Not much to say here, but I noticed a funny thing about my car, it still had a Hillary Clinton bumper sticker on it. I turned to my partner and said "We ought to get a new one." He laughed and said "Now its 'Change You Can Believe In'."
I am sure there are a lot of conversations like this going on in a lot of households.
[Update]
Some people just don't get it - this is a unity diary (and open thread). I really appreciate people sending me kind words, but I never supported, or would even consider supporting, John McCain for any elected position, that includes dog catcher.
IPSO FACTO: Latin for "by the fact itself." By that very fact or act : as an inevitable result. A simple example: "a blind person, ipso facto, is not entitled to a driver's license."
Given Bush and Cheney's poll numbers, which are less than Nixon's. Both should resign. Ipso facto.
Imagine millions of bumper stickers with the simple phrase: "GET OUT!"
When I made a trip to Boston this fall, I was reminded of the Spirit of 1776 and all the men (and women) who sacrificed their homes, their livelihood and lives to get rid of the last tyrant called George. What impressed me the most of the bits of pieces of history along the Freedom Trail was the language used to describe George III - he was called a tyrant. So let us review the many things our present day tyrant is up to and see the echoes of tyranny we face today is similar to what we were able overcome 200 years ago.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
A lot of diaries have talked about being a delegate to CA Democratic Party. Some have even talked about winning. This diary is about how one can lose and not be a big deal. If you are not interested in hearing my own story, then let me just cut to the chase - just because you are not a CA delegate, that does not mean you have to give up.
Keep fighting and try again. One day, the CA Democratic party will catch up to YOU and your ideas will be recognized by your peers. Until then, do the work Howard Dean asked us to do - be the grassroots activists that connect to our neighbors and friends and turn out Dems locally, at the State and National levels
I have been thinking about the Foley scandal and what could be a narrative which might resonate with the voters. I cannot remember my first thought, but it was not that good - it was something about danger and was disconnected from a larger narrative. What we need to do is create a story which will resonate with the value voters, but also tie in with the other themes the Democrats have been trying to discuss - the war in Iraq, corruption, incompetence, dishonesty, trust and deception.
The latest Field Poll results show Governor GrabAss with a 10 point lead over Phil Angelides (44% to 34%). Not the numbers we all would like to see in what is widely considered a Blue State. I am not sure what Mr. Angelides has been doing since he won the primary, but it has not been raising his visibility with the voters.
What I want to use this diary for is to take all of activists to task for not helping Phil Angelides out. Why are we all sitting our on collective hands and not helping out Phil? Do we want another four years of Governor GrabAss? Why are we not trying to create some positive energy for Phil Angelides in our own echo chamber?
The election is getting very close in the San Diego race and I wanted to report what looks like a nasty dirty trick by Republican operatives trying to throw the race to Jerry Sanders and Kevin Faulconer. Just the other day I received a mailer-voter guide with seemingly Democratic postions: vote no on these propositions, pictures of Phil Angelides and his endorsements of the props, etc., etc. We are getting a lot of these now, so I normally glance over them and toss 'em.
I cannot really comment any better than what most have said about the situation in New Orleans - it is a horrible tragedy and unfortunately I think it is only going to get worse as the days unfold. However, I want to remind everyone this is why it is so important we have a free press in this country: to show us what the government (if it had the chance) would not show us. Putting on my tinfoil hat for a minute, it will be interesting to see at just what momemnt does the Bush junta shut down press access to the disaster area and stop taking questions.
I hear people talking about getting together a "media campaign" to protect Cindy Sheehan's right to free speech. However, it would be my opinion a more drastic measure would be justified. It would be my opinion that a national strike, i.e. all Democrats call in sick on Friday, is the best response to the American Taliban. Now that would get someone's attention!
Many of you have seen this diary (Gay Teens Executed in Iran) and if you have not, please check it out. I cannot say I understand why it happened or what we can do about it - I can only share what I have felt.
I knew it this weekend when the Attorney General was sent to Iraq. What in the world does the U.S. Attorney General have to do in Iraq?! And why would he be sent there now? Well, it makes sense if you consider these Bush people are more about style than substance - everything is about message and symbolism.
Bush sends Gonzales to Iraq in order to show Gonzales has the trust and the confidence of the president. He is sent now in order to quell the conservative grousing before the general public starts paying attention to who the candidates are. Lo and behold, the conservatives ARE upset, but they are no longer spitting with rage.
If you ever read my bio up until 1997, you would have thought that this young man would have mourned the death of John Paul II. In fact, I was hoping for his death and I am glad a man like him is gone. John Paul II certainly had a vision for what he thought Eastern Europe ought to look like and he needs to be commended for achieving his vision, but he was also the reason why this lifelong Catholic left Catholicism for something more tolerant.
