When I was 8 President George H.W. Bush was running against Governor William Jefferson Clinton for President of the united states. We had a mock election in 3rd grade social studies. We each went up to the teacher and she asked who we would vote for and why. I told her my vote wasn’t really any of her business. She informed me that if I didn’t tell her I would get an F on the assignment. “* Sigh* I would vote for the Governor, he seems to do a good job of running AR. plus, President Bush had made us go to that stupid little war in Iraq and he hates unions.”( this of course is a gem I picked up from my parents and uncle.)
I then ask my teacher “Well? Who are you voting for and why? ” “What? I don’t have to tell you.” ” Oh yes you do too, I told you, it is only fair.” I finally convinced my teacher to answer my question. ” I voting for president Bush, because he is a republican , like me and not a baby killer, like Bill Clinton. “ I informed her that it was silly for her to vote republican, because democrats had a much better record for helping teachers. I lost my recess that day.
I never lost that passion for politics and government since that day in late October 1992. In fact, because that teacher pissed me off so much it ignited a fire in me. Not only for that passion for politics, but a passion to fight the good fight for progressive values. The major disappointment that is Obama Administration could have burnt out that fire from October 1992, but it didn’t. As crappy as things may be, we can get through this, if we stick together, maybe, just maybe, we can get a challenger that has our passion for progressive values too.