Yeah, but..... other than the 5, you got any serious reasons to walk out? ;-)

Well I'm staying Dan, but I've always respected your consistency, so go for it and good luck.

Sorry to see you go, Dan, if even temporarily.  We could use more angy members who will work from within to turn our party around and get us back on track.  I long ago stopped sending money to the Democratic Party, preferring to send what little I set aside to individuals who walk and talk the way I do.

I see what you're trying to do, and it might even work if enough people take up the call, but you can't assume that those of us who prefer to stay are perfectly happy with Obama and the Democrats in power.  It's not a case of either-or. 

The way I see it, this is MY party.  The elected leaders are only temporary but I'm here to stay.  We have a long, proud history and my stake in this party is greater than theirs (Lord knows, I've been here longer). I'm not going to let it go without a fight.

The Democratic Party, seemingly exemplified by its current leaders, is actually made up of millions of voters who want the same things you and I want. (Brilliantly articulated above, by the way.)  Our job as Dems is to convince other Dem voters to vote for political leaders who reflect our historical best.  Yes, we need to keep making noise--clanging, clattering, righteous noise--but I'll be doing it from the inside, where I feel I belong.

Still, I have to admit -- it's a clever way to draw attention to some major dissatisfaction.  Go for it!

Dan

I share your feelings and therefore I am inceasing my support for the Democratic Party.

I’m no centrist. This is a protest from the left. I have been a profoundly loyal, party-line voting Democrat my entire voting life. I voted for Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton (twice), Gore, Kerry and Obama; and also vote uniformly for Democratic candidates in House and Senate races. I vote in every election, and I honestly cannot remember voting for any Republicans, ever, for any position in local, state or federal government.

And republican voters vote exactly the same way. "I ain't voting for no Democrat !!" So they vote for whatever republican there is. Which is why we get ding-bats and loony toons in congress.

Wouldn't it be nice if people would actually vote for the Best candidate running ?

NAH....NEVER HAPPEN

Boy, I dunno, Dan.  It's campaign season now, and Obama (and by extension the Dems) has a big bump coming!  Look here:

He's gonna say in a speech tomorrow at the Texas border that citizens have to demand that Congress pass some immigration reform!

And Eric Holder is saying for real this time they're gonna close Gitmo!  (The man even had the class to say it from Paris!)

And Democrats are introducing a bill this week to end (some; the Big Five) subsidies to Big Oil....to be used toward the deficit!

And here's a piece about why Dems are railing against cut to Medicare, not Medicaid, which would have a far more deleterious effect on the aging poor under Ryan's plan.

Of course CEO pay rose 11% in 2010 while a lot of folks, including children went hungry, and housing prices were down for the 57th straight month, but that's on the docket to get fixed soon as Eric Holder can prosecute some bank fraud. 

Stick around, Dan.  Dems do have us in mind.  To fund their campaigns and tell us what they can't do.  Or we should make them do.

(Sorry to seem bitter...but I am a bit; I've worked for Dems all my life, too...)

Dan, I am not where you are--yet.  I certainly respect your decision, think you make part of the best case for it very well, and may yet join you.  In recent months I have been thinking seriously, for the first time in my adult life, about leaving the party and registering as an independent.  This shocks me.  I do recall voting for a Republican once in my life.  I voted for a liberal Republican named Carol Schwartz for mayor of DC against Marion Barry, who had disgraced himself and richly deserved to exit office.

Likewise I am 51.  I voted for Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton twice, Gore, Kerry, and Obama--right down the line.  I've worked on numerous campaigns as a volunteer.  I have contributed generously with money, to the point of getting silly invitations to join fancy-dancy Big Trucking Wheel Democrat "clubs" in exchange for financial contributions far beyond my means.  I absolutely despise what the Republican party, which once stood for some reasonable things I usually disagreed with, has become in our day.  It is a walking, talking joke.  But, unfortunately, the joke is on us.

