My apologies to Stanley Kubrick. (Dr. Strangelove). I turned 18 years old in 1984. My Birthday was too late in the year for me to vote (not that it would have changed anything) I remember being upset that I could not vote against Reagan. In 1985 I went away to college with little money and a dream of being a scientist. The late 80's were a tough time to work your way through college in California. I worked more and reduced my classload to make ends meet (they never really met but at least I didn't get evicted). In 1990 I had the most lucrative I had ever had ($10/hr), I actually paid income tax that year. By the end of the year I was literally ill that GHWB was taking my money to pay for the slaughter in Iraq. Unable to support the immorality, I took a less generous job, with the added benefit that I could now do schoolwork at work-work. In 1992 unemployment was greater than 9% in California and much higher in many counties. Our former Governor Jerry Brown was running that year, it was all wrapped up by June as it always is. I still voted for Jerry.
To say that I was depressed, disillusuioned, and demoralized that election season would be putting it mildly. I remember hearing a radio caller saying that Clinton's election made him feel like put up his American flag. I did not have high hopes but I decided I would give it my all and see what happened. By 1994 I was a college graduate and I was able to find a job ($11.50/hr). Throughout the Clinton Presidency I was a little torn, but mainly pleased. Fairly early on it became clear to me that Clinton was more interested in giving a hand up and not giving a hand out. He supported and eventually enacted legislation for : Raising the Minimum wage, create Ameri-Corps, increasing EITC, as well as laws making college more affordable. While programs like welfare were slashed (I know the politics got a little complicated, but I did feel he was a believer in "the best social program being a job"). OTOH the Clinton economy was a job producing machine ~22.5 million in 8 years. Poverty actually went down, crime went down (as it usually does in a good economy). Clinton just seemed to be in whole different league than Newt and BobDole.
After what has recently transpired I am switching my support to Barack Obama. It is not easy to turn my back on a man who said he "would be there till the last dog dies". I heard Barack say a couple things today that really stuck. One was in response to claims that he should get more experience before running for president - which he described as wanting him to stay in Washington until it had "stewed all the hope out of him", and make him more like a typical DC politician. The other was that this election is about who we are as people, he listed things we all know that this Administration has done that doesn't befit us: torture, revoking habeas corpus, war in Iraq, etc. He then briefly said this election is also about who we are as democrats and I had to admit it has gone far to far. The escalation of this conflict has been IMO like playing with gasoline. I know of no other issue that could do as much harm to our great party than this (OK maybe thermonuclear war or bird-flu but you know what I mean). I still have a great deal of gratitude for the Clintons, I will not forget those who stood with me in my hour of need. However I cannot stand by for this.
Sadly I'm not sure I would be able to take this step even now if it weren't for the extraordinary Senator Obama. I heard the confidence going into Iowa, it would be charitable to say I was skeptical of a strategy that relied so heavily on young voters. Unlike Governor Dean, Barack delivered on election day. To then go into New Hampshire and come within 3% was very strong (my only quibble with the strategy was to let the expectations for a win in NH get out). Nevada was always going to be tough, but Barack did very well. What can I say about South Carolina, the Man delivered a crushing blow, and he did while retaining his dignity. Now the Obama campaign appears to be running laps around the Clintons. After seeing How Barack has handled this episode has revealed a man that I would be incredibly proud to say was my President (and one I believe know is definitely electable).
Before the first vote a poster here had basically defended Baracks non-aggressive strategy by saying "Thankfully America isn't buying crazy anymore". I had asked for something to back it up since '88, '2000', and '2004' all seemed to show America never stopped buying 'crazy'. Well now I have to say there is some Data. I really believe Senator Barack Obama has a message that America has been thirsting to hear.