Has it ever occurred to you that while you’re carrying on about the fact that you knocked on doors and supported Obama’s candidacy (and, by virtue thereof, you deserve to have your complaints addressed), there was someone else knocking on doors and supporting his candidacy whose agenda was completely different than your own – and feels that his complaints are just as valid, even though they may be in complete opposition to yours?

Has it ever occurred to you that when you say Obama has not gone far enough in his policies, or has not done enough to satisfy your desire for real change, you have a valid argument to present – but when you say “Obama has done NOTHING”, you’ve lost the argument already?

Has it ever occurred to you that while you’re claiming to be The Base, there are others, whose perspective may be totally at odds with yours, who can also legitimately lay claim to being The Base – having voted for, campaigned for, contributed to this Democratic presidency?

Has it ever occurred to you that incessant whining and complaining, without proferring any ideas, actions, or attitudes that would make things more to your liking, is nothing more than exactly that – incessant whining and complaining?

Has it ever occurred to you that some people would whine and complain no matter who had been elected – because that’s the only thing they know how to do?

Has it ever occurred to you that your fellow Democrats might see things differently than you do – by virtue of their profession, their personal circumstances, their financial situation – and they feel their concerns to be as much of a priority as yours?

Has it ever occurred to you that those who encourage discord between fellow Democrats might be pursuing an agenda that is thwarted by any sense of solidarity, any perception of common purpose - and, to that end, they are duty-bound to sow the seeds of discontent whenever possible?

Has it ever occurred to you that some people support this presidency out of satisfaction with its accomplishments thus far, and not out of ‘idol worship’, ignorance, or being easily misled?

Has it ever occurred to you that ‘compromise’ is a means of getting things accomplished, and not a total relinquishing of one’s principles – nor a distraction from one’s ultimate goals? Has it ever occurred to you that choosing one's battles is not always a sign of surrender, but an acknowledgment that some battles are indeed more important, when it comes to winning The War, than others?

Has it ever occurred to you that saying I’m not abandoning the Party, the Party has abandoned me is just another way of saying “If I don’t get everything I want, I’m out of here – and to hell with everyone else”?

Has it ever occurred to you that declaring you are not going to support a party of spineless idiots unwilling to fight is merely an indication that you are too spineless to fight for what you allegedly believe in – and lay your pitiful excuse for your non-participation at the feet of those you pretend to abhor, but inevitably emulate?

Has it ever occurred to you that constantly pointing out the flaws in the Party, without offering any viable solutions to countering or correcting those flaws, just might be a “flaw” in your own position?

Has it ever occurred to you that those who constantly bitch about “lock-stepping Democrats” have a penchant for lock-stepping when airing their complaints – right down to the same quotes, the same talking points, the same phrases? Has it ever occurred to you that lock-stepping is a two-lane highway, and there are as many coming as going?

Has it ever occurred to you that the people who naysay, complain, post nothing but negative articles, news stories, op-eds – day after day, without respite – might be promoting an agenda that has nothing to do with Democrats moving forward, but everything to do with promoting the notion that “the other side of the aisle” might be worth listening to ... in view of your dissatisfaction with your own party and all?

Has it ever occurred to you that many of us here have the same principles, the same goals, the same priorities – and differ only on how those goals are best achieved?

Has it ever occurred to you that those who insinuate that your vote doesn’t count, that your participation in the Party is pointless, that your support of a Democratic president (whether you love him or loathe him) is somehow a betrayal of your own ideals, sounds an awful lot like someone who doesn’t want you to ACT like a Democrat, or to vote accordingly?

Has it ever occurred to you that the change you seek is your responsibility to accomplish. And being encouraged to believe that it is solely up to someone else – from the President on down the line – makes for a great excuse to be disengaged from a process only YOU can alter by your participation therein?

Has it ever occurred to you that “The Party” is you – not the guy next to you, who never tires of reminding you that you don’t count. And if you listen to him, you, by default, don’t count at all. Has it ever occurred to you that that guy might see any pro-active move on your part as contrary to what he wants?

Has it ever occurred to you that those who continually post all that is negative, all that serves to be discouraging, all that seeks to pit one Democrat against another, might be pursuing an agenda that has nothing to do with progress or moving this country forward towards idealistic goals?

Has it ever occurred to you to question the motives of those who do so?

You might want to start thinking about it - because certain things might "occur to you" as a result.

Please proceed to REC or UNREC as is your wont. It is no longer of any consequence to me. But the truth of the matter remains a constant: you're either with this Party or against it. You're either up to the fight against the other side, or you're not. You're either in this battle to win - or you're in it to lose. There is nothing in between.