If it doesn’t make sense . . .

FYI: I can't be shamed into wanting to be stupid. If something doesn't make sense to me, no one is going to convince me that I will regret being unpopular for refusing to stick with people who support the senseless practice, belief, or misinformation train. That's not who I am and certainly not who I want to be.

Some of the same people who criticized Allison Grimes and Jack Conway for not supporting President Obama (although the criteria they use to develop their criticism is flimsy and it actually boils down to these two didn't demonstrate support in the exact ways at the exact times the critics wanted) are not supporting President Obama on TPP and TPA. Not only are they not supporting him, they are spreading misinformation about TPP and TPA and stating, with no reservations, that they do not trust him, believe him, or wish him well. That is much worse than what they are criticizing Allison and Jack for doing, and, I am positive, matters more to President Obama than their imagined slights by Alison and Jack. This makes no sense to me so I totally reject the people who are doing it.

Some of the same people who criticized the Republican Party for not taking a stand when the people who called themselves tea party took over and ruined what was left of the Republican Party are now criticizing me for taking a stand against the group of people who are poised to do the same to the Democratic Party. I would feel like a loser and an idiot if I remained silent when I saw this happening, and I would absolutely be a hypocrite. Being a hypocrite makes no sense to me so I will not do it.

I tossed a ratty old shoe out on my page a couple of times. I didn't name names, identify owners, or try to give that shoe to anyone. I honestly had no one in particular in mind to catch that shoe when I tossed it. However, a couple of people snatched that shoe right up, put it on, decided it felt comfortable, and claimed it. Then, they (and others) got very upset with me for saying it was theirs – when, in fact, I had said nothing of the sort. But they had. This makes no sense to me. None. So, I will not apologize for how uncomfortable that shoe feels to anyone who decided to own it.

I am a life-long, yellow dog Democrat. I love this about myself. Unless the Democratic Party changes drastically, this will not change for me. The hundreds of people who have worked campaigns with me, made calls from headquarters with me, attended meetings and debates with me, rallied with me, protested with me, stood on street corners holding signs with me, carried petitions for signatures with me, watched the things I have written over the last twenty years, had more than two conversations with me - all know that I support my party and its candidates. Now, people who know this about me are trying to say that I should "stick together" with people who pretended they were like me but are wandering away from the party and/or President Obama – most of them because they are siding with someone who is not a Democrat (unless he changed his party in the last five minutes) and/or someone who was a Republican a few years ago because she thought they were better at business, and whose Wikipedia page indicates she might still vote for some Republicans. Thinking I should "stick together" with people who became unglued makes no sense to me. I'm sticking with President Obama because he has been consistent and he has stuck with me.

There is not a single person on this earth that I believe cares more about this country and the people in this country, this world and the people in it, and doing what is best for the most concerned than President Obama. I don't think anyone who is criticizing him on TPP and TPA knows as much about it as he does, or cares as much about doing what is best for the most concerned. And, I don't know a single person whose opinion about this I trust more than his. Not sure there is anyone whose opinion I trust as much as his. It makes no sense to me for people (who know much less about this than I do, and who have gotten most of their information from memes), to criticize me (when I have read every word on the White House site, listened to every speech the President has given, read countless articles, and attended an OFA phone brief with David Simas, Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach and Luis Jiminez, Counselor to the U.S. Trade Representative) for sharing information. So, I will continue to share facts and point out when people are sharing misinformation. And anyone else who wants to send a private message and call me a sheeple will receive the same FUCK YOU response the last one got.

Other than brewing this, I had a wonderful Mother's Day and hope everyone else did, too.

Wake Up, Democratic Party

January 24, 2006

While working the 2000 election campaign, I lost patience with the large number of people who claimed there was no difference between Democrats and Republicans. Al Gore was a brilliant, successful, respectable, honest, prepared, articulate man, married to a strong, caring woman. George Bush, his tongue-tied, dishonest, uninformed, chemical abusing, pompous bully opponent who had never succeeded at any of the few things he had done in his life was married to a Stepford wife. How could anyone not see the difference?

In 2001, Paul Patton (then Governor of Kentucky) delivered a speech that confirmed my belief in the Democratic Party philosophy. His explanation of why he was a Democrat renewed my pride in the party. It also made me realize how my interpretation of the party philosophy, and my focus on particular candidates instead of the parties during the 2000 campaign, had influenced my narrowed view and confusion. Governor Patton’s words healed the wounds from the stolen election enough to break my immobilizing grief and launch my battle to spread the word and activate my fellow Democrats.

Unfortunately, the Democrats seem to have cast their philosophy and Governor Patton aside about the same time. Today, I have a hard time seeing a respectable difference in the two parties. The Republicans might be leading in the race to corrupt our constitution and culture, but the Democrats share equal responsibility through their willingness to roll over and let it happen.

I’m grateful to Al Gore for his call-to-arms speech. I appreciate Senators Byrd, Kennedy, Feingold, Leahy, Representatives Murtha, Kucinich, and Pelosi, and others who have bravely stood up against the Republican take-over of most everything I hold dear. I’m disgusted with the media for not giving the Gore speech the attention it deserves, disappointed in the overwhelming number of Democrats who won’t support those who bravely try to lead, and sickened by those who apologize for their actions. I want to think some are just confused, believing nice is a requirement or virtue, when in truth nice and diplomacy are totally separate practices. Being nice at the wrong time, or with those who will exploit it is not a virtue; it is a cowardly concession. Sadly, I believe many have played the twisted Republican game so long they can’t remember the original rules.

I feel betrayed by my Party. On the whole, they give me Republican candidates disguised as Democrats, from the top down to the LD chairs and precinct captains. I don’t have a voice. Northup, McConnell, and Bunning embarrass or anger me every time they speak for me. They discard my opinions by responding with form letters that reflect no consideration for my intelligence or my opinions. Many Democrats in Washington forget how their opinions and votes affect all of us. They reject letters from anyone outside their states. The Executive branch bans me from their speaking engagements and won’t allow me to protest in their range of vision. I can’t afford to hear most Democratic politicians speak, much less offer my questions or opinions. My vote doesn’t count, and my Party concedes elections while voters remain in line to grovel for their right to cast a vote that probably won’t count anyway.

The political focus is on money, sex, a religion I want no part of, and keeping up with the Republicans in their game, with few representing what I consider the Democratic promise to protect individual choices or rights. In my opinion, the Democrats sold their souls along with the Republicans, ignoring those with the least money or power.

I want candidates who honestly respect what the Democratic Party stands for, and who are passionate enough to stand for what they believe. I want candidates who will not try to sermonize or buy their way into the popular clique. I’m tired of voting for Democrats who do not represent me, and will soon stop supporting a Party that has forgotten the things that truly are important to the people. The Democrats I know care about jobs, healthcare, and education. We don’t care about the sex lives or religious beliefs of others, and we know the only country threatening and mutilating our freedom is this one. And we don’t want the blood of the world on our hands.

Enough is enough. Give ‘we the people’ the catalyst we need to win this war on our country.