Thank You Daily Kos

Here we are folks, less than a week until the Democratic National Convention and the countdown finally begins. Cue the curtain call to political theater; we've seen this all before. So then why do I feel something is different this time? Maybe because we are hoping all of Bernie's delegates make it to the floor, crash through the veneer of bullshit, and become the voices of 12 million people who were jilted by the Democratic Party.

Ah, the Democratic Party. My once really sensitive boyfriend turned into a philandering cad. A relationship I'm sadly familiar with each time I get slapped around by our Two Party version of the electoral process, beginning with my first election. Fresh from my swearing in ceremony with my US Citizenship Certificate in my hand, I watched our democracy die in what essentially became the Dred Scott case of our time: Gore v. Bush. And like a bride on her honeymoon who just found a bloody horses head in her marital bed, I was horrified, I was angry, but for all practical purposes, I was powerless.

A few years later this little blog called the Daily Kos popped up on my radar and it was full of Democrats just like me seeking justice. It was also deliciously snarky and smart, informative and promoted grassroots activism. It was the first social media place I called home. I lurked there for many years too intimidated with their brilliance and my inadequate political knowledge to even comment. Obama’s 2008 election changed that. Coming off an intoxicating campaign, I was ready for real change. The country needed real change. I can scarcely put into words my thoughts when Obama patted the same bankers on the back who had almost destroyed every retirement account in the world and sent them on their way with their grotesque bonuses intact. My gut wrenched as it conjured up the same feelings of injustice perpetrated by Republicans when they disenfranchised the American voters. Except Obama wasn’t a Republican. He was “us”, wasn’t he?

And there was the divide.

It began as a fissure with Democrats questioning other Democrats on who we were and what we stood for. I didn’t know it at the time, but the microcosm of the political wars going on inside the Daily Kos would eventually play out across the Nation when Hillary was coronated by the Establishment and a little known Senator from Vermont stood up and said, “wait a minute, we can do better”. Indeed we can, and we did, and the fissure grew and grew until it cracked wide open leaving a gaping fault line separating us from those who want to keep doing the same thing with politicians beholden to special interests.

What was an even greater surprise was the bitter campaign of marginalization. We were dismissed. We were ignored. We were laughed at. We were lied to. And lied about. We were told we didn’t understand how politics worked. We were told to trust the person who for the last 20 years has tethered her self to a power structure of profit margins and a shitload of money. And finally, we were told we could just fuck off.

Many of us chose the latter and left the Daily Kos.

Like the split that happened inside the microcosm of the Daily Kos, where members who had been blogging for nearly a decade there decided to leave, Bernie supporters everywhere across our country have decided to leave. #DemExit is now trending on Twitter and Bernie supporters are now calling for a mass exit on the 20th of July before the Democratic convention.

The election of 2000 has returned. But instead of the Republicans as a target, I am seeking justice from my own party. The difference this time? There are more of us.

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sojourns's picture

And TOP is a festering rat hole anymore.

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"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."
John Cage

That's what the partisans would say, anyway. "Real life isn't like Daily Kos." "Out in the real world people love Obama, just not here on Daily Kos." Turns out that a sizable fraction of the Democratic party, and a hell of a lot of independents, actually agree with us Bad Apples.

The schism in the Democratic party has been brewing for quite a while, and was only temporarily postponed by the Obama bait-and-switch campaign, followed by Republicans losing their shit over a black president. The pie wars at TOP were a symptom of this much larger phenomenon, no matter the partisans' disclaimers. Nothing's going to stop it now, especially with Her Highness champing at the bit to "move to the center" after the election. The willfully blind partisans at TOP will excuse her for her betrayals of the base, but they are growing fewer and more pathetic by the week.

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sojourns's picture

in the not too distant future many TOP peeps are going to be crying into their beers, lattes or herbal tea recipes.

If they do not fuck up the looming perjury charges, I'm going to go in there and lurk and quietly gloat. If there's anyone there.

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"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."
John Cage

jwa13's picture

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When Cicero had finished speaking, the people said “How well he spoke”.
When Demosthenes had finished speaking, the people said “Let us march”.

