Nostalgia

Today it was raining, and I was wearing my coat. On my coat, clearly displayed, is a John Kerry for President pin... you know, the standard blue one... right where the Howard Dean for America pin used to rest. As I was walking into my destination, an old friend of mine asked me, "Ian, how can you go from working so hard for Dean to supporting Kerry?"

I didn't know what to tell them.

Am I a political hack? Did I really support Dean in the first place? Do I really support Kerry? Am I ABB, or did I actually stand for one candidate based on real reasons?

I just didn't know.

I thought about it for a long time and decided that I am a realist. Dean is not running for president; Kerry is. I loved Dean for America: I loved almost everything that we fought for, every soundbyte (except those well known ones that shot us in the foot), every rally, every speech, every bat, every blog, every meetup. I loved it because it inspired me to believe again. I'll vote for Kerry, and if I am asked to I'll work for him as best I can, but he hasn't really inspired me yet. Not like Howard did. I would've moved to Burlington for Howard... I'll move my car to the DC metro station for Kerry.

So when my friend asked me, it made me realize. I am nostalgic for Howard... and DFA just ain't what it used to be.

Anyone else out there nostalgic for the Pre-Iowa days?

•  Oh yes

  Anyone else out there nostalgic for the Pre-Iowa days?

  Oh yes. I just listened to the Faulkner remix for the first time since Dean ended his candidacy. Nearly brought tears to my eyes.

  by DavidNYC on Sun Apr 11, 2004 at 11:18:26 PM PDT

•  Yeah, Ian

  I agree with you there.  Dean was gold, Kerry is pocket change.

  But pocket change is better than a Bush-sized hole in the pocket....

  On an (un)related note, a good place for idealists to matriculate is St. Mary's College of Maryland, where the possibilities are as expansive as the college premises.

  MWAHAHAHA!  It's Brian's roommate Jeremy in disguise...)

  Hope you're having a good April.

  by Nonpartisan on Sun Apr 11, 2004 at 11:23:44 PM PDT

  •  Jeremy!

    how are you doing...

    i am sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to you, I had a great time in DC that day though.

    i have decided on McDaniel, alas, so I will not be down in the fall. I really had a great time on my visit, and as my girlfriend is likely attending st marys I will probably be down every so often.

    how have you been?

    by Ian Hines on Sun Apr 11, 2004 at 11:27:23 PM PDT

    •  I haff sent you an e-mail...

      And I excoriate you profusely for rejecting our fine college in favor of one which is, sadly, not quite up to par...maniacal grin

      But you're still a stand-up guy and all that.

      by Nonpartisan on Sun Apr 11, 2004 at 11:35:11 PM PDT

•  Here's a Thought

  Ask not what Kerry can do for you -- ask what you can do for Kerry -- and, by extension, your party and your country.

  by Maryscott OConnor on Sun Apr 11, 2004 at 11:29:52 PM PDT

  •  Yes

    Dude, we are. I swear. We promise. It's just a letdown, that's all. But folks like the OP and myself and many others here plan to do our most for Kerry and the party.

    by DavidNYC on Sun Apr 11, 2004 at 11:34:33 PM PDT

    •  yeah

      i'd have to agree with DavidNYC... i am going to do what i can do for kerry, like i said. I am staying quite involved in the process, but I am just not working directly with the campaign. I know people who are, and if I am asked to work with them, I will.

      I would love to be Kerry's Student Coordinator. They do not have a full time person for this position as far as I know and I would be glad to do it. I think it's really important and Bush is killing us in that area right now.

      Anyway...

      I will do what I have to. The time has come to rally around him, whether we like it or not. I just really miss feeling energized by my candidate. The chance for that may not come again for years...

      by Ian Hines on Sun Apr 11, 2004 at 11:37:27 PM PDT

  •  critical support

    Ask not what Kerry can do for you -- ask what you can do for Kerry -- and, by extension, your party and your country.

    I support Kerry and will vote for him, but I'm not about to judge his best interests as identical to my party or my country. Please don't appropriate the original JFK to support the new one.
    

    by Niky Ring on Mon Apr 12, 2004 at 01:03:11 AM PDT

•  I wish Dean was "Out There" more!

