My thoughts on last night
Jun. 4th, 2008 12:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
patgundThe delegates now are:
Republican (Presumptive) - Sen. John McCain
Republican (Still in race) - Rep. Ron Paul
Democratic (Presumptive) - Sen. Barack Obama
Democratic (Still in race, unable to win) - Sen. Hillary Clinton
Libertarian - former Rep. Bob Barr.
We can pretty much weed out Ron Paul, unless we see a major upset at the GOP convention. Same with Hillary Clinton - she would need to get 256 delegates/superdelegates to join her or switch their votes. It won't happen unless Obama is found with a "dead girl or live boy" or some freak guns him down.
So of the three remaining:
John McCain - Same problem I've had with him since 2004. The 2000 McCain I would vote for in a second. Not this version, which is running on the same tired old bilge that Bush has been trying to shove down our throats for a while. One plus to a McCain loss though is that we might see the real "Goldwater-type" conservatives start to take back their party from the NeoCons. The Religious Right is also finally starting to lose their grasp on the GOP as the old guard dies off and the newer evangelicals seem less willing to play politics instead of faith.
Barack Obama - I'm still not comfortable with the lack of experience, but he's shown himself smart enough that I think he's aware of his weaknesses and is willing to pick advisors that are actually experts in their fields, rather ones that, like Bush's, were picked for loyalty over skill. A plus with him is we're seeing the death of the "GOP-lite" Democratic Leadership Committee, and the development of a party that is finding it's own voice in all 50 states again, not playing "me-too" to the Republican party.
Bob Barr - On the plus side, he's developed since he left office into a strong fighter for civil and personal liberties. On the minus side, I find it very difficult to accept someone who tried to harass and revoke the rights of men and women in the Armed Forces to practice the faith of their choice.
I would have rather voted for Wes Clark. He not only didn't run, but endorsed Sen. Clinton. That being said, I still consider myself a moderate and a "Wes Clark Democrat". Which is why I wrote this today on WesPAC.
"I've been away from this community for a while now. Not because I don't support Wes Clark - I'm still a very Wes Clark Democrat.
Indeed it was my respect for General Clark that was why I stayed away for a while. Why?
Because I, like a good many other Clark Democrats, had to respectfully disagree with his endorsement of Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Now I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes and thinking "Oh God another Hillary Hater" or "Obamabot". And you do yourself or the people you support no favours by saying such.
When General Clark endorsed Sen. Clinton, it did cause me to take another look at her. And, sadly, I had to once again say that, while I would not support her in the primaries. I supported Gov. Richardson instead, and then later (and with some misgivings I'll add), supported Sen. Edwards.
My problem with Sen. Clinton was that, while she is a dynamic figure with much to offer this country, she brought too many negatives to the table and would polarize the right-wing like nobody else. The fact that people like Rush Limbaugh and Fox News were openly supporting her and calling her the nominee sent up major alarm bells in my head. What I felt is that they wanted her to win BECAUSE they knew she would energize their base. The right-wing has been calling her the Democratic nominee for president since she won her senate seat in 2000, because they wanted to beat her as a symbolic victory.
Gradually I came to support Sen. Obama. Not without reservations, and still with a wish that he had more experience as a US Senator. I recognize he has more experience in elected office than Sen. Clinton, but I wished he had maybe waited a bit longer.
However, if experience was what the voters asked for, we would be celebrating the nomination of Sen. Biden or Dodd.
Gradually I warmed up to him though. He wasn't an ideal choice, but I felt he had less negatives to offer than Sen. Clinton, and that either Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton would be light-years better than Sen. McCain and a continuation of the failed policies that have so ruined this country and it's standing in the world. And I was impressed with his "grace under fire", and the respectful way he talked about the people he was running against.
The 2008 Democratic Primary was a historic race. We had a surplus of fantastic people running, any one of which would be better than the mealy-mouthed bridge sweepings that the GOP ran. Any one of which could repair this nation and help restore our national pride and dignity. We had history in the making. Two mixed-race men and a woman were among the choices we had. It was a primary that went to the very end, not in some "coronation" that left out later states. The only flaw were the two states that tried to break the rules - and in the end, even that was settled fairly.
