I think the time has come for all of us to question why we joined this website.
I joined because after the election of Barack Obama, I wanted to be in a place where like minded people gather and talked about politics -- my favorite subject (at the time) in College. I had heard so much bluster about the "blogosphere" phenomena that I decided to check it out. I admit, that I am a relative new comer to dailykos, and to the liberal blogosphere as a whole, but I feel as if I have been here for a long time. When I first started posting here, I didn't think I would enjoy this website as much as I do now. I thought, "Oh, I'll make a few comments here and there, maybe lurk around, and not get too connected to any one."
Well, it didn't go exactly as planned. I have met many people here that I have gotten to know and come to call friends. I feel a connection to this community that I have never felt about an online community before.
But, I'll be the first to admit that its gotten heated around here. People are getting angry. Tempers are flaring. There is a fear in the air about the loss of the house. There is a need to blame someone, any one for the mistakes made. It was a terrible election for us in a lot of ways, and especially for someone like me, who had to take off the rose colored glasses I had previously been wearing and really reassess where my loyalties lay as far as politics goes. It was a punch in the stomach, delivered by a pissed off electorate. There is no denying that there are problems not only within the current Presidential Administration, but within the Democratic establishment itself. We are at war for the soul of the Democratic Party, against the moneyed interests that either seek to destroy the party or convert them into blood sucking corporatists that will do their bidding at the snap of a finger.
Its a confusing time for democrats. We are at a crossroads. It is a crucial moment for us, as the left leaning electorate. Not only are righties constantly at our throats, fueled by their corporate backers and the xenophobic brew fed to them by willing republican elites and conservative pundits, but we are at war with ourselves.
Its understandable why we are at war with each other. We are presented with a challenging if not impossible conundrum in Congress, perpetuated by the very same republicans fomenting racism and xenophobia within the American electorate. Their continued abuse of congressional rules and procedures have kneecapped progress from all angles. Never before have we seen this level of obstruction and interference with congressional procedure. This strategy, the obstruct-at-all-costs republican strategy to bring down the president, has presented us, the people who want to see the country move forward boldly, with several conundrums. First and foremost being how to go about the negotiations process with a group of people who have, essentially fallen off the ideological deep end? Do we compromise with the laughably insane? Do we laugh at them and run the risk of looking bitterly partisan? What do we do given this new political landscape of open hostility?
So the debates about how to move forward rages on dailykos, and other political blogs, and at democratic dinner tables and water coolers across the country. Not only do we face this internecine war, but we face the war with the corporatists in our government as well, be they republican or democrat. We face yet another war against xenophobia, racism, bigotry, homophobia, and sexism as well. To be frank, we are at war on all fronts. And the stakes are extremely high.
Somewhere something has got to give. We cannot possibly wage these perpetual "wars" and continue to be effective as a political organizing tool.
I submit to all of you, regardless of the "side" you fall on, that there is more that binds us than separates us. Most important of those things that binds us is our common enemies. Corporatists, republicans, xenophobes, bigots and extremists alike should be on our radar at all times. Instead, we are at each others throats, screaming and yelling into the wind about Barack Obama. Not only are we screaming and yelling about the President, but we are also screaming, yelling, making fun of, and putting down our fellow Kossacks. Over what? Some ridiculous internet clique bullshit that never fucking ends.
Well, it should end.
In no way am I saying don't express your opinion. I am saying that when you find yourself being snide at a kossack that doesn't deserve it, or calling someone a 'cheerleader' or a 'bot', or whatever it is the stupid cliques do to piss each other off, stop for a second and recall who our true enemy is. Recall who is creating all of this strife. Recall who it is that is fucking our government six ways to sunday. Recall who it is that STARTED THIS WAR.
The republicans. We should focus our energies on them, not each other.
small update
from the comments
Not Quite. Not Republicans. CONSERVATIVES. (0+ / 0-)
All Republicans are conservatives. But only some conservatives are Republicans.
Well THERE'S yer problem.
We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy.... --ML King "Beyond Vietnam"
by Gooserock on Thu Dec 02, 2010 at 09:22:41 PM PST
True, very true.
Update 2
Trix Imma callin you out. Something something FRONT PAGE POST something something JUMPED THE SHARK something something THROW OFF THE FRONT PAGE!! WHOS WITH ME!