Last week I decided to skip the primaries and not support anyone until the GE. Today, I found a candidate with true leadership abilities. Based on his courage, he forced the Senate to back down until after New Years.
Since there are 4 sitting Democratic Senators running for the nomination, only one seems to publicly illustrate true leadership and courage on a major issue that affects all of our liberties.
I now support Christopher Dodd, the senior Democratic Senator from Connecticut. For those who will comment how I will waste my vote because he can never win, try selling it to someone younger.
We all have opinions we feel strongly about. My strong feeling about today's political environment, especially the democratic leadership in Congress is based on disappointment and even shame. I know many will disagree which is your right. One of the democratic candidates was anointed by the MSM and pundits as our presumptive nominee before anyone ever announced their candidacy. If Clinton was truly the leader everyone says she is, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi would be taking their cue from her on all issues now pending in Congress. To me, she can't have it both ways. If she claims she is the true leader of the democrats, then our constant capitulation to Bush's agenda is due to her. She's the one pulling Pelosi and Reid's strings. That's what the leader of the party does. If she claims she doesn't influence either Pelosi or Reid, then she proves she can't even lead her colleagues even though her colleagues all know she will be the next president. Dodd proved today what a true leader does in reality.
There are 3 other democratic candidates I really like a great deal. Barack Obama is going to make a great president someday. If it's in 2008, I will jump for joy. However, right now in the primaries, as a senior citizen, I see a proven leader doing his thing right now in the Senate. I see where his priorities were today in the Senate, not on the stump campaigning. Chris Dodd was doing the job for the American people. That is true leadership. He stared down the US Senate today, and the Senate blinked. That is exactly the kind of person I want to see fighting for my rights. I hope Obama learned something today. I hope he learned today was about fighting for the American people. It was not about hawking for votes or money. I want so bad for an African American to become president in my lifetime. Obama is the one I can see accomplishing that dream.
What can I say about John Edwards his most fervent admirers haven't said. I think he and Elizabeth are fantastic. Yes, there are things that turn me off about him, but his heart is in the right place when it comes to fighting for people the nation has forgotten about for over 30 years. If he becomes president, I will also be happy. He's a really good man.
Joe Biden is a good man too. I wish he was right there alongside Dodd today, but alas, he wasn't. I've been critical of him in the past, but I know he is a good politician, a smart legislator, and would make a good president as well.
However, today, I saw something in Dodd none of the other candidates illustrated with all their million dollar smiles and talent. I am not naive so I know my vote is for a longshot. But I don't give my most cherished right as a citizen to just anyone. In the primaries, you've got to earn it. There is a recommended diary about Dodd for Senate Leader. I would rather see him president. As the British would say, GOOD SHOW SENATOR DODD, GOOD SHOW.