I too was quite disillusioned with Obama's push for TARP straight away. Even though Ron Paul, who was also being marginalized by the media a-la-Bernie in the 2008 race, had been saying that corporate America already owned him. Sigh... I DemExited a long time ago. In MA we can be unenrolled and still participate in the primary of our choice on Super Tuesday so that makes it easier. Actually, we are now over half of the registered voters in MA and only 36% are registered Dems. It seems that people are slowly waking up to how rigged the system is. There are still some great pieces on KOS regarding racism, feminism and the environment, but they have lost all credibility with regard to election coverage for me. It is sadly like watching Fox news. You know what they are going to say before they say it.

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ThomM's picture

I also remember the halcyon days when TOP was an inviting place for progressives like me. But my first disappointment was when Bobby Kennedy was taken out, and then Eugene McCarthy, and then McGovern, and then Bill Clinton and NAFTA, the repeal of Glass-Stiegel and the crime bill. Obama was going for real change. Yes we can! But he didn't. This time we are fully aware of the corruption and lies. I for one have been taken for a fool too many times. Not only will I never vote for any Clinton, I will not vote for my congressman, my senators or my Governor, all super delegates supporting Clinton and the neoliberal cabal that has made a mockery of the once proud party of FDR and my grandfather. I'm done.

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Anja Geitz's picture

There's so much to do that sometimes it's overwhelming. The young people I work with are passionate but need leadership. They need leadership from smart people who understand the pitfalls and can guide them while at the same time harnessing their passion into doing something better. This is no longer the same generation as mine was when I was 20, where everyone idolized Gordon Gecco and just wanted to make money. This generation is angry and wants to do something about our burning planet.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

B. Joe King's picture

We see the world as our parents and grandparents have shaped it and see that it has nothing to offer for us. We will be the first generation to be poorer than our parents; we go in to massive amounts of debt to pay for an education with the promise that it will lead to a comfortable living, yet that living is hard to come by. When the tea party movement was being taken seriously and led to sweeping victories for far-right politicians, the occupy movement was ridiculed.
We don't fault our elder's generations for seeking betterment for themselves, we want to better our situation as well. But where we differ is that we want to better EVERYONE'S situation, not just our own. We're over educated, under employed, and between rent and student loan payments a lot of us have been forced to move back in with family. What is said about millenials being 'the entitled' generation is nothing but a pile of shit, we know a bad deal when we see one.

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Gold is the wealth of kings; silver is the wealth of commoners; barter is the wealth of peasants; and debt is the wealth of slaves.

Anja Geitz's picture

After the financial crisis when jobs were hemorraghing by the thousands, employers had the benefit of a sellers market. They offered experienced older workers entry level pay for jobs that did the work of several people, ultimately squeezing out college graduates with less work experience. Bad for us. Bad for you. GREAT for the employer.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

jwa13's picture

as I do during every election cycle, I was gratified to see the numbers of serious and committed young faces among the caucus participants. Those young people were knowledgeable, eloquent, and committed! I stood for Bernie, and most of them did, too. I have no worries that we elders (sadly, usually, not "wisers") are turning things over to a better - and better prepared - generation. You Guys GO!

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When Cicero had finished speaking, the people said “How well he spoke”.
When Demosthenes had finished speaking, the people said “Let us march”.

I would so suggest doing DemExit AFTER Hillary is nominated, if she is, which is what I believe was the original plan for many? Apart from anything else, that clearly pin-points the issues causing people to mass-leave, while leaving room for any potential new developments at the Convention which might require/be dealt with better with Dem membership. It might be a good idea for voters to be ready for anything, just in case.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

reflectionsv37's picture

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“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”
George W. Bush

shaharazade's picture

No better then the Mormon vote from me. I voted for Jill Stein and she got less then 1% of the vote. This election will hopefully the Greens will have better numbers.

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Haikukitty's picture

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Keep a screencap before that's edited - you mysteriously won't remember this revealing slip later...

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Hawkfish's picture

I know it's a long shot but let's wait until it is (as my friends rabbi said about his divorce "done,done done").

Besides, I already blew my primary contribution budget on Bernie and have to wait for the Green convention for what I budgeted for the general.

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We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg

lunachickie's picture

There are more of us.

