think you're idealistic, when in fact your little reformist movement amounts to a cynical joke that only serves to perpetuate the misery.

    by krag on Fri May 20, 2005 at 09:19:37 AM PDT

    •  Krag, Email me

      @ the addy on my profile.  I'd like to dicuss your idea at length...

      by JessicaDrewSW on Fri May 20, 2005 at 10:57:00 AM PDT