As Democrats, we should be proud of the primary race that was ran.
But in the end, only one person had the majority of the popular vote, the delegate vote, and the states won to win. That person was Sen. Barack Obama.
I can understand all too well how Sen. Clinton's supporters feel. I felt the same way when General Clark dropped out of the primary in 2004. Even down to wanting to write in Gen. Clark's name on my ballot in November of 2004. It's very very hard to make such an emotional investment in a person only to see them lose. But now, as Democrats, we need to focus on the true challenge - winning back the White House and our country from the NeoCons that have so trashed our great nation.
Sen. Clinton ran a historic race. General Clark did honor to the person he supported. Both people should get our thanks for their time and effort. The primary is over - the battle now begins. The battle for the White House, the House and Senate, our courts, our nation, our future.
President Bill Clinton once said "In primaries you fall in love; in general elections, you fall in line." And that is such a bitter, bitter pill to have to take. But the task we have in front of us, the task of rebuilding our country, rebuilding our economy, rebuilding the healthcare system, getting our brave men and women out of Iraq, mending fences that NeoCon arrogance tore down, all of that is too important - and failure to do that, failure to win in November is an even more bitter pill to take. Failure is not an option. Not for us, not for the future.
And it's a task that calls for all of us, of all colours, all races, all genders, all faiths, all creeds, all of us, to work together to achieve that goal. Clark Democrat, Clinton Democrat, Obama Democrat, in the end they all have one thing in common - Democrat. We're the people to change this country, we're the people to lead our nation into a new and brighter direction.
The primary is over. Take some time away. Pet a puppy or kitten. See the wonders of nature. Spend time with family and friends. When you're ready, come back and show your faith in the person you support and your country by working with our party to take back our country and make it into the proud country that people like Clark, Obama, Clinton, Edwards, Richardson, Dean want it to be.
All of us did a fantastic job in supporting our choice for nominee. Now it's time to unite.
And now it's time to take back our country."
Republican (Presumptive) - Sen. John McCain
Republican (Still in race) - Rep. Ron Paul
Democratic (Presumptive) - Sen. Barack Obama
Democratic (Still in race, unable to win) - Sen. Hillary Clinton
Libertarian - former Rep. Bob Barr.
We can pretty much weed out Ron Paul, unless we see a major upset at the GOP convention. Same with Hillary Clinton - she would need to get 256 delegates/superdelegates to join her or switch their votes. It won't happen unless Obama is found with a "dead girl or live boy" or some freak guns him down.
So of the three remaining:
John McCain - Same problem I've had with him since 2004. The 2000 McCain I would vote for in a second. Not this version, which is running on the same tired old bilge that Bush has been trying to shove down our throats for a while. One plus to a McCain loss though is that we might see the real "Goldwater-type" conservatives start to take back their party from the NeoCons. The Religious Right is also finally starting to lose their grasp on the GOP as the old guard dies off and the newer evangelicals seem less willing to play politics instead of faith.
Barack Obama - I'm still not comfortable with the lack of experience, but he's shown himself smart enough that I think he's aware of his weaknesses and is willing to pick advisors that are actually experts in their fields, rather ones that, like Bush's, were picked for loyalty over skill. A plus with him is we're seeing the death of the "GOP-lite" Democratic Leadership Committee, and the development of a party that is finding it's own voice in all 50 states again, not playing "me-too" to the Republican party.
Bob Barr - On the plus side, he's developed since he left office into a strong fighter for civil and personal liberties. On the minus side, I find it very difficult to accept someone who tried to harass and revoke the rights of men and women in the Armed Forces to practice the faith of their choice.
I would have rather voted for Wes Clark. He not only didn't run, but endorsed Sen. Clinton. That being said, I still consider myself a moderate and a "Wes Clark Democrat". Which is why I wrote this today on WesPAC.
"I've been away from this community for a while now. Not because I don't support Wes Clark - I'm still a very Wes Clark Democrat.
Indeed it was my respect for General Clark that was why I stayed away for a while. Why?
Because I, like a good many other Clark Democrats, had to respectfully disagree with his endorsement of Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Now I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes and thinking "Oh God another Hillary Hater" or "Obamabot". And you do yourself or the people you support no favours by saying such.
