Been "lurking" on dKos for a while. I recently finished the week waiting period, so this is my first diary. It's a long one, so bear with.
Okay. The election is over, and it sure as hell did not go the way we had hoped. Or planned. I don't believe this "values" vote bullshit anymore than any of you. So what do we do? We sure as hell aren't effective falling apart - but we might be if we all, not just us Kossians, but ALL OF US who supported John Kerry pull together NOW. Do any of you realize what we still have at our disposal?
We've got Springsteen, Michael Moore, our Congress members, Air America and all of their folk, and DEMOCRATIC governors (Richardson), Media Matters, other journalists and bloggers, George Lakoff, retired military, 9/11 survivors and Democratic leadership in Ohio, Florida, Iowa, New Mexico that can help. We just need to pull it all together and CONNECT THE FUCKING DOTS. Remember the old saying, "if the people lead, the leaders will follow?" Folks, we've got the tools at our disposal . . . we just need to pull ALL resources together. SO HERE'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO:
1. On recounts: I agree with other comments I have seen that WE AS CITIZENS need to challenge the accuracy of the vote. Bushco will smear a reporter, or someone of notoriety, but if citizens demand their rights and its put out front and center??? That's a little trickier. Kossians get your asses in gear if you are in one of these four states. Find out how get recounts started in the various states. Post it here so that the relevant info is consolidated in one diary. Get your friends, family, loved ones (enemies too -- kidding) involved (for example, sending letters to authorities in Ohio DEMANDING a recount.)
We also need the help from Michael Moore, Gov. Bill Richardson, Bruce and the Air America folks to give this some legs. Any suggestions on how to engage/best use these folks are appreciated. Maybe the recounts won't yield a President Kerry. But WE ARE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY TOO, JUST LIKE THE BIBLE-THUMPING WINGNUTS. AND WE TOO, HAVE RIGHTS. LET'S EXERCISE THEM WHILE WE STILL HAVE THEM.
2. The Congress: Our Democratic boys and girls on The Hill let us down. Yes they are out-numbered and out-manuevered by the GOP. But THAT IS NO EXCUSE. THEY WORK FOR US. Maybe it's time that we remind them of that. If they can't get a bill passed because they are outmaneuvered, well they need to have their faces in every TV camera telling the nation what a lying, conniving, corrupt bunch of SOBs the GOP really are. How they are really dicking around with our tax money to make a cushy life for themselves instead of working for us. I want to get to the point where I am going to puke if I see Nancy Pelosi's face one more time on CNN or MSGOP. It's not whining, it's the truth. Whining is all in the delivery. And Nancy Pelosi for one, is no freaking whiner.
I am aware that there were TWO bills (one in House, one in Senate) that would have required a paper trail for these electronic "voting" machines, and the GOP kept them from getting on the floor. How do I know? Because I called, faxed, emailed every relevant member of Congress (my two Senators and my Congresswoman) AND the boys and girls in Florida, including Bob Graham. Nothing happened. What they should have done (and we now should do) is bring it out FRONT AND CENTER how the GOP is responsible for all of these voting problems. Fraud. Machines breaking down. Voter intimidation. Racial profiling of voters. Provide statements from folks in the field. The GOP wants to keep Americans from voting and keeping those votes from being counted. And keeping folks from knowing about it. I know . . . spilled milk and all of that. BUT OUR DEAR LEADERS SHOULD BE TELLING THE PRESS, EVERY SINGLE DAY, THAT THE GOP WANTS TO SUPPRESS OUR RIGHTS. TAKE OUR FREEDOMS. LINE THEIR OWN POCKETS AT OUR EXPENSE. Etcetera, etc.
This should be discussed in the mainstream, not just here in our dKos world. The words "suppressing rights" resonates with people of color, especially African-Americans. Look, I live in the bluest city in the bluest state in the union. I wouldn't hesitate for a freaking minute to drop kick our Democratic Minority Leader if I though she wasn't standing up FOR US enough. We need to write, fax, email and call them and remind them that THEY WORK FOR US and not themselves (or their lobbyists), and if they don't step up to the plate and grow some serious BALLS, WE WILL GET SOMEONE ELSE WHO WILL.
3. Who ever said "play nice"?? Anyone who knows me knows I never said I was nice. When it comes to things that are really important I am not nice at all. So why are Democrats SO FUCKING NICE??? FUCK THAT. The Rethugs DON'T EVEN PRETEND TO BE NICE. So why should we??? I cannot tell you how many faxes, phone calls I made to the KE04 campaign telling them "for the love of God, nail his ass on this!!" Why be nice? Because we're afraid some spoiled, snotty, blowhard PUSSY like Hannity might say something mean or derogatory?? Who gives a shit what the fucking right-wing echo-chamber says!!! Randi Rhodes has it right - as long as we've got the truth and our facts are right, we gotta give it a WHOLE LOTTA SUNSHINE and get it out there.
Let me give an example. What the hell is wrong with saying front and center, "Bush had the 8/6/01 PDB and didn't do anything. Because of it, 9/11 HAPPENED ON HIS WATCH. 9/11 HAPPENED ON HIS WATCH. 9/11 HAPPENED ON HIS WATCH. AND 3000 PEOPLE DIED NEEDLESSLY BECAUSE OF HIS NEGLIGENCE. If he were a private citizen, he would be looking at a motherload of wrongful death lawsuits. And we let him get away with that wrap-himself-up-in-the-flag, "9/11 changed everything"crap. Are we as Democrats supposed to be "too polite" to say such things because he sits in the Oval Office? BULLSHIT. GET RUTHLESS PEOPLE. DON'T BACK DOWN. So what if you lose the fight - GO DOWN SWINGING.
4. Take back the religion narrative. I've seen a lot of very apt and very accurate arguments that Democrats are closer to Jesus' ideal than the GOP. We need to point out that the GOP ARE HYPOCRITS. They kill thousands. They let people starve in the street. More people have fallen into poverty. These are not acts of God, or in the example of God. And while you're at it, you make the arguments to the bible-thumping wingnuts how they are being PIMPED LIKE DIRTY LITTLE WHORES to vote for the GOP and give them power SO THEY CAN STAB YOU IN THE BACK. Brings to mind what Matthew 7:15, says,
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." --Matthew 7:15.
And along the "I never said I was nice theme", and as someone else suggested, I don't think it would hurt to get out to the fundies, yes, though you may not have married gays in your community, but you will soon have no services, you will have no job, no home, and your kids will be sent off to die in Bush's "holy war."
5. We need a DNC Chair with a fucking spine. I think that one speaks for itself.
These are just some of my thoughts. Sorry this is so long. But I have seen a lot of good ideas out there - I truly believe that if we pull all of our resources, put our heads and hearts together, call in all our chits and favors, talk to any and all of the people of any influence, be brutally blunt about the GOP, cut out the "good, little polite Democrat" shit NOW and CONNECT THE FUCKING DOTS PEOPLE. And then maybe someday (sooner or later), we will take control of the narrative, and the Congress, and the White House. But it has to start right here, RIGHT NOW, and this has to be a collaborative effort. Please feel free to add anything else, I know this may qualify as dKospedia material, but we really need to get our asses in gear and NOT WASTE OUR ENORMOUS EFFORTS AND SUPPORT. The one thing I hate is that we as Democrats are easy to back down and give up. They don't. Why the hell should we?? Comments??