without ridiculous charges of racism, sexism and trollism, about who is electable. We have to be conscious of the fact that Republicans will Swift-Boat and slander any Democratic candidate, because that is all the Republicans have. Karl Rove has had a lot of time on his hands and I’d bet he’s not on a writer’s strike.
It worries me that so many here cannot put the logic together that in the last 2 elections we could not even get either Al Gore or John Kerry elected because they were too liberal. What has changed? What is so different? Are people that convinced that turnout is going to make the difference? Even Springsteen couldn't get enough turnout to overcome the Republicans, and that is without candidates who will inspire all the bigots to get out and vote. What makes people here think the country has changed that much that abbacadabra we can win a national presidential election with an African American whose middle name is a Muslim name (we are not discussing Michigan we are discussing America) *even though 80% of Americans know that is a meaningless fact, or with a woman who has many people in both parties who hate her and whose nepotistic algorithm looks like an SAT question.
Doesn't citizenship require us to be logical and pragmatic? Are we the new intellectual Eloi? Hey, why don't we all, all the Democrats, write in names of people we want to be president so that we can keep our political purity intact? Hey, I think Charlie Rangel would be the best president and nobody would be better so I am going to vote for him. He is a war hero, head of Ways and Means and the guy knows his stuff. Some people may want to vote for Mario Cuomo...wow, it's like Happening!
Maybe I'd like to see Joan Baez as president. That really would make me very happy and pure because I adore her and respect her. We could even sing "Kumbaya" on the way to the voting stations. I cannot think of a more pure political experience for me.
I love John Edwards for who he is, what he has said and for his ability to understand the issues of fairness. I don’t think anyone of the candidates better understands that a rising tide raises all boats. I look at him and I see a person who is at peace with his honesty. What a delightful change that would be, huh? He truly understands the plight of the middle class and he can sell it. Plus, forgive me for these impure thoughts, but he is tested and he rose above Darth Vader himself.
If the elections were 100% publicly financed, Edwards would be ahead by 20 points and I think Clinton and Obama would be close to the bottom of the pile, with David Geffen and Harold Ickes under them.
So, in this diary, I would like to discuss just what has happened to this country, and you have to believe that there has been a change, that would give so many of you the confidence to take the incredibly dangerous gamble with Obama or Hillary. Certainly, neither of them are the ordained agents of change, as Obama voted to confirm Rice, wouldn't filibuster Alito and he shows lack of judgment once again as his friend Donnie McClurkin. Hillary is a triangulating machine politician who wants to roll over everyone. I’ve never seen her conscience or her overwhelming desire to help people other than herself. I know she worked for children and George H W Bush once headed up Planned Parenthood. Hillary has proven she has the balls but I am not so sure she has shown a feminine side, something all politicians need to have, male and female, as well as being tough.
So, what is different now?