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D.Lester Young
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0 posted 2005-04-13 02:47 PM


Creationalist Republicans

Since conservative Republicans like to use labels and I find conservative a very respectful term, as well as the term liberal, which Republicans slam. Let US call these extremists, Creationalist Republicans. In many ways, the term fits them in religious grounds and their policies on how to run their America, forming their own devoted branches of government. Dismembering the judicial branch under their president, wealth and corporate influence will then determine their leaders

Creationalists could be like liberals except that they want everything in their own personal image. Mirrors reflecting back to them in self-adoration. Debate is a secret society devoted total to them. Hail, hail the true Creationalist.

America needs to get vocal where people converse. But not the politicians, who I call Creationalists. I will create this for my church, this for my party. Turning things into *their* Constitution of control, where government becomes their private corporation, becoming CEO of creative accounting tax dollars.

I will stay Liberal, I will never become a Creationalist. For I want to believe in Liberal and Conservative values. Moderating between them for all of America’s good. Let Creationalists develop their own brand of democracy. Mine will ride the masses of red, white, and blue smiles. Holding hands in the dreams that all America needs.

(And these people need no Viagra, they inflate themselves!!)) **could not resist have a good day**)

D.Lester, somewhere in America not on company time. The Terminated Free Spirited  Poet!



© Copyright 2005 David Lester Young - All Rights Reserved
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1 posted 2005-04-13 03:31 PM


I prefer to stay away from the blatant use of labels myself, D. Lester Young.

One thing I always believe the chairman of the Democratic Party should just do is pull out a dictionary and recite the definition of "liberal". Of course I believe the Democratic Party itself has walked astray from the people collectively and rather has bought into the corporate climate as well, and that's particularly why I don't declare myself a Democrat. I just like to be democratic.

In my mind, there's always been three things wrong in particular with the Democratic Party. They continue to dissolve into corporate influences, they have no real visionary or hero they look up to, and they collect a lot of great facts and reason, but they just don't squeeze the message into something they can pitch like the Republican Party has traditionally been effective at doing.

I heard someone in some interview at KBOO (I forget who it was exactly) who was depicting the climate in a W.C Fields sort of manner, saying if someone was passing you by on the street walking and leaning to the right, everything's peachy. But if they see you kind of shaking it both ways, they'd be like, "Hey, what's he doing?" and if leaning leftwards, it's like, "Hey, terrorist, come back here!"

It is scary, and I feel this sort of McCarthyism has been exhumed in our current climate somehow again. The whole "either you're with us or against us" attitude was laid down again after Bush said that around the time the war in Iraq was shaping up. It feels like the whole "Love It Or Leave It" bumper sticker tone all over again.

But seriously, if you look in a dictionary, a liberal is defined as someone who favors proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, broad-minded, tolerant of the ideas of others, and non-limited to traditional or orthodox views and dogmas.

There are a few people I know who say they'd prefer to be called a progressive now because others have turned liberal into a dirty word. I like to think of myself as a progressive as well, but I also believe it is important to defend the true meaning of liberalism, for if we didn't, I feel symbolically it just represents a grave loss, a grave defeat of vision.

The bottom line here is, I don't agree with the tone and attitude of this thread and proposing to fight back by beginning to throw labels back.

I have a great impression myself that most people generally are actually quite sick of these mud slingings. I think the appropriate way to handle this sort of situation is if you're thrown mud, you just wipe it off your face, smile, tell them who you are and that you're proud of it, and just turn the other cheek. If everyone was doing that, I believe that sort of label technique would prove ineffective.

I don't believe resorting to this sort of name-calling will get anyone anywhere.

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other"

Mother Teresa

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2 posted 2005-04-13 03:39 PM


Actually. the Democratic party has their own Creationists... People who are willing to be indignant about anything that they believe in, yet not what isn't of interest to them, and willing to stand up for the rights of those poor, down-trodden sould who believe what they believe.
I do not speak of the entire Democratic party as I have friends on the left side of the isle who are not that way.. I am only speaking (as you are) of the few/many/majority (take your pick) that are on the edges of their party's beliefs. People such as the Democrats who feel that every person has the right to choose for themselves what is right, yet deny a woman's right NOT to have an abortion (PLEASE don't start that discussion   ).
I am speaking of the animal rights activists who feel that eating a steak is not a bad thing (I guess only pretty animals are protected). It is the ones that believe in the right to free speech... as long as you don't oppose them by giving them your opinions. Democrats who scream that we are killing the trees and we must protect the forests... and then prove their point by singing and playing wooden guitars, and living in wooden houses with wooden furniture. THOSE are the ones of whom I speak.
Yes, it is true that the Republican political party has its hypocrites, and their people who act is such manners... However, it is also true on the left side of the isle. Fortunately, none of them reside here at Passions...