The best argument by far for staying, if one's priorities are similar to Dan's and mine, is the one Genghis makes.  The best way to make inroads long-term *may* be to work doggedly to take over the party from within, like the Republican right was urged to do by people such as William F. Buckley, and did.  But I am not sure about that.  The dynamics of this strategy in the Democratic party are different from the dynamics in the GOP in one hugely important way--money favors the dissidents in the GOP but disfavors the left dissidents in the Democratic party.  But that's a subject for another post or comment. 

I have no intention at this time of contributing financially or volunteering for Obama's re-election campaign.  I have not contributed money to the Democrats since last fall's election--I declined a phone solicitation from the DSCC while composing this comment--but I may very well contribute to individual candidates for the House and Senate who I think are committed to fighting for what I think is most important.  There is so much work to be done that I feel as though I'll be doing something worthwhile to the extent I am helping with the project of getting an enlightened Congress.  Because without that, nothing happens, either.

I have to remember that as disgusted as I am for the most part with Obama, Nancy Pelosi is a Democrat, too.  She shows tremendous tenacity and skill--and an impressive record--advancing my concerns.  I feel it is of the utmost importance for what I care about that, if the Democrats win the House back next year, that she rather than Steny Hoyer be the next Speaker of the House.  Sherrod Brown is a Democrat.  Patti Murray is a Democrat.  Al Franken is a Democrat.  There are many Democrats in Congress I have a lot of admiration and respect for. 

I do think that if droves of people with your and my core concerns do leave--and communicate to party officials that they are doing that along with the reasons why--the party will take note and will have to respond in some way. 

If the self-described "centrists" who think the status quo direction is adequate really believe what it sometimes sounds like they believe--that liberals, progressives, and leftists are at this point a fringe and do not represent the views and concerns and interests of more than a small number of Americans--then a large volume departure by those folks should actually help the Democratic party secure a permanent governing majority by helping it move more securely and durably to the revered center.

Oh! The drama! Sorry for giggling Dan, but this is just so very different from the usual for you.

What does seem to be SOP here, is thinking this thought originated with oneself. Try these folks:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Families_Party

Thanks for the grins, and best of luck.

Good for you Dan!

The only thing that will ever get the attention of the people who really run and operate the Democratic Party is when you hurt them in the pocketbook and at the ballot box.  Most Democrats freak out when any discussion of doing what you've done comes up.  They go absolutely crazy with fear of helping the Republicans by witholding support from Democrats who are such pussies they end up mostly...  helping Republicans!  There are those who will say it will do no good.  There are those who say it will only help the enemy.  I say they are wrong.  The more loyal and true Democrats make it known they will no longer follow the party line, the sooner it will be that the party line changes to something more to our liking.

@  rmrd0000 5/10/2011 - 10:32

Hmmm.  Can’t say if I should even try to answer this, but here goes, and it may be my last comment on this.

I have zero opinion if Sheria and I share any or many of the same goals, so we may find it hard to find common ground.  She may just be uncomfortable about criticisms of Obama, though she duly notes she differs with him on continuing the wars.  One criticism, period.  So it may be that criticism per se bothers her, and she projects her (and maybe yours: ‘Manhood’) values onto the discussion.  I don’t know if that’s typical from the black community or not.  I’d guess that the black community isn’t monolithic to any great degree, but I do read op-eds from blacks who wish Obama were fighting for them and their families, and frequently mention ‘more spine’. 

As an aside, it cracked me up that Sheria pretty much said at the end of her rant: And now back to our regularly scheduled program, in which I am nice.  Pretty funny.

I’m not trying to build a constituency, but if I were, and I do support groups that are trying to come together as a political force (there plenty trying to unite as we type), I’d think that agenda items and understanding that class war considerations would be on the list, as well as more jobs, more social safety net, sustainable energy, income and wealth disparity, etc., and that all concerned might have to quit being so sensitive to perceived criticisms about Obama.  In fact, I’d want them to get engaged in end runs round him to the degree it’s possible.  As Des points out, he gets what he wants, and courts who he wants.  And then shows us like the little feint to Progressives and Hispanics he’s making at the Texas border this morning.