Take yer screenshots of Twitter trending #DemExit before they kill the algorithm. That seems to happen out there a lot lately Wink

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elenacarlena's picture

but I see both sides.

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Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.

kharma's picture

Not much worse than Murphy as the Democratic candidate for Senate.

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There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams

reflectionsv37's picture

It became official yesterday! Received my membership acknowledgement for the Green Party and the confirmation email resigning from the Dem party. Funny this last one is giving me a chance to reconsider almost begging me to stay. The first ones, I received were threatening me that I might not be allowed to rejoin the dem party for 3 years. Like I care! And I'm sure that if I wanted to return they'd greet me with open arms. But they're never going to get the chance to know!

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“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”
George W. Bush

... The first ones, I received were threatening me that I might not be allowed to rejoin the dem party for 3 years. ...

And what reason would there be for that, other than a remaining risk of Bernie becoming the Dem nominee, in which case, Big Money would naturally want a Republican, with their worst nightmare then coming to pass?

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

".. The first ones, I received were threatening me that I might not be allowed to rejoin the dem party for 3 years. ..."

Speaking of trying to rule by "fear." Jeez - delicious to hear the DNC is that desperate.

Suggest all ALSO call their Democratic Senators DC office ( better than calling local office) and let them know what you've done - LEFT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Also, might add, you will not VOTE for any Democrat who supports Clinton. Speaking of FEAR, inform them you will leave that line blank, or vote for the REPUBLICAN.

Let's show'em what fear really is!

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CaptainPoptart's picture

Enjoyed your essay just as much as the first time over at TPW. You really hit all the high notes.

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I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance. - e.e.cummings

Anja Geitz's picture

Good to know you are here as well Smile

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Some of us try to stay up with our sister blogs, but it doesn't always happen. Your story really is the story of "a lot more of us". We owe our children and grandchildren a better future than the one Obama, Hillary, and the 1% have in mind.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Anja Geitz's picture

This is not over by a long shot and I'll tell you why. Because of people like my Sister. Apolitical most of her adult life, she is now a goddamn revolutionary. Smile

She's is leaving the Democratic Party on the 20th. She's considering either running for office, or volunteering, or agitating. She's called legislators, she's written postcards, and she's used her sphere of influence to educate. This is particularly fascinating for me since she never cared for the Wild West of political social media but is now part of a half a dozen Facebook groups advocating either Bernie, or the Green Party, or resistance to all things Hillary. She devours information and picks up on either my arguments or my friends on her FB feeds and uses them when arguing with what she refers to as the "deeply misinformed".

In other words, this is NOT another conventional election season. We are done.

So, I guess those Clinton assholes probably don't think the Political Revolution is so funny anymore, eh?

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

riverlover's picture

Or someone running with the surname Disgust.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Levity option.
Nobody for President

On December 8, 1975 I spoke with Wavy Gravy at the United State Cafe on Haight Street in San Francisco about voter apathy.

I pointed to statistics showing people were not registering to vote and approximately fifty (50) percent of people who could vote, were not showing up at polls.

Wavy responded, "You mean Nobody is winning Presidential elections?" [...]

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lunachickie's picture

I thought this post was going to tell me that the Birthday Party was getting back together and gonna run Nick Cave for POTUS (would post a vid, but they're an acquired taste, hehe..)

Pleasantry

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Lookout's picture

I didn't leave the party. They traded FDR's values for corporate profits and left working people to fend for themselves.. I'm hopeful the Green party will fill the void. My goal this cycle is to get Jill up to 15% so she can plea our case in the debates with a national audience. We will have to work as hard for her as we did Bernie to accomplish this goal in two months or so.

green poster.jpg
Well 2016!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

skod's picture

I hope that the Bernie folks can make something happen, but it is a very faint and rapidly-fading hope at this point. More realistically, I expect that The Unindicted Co-Conspirator will simply have her brownshirts break out the water cannons and flush them out of the room. Can't have the rabble spoil the coronation: it'll be Nero's garden party.

I won't be watching. I just hope that everyone stays safe. The brownshirts, aided and abetted by the hyper-militarized police, will just be waiting for any opportunity to crack some skulls. I fear that it'll be a hippie-punching extravaganza- and a flare-lit preview of things to come.

