For the past several years I have secretly, quietly, and sometimes obsessively come to the Daily Kos for updates on progressive thinking. As you know, recently there has been great debate over the Clinton-Obama divide, and while I've never written a diary, I'm here to finally tell you that I know you, I feel for you, and I look forward to transforming this party with you. This place isn't made for the status-quo; it's made for you. And there is a reason why much of this site is seemingly pro-Obama; it's because he represents the clear next step in the agenda-changing progressive shift we've been fighting for.
More below the fold...
I know you...
Five years ago we marched together quietly and peacefully against the start of the worst foreign policy action in modern history. You're that person who used to nod and smile at my Dean'04 pin on the subway, and then like everything else in your political life, you politely accepted his subsequent loss. And today, a little bit louder and a little bit more forceful, you honk, give me the thumbs up, and shout "Yes We Can" at my Obama bumper sticker.
I know you. You've worked your heart out for the last eight years, and what have you got? One loss after another. More troops. Higher gas prices. Less affordable healthcare. More Bush. Sure you've had some victories along the way, but still you've become defeated. After Kerry's loss in 04' you went through the normal stages of grief - anger, denial, misery, etc. You battled with your friends about the best way to move forward. Some said that 'to beat'em we gotta play their game... you know, get dirty, play nasty.' But, for some reason - despite all of your failures - in the back of your mind, you still held an ounce of hope that one day a true progressive thinker would rise up and represent a real shift from the past. Not more of the same failed moderate policies, same failed dumbed-down rhetoric, and same failed negative campaign styles, but something totally different. In your heart of hearts, you still found a way to believe that you didn't have to act like a republican to beat a republican.
I know you. You're pissed off right now. You hate Hillary Clinton. You think she's painting an ugly picture of a beautiful person. You hate her because she voted for the war and helped to create lousy trade agreements, which have taken jobs away from your uncles in Pittsburgh and water from your pen-pals in Accra. You hate her for her ridiculous claims of plagiarism, Rovian politics, and race-bating. But more than anything, you hate yourself for allowing our party to continue to prop up those who represent the moderate acceptance of the past, and not the smart, passionate, progressiveness you vowed to fight for when you were just a bit younger.
I know you. You're a Democrat. You believe in the endless possibilities of tomorrow and not the failures of yesterday. And truth be known, you don't really hate Hillary Clinton. After all, you know that if she somehow manages to win the nomination, you'll probably buckle after the first debate and volunteer for her before Labor Day. But what you really hate is losing. You're tired of never voting for the winner. You're tired of living through embarrassing and deadly wars, and not being able to stop them. And you're tired of the media deciding what wars we fight, and who commands those wars. You're tired of the divisions of race and gender and wealth and justice and nearly everything in between and beyond. And yes, perhaps most frustrating of all, you're tired of nobody seeming to care that you keep losing.
I know you. You're me, and I'm here to tell you that this time it's different. This time we're going to fight fire, not with more fire, but with water. We're going to be smart, loving, strong, and honest. We're not going to let the Hannity's and Buchanan's perpetuate ignorance and lies. We're going to shake our heads, smile, and call our uncle's in Pennsylvania, and remind them what is important in the world: their daughter's education, their father's well-being, and their cousin's safety. We're going to win this election and then we're going to win the rights and justices we deserve.
I know you. You're me, and we're going to change this world together.