Reflections on the democratic party.

[LWolf]

I'm feeling reflective tonight.

Examining my reaction to suggestions that all but the front two should drop out, should be excluded from debates, etc., when most of the party hasn't voted yet.

And wondering where that leaves me. If there is a place for me in the democratic party, or if my presence is a mistake.

I've never belonged to a party before. I never wanted to. I never found a party I felt a part of, or that I felt represented me. I'm used to being the odd one out. I've always voted; many times for dems, since I'm politically progressive. But I've never participated.

This is my first, and possibly my last, primary. I became a democrat a year ago for one reason only. To vote for Dennis Kucinich. Not that I wouldn't vote for a different democrat in November; I probably would. Sort of. I've been voting against candidates, and for the lesser of 2 bad choices, for 2 1/2 decades. I voted for Clinton because he was better than Bush or Dole. I voted for Gore because he was better than Bush. I voted for whoever was on the ticket against Reagan and Bush I...Dukakis? Mondale? And Carter. But I was never voting for that person. I was voting against the opponent.

Finally, for the first time, I get to actually vote FOR someone. That will make my little excursion as a democrat worth it.

But I hear the mantra. I'm to get with the program. Fall in step. The party has spoken. I can understand this when the primaries are over. That's the time to be a team player. But to take my choice away before election day does not seem democratic to me. It's just wrong. Perhaps those who think there are more people in the middle, and so the party needs to move with them are correct. I can't say.

If so, those same people moving that direction need to accept responsibility for that movement. If you move the party away from a block of supporters, there should be no petulance, blame, etc. if they don't move with you. The people are the party, the people have spoken, and the people get to accept all of the consequences. Nobody has to go with you when you move.

It's ok if the people decide they don't need me. After all, I am the Lone Wolf. I'm used to running without a pack. Just don't toss blame if I haven't followed meekly along. This isn't about taking toys and going home; it's about wondering where home is.

Well, I'm going to cast my vote for the candidate of my choice March 2nd whether the majority of the party thinks he should be in play or not. Whether they think he should debate or not. I'm not going to shut up or go away until after the convention.

At that point, I'll reconsider my position. I'll probably vote for the democrat. After all, he'll be "better than bush." But if I don't feel like a valued part of the democratic party; if I feel deliberately marginalized, if I can't justify the integrity of the process that chose the nominee, I don't know that I'll stick around to be a democrat. I became a democrat so that I could have a say about who would be on the ballot in November. I've already been told and shown that my vote and input is not valued unless I bubble in someone else's choice, long before my chance to vote arrives. I am less than impressed with the primary process so far.

So if the team decides to cut me before the big primary game, I won't be in play for the general election. And that, too, is the people's choice.

I for one, hope that there are enough inclusive people in the democratic party to invite me to stay for awhile. Who knows...I might have something valuable to offer.

[WiltedFlowerChild]

1. Vote your heart

Primaries and caucuses are meant to aid a party in setting up a platform and bringing issues to the table at the convention.

Don't vote for whomever the media professes to be the front-runner. Don't vote for the candidate that others tell you has the best chance of beating Bush. Vote for the candidate that best articulates your views.

There is plenty of time before November to jump on the ABB bandwagon.

[LWolf]

2. I plan to.

I also want that candidate treated with respect by his own party. That would include participation in primary debates. And it would exclude any suggestions to drop out.

[Dhalgren]

3. Yours is an excellent post.

It spoke to my heart and mirrored much of my own experiences. I have become so tried of "settling" for the least "bad" of whichever two candidates are handed me. I don't care whether Kucinich is excluded from the primary process or not, I won't quit, because I know Dennis won't quit. As I have saaid at other times and in other places, after 30 years of voting as a Democrat, I am done. The party has turned its back on me so many times I can only recognize it as it walks away.

But with DK I have something to vote FOR, someone who speaks to me of hopes and dreams that are real and maybe our last chance. I am going to stand up until I am knocked down, and by gods, I'll get right back up.

[MuseRider]

4. As a life long

Democrat I have to say that I feel much the same way. I will vote in the GE for the nominee but after that I will probably find something else to do. Apparently that is more than OK with the other members of this party. It will be rather interesting to watch them wonder why nobody votes again in 2008. Or wonder how the third party candidates did so much better. I am very unhappy tonight, not necessarily by the results of Wisconsin but by our disenfranchisement by our own party. I expect that from the republicans but not from my own party.

[Redneck Socialist]

5. Screw 'em, vote your heart

After that keep fighting like hell for your ideals.

I've been proudly voting Democratic for over twenty years. After what the pubs did to Clinton I vowed that I would vote for a dog turd before I would ever vote for a republican.

And now?

Well now, I am beginning to think that this fall might be the last time I vote Democratic. I'm not just some disgruntled Deanie, for a time my paychecks read Democratic Party and being a DEMOCRAT meant something to me, meant a lot actually, but now I fell abandoned excluded and it is not a good feeling.