One thing is certain: we will end up with the best government that money can buy.

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kharma's picture

I tried driving by that place the other day but the atmosphere was phony and the comments were vile. The recommended list was missing most of the great writers that used to populate that list. Now it's full of NYT regurgitation's by ken and Sanders hatefests from salzo. Fuck the nastiness, that place reeks. I ended up continuing on as I drove by and realized it was like driving by a paper mill, something you wanted to get over with as quickly as possible and avoid in the future.

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There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams

Anja Geitz's picture

Yeah, I went there after swing state polls came out. NOTHING. I couldn't believe it. Not one diary about Hillary polling within a margin of error to Trump in Florida and Ohio. It defies an explanation.

Glad to be here --

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Mark from Queens's picture

Nice to find you here today with this fine essay.

It's also pleasing to see the steady flow of defections from TOP. Still a few others I'd like to see; maybe we can all work a little more to decimate completely the already turned-husk of a sad sack place of halfwit cheerleaders, sheep and willfully ignorant Neoliberal minions.

Also loved the anecdote about your sister's radicalization.

Yes, absolutely. There are many more #NotMeUs folks now that Bernie turned the thing upside down by exposing the deep, ugly corruption of the duopoly.

Thinking of going to Philly this weekend/next week?

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"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"

- Kurt Vonnegut

Anja Geitz's picture

So much is happening lately, I needed a safe place to put my thoughts into writing. I've been on overload for awhile now. Bernie's endorsement hit me hard. I keep the long view, but what they did to that man was criminal. I feel like if I saw either Hill or Bill drowning in the ocean, I'd toss them an anchor. And that kind of bothers me. Lol.

Unfortunately, my circumstances right now don't allow me to go to Philly. But I know people who are, and I've supported Bernie delegates as well. I'll wait to see what happens, and then I'll strategize.

Thanks for your warm words. It can be a cold cold world in the trenches of social media these days, so I appreciate your kindness more than you know.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

LeChienHarry's picture

going our way, I'm out too. AARO=Association of Americans Residing Overseas. I get pleas from Democrats Abroad, but I'm not responding...waiting to see what turns out.

Thanks for this thoughtful post from an expat to the US.

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You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again you did not know. ~ William Wiberforce

If you can donate, please! POP Money is available for bank-to-bank transfers. Email JtC to make a monthly donation.

There's a theory out there that the Dems can be scared into nominating Sanders if we leave before the convention begins. That would not happen until any circumstance. Their money is at stake, and they'd rather lose with their corporate donation apparatus intact than win with a traditional Democrat. Bernie, like FDR, wouldn't attract a lick of Goldman Sachs money.

Therefore, I will do my own Demexit as soon as the convention is over, hoping that if there are enough of us, they'll notice the exodus as a reaction to their corporate assholery. That's the best I can do, I guess. They don't give a damn what I think.

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Twain Disciple

HI! this is my first post... just got shunned at Daily Kos for being too enthusiastic for
Jill Stein. I am really bored by that place lately anyway... so glad that I found this site,
have been enjoying it so much this evening, folks are warm and funny here.. and focused on
important issues. Right now, I just want Jill Stein in the debates. What could be more
futile than a debate between Trump and anybody. I want a progressive to debate Clinton.
I too am looking for ways to send a message to the Democrats, maybe will leave the party...
definitely will go into Daily Kos and delete my account, not that they care. They are so self righteous,
for no apparent reason.
After 8 more years of
war and suffering in the middle east, massive student debt, absurd inequality, no effective action on global climate ..
no action on police brutality! How can I keep voting democrat... It's not just that democrats don't DO anything about these
issues, it's that they hardly even SAY anything.... They don't even ADVOCATE effectively for a better policy. I assume that
is because of their donors. I just would like to see them a least wield the power of the pen...after all... that is something
they are free to do here in the United States... but alas they don't. a very good night to you all here

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Anja Geitz's picture

Yeah, posting at the Daily Kos is futile now, unless you are a Hillary cheerleader. The good news is a lot of the smart funny writers that used to be over there are here now! Smile

Welcome.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier