Note: this was published near Super Tuesday. I felt that there was a danger to the whole netroots movement by the counter-attacking old media and their poster child Hillary Clinton. I also felt that a loss by Obama would doom the vitality of the Democratic Party as young people moved to disengage again as in 1968--or worse, fragmented into a truly Third Class political movement. In sum, we did rally. And Obama's strength came in his numbers of donors more than our meager offerings. As well, I did not create a tip jar. And this quickly evaporated into ether(!): In spite of all the punditry loosed forth from the great bowel that is Mainstream Media and conventional wisdom--namely, that this extended and divisive primary fight is between two people of incredibly similar agendas and possibilities--the fight between Obama and Clinton is actually a generational one. It is a false conflict between some Boomers and their prejudices and petty selfish impulses; the frightened and mostly still contented versus the instruments of change. In this respect, 2008 is not so unlike other times. The main difference is that, while fortune favors the bold, demographics favor the old. Older voters must embrace change and extend their hands, not their twisted metaphors.
We must be very truthful with ourselves, the United States cannot stand many more "victories" such as McCain or Clinton would represent. Their message bypasses the information age, and resonates in the animal brain of their targeted audiences. A loud noise precipitating a flight reflex in those long past having the means to fight. The dollar is at the worst point in our life times. The $3,000,000,000,000 war, bequeathed to us by that generation, will be paid for by the outnumbered young. Or defaulted upon by us all. Health care has become a luxury--meaning that one must make life and death decisions for otherwise inconsequential procedures: a Third World paradigm we have embraced. Oil, food, utilities? Despite the analysts insistence they are "too volatile" to include in the inflation rate, have spiraled up more than 100-percent under Bush. $4 gas? How about $4 loaves of BREAD. We don't desire change--we have to change course or collapse.
The progress made by a generation of empowered bloggers and energized progressives best represented by the Daily Kos, hangs in the balance now. More negativity and Republican cheer-leading will lead to the dissolution of the Democratic Party. It is on life support--a breathing mechanism empowered by youth, drive and energy. Should Hillary prevail by using the fears of the elderly, racial bigotry and political favors, the movement represented by Daily Kos started will have failed at its most critical juncture. I urge all of you to introduce the fearful generation voting for McCain and Hillary to this site. Truth is power. We must make this site more inclusive, more tolerant, and more age diverse than ever. Or else. 1968 cost us so dearly that we are still paying the price. How much of our progressive legacy remains compared to Nixon's? He damned our health care, our civil liberties, and played on our petty bigotries. These lessons have been internalized by the body politic far more than liberty, tolerance, and progress of mankind.
Hillary lives on fear, and I think we must all realize that she will perpetuate the policies of this failed generation best represented by this administration. This far and no farther. Defend this line with your collective lives, mental and emotional energies. We must win back the legacy of FDR and defeat fear once more. Or demoralize a generation of young people who felt empowered--perhaps forever. A permanent disenfranchised cynical generation who learned a hard truth that lies, damned lies, and fear had more resonance than hope.