Primaries - Because it's all about me
I was expecting, as i'm sure many people were, for both Democrats and Republicans to have settled on a presidential nominee last night. That didn't happen.
Now that Democrats look like they're going to the wire, and that North Carolinians, especially me, are going to cast meaningful votes in May, here's what the contenders have to do to get my vote.
First, an explicit recognition that Democrats are not running against each other. This means a declaration from each of the campaigns that their opponent is fully qualified to lead the nation and expresses all of the values of the Democratic party: equal justice, equal opportunity, and equal rights in a society that is not governed by fear. Grassroots Democrats get this. We know that we have two strong candidates capable of leading America out of the morass that 4 decades, and especially the past eight years, of mostly Republican rule have left us in.
Second, now that the Republicans have selected their candidate, it's time to start running against him, and his stated intent to continue the failed policies and fear mongering of the Bush administration. That's the contrast that's most important, not the policy differences between Obama and Clinton.
Third, enough with the fear-mongering. And yes, i'm talking to you, Mark Penn and Hillary Clinton. We can't continue as a free people if our leaders are constantly trying to keep us living in fear. And if we aren't free, how can we expect any other nation to follow our lead? History flows towards freedom. The more we reject freedom, the more likely it is that we get left behind. Embracing fear reduces the distinction between the two parties, and as Truman said, given the choice between a Republican and someone who acts like a Republican, people will vote for the real Republican all the time. We're Americans, goddammit. We weren't afraid of the Nazis, we weren't afraid of the Soviets, why the hell should we be so afraid of a bunch of terrorists that we give away everything our parents and grandparents and Founding Fathers built for us?
Can you do that?
If you can, you'll not only have my vote, but my money, and my labor, and all the energy and support i have to give.
Crossposted here.
Now that Democrats look like they're going to the wire, and that North Carolinians, especially me, are going to cast meaningful votes in May, here's what the contenders have to do to get my vote.
First, an explicit recognition that Democrats are not running against each other. This means a declaration from each of the campaigns that their opponent is fully qualified to lead the nation and expresses all of the values of the Democratic party: equal justice, equal opportunity, and equal rights in a society that is not governed by fear. Grassroots Democrats get this. We know that we have two strong candidates capable of leading America out of the morass that 4 decades, and especially the past eight years, of mostly Republican rule have left us in.
Second, now that the Republicans have selected their candidate, it's time to start running against him, and his stated intent to continue the failed policies and fear mongering of the Bush administration. That's the contrast that's most important, not the policy differences between Obama and Clinton.
Third, enough with the fear-mongering. And yes, i'm talking to you, Mark Penn and Hillary Clinton. We can't continue as a free people if our leaders are constantly trying to keep us living in fear. And if we aren't free, how can we expect any other nation to follow our lead? History flows towards freedom. The more we reject freedom, the more likely it is that we get left behind. Embracing fear reduces the distinction between the two parties, and as Truman said, given the choice between a Republican and someone who acts like a Republican, people will vote for the real Republican all the time. We're Americans, goddammit. We weren't afraid of the Nazis, we weren't afraid of the Soviets, why the hell should we be so afraid of a bunch of terrorists that we give away everything our parents and grandparents and Founding Fathers built for us?
Can you do that?
If you can, you'll not only have my vote, but my money, and my labor, and all the energy and support i have to give.
Crossposted here.
Labels: 2008 elections
Since 1949, Durhamites have slept soundly, secure in the knowledge that, in our town, erection can be depended upon. Now, thanks to the power of the internets, we can spread that security all over the world.
4 Comments:
Yes! Thank you, Barry, for mysteriously reading my mind & expressing my thoughts so well.
By
Ross Grady, at 7:05 PM
Yeah, well that's why I can't support Hillary in this contest to begin with. She attracts people like that to her staff, so what am I supposed to think?
I can't wait to fill in my vote for Obama. I just hope--no joke, I did use that word--he doesn't get "advised" to start slinging mud BACK at Hillary.
They should be running against the McCain/Bush legacy, solidified today by Bush's endorsement.
By
Tony, at 7:59 PM
i'm betting clinton and obama will end up running together, in order to beat mccain. if that happens, it'll really test the solidity of the dem party.
a lot is riding on nc votes. i'd say something like "everyone please vote!" but that's kinda preaching to the choir on dependable erection.
By
Anonymous, at 8:57 AM
I can't see Obama offering Hillary the VP slot, and i can't see him accepting it if she offered it to him.
Conventional wisdom is that Bill Richardson is the front runner for VP, but this is a campaign season in which CW has often been wrong.
I like Chris Dodd still, especially if Obama is the nominee.
As far as i can tell, even the most ardent supporters of one or the other candidate are happy with both of them, and can be counted on to work together once one of them wins it. That probably doesn't extend to the inner circles, where careers and the big bucks are on the line, unfortunately. One more reason why individual participation in the process is so important. We need to keep marginalizing the influence of the Mark Penn's of the world.
Interesting analysis over at dKos yesterday on the campaign math. (The link seems to be stalling this morning, so i'm not going to post it.) The bottom line seems to be that, given the proportional allocation of delegates in the remainder of the Dem primaries, Hillary has to win by pretty much 2-1 in almost every Congressional district remaining to catch Obama in pledged delegates. That's unlikely to happen. But if she continues to capture majorities in the remaining primaries, it sets up a very interesting convention.
By
Barry, at 9:42 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home