TYVM for your very nice reply. Frankly, I think there was a simple misunderstanding - when I was quoted as saying that I "reconsidered" ... that referred to Hillary vs. Barack. That's all it was. I suspect that maybe you thought that I was going to become a Repub or something like that :)
Really, my "reconsideration" had to do w/ the very tightly-contested IN Primary in '08 and my support for Barack, in the face of the "second coming" of Rev. Wright.
Any disagreement that we may have has nothing to do w/ being progressive or otherwise. The only Q that I raised was whether Hillary or Barack would've been a better choice. That was why I "reconsidered."
I think maybe you thought that I intended something different. I gave well over $1K to Democrats in the '10 cycle, and intend to work somewhere (not Indiana) in the '12 cycle.
I don't know how much you follow the circumstances of unions, Planned Parenthood, or other organizations here in IN, but it's going to be a very tough year, in a dreadfully red state. You might as well think of us as being in Texas. We have (once again) returned to something very much like Hell. The only difference is that we have to dig our rusted-out cars in the winter. We seem to have the worst of both worlds.
I know a lot of people in the party and the progressive movement here in IN. I'm currently thinking that the only thing that we can do, is to try to win back the state house. While I would very much like to see Barack re-elected, I'm not sure that's going to happen. IN has been ravaged by Mitch Daniels, and the Repubs since '10 (hate to repeat this, but we're a lot like TX).
If you read my blogs, you might have noted that I worked for DFA, and we were very successful in planning a good campaign academy and getting all five of the IN Dem congresspeople to vote for the public option. Unfortunately, there will be only two IN Dems in the House, and no statewide officials left after '12. We will be left w/ a few mayors. I might go down to Indy and try to get rid of our "accidental mayor." It's actually pretty awful that we don't even have the Indy mayor right now.
I know you will continue to support progressive causes in any way that you can. For my part, I'm considering setting up a PAC so that IN Dems can at least contest the state house in '12, and I hope to at least canvass in OH.
Please contribute to DFA, MoveOn, and your statewide party. If you are inclined to do field work, you are in a very important state, and I would urge you to make calls, knock doors (canvass) and generally work for us in '12. Fieldwork is (IMHO) a whole lot more important than money or blogging. But of course, you know I think that :)
I'm doing my best to try not to be pessimistic about Barack. I definitely support him 100%, but I won't back off on my general opinion that the Clintons were more experienced at dealing w/ the Repubs. Sadly, the GOP is more skilled at taking down an economy, and a President, than they ever have been. Citizens United gives Corporate America even more oomph.
What bothers me the most is that there is no longer an economic justification for Corporate America to maintain a middle class. Too many consumers exist abroad. The American people aren't listening. The swing voters will "throw the bums out," based on the slickest TV ads, funded by the usual corporate suspects. We are already seeing them now, here in Indiana. Unions will quite likely be on the sidelines, to express their displeasure about card check.
Obviously Barack was faced with the most significant economic challenges that any President since FDR had to handle. In response, the Repubs declared all-out political war against him, as they have done against all Dem Presidents since Carter was elected. This strategy of "slash and burn" (and not to mention confusion: "it's Washington") has been sucessfully implemented for nearly forty years.
I can only reflect as an activist here in HELL. (Texas, Indiana, Alabama, Mississipi, whatever.) Of course I'm totally ticked off. But for right now, the only thing I can do (IMHO) is to work for the state house here, and maybe go off to OH to canvass for a few weekends. Heaven help us in the Midwest, if MI or WI are in play.
Has anyone noticed that Perry pronounces "Israel" in the same way that Dubya pronounced "nuclear?"
I can't believe that we used to be considered a purple state. Geez :/
I remain "the mad canvasser of IN," and I'm grateful for your reply.