So here's to HOMELESS AFTER '04. Let us raise a glass to what was and hope (and fight) for a brighter future.

[Desertrose]

6. I think many of us are feeling the same tonite,LWolf

I too switched for the first time in my life from being an independant to a dem to be able to vote for Dennis in my primary...I am so filled with hope to hear about everything DK speaks to, not to mention that it comes from a man with such integrity...finally someone who mirrors my heart and my dreams...and in a practical way.

After missing voting for Bobby Kennedy by months....for the first time ever....I joyously and proudly voted FOR a candidate....and even though this candidate has been continually marginalized and even disappeared- he fights on...

All this makes me feel as though what is really important to me, is being marginalized and disappeared too, as well as a large group of poeple...people who vote.....but why bother? I want to be as tenacious as Dennis is...but like you, LWolf ...I'm not sure where I fit anymore.

I am wondering...where do I (we) go from here?? I am in this as long as Dennis is...and it appears that really, this is a movement that is only beginning...so maybe LWolf, we will make our own place from here on....maybe something new is being birthed from all the energy we bring from our hearts that seems to find no sweet place to land....maybe we are in the birthing process of something we can't yet imagine.... I can't let go of hope...I don't want to let go of hope.....I am very grateful to have a man like Kucinich who is able to inspire that in my deepest soul...I pray that the democratic party is not so foolish as to take that away from us......we will all be the poorer for the loss.

:hug: and :grouphug:
Peace and hope and home
DR

[LWolf]

10. Well said, DR.

I won't let go of hope, and I believe you are correct. We are in the birthing process of something we can't yet imagine, a change for our nation and for our planet, and we will make our own place from here on. I don't know yet what part the democratic party will play. I'm not closed to the party, but if they don't want to be a part of the change, I will let them go.

I'm still reading through all of the deeply felt responses. And here I thought I was on my own with these reflections!

:grouphug:

[rucky]

7. You guys are the bestest!

It's tough to completely ignore the human desire for acceptance, but it's worth it to stay true to yourself. One day the fickle values of society may cycle over to our end of the spectrum, and we'll have our moment in the sun, but that's not what I'm in it for. I'll continue to live like Dennis leads - by example. He's inspired me to become a better person, and each one of you has as well. That's a "movement" in my book.

[The Traveler]

8. Yeah ... vote your heart AND your mind

Dennis Kucinich has some really interesting approaches to some really big bad problems facing this country. The man is definitely a thinker ... and his heart is clearly on the side of the good guys.

So many of us here feel so passionately about our candidates. I still call myself a Clark Democract ... I was crushed when he dropped out. Angry. Confused. Depressed. Felt rejected. All that. I gotta admit ... I wanted to find a CNN, MSNBC or Fox talking head and perform a futile and childish gesture upon his or her porch. So I feel ya ...

But after one long night of blogging and dealing with the smugness of Kerry people and the vitriol of Clark people something suddenly ocurred to me.

None of these guys are really bad choices. And I have disagreements with all of them, even Clark.

I consider Kerry and Edwards to be the least forward looking of them, but I do not consider either one of them to be dim. With Clark or Dean or Kucinich, we could have broken some new ground and made real some progress. But maybe it is too soon for that.

Bush and the neo-cons have done so much financial, geopolitical, and even spiritual damage to this country that maybe it is too much to expect ground breaking right now ... maybe it is more realistic just to "restore the balance" and do damage control a bit. Getting rid of Bush would be a good start.

But I'm still pissed. I don't think the way the DNC and the media handled this primary season did justice to the process ... the purposes of democracy suffered as a result, in my view. But for all its weirdness and its tendency to self destruct due to a deficiency of strategic thinking, the Democratic Party is worth revitilizing. And if we who support the more innovative thinkers like Clark, Kucinich and Dean bail out ... who will be around to do that?

I'd hate to see ya leave the Democratic scene ... you write so well, your convictions are clearly strong and well defined. May I suggest that instead of bailing out, that you infiltrate? Your man's ideals are still worth speaking out for, and fighting for.

[Paschall]

9. I just wonder

Do you think Kucinich or Sharpton will bolt the Democratic Party after the primaries? And if you believe in them, how can you not respect their choice?

Someone above says that after voting Dem for XX years, s/he feels the party has turned its back on him/her.

Ya know, voting is the minimum you can do for the party. If minorities and gays/lesbians, for example, had not gotten intimately involved in the party, giving time and energy, and helping write the party platform, the party would be much worse off today.

I say if you don't feel comfortable with the choices the Democratic Party is offering today, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! The party rules are open enough to allow all voices to be heard. Get involved, stay involved, and work to bolster whatever party faction you feel most comfortable with. Like the Democratic Socialists of America, perhaps. http://www.dsausa.org/