After an hour of shovelling snow (which cleared my head somewhat) I've come to the conclusion that I am going to vote for Howard Dean in November, whether he is on the Democratic ticket or not.
Of course, I'm still strongly rooting for Dean, and believe he has a shot at the nomination. But if he doesn't make it, he still gets my vote.
Let me explain:
I live in Massachusetts, as many of you know. If Kerry is the nominee, as we all expect he will be, this state is guaranteed for him. So, I'm not exactly "depriving" the Democrats of a victory.
I'm twenty one years old, and I suppose everyone in their youth gets a Bobby Kennedy/Gary Hart....an insurgent that captures the imagination only to flame out tragically.
The reality is, you are supposed to rally behind the nominee of the party and vote for them, even if their style, their views, their raison d'etre is different from yours.
Kerry and Dean are from neighboring New England states. But that's where the comparison ends. Where Kerry is sober (and boring), Dean is exciting. Where Kerry molds himself to the popular stance, Dean stands boldly alone.
Kerry is the quintessential New England Democrat----liberal, cereberal, and of the opinion that the country owes him the honor of the Presidency.
Dean is a flinty outsider----more moderate than Sean Hannity will ever tell you, intelligent, but an average guy. He's not programmed like a robot.
Add to that the fact that I agree with Dean's views on a variety of issues, from gun control, to the death penalty, to education....and it makes no sense for me to vote for Kerry.
Kerry is the establishment, the very thing Dean wants to rescue us from. Voting for him would mean turning my ideology on its head.
Now, many of you will say, "Don't be so extreme, George Bush is the enemy. Kerry, while imperfect, would be much better than Bush." I agree with you wholeheartedly.
But my frustration with the DLC, the media, and lastly (and perhaps pathetically) mainstream primary voters in my party who are either sheep, or too nearsighted to see the benefit of voting for Dean.
That's why I'll tell you, if you live in New Hampshire, Ohio, Missouri, etc. vote for Kerry. Do your part to save America from Bush.
I have the luxury of voting for Dean as a third party candidate because of my location. And that's what I plan to do.