When General Clark endorsed Sen. Clinton, it did cause me to take another look at her. And, sadly, I had to once again say that, while I would not support her in the primaries. I supported Gov. Richardson instead, and then later (and with some misgivings I'll add), supported Sen. Edwards.
My problem with Sen. Clinton was that, while she is a dynamic figure with much to offer this country, she brought too many negatives to the table and would polarize the right-wing like nobody else. The fact that people like Rush Limbaugh and Fox News were openly supporting her and calling her the nominee sent up major alarm bells in my head. What I felt is that they wanted her to win BECAUSE they knew she would energize their base. The right-wing has been calling her the Democratic nominee for president since she won her senate seat in 2000, because they wanted to beat her as a symbolic victory.
Gradually I came to support Sen. Obama. Not without reservations, and still with a wish that he had more experience as a US Senator. I recognize he has more experience in elected office than Sen. Clinton, but I wished he had maybe waited a bit longer.
However, if experience was what the voters asked for, we would be celebrating the nomination of Sen. Biden or Dodd.
Gradually I warmed up to him though. He wasn't an ideal choice, but I felt he had less negatives to offer than Sen. Clinton, and that either Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton would be light-years better than Sen. McCain and a continuation of the failed policies that have so ruined this country and it's standing in the world. And I was impressed with his "grace under fire", and the respectful way he talked about the people he was running against.
The 2008 Democratic Primary was a historic race. We had a surplus of fantastic people running, any one of which would be better than the mealy-mouthed bridge sweepings that the GOP ran. Any one of which could repair this nation and help restore our national pride and dignity. We had history in the making. Two mixed-race men and a woman were among the choices we had. It was a primary that went to the very end, not in some "coronation" that left out later states. The only flaw were the two states that tried to break the rules - and in the end, even that was settled fairly.
As Democrats, we should be proud of the primary race that was ran.
But in the end, only one person had the majority of the popular vote, the delegate vote, and the states won to win. That person was Sen. Barack Obama.
I can understand all too well how Sen. Clinton's supporters feel. I felt the same way when General Clark dropped out of the primary in 2004. Even down to wanting to write in Gen. Clark's name on my ballot in November of 2004. It's very very hard to make such an emotional investment in a person only to see them lose. But now, as Democrats, we need to focus on the true challenge - winning back the White House and our country from the NeoCons that have so trashed our great nation.
Sen. Clinton ran a historic race. General Clark did honor to the person he supported. Both people should get our thanks for their time and effort. The primary is over - the battle now begins. The battle for the White House, the House and Senate, our courts, our nation, our future.
President Bill Clinton once said "In primaries you fall in love; in general elections, you fall in line." And that is such a bitter, bitter pill to have to take. But the task we have in front of us, the task of rebuilding our country, rebuilding our economy, rebuilding the healthcare system, getting our brave men and women out of Iraq, mending fences that NeoCon arrogance tore down, all of that is too important - and failure to do that, failure to win in November is an even more bitter pill to take. Failure is not an option. Not for us, not for the future.
And it's a task that calls for all of us, of all colours, all races, all genders, all faiths, all creeds, all of us, to work together to achieve that goal. Clark Democrat, Clinton Democrat, Obama Democrat, in the end they all have one thing in common - Democrat. We're the people to change this country, we're the people to lead our nation into a new and brighter direction.
The primary is over. Take some time away. Pet a puppy or kitten. See the wonders of nature. Spend time with family and friends. When you're ready, come back and show your faith in the person you support and your country by working with our party to take back our country and make it into the proud country that people like Clark, Obama, Clinton, Edwards, Richardson, Dean want it to be.
All of us did a fantastic job in supporting our choice for nominee. Now it's time to unite.
And now it's time to take back our country."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Minor nit
Date: 2008-06-04 08:12 pm (UTC)And what, no mention of Nader? After all, he was on the ballot for two parties last February ;-).
no subject
Date: 2008-06-04 08:35 pm (UTC)I'm watching carefully. If Mr. Obama makes that fatal error, it will determine my vote. I'm right now waffling.