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D.Lester Young
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3 posted 2005-04-13 04:10 PM


I agree labels can be a bad thing but after years and years of having people in Alabama condemn you for being a liberal, it does get to be a bad feeling. It is that they use the L name now, instead of aanother name. I remember the liberals who helped end the extreme racism. Nobody wants to go back to the sixties of race relations. I agree with you that they should look up the word liberal and liberty.

The fact is made worse when the President himself uses the label as a whipping boy. Look at the Republican blogs and do a search and find out how many times it is used. That is why they need a name to separate them from moderate conservatives. Creationalist create their own terms and opinions for their agendas.

Yes, Creationalists are in both parties looking for corporate and personal commitments that take away from the Conservative and Liberal blend.

It is time they have a name to separate them. Let us have the dictionaries meaning resurface, for conservatives and liberals.

[This message has been edited by D.Lester Young (04-13-2005 08:40 PM).]

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4 posted 2005-04-13 05:55 PM


Ringo is the coolest ever....
Aenimal
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5 posted 2005-04-13 08:16 PM


quote:
It is time they have a name to separate them. Let us have the dictionaries meaning resurface for conservatives and liberals


or we keep searching for a middleground, alternatives to the two party system


D.Lester Young
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6 posted 2005-04-13 08:21 PM


Ringo very well thought out points. I agree with most of your opinions. Thanks for the open dialog.


D.Lester Young
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7 posted 2005-04-13 08:28 PM


"It is time they have a name to separate them. Let us have the dictionaries meaning resurface, for conservatives and liberals."

Aenimal there is irony in that, good point!

Do we have a two party system?

D.Lester Young
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8 posted 2005-04-13 08:36 PM


The thing I hope is that we can talk as a nation seeing all views as equal. That we can elimate all labels, so why create one? To show that we do not realy need them if we understand each other as Misletoe stated
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9 posted 2005-04-14 01:57 PM


I understand your point, my friend, and it does encourage a deep and thoughtful discussion.

I still think that proving a point by countering that point is just contradictory nature to me. I just believe there are better ways to resolve this sort of misunderstanding sort of nature and dissolve those labels. I guess one more cynical theory is that everyone just needs to take the time and observe or research the true definitions of these ideologies we follow, which many either don't or are reluctant to.

Politically, I am liberal on most issues. But it certainly doesn't mean I am intolerant of conservative values. I respect conservatives and their values very much. For instance, I believe it is absolutely important to see to it the values of family endure and conservatives are credited for instilling much of family values. And I believe we must honor the value of family. That's, for instance, why I feel so strongly about a living wage or at least a minimum wage increase for Americans. I recognize how, because of the modest job recovery and economic condition right now, some would argue it would be a bit too costly to make that increase now. But I believe beyond the shortest term, it would only boost our economy, for I believe the American family is the symbol of what's right with America, and when the average American family is prospering, our nation is bound to prosper.

Sadly, indeed the frequent and blatant use of labels I believe has created a wide blanket of misunderstanding and misinterpretation in our culture today. I believe many have a misguided view of liberalism in its truest sense.

Historically, it is known that liberals generally take a positive view of human nature and that rational concepts can be applied to international relations and affairs. Liberals also believe that we really don't want war and that it isn't inevitable to carry out that vision of mutual dependence.

And I absolutely find it understandable that following some of the darkest times in our history, there tends to be periods of setback for liberal optimism. September 11th I believe is an example of that. There are those here who'd disagree with my views and respond, "We'd all really like to see a world like that you speak of, but that just isn't going to happen!".

