Is this it? Are we really going to nominate and then elect Hillary Clinton?
Where We Have Been
Is this really the culmination of Taking Our Country Back and Crashing The Gate?
Eight years after Florida 2000;
eight years after the Supreme Court flushed its image as a non-partisan institution down the toilet;
six years after the Democratic Party got punked on Iraq and then slaughtered in the mid-terms;
five years after Howard Dean fought to take this country back and the netroots got his back;
four years after Kerry's weak performance cost us the White House;
two years after Connecticut Democrats, with the support of the netroots, booted Joementum from the Party;
and two years after America finally told Bush and Cheney to go f--- themselves in the '06 mid-terms, is this it? Are we really going to nominate and then elect Hillary Clinton?
Where We Are Headed: A Hillary Presidency
I'm not going to discuss all the reasons why I think a Hillary presidency would be a disaster for the the Party, the country, and the world. (Those who want to disagree with me are entitled to their opinions. I have never heard a cogent progrssive argument for her election -- as opposed to rationalizations couched in DLC/RNC talking points -- but anyone wishing to make the progressive argument is welcome to do so in comments.)
Who We Are
This diary is a call-out to the rest of us. You know who you are: You probably supported Dean or Clark in '04. You believe that government can work and that the Democrats can be a positive force if we stand up for our principles. You are sick of the capitulation, cowardice and stupidity of our leadership. You don't want to vote third party...but, damn if the Democrats aren't trying to lose your vote. You're pragmatic and patient. You'll support Blue Dogs in Red States, but support primary fights in blue states.
What Are We Doing?
Many of you have donated time and money to Obama or Edwards. I salute you. But allow me to draw a picture of what I suspect describes many if not most Kossacks:
Hillary is a turnoff to you. Probably more so after the Lieberman-Kyl amendment passed. You support Obama or Edwards, but not completely. You're still undecided. And the prospect that Gore might jump in has kept you from fully committing to any single candidate. Maybe you've donated to the Obama or Edwards campaigns. But it probably hasn't been the kind of hand-over-fist giving that you gave for Dean or Clark or Lamont.
Does that describe you? If so, let me politely suggest that what we are doing is not working. Our indecision is stalling the Obama campaign. And it cost Edwards the SEIU endorsement.
I hate the "inevitability" argument of Hillary supporters as much as anyone. My skin crawls when I read comments about her supposed inevitability. But, it is time for the rest of us to face a simple fact:
THE TIME FOR F---ING AROUND IS OVER
Please, please, please consider donating A LOT in the next couple of days. It is imperative that we not wait until January or February to fight for our Party's nomination. The D.C.-insider machine is doing everything that they can to convince us not to fight ("Hillary is inevitable! She can now ignore the netroots.") because they know that, if we do fight for the nomination, we can win.
Waiting For Gore-Dot
Like many of you, I have hoped that Gore would throw is hat into the ring. I consider global climate change to be a threat that meets or exceeds any other challenge facing us. And I have been hoping that Gore was tactically biding his time, brlliantly avoiding months of negative media coverage.
But it is time to face reality. In all likelihood Gore is not joining the race. And it would be profoundly ironic if our waffling while we waited for the perfect candidate allowed the least perfect to win the nomination.
Personally, I support Edwards. Most of all I am looking for a fighter. And I simply trust Edwards the most on that score. But if you believe that Obama is that champion, by all means open your wallet to him. Just join me in fighting to avoid a very unpleasant -- but not inevitable -- future.