I just heard another "Call To Action". That's it... one to many... that was the straw and the camel's back is broken. I can't take it anymore....
"Elections have consequences." Now some Democrats have used this phrase to illustrate why their bowing to the GOP's intimidation was the right thing to do, but I use them for a different purpose. Elections decide who governs. The Democratic Party is in the opposition and that is exactly how it should act. Oppose, rhetorically, every page of legislation that is proposed by the GOP. If the bill passes, they are the majority; they have won the right to pass legislation. But, they should expect no help from us, nor should they expect silence no matter how much they spin. And they should know that when they pass bad law (like the "national language" bill) than they will get flogged with it from signing till the next election. Now is the time for... words.
There's more...
Now is not the time for action, shutting down the government, proposing reams of legislation, no not even defending Roe v Wade from Scalito et al, by winning the vote at all costs. And, if we must act, let us use the filibuster. Due to the nature of the filibuster, it is one act we should be taking whenever a convincing (and preferably long) argument is available. Do we believe that budget bill cuts in social spending are too deep? If so, then we should filibuster. And if it fails to stop the bill it is not a failure, the measures of success are "How many people did the message reach?" and "Were they persuaded?"
Powder? We don't need not stinking powder. What The Democratic Party needs is some good old-fashioned hot air.
Now is the time for a devastating critiques rivaling Hunter or Colbert of why conservatism is destroying America. The President's approval ratings fall on a weekly basis, so let's not quit when we have some momentum. Moderates are open to an alternative right now and we should not let this opportunity pass.
Now is the time for building a rhetoric that brings all members of this big tent together: progressives, labor, civil rights, environmentalists, feminist and all others slandered by the wingnuts because they dare to be different from their fundamentalist Christian, fundamentalist Capitalist ideal. Yes, now is the time for words, and it will remain that way to until every American knows the answer to the question, "What does the Democratic Party stand for?"
Show the American people that we stands for something by taking stances on important issues and eloquently explaining the values that demand that stance. And I'll be doing my part when typing behind this keyboard, talking to my friends and visiting with my family. If we can do this, our leaders will follow.