I absolutely find that type of response understandable, since there are also what are mostly defined as realists and neo-realists in the world who critique that type of ideology. And in my heart, when I see wars still happening today and so many times you hear people say this will be the war to end all wars and such, I myself shrug and can't understand why it remains a first-hand foreign policy tool.

I do acknowledge there are conflicts and sorrow in the world, and I also believe that individuals truly are competitive by nature or self-righteous. But I do have great faith in my heart as well that individuals together share more interests than non-interests and that we can be together through social action and community-gathering, thus international community-building is absolutely possible and if we keep up that conduit, conflict and war are NOT inevitable. In other words, I believe the only real area liberals would disagree with one another is if success will come within a short-term or a long-term. But one thing liberals like myself do have in common is that with mutual interest, we will prevail and fear will falter under reason.

Anyway, I believe because of this miscommunication and misguided view of what makes a liberal, our current Democratic Party for instance, which I don't believe really embraces that ideology, has successfully been painted as a very liberal party, when it really isn't. It's not to say there are no liberals or liberal instincts in the party, but I believe that party's been misinterpreted.

The Democratic Party is, of course, a corporate party just as the Republican Party is. Thus, when you're a corporately-influenced party, how can you really expect to be broad-minded, or open to all these new ideals and proposals for reform? How are you wholeheartedly progressive, or unrestricted to authority?

It's precisely that noticeable corporate influence why I don't consider myself a Democrat. Because that really doesn't make them democratic. The whole grassroots scheme or the Margaret Mead philosophy is lacking from the party, which make up the real ingredients for progressive change. Howard Dean was beginning to have the right idea going, but he hasn't quite gotten the message yet I believe. I'd say Dennis Kucinich is the closest Democrat there.

Anyway, I just found it highly important to share my thoughts and experiences in hope to perforate somewhat that cloud of misunderstanding, or at least get everyone here to recognize my testimony.

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton


"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other"

Mother Teresa

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10 posted 2005-04-15 03:46 PM


There's one other thing I believe is important to address here.

It is about how some in the GOP believe liberals and Democrats are trying to ruin the conservative movement or run against people of faith, like Tom DeLay said when asked about the investigation effort under way when he said it was just a partisan effort to ruin the conservative movement and when Bill Frist said that Democrats were against people of faith gor blocking some of Bush's controversial judicial nominees.

That absolutely isn't true in my heart. First of all, the reason I started the TomDeLay topic here was not to call for his head or do just like he claimed. I just believe when there is so much controversy surrounding a leader that's even creating skepticism among his own faithful that we should just diplomatically organize everything and find out what is wrong here or what is right. And indeed, if DeLay truly is guilty of some of the things he's being accused of, then the only person DeLay has to blame here is, of course, DeLay, and if his bad behavior in the House is frequent or consistent, then maybe he isn't disciplined enough to be the House Majority leader. But it has NOTHING to do with crushing a movement.

As for Frist, I don't understand what he's saying either. Indeed some of his nominees are controversial, and I believe no matter what party you are, you should have the right to question, discuss and debate their credentials. THAT'S the reason why filibuster proponents believe we should hold onto this tradition, so more can have a voice and be able to provide insight before coming to a thoughtful, collective decision. Again, NOTHING to do with running against a movement.

I, myself, was born and raised Catholic, and am a proud ad firm believer in faith. I don't believe in aggressively imposing faith on policies and such, but I believe faith is an essential quality of life that its doctrines and values move me daily.

I just wanted to make that point because I believe it is crucial to be open, because the longer I'm silent the wider the miscommunication chasm could be.

Hey, maybe there are some nuts out there who really believe in what Frist and DeLay are arguing. After all, I'm not a Democrat. But I do believe that a majority of Democrats do not have that blatant intent in mind as they are defending the flibuster and questioning DeLay.

