The Plaid Adder: October Surprise

[Raster]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/plaidder/04/33.html


In 2000, Nader garnered most of his electoral support by making the argument that the two major parties had grown so close together that there were no longer any significant differences. He's still trying to make that argument now, but just about nobody is buying it.

Especially this October, the differences have become pretty dramatic. You see, right now, even if you can't make head or tail of the ideological positions, there's one very easy way to tell the two parties apart. The Democrats are busting their asses to get voters to the polls, and the Republicans are busting their asses trying to keep voters away.

That has always just baffled me. I know many fine upstanding Republicans, and all right, fine, on many an issue dear to my heart I can still see room for honest disagreement. But how you go to bed at night knowing that your party depends on voter intimidation and election fraud to stay in power I do not understand.

I lived in North Carolina for a while, and it was an open secret there that Republican operatives routinely scammed heavily African-American districts any way they could - malfunctioning voting machines, deliberately deceptive mailings, intimidating phone calls, and all this over and above the outright race-baiting that was a central tactic of many Republican campaigns.

<snip>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/plaidder/04/33.html
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It's all good!

[bread_and_roses]

1. This is a wonderful, wonderful

even better than her usual excellent writing. I was just going to post on it if no one else had.

Besides the many other clearly articulated points, the reminder of the swell of the grass-roots will lift anyone's hopes and spirits.

And in the end, this, I think will be the lasting legacy of this campaign and the one development that gives me hope for the future of our country and our world.

People newly awakened to the power, energy, and vital importance of grass roots actions will not go back to sleep (or so I fervently pray to whatever goddesses may be).

And Kerry is going to owe this election to the efforts of the many Progressive non-profits and unions joining forces with orgs like ACT who've mobilized hundreds of thousands of volunteers in swing states.

We will have some leverage, if we can stay focused and know what to do with it.

[LisaLynne]

2. I just finished reading it ...

Brilliant, as usual, and inspiring.

[stlchic]

3. Reasons to look forward to Wednesday:

1. Only day in the week with absolutely no meetings
2. The Plaid Adder column

Freakin' brilliant, P.A.!

:yourock:

[Raster]

4. I read and like just about everything at DU, but Plaid Adder is the best.

The Adder's columns are ALWAYS concise, clever and well written. Absolutely my fave. And this week's did not disappoint. This is one of the Adder's best.

[Plaid Adder]

5. Thanks, guys

Writing the column is easy enough; my poor partner had to spend all day talking to people who are voting for Bush. It has been hard on her, but we still believe! Bush will get a SPANKING on November 2!

Yee ha,

The Plaid Adder

[brainshrub]

6. A link in your article does not give the desired info.

You wrote: "No, the crowning glory of Bush's 3rd debate performance was that he did, actually, no shit, drool on himself."

The link purporting to show * drooling on himself is here:
http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/14/politics/campaign/14mood.html&OQ=orefQ3DloginQ26orefQ3DloginQ26adxnnlQ3D1Q26orefQ3DloginQ26adxnnlxQ3D1097741147Q2Davq5N1RovSQ51pInI1PQ252Bd1zQ51

But even after I register and log in, I don't read any reference to * drooling on himself. (I was expecting to see a picture or something.)

Sorry to pick a nit. I absolutely love your work.