I just got done watching Congressman Earl Blumenauer from Oregon (a true Progressive up to this point in time) on MSNBC show with Cenk Uygur as host. And btw, I know many of you do not agree with Cenk on his own issues, but that is not the issue here, so can we at least focus on this issue? Thanks. The message is the message and not this host of this show.
My own husband happens to work for the City of Portland in a high level position, and one of our dear friends is a guy that was Congressman Blumenauer's right hand man (a highly progressive Democrat) for the past 20 years.
That is the only reason I am writing this diary, because I was completely dumb struck on how Congressman Earl Blumenauer came across on this show today. It was like watching someone 'that had been fully podded' by Republican Aliens Reptiles and I could not believe the words that came out of his mouth.
And BTW, god don't I wish I had a video of what happened today, but until I can do an update, or whatever, let me tell you how the bullshit argument came off as:
Congressman Blumenauer sounded more like that old fucking former Senator Alan Simpson, than a real Democrat. His argument was this, if you can believe it:
He talked about this new bullshit theory that Americans are probably, and you know.............maybe ................going to live until they are 140 years old in the next 50 years (even though we cannot even afford the present Heath Care bullshit reform or expect to have a Jobs Programs by either party.) And this was his argument about why the Democrats should be fully open to putting raising the ages for Social Security and Medicare on the table.
It was as if he put himself into this Time Warp Machine, created by the Republicans that we are all supposed to just 'suck up to' and get over it, and believe we can work until we drop dead, with the so called 'actuaries' that are nothing more than a fantasy created by the fully corrupted Big Pharma and Medical Industries and failed Health Care reform by both parties.
The message was very clear to me: If you are Rich, you will live, if you are poor, than fuck you.
This was a once honest and true Progressive, selling us all out again, and I for one am so sick of this and I'm over it.
So here is big fuck you to yet another Democratic Congressman, Earl Blumenauer for selling us out.
I know what the stakes are here people and they are huge: These are major social issues that we must deal with: Civil Rights, Our Jobs, Women's Rights, Gay Rights, the end to the Endless Wars, a real answer to the epic Fraud that Wall St./the Banks got paid off for, that NO ONE IS ADDRESSING, etc.
My debate is this with you if you would be so kind:
Please if you would be so kind to define the differences between the two party systems at hand now.
The lesser of the two evils no longer works for me, but again, I ask you to give me your honest opinion (and without hostility and with your honest and civil opinions) as to why I should continue to support my own beloved party: The Democratic Platform: Which used to be this:
For over 200 years, Democrats have stood for the idea that wealth and status should not be an entitlement to rule. Democrats recognize that our country and our economy are strongest when they provide opportunity for all Americans—when we grow our country from the bottom up.
Democrats stand for an abiding faith in the judgment of hardworking American families, and a commitment to helping the excluded, the disenfranchised and the poor strengthen our nation by earning themselves a piece of the American Dream. We remember that our country was sculpted by immigrants and slaves, their children and grandchildren. Even today, it is our diversity above all else that provides us with our enduring strength.
Democrats believe that each of us has an obligation to each other, to our neighbors and our communities. Each of us has a role to play in creating our future—and while we have made great progress as a nation, we know that our work is never done.
Read the full 2008 Democratic National Platform
http://www.democrats.org/...
And as Russ Feingold: recently said, and this is the damn truth: 'The Democratic Party Is In Danger Of Losing Its Identity'
"I think we'll lose anyway if we do this," he continued. "We'll lose our soul when it comes to the issue of corporate domination. People will see us as weak. People will see us as corporate-lite. We'll gut our message. I think it's not just wrong, I think it's a dumb strategy. It's dumb because people will not believe us if we do this." Feingold lost his election in 2010 in the face of heavy outside spending on behalf of his Republican opponent, Ron Johnson. He discouraged outside Democratic spending on his behalf, as he has consistently done in his elections. He told the Netroots crowd that he understood that Democrats want to win, and that Republicans "have found more ways to play dirty."
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Former Wisconsin senator Russ Feingold issued Democrats a dire warning at the annual Netroots Nation conference here on Thursday, saying the party was in danger of losing its "soul" if it accepts corporate contributions in the 2012 elections. "Sometimes we have to be very direct with the Democratic Party," said Feingold to the crowd of progressive activists and bloggers at the Minneapolis Convention Center. "Just as you have long pushed our Democrats to stand up for their ideals, I'm here this evening to ask you to redouble your efforts. I fear that the Democratic Party is in danger of losing its identity."
Feingold pointed to Priorities USA, a new Democratic independent expenditure group -- known as a super political action committee (PAC) -- that is allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of corporate money. It was launched by former deputy White House press secretary Bill Burton and former senior adviser Sean Sweeney in April.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Perhaps the most horrifying truth of what is really happening to the Middle Class and poor is that we have no other place to go. We are in reality 'on our own' and if you can deny that, then let me here about it, other than the social issues that do not address our own economic needs. Butter and Guns is the real issue here, but the Guns are getting all our money. I'm over it.
I am old enough to remember this quote from one of Nixon's major crooks:
Charles Colson:
ONCE YOU HAVE THEM BY THE BALLS, THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS WILL FOLLOW."
And to deny, that both parties have us 'by the Balls' is the biggest lie of all.
And BTW, thank you OPOL for your great diary today. It was so needed by all us us. Love you so much.
Thanks to all as usual.
Ms. B.