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other"

Mother Teresa

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11 posted 2005-04-15 09:50 PM


Noah, my friend, as always, you bring well thought out and just as well spoken argument (debates??) to the table. I would have to agree with what you say about the "supposed" values of the Democratic party, and in the same breath modify it to reflect my own beliefs...
The Democratic party at the grassroots level (small town American councils, local school boards, etc) is exactly what the National Party chair professes at the top of his voice that his party stands for. Though I am a Republican-leaning, fiscally ceonservative, social moderate, I am willing to say that. I am also willing to admit that were the National Democratic Party return to the small town American vaules that it professes, a vast majority of the presidential and congressional/senate races would be Democratic landslides.
While it is the Democratic party that claims to be for the "little guy", the Republican Party actually, in my opinion, seems to be the party of inclusion. It is the Republicans that have plans for small business, and the Democratic leadership (and those that profess to be such -namely Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton) seem to want to take all of the benefits that small business are getting and take it away so it can be given as entitlements (such a stupid word) to the poor...
I ask you this... which would help with American prosperity in the long run? Assisting small business creat more jobs, and making it easier for people to open small business, or keeping people in the dust by giving them handouts and never allowing them a way out?

Anyhow, I have gotten completely off topic, and will take this moment to stop.   lol

I truly hope and pray that the DNC gets their hed and their other side wired together one day and do it right... then, and only then will we truly have ppositive change and dialogue in the world.

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12 posted 2005-04-15 11:05 PM


Lester i believe you do have a two party system yes, there's a mentality that any other vote is a 'throw away.' But i wouldn't feel bad, Canada only has a one party system working on that same flawed thought.
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13 posted 2005-04-16 09:59 AM


Noah, there is nothing wrong with discussing, questioning and debating someone's credentials, and no one is even suggesting that there is.

What is wrong, in my opinion, is that the filibuster is being used, not to do that, but to prevent a vote at all, ever, on the nominated people with whom they ideologically disagree. They are using the filibuster as a tool of obstruction and will only allow votes on the candidates with whom they agree ideologically. That's wrong. And it would be wrong for either side.

I support changes in the rules to put a stop to this, like perhaps forcing a vote after everyone has had their say, being unable to adjourn without a vote being cast first, having the filibuster delay a vote, but not prevent one. But with so many Republicans looking 'ahead' to the day when they will again be the minority, they don't want to lose the option of misusing the filibuster to their advantage against the nominees and legislation not in line with their professed ideologies under those circumstances.
I guess they are niave enough to believe that the Democratic leadership in that scenario won't push to change the rules when they are once again in the majority.

I believe that Tom DeLay is being 'attacked' by some in the Democratic party and the media because he is a strong, principled leader. They are 'charging' him with actions that are totally within the guidelines of acceptable Congressional behavior....and things that they have all participated in.

If that makes me a nut in someone's opinion, so be it.


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14 posted 2005-04-16 11:50 AM


quote:
Many of the recent news "scoops" that have been running on the front pages of major newspapers are little more than rehashed accusations that have appeared elsewhere. Despite sensational headlines and hyper-inflated allegations, these stories fail utterly to provide evidence of any wrongdoing by Tom DeLay.

Example 1: Last week's story in The New York Times breathlessly reported that DeLay had employed family members to work on his campaigns and for his political action committee. This story was so old it had whiskers. It was first reported in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call in 2003.

Other news outlets dutifully followed the Times and created the impression that DeLay had put family members on the public payroll. In fact, no taxpayer money was involved. Nor was it in any way illegal or unethical for DeLay's privately funded PAC to employ his wife and daughter. The Times reported that DeLay's PAC paid his wife and daughter $500,000. This is only $50,000 a year each for the past five years, a solidly middle-class income and certainly a lot less than the editors at The New York Times earn.

Media one-sided
In addition, it has been publicly reported for years that dozens of members of Congress - including such Democrats as Sen. Barbara Boxer, Sen. Jon Corzine, Rep. Pete Stark and Rep. Dick Gephardt - have done likewise and the Federal Election Commission has ruled it was entirely proper. Neither did the press reports note that DeLay's wife and daughter were compensated at rates below what typical congressional campaign managers and PAC directors earn.

Example 2: The Washington Post recently published a page-one "expose" about the financing of a 1997 trip to Russia. The facts are that the National Center for Public Policy Research, a nonprofit association, issued a statement last month describing its sponsorship of and payment for this trip: "The National Center for Public Policy Research was careful to pay all the expenses associated with Congressman DeLay's trip. Reports to the contrary are incorrect." Every year, dozens of members of Congress and staff participate in such trips financed by nonprofit organizations.

This is perfectly legal, normal and even routine.
In fact, despite being in the minority, over the past four years Democrats have taken 54 percent of such trips and Democrats were the top five private trip-takers (in terms of money spent). They were in order: Sen. John Breaux. Rep. Robert Wexler, Rep. Gene Green, Rep. Maurice Hinchey and Rep. Cal Dooley. And when it comes to taxpayer financed trips, Democrat Nancy Pelosi has spent six times more on foreign travel than Tom DeLay.

Example 3: The Post published a story alleging impropriety in Tom DeLay's traveling to Korea under the auspices of a group that was a registered foreign agent. The fact is that the group was registered as representing a foreign interest only after the trip was arranged and approved by the House Ethics Committee. DeLay had no prior knowledge of this development.

Pelosi aide in trouble
The Post also failed to report that the only congressional staff member traveling under the group's auspices who failed to file the required paperwork was a senior aide to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. When confronted with this fact, Rep. Pelosi's staff member countered that there was no way anyone involved could have known the trip might be in violation of the rules. A spokesman for Rep. James McDermott, D-Wash., who took a trip with the same group, noted: "It's a great 20-20 hindsight story." Rep. McDermott's understanding, his aide said, "was that the Ethics Committee cleared this."

These examples underscore the fact that the charges being hurled at Tom DeLay have little to do with ethics and everything to do with politics. If these allegations had any substance, then there would have been an uproar in the press over Rep. Pelosi's apparently direct intervention on behalf of a contributor after taking money for her re-election campaign. The Washington Times reported this story, but the anti-DeLay press ignored it. Clearly, the dominant liberal press has an agenda to bring down Tom DeLay and the facts can be ignored.

With such a lack of substance, then, where are these attacks on Tom DeLay coming from and who is behind them?

The campaign to "demonize DeLay" is engineered by a cabal of leftist interest groups allied with the Democratic Nation Committee and House Democrats. The campaign is funded by the Democrats' Daddy Warbucks, billionaire George Soros.

A left-wing cabal
Soros, it will be recalled, spent $27 million to defeat George W. Bush (this from a man who was the chief source of funding for the campaign finance reform movement to take the influence of big money out of politics!) Frustrated in his inability to defeat President Bush, Soros has conspired with the DNC and the House Dems to defeat the Bush agenda by destroying Tom DeLay. These conspirators believe that they can "Newter" Tom DeLay the way they did Newt Gingrich in the late 1990s, thereby stopping the progress of a conservative Bush agenda and setting up the Democrats to retake control of Congress in 2006 and the White House in 2008.

Soros, who never tires of losing and throwing good money after bad, has spent $3 million on the so-called "Ethics Coalition," a collection of leftist interest groups that exist solely to smear Republicans and create the atmospherics of scandal surrounding the GOP Congress in general and Tom DeLay in particular. The "Ethics Coalition" consists of Democracy 21, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Common Cause, Public Citizen, Public Campaign, Center for Responsive Politics, and the Campaign Legal center. Most of these are subsidized by Soros for the purpose of attacking Republicans. While these organizations purport to be non-partisan watchdogs, in fact they almost never target ethical abuses by Democrats.

Democrats apparently spare little concern for the character of their allies. George Soros has compared President Bush to Hitler, said the Republican control of Congress reminds him of the Nazi takeover of Germany in the 1930s, believes the United States is the greatest threat to world peace, favors legalization of all narcotics, and supports efforts to create a single global government under U.N. auspices complete with a U.N.-controlled military. Such is the man who is funding the campaign to demonize Tom DeLay.

Attack coordinated
These groups, largely staffed by former Democratic Hill staffers, coordinate with the Democratic members of Congress and the DNC to make ethics the blunt object with which to bludgeon DeLay. The strategy is to use the House Ethics Committee for partisan advantage by filing frivolous complaints against DeLay. It matters little that these accusations are baseless and in most case are summarily dismissed. Democrats know the charges are false. The purpose is simply to create a smokescreen of scandal around DeLay, undercut his political support among fellow Republicans and drive him from office. The strategy is cynical, nasty and utterly unprincipled.

Democrats make much of the fact that DeLay has been "admonished" by the House Ethics Committee. They routinely and deceptively use such terms as "rebuked," "reprimanded" or "punished" to describe the committee's actions. In fact, a letter of admonition is the mildest form of discipline and is used for instances in which no wrongdoing is found. A letter of admonition does not even rise to the level of a slap on the wrist.

Dems lack issues
The attack on Tom DeLay is evidence of the Democrats' desperation. They've lost election after election since 1994. The party is in retreat all across the country. It has no agenda, no positive policy initiatives to offer Americans. Democrats cannot win at the ballot box or in Congress. Their remaining tactics are opposition, obstruction and obfuscation.

The Democrats never will forgive Tom DeLay for his efforts in redrawing congressional districts in Texas that cost them six seats in the House (which incidentally undid past Democratic gerrymandering and brought Texas' delegation into line with the overwhelming majority of voters in the Lone Star State). Democrats despise DeLay because he is a tough, principled conservative and an effective majority leader who is successful in driving the Republican agenda though the House. Unable to win elections, and bereft of anything positive to offer the country, the Democrats and their Soros-funded allies have become little more than a pack of seething scandalmongers.

Richard Lessner is executive director of the American Conservative Union.

http://www.conservative.org/columnists/lessner/04132005rl.asp

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15 posted 2005-04-16 08:37 PM


Thanks for that interesting article, Denise. As much as I very much disagree with much of it and believe that article is slanted with too much of that partisan talking-head rhetoric, it is absolutely worth discussing.

Again, I disagree and deny their take to why the Democrats have been serious about DeLay as of late. After all, within the GOP itself, Shays, Santorum and Chafee have come out expressing their concerns about DeLay and how he may prove to be a great roadblock for the party's chances in building up seats or maintaining power in 2006. This indicates to me it's not just the Democrats who are concerned about DeLay, some of his own party faithful are as well.

This may sound funny saying, and even unthinkable to some of you, but I truly believe I'm trying to help the GOP here on this issue. Encourage that we review and talk about DeLay's House history in a civil manner and then once we organize everything out that anxiety is gone and his innocence or guilt can be made clear, along with the conscience of this controversial character.

Anyway, I do believe you deserve some answers to that source you shared, Denise.

First of all, I absolutely agree that I believe it is wrong for George Soros to be getting involved here. I believe this investigation needs to be done diplomatically without special interest dollars and without special lawyers, and those like Soros would only be wrongfully hyping this matter.

I also previously made clear in the DeLay thread that I believe some Democrats are no stranger to that sort of behavior as well. I hope the Pelosi aide thing is handled in a bi-lateral fashion like I believe the DeLay thing should.

But I do dismiss those claims that that article are saying, such as "this is all about politics, not ethics" and that the Democrats, despite my current seperation from them, are "bereft of anything positive to offer the country". That condescending election talk has gotten stale too.

There's no doubt Tom DeLay is a powerful political figure who has never lost a vote and has been one of the most credited individuals for furthering his party's agenda. And I find it understandable to realize in the Democrats point of view in their effort to pass something of their own, someone like DeLay would often prove to be a roadblock.

I believe at this time that the Democrats mostly really are concerned about the ethics in particular here. But if it so happens that it is absolutely clear that they're just trying to do now what the GOP did to Clinton during his term about the Lewinsky scandal that got him impeached and this is their effort at a partisan payback, then they're inevitably not going to get anywhere and their shattered effort will symbolize just how shattered the Democratic Party is in standing up for their roots.

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other"

Mother Teresa

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16 posted 2005-04-16 09:23 PM




Hey Ringo, glad to see you joining in here, yay!

I don't really agree with you in that the GOP is more of the inclusion party, for I still believe the Democrats are a little better at inclusion efforts than Republicans, and I'll state some examples why I believe that in a moment, but the bottom line here is I believe both these parties are too corporately-influenced and both are making a limited effort in standing up for the "little guy".

I explained what I believe is wrong with the Democrats and why I'm not one, so now I'll say what I believe is wrong especially with the GOP.

Frankly, I believe the GOP has just abandoned its roots in recent memory. I myself agree with many traditional conservative values, such as small government and state rights. That's what the GOP stood for in previous generations.

I was watching "NOW" last night, for instance, where David Brancaccio interviewed former Republican Governor of New Jersey and former EPA head Christine Todd Whitman, and she was arguing how she believed the GOP has done just that, side-stepping from their core roots recently. One interesting point she made was how a significant part of the environmental revolution was actually a Republican revolution, such as Theodore Roosevelt calling for a national park system and Richard Nixon calling for the EPA, and now she feels the current administration is retrograding those sorts of achievements now.

There's a number of recent events I've seen which I believe the Democrats have had more of the right idea and the GOP the wrong idea for the "little guy". The minimum wage increase, for example, which all 49 NO votes came from the GOP, something which 4 in 5 Americans want. Or the bill on cloture, which the GOP and some Democrats backed up, which I believe is siding with the corporate credit-card companies and running against low-income workers and single mothers and such. Or Nelson's "Sense of the Senate" amendment where he believed Congress should reject any Social Security reform plan that involves cutting benefits, which the GOP Senate rejected.

It's things like that that convince me that the GOP is more distant from the Middle American little guy or gal than many often believe. That they just seem to side with the corporate world more than they do the general American interest.

THAT'S exactly why I'm an independent, who realizes I must be self-reliant and do the best I can until there's some changes made either with our rigid two-party system or within the parties themselves.

I've come to many crossroads with others like myself at KBOO community radio, which is a model for the programming and the filling of needs that other media does not, giving all kinds of diverse groups a voice, providing a safe haven for unpopular, controversial or neglected perspectives, and that anyone, whether you're white, black, Asian, Native American, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander, whether you're a religious believer, agnostic or atheist, no matter what your political affliation is, no matter what kind of music you love, the community runs its whole programming line-up. And when we've just completed our latest pledge drive here and seen unprecedented numbers and contributions coming in to keep the station running, that really tells me we NEED this outlet.

Sometimes KBOO is perceived as a hippy station. And while its true that this stations name came from call letters referencing a popular strain of marijuana called "Berkeley Boo" when the station was put on the air in 1968, I believe it has a little something for everyone in the community. Obviously most of our pledges come from those who either like the music or share those progressive political interests, but I've taken about seven pledges from those who say they're Republicans and they may not agree with the evening news we broadcast (The Evening News features daily commentaries from Jim Hightower, Amy Goodman and Mumia) they say they believe it is extremely important to have this alternative megaphone alive and believe the other side of the story must be heard and that's why they contribute, and among the seven I got a few compliments on our station being tolerant and disciplined when dissenting.

And politics is just a small part of the line-up. Most of the programming is music. There's so much music you don't hear anywhere else, including The Yiddish Hour, Dr. Zonk's Stereophone Obscura, Persian Prime, and African music. There's also spoken arts programs, youth programs, gay, lesbian, woman and ethnic study programs, and all kinds of specials.

I don't get paid a penny working for KBOO, but I love working there because I believe it's a great way in setting an example for the little guys and gals in my community. It may not make everything better, but it does provide solace to those like myself!

The bottom line here is, I don't even think just saying you're a liberal or conservative does justice of who you really are or what you believe. I believe this administration in particular has really made me more liberal than I really am. I believe there's a lot of conservative spirit and values in me as well, for I'd really like to see a return to small government and a firm focus on state rights and decisions rather than federal decisions.

Some say I just have a biased grudge against the GOP entirely and that I'll never vote for a Republican president. My response is, "How would you know that?". If the GOP continues to wander from its roots, then that'll be true in the end, but if they do return to their roots and they nominate a traditional conservative candidate and the Democrats decide to nominate someone like Lieberman, I'd vote Republican in that instance, unless of course a third party candidate who I agreed with more actually had a chance.

Labels just don't make justice of all we really are. I believe I'm both liberal and conservative in heart.

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other"

Mother Teresa

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

17 posted 2005-04-17 10:59 AM


Noah, I think the focus has to be on the question did DeLay violate any of the rules? If he did, then the folks who believe he did should make their case against him, and not just continue to hurl accusations and innuendo around that he did, especially when he did nothing that all of them haven't also done. They should back up their allegations with evidence of wrongdoing and have him indicted on something or leave him alone.

I think all that they can do is keep slandering him and trying to put pressure on him so that even members of his own party will cease to support him simply because of the controversy being created by the Democrats. I don't have any respect for them if they pull their support from him for those reasons, without proof that he actually violated any of the rules.

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