No, I don’t think that Obama ‘has a great deal to do in addressing Progressives’;  I don’t need any more of his words that come to nothing, either in foreign policy or on domestic issues.  I needed him to fight for decent financial regulations, not block them; to make a mortgage program that worked; to quit kicking cans down the road; to  not embrace Republican and major banking and corporate neoliberal tools and make them part of his economic team; not to embrace the theme of ‘austerity’ so early and so cravenly.  The man’s smart; he knows how basic economics work, and his team’s is only working for Wall Street.

So maybe the Sherias of the nation need to figure out which policies they’d like advanced, and hook up with other folks who want the same ones, and make some coalitions to fight for them.  And not worry about folks saying ‘The Emperor has no clothes’ or ‘the President has no balls’, just because he’s black.  And start treating him like A Man, not a Black Man.

And if you and she think you’re under-represented by black leaders, find them, rally around them.  For my money, West is pretty good.  Every social movement for the disenfranchised (that includes me, if not you) has had intellectual and social gospel leaders involved and acting as moral beacons.  With West, you’ve got both.  And IMO, he does work his ass off as a community and national and college youth activist.  Google it; you may see it’s so.

Way too make posts to keep track of here, need to kick back with some wine and cheese to digest it all.

Anyway Dan K, I have a lot of the same misgivings about Democrats too. However, I can't see the logic in removing oneself off to the sidelines...that's self censoring. You need to be an active voice within to be heard. Shouting from the outside doesn't carry the weight of direct, in-your-face debate of issues.

I prefer the subtle approach. Sit back, listen and ponder. Take time to see the problem. Look at the symptoms the problem generates. Figure out if a symptom could become a problem in and of itself or die off as an orphan if left on its own. Once you have your problem isolated, look for answers. Determine the ones that are self satisfying, then figure out how to pose the answer in a manner than makes it wanting more than what it offers. Once you have your problem define where all the wiggle room has been eliminated, then start asking questions you know can't be answered but in the direction you want to go.

I'm in no hurry because I'm always suspicious of the quick and ready answer with solution to fit all. Better to take the time and figure all the possible tangent vectors that might happen if there are a few loose ends not tied down.

And that's the real issue with Democrats isn't it ? ... too much wiggle room on the issues ???

Perhaps what the Party really needs is an open forum where issues, like those you have, are aired, discussed, dissected, discussed, examined, discussed, formulated, discussed, and finalized for a discussion with elected representatives. It's a long and drawn out process that brings together many from various locales with political aptitudes/attitudes that need to mesh the gears to create a coherent concept without any misgivings what the public thinks, feels and expects.

Unfortunately, this idea must come from the Party and I doubt they would be interested in the public steering policy.

Dan, seriously dude, two words: Fusion voting. Quit screwing around, you got the permanently affronted lefties panties in a bunch. Oy!

http://www.wfwin.org/pages/local-wfw/new-hampshire.php

Do yourself a favor.

I think, bottom line, unless you're walking out to go somewhere...you aren't really going anywhere.

If you're trying to push Obama in a more progressive direction, that's fine, but there are some considerations. While progressives were important to his election, there weren't enough of us to put him over alone. He needed the independents and defecting Republicans.

For example, we weren't enough, or enthusiastic enough, to keep the House and Pelosi as Speaker.

Obama's very aware of this, and thus always has to walk a line between progressives and independents. So while he "has" us, we and the other members of his coalition "have" him. He can't really move too far to the right or left and expect to get re-elected.

Unless we can swell our numbers more substantially or become huge money donors, then there is a limit to our sway. Becoming a smelly irritant just isn't enough, IMO. And allowing him to lose by not showing up, giving money, or campaigning is really just a way to shoot ourselves in the foot. We already did that with the House. Let's not do it again in 2012.

  Obama's stimulus package was hardly laissez faire--and it didn't work.