  I miss Howard, but I miss his wife even more.  She really made me appreciate having what having a happy spouse could be like.  

  I actually imagined the other Dr. Dean out discussing the gardens at the White House with the gardeners.  Imagine, she was happy to get a bush for her back yard as a gift.  

  Hmmm, back to Howard Dean, I sure wish he'd get out more.  It seems to me that there has been this terrible slump... everybody is on vacation.  I saw the 'Gas Tax' ad from the Bushiter, and saw the Condi Scam along with all the deaths in Iraq -- but it just seems like Washington is sleepwalking.  

  Since I was 18 in 1968, I can remember the last time Washington, DC decided they were the center of an empire, a lot of good people died for nothing...  

  There must be a lot of campaign cash changing hands right now.  I wish the candidates campaigned instead of just marketed themselves.  And the worst ad ideas on KOS beat the best ones I have seen so far from either side.  

  I miss the Deans... a lot!

  RMD  

  Iraq CHICKEN-hawk War- 667 Dead, more than 11,000 Medivacs, over 2,900 Amputees... fought the CHICKEN-hawk Way... with other people's money and lives.

  by RedMeatDem on Sun Apr 11, 2004 at 11:31:30 PM PDT

•  Gratitude

  Yes I miss Howard.

  I miss feeling all inspired and charged up every time he belted out one of his terrifically significant speeches.

  But when I think about Dean what I really feel, most of all, is gratitude. He jerked me out of my political depression and made me get up and start working for change. I really feel that the good Doctor gave me a much needed prescription for helplessness.

  So now I'm pushing hard still. I'm working locally for DFA and the Democratic party and I'm making some difference, I think. Thanks to Howard Dean.

  He ain't running for president anymore, but he's still with me.
  

  by Del in MO on Sun Apr 11, 2004 at 11:48:46 PM PDT

•  Do I miss Dean for America?

  Only when I breathe.
  

  by hyperbolic pants explosion on Mon Apr 12, 2004 at 12:52:09 AM PDT

•  I miss Dean every day

  I received an email from a former Meetup organizer who is now the Kerry Meetup organizer.  Wanted to know if I could do one for Kerry in my rural area.

  I said no.  At our meetup we talked about it.  We are still taping every T.V. appearance of his and I still hear more honesty in his 3-4 minutes that I get each day from the news.  All of us stay involved because of Howard Dean.

  Several weeks ago at a candidate meeting, we showed one of Dean's early speeches to our local candidate, and she was thunderstruck.  We told her she should consider it a "spine strengthening exercise" to listen to his speeches.

  The KoolAid is still nourishing me.  And I thank him every day.

  by GrandmaJ on Mon Apr 12, 2004 at 03:49:45 AM PDT

  •  I Miss the Hope

    That a progressive grassroots movement would continue to grow across the country.  That the common people together would pull each other up out of their stupor.  That a sense of community would be reborn, the involvement of each citizen being encouraged. That our government would soon be speaking the truth, simple rational truth.  That we would stand together as a nation and say "We aren't afraid anymore, now let's get to work - we need everybody".

    by Wally on Mon Apr 12, 2004 at 06:56:55 AM PDT

•  Nostalgia

  I think Jean Beaudrillard summed it up when he stated, "Nostalgia isn't what it used to be".

  Ahh... I miss the post-modern days of my cultural studies degree :-)

  by Steve UK on Mon Apr 12, 2004 at 05:03:49 AM PDT

•  Yes, yes, yes

  I miss the hope, the excitement, the vibrant blog.  But I take comfort in what we all accomplished.

  by ScientistMom in NY on Mon Apr 12, 2004 at 10:05:27 AM PDT

  •  I'm supporting Kerry, of course,

    but it isn't much fun.

    by ScientistMom in NY on Mon Apr 12, 2004 at 10:06:07 AM PDT

•  Yes, oh yes...

  Drop all the bombs you want on me for "lack of party solidarity," but I've pretty much dropped off the political landscape since the end of Dean's campaign. I can't find any motivation to work for a candidate who doesn't inspire me.

  Oh, for that golden week in Des Moines...

  by travis bushman on Mon Apr 12, 2004 at 08:01:42 PM PDT