Politics is so incredibly boring without Dean in the race.

[dkf]

Ugh.

I have had a passion for politics, almost an obsession with it, since the Clinton impeachment. The Gore campaign got me riled up and major disgust with Bush kept me glued to politics on TV and the web. I now realize that most of this came out of contempt for the other guys, not because I really liked our guys.

But Howard Dean was different. He was the 1st politician to ever ever make me think about the wonderful documents, rights, privileges and history that have allowed this country to grow and become great. He reminded me that when the people join together that anything is possible and that was heady stuff. We can have a government that is run FOR the people, not just for the unequal benefit of the already well off.

I have never had such a feeling of love of country or the hope that we can make this country into something we are proud of, that I did when I hear Howard Dean. I'm sure this is the feeling that was shared by the men (and women I'm sure) who declared their independence and fought for it.

After this experience, hearing Kerry and Edwards argue over Salmon Czars seems incredibly small. Reading that Kerry and the Dems are not planning to push Health Care very hard very fast leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. Seeing Bush attack Kerry for flip-flopping frankly makes me laugh. Kerry's attempt to deflect Bush & Co's comments on his Vietnam years seems awfully pathetic and weak.

I look at Kerry/Edwards and I don't think they have the spine to do the things needed to save this country or this planet. They are just driving us off the cliff at 60 mph, rather than at 120 mph like Bush and I don't find the thought of dragging out the inevitable very motivating.

Sigh. What to do. Politics is boring. Life is boring without Dean.

[Eurobabe]

1. add, life is boring without

CLARK!

He gave me hope that we could change things. Now I am not so sure...as much as I would not vote for Nader, he needs to keep yanking this discussion more towards what the people want and deserve. I don't see the status quo candidates doing it.

[dkf]

9. Yup Clark too. These guys saw a bigger picture.

What is sad is that the general populace wasn't inspired. Makes me wonder if they are dead inside with cynicism.

Also, only people who got to really hear these guys through C-span or other means get it.

Cable TV is worthless. They only do the smallest sound bites repeated endlessly.

[janx]

23. They are dead inside with FEAR.

They are voting based on who they think will beat Chimpy--nothing else. They're voting based on reactionary fear.

I just hate to think what is going to happen if that kind of reactionary voting gets us a candidate that can't beat Chimpy.

[RummyTheDummy]

28. News flash...

If Dean couldn't win a single primary or caucus I doubt he could beat Bush either.

[blm]

38. HAHAHAH...I've been looking forward to voting for Kerry for YEARS.

I want the Bush regime annihilated and Kerry is the best equipped for that match. And so do many others trust Kerry to do so, obviously, and who do not figure into your equation.

[slinkerwink]

2. ditto here......

[hippiechick]

3. Get local

Find some of your Meetup or DFA buds and find a local candidate to organize for. Or, pick a seat and run yourself.

Pick an issue and form a group to get your local reps' ear.

"Don't Mourn the Dean, Be The Dean" :yourock:


:hippie:

[Debi]

32. I agree

And plan on supporting candidates that supported Dean....only!

[intheozone]

4. I'm feeling the same! nt

[JailForBush]

5. I agree.

What was perhaps the most exciting political campaign in American history is now shaping up to be a repeat of George Bush versus Al Bore. I don't know if Dean was really the chosen one; I really don't think any of the candidates are the superstar we need to turn this nation around. But I appreciated his gutsy stand.

In the meantime, the "Get Local" advice is right on the money. We can still contribute to this campaign in many ways. I've always been heavily involved in local politics, and I'm also using the presidential campaign to focus attention on major issues that everyone else is ignoring, primarily education and Microsoft.

As a bonus, these issues help separate the wheat from the chaff. Any Democrats/liberals who don't see anything wrong with the National Education Association or Microsoft are not our allies. They might as well be working for the Republicans. Some of them doubtless are.

[InvisibleTouch]

6. No Kidding! :(

Dean (and Clark) added the necessary excitement to the race. DK is still hanging in there making it interesting, but he's being largely ignored, and my biggest complaint with most of those left, is that they just plain lack intensity. Right now I feel that Kerry and Edwards are the "professional" choices, in the sense that they're dull, predictable, and "safe." Not intending to diss those guys, just comparing them to Dean (sigh). I can't help feeling that the only way to win in November, is to step out of line and take a chance, to be bold and passionate, rather than playing it safe. I hope I'm wrong. I hope our eventual nominee manages to evoke some fire and passion when the time comes. I hope I'll be able to rekindle some fire and passion within myself, so I'll be out beating the bushes for them.

[BootinUp]

19. I think you hit on something

as far as the "safe" thing. It looks like that is what the electorate wants. Anyways I am so in agreement with this thread.

At the same time I know that when the battle is fully engaged with Bush that my interest will pick back up, just waiting for that day.

[David Dunham]

7. Bush's anti-gay constitutional amendment just put excitement back

We need to defeat this!!!

[bearfartinthewoods]

8. what an insult to Dean.

you attribute such many fine lessons to him but toss them away out of petulance.

your 'boredom' does him no honor.

[dkf]

11. Dean inspires me. Nobody else does.

In fact Kerry does absolutely the opposite and makes me want to NOT vote and NOT help him out.

Kerry is the most uninspiring politician I've ever seen.

Edwards is better. I could live with him.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

13. maybe boring is wrong

but how about uninspiring? i think dean inspired people in a way washington politicians generally do not.

[bearfartinthewoods]

16. but what good is inspiration if it doesn't turn into devotion?

devotion, not to a person but to a purpose...

[La Lioness Priyanka]

17. what makes you think we/I am not devoted to the cause

i think dean was inspired a lot of people...that i why we should all be grateful to him...a majority of those people will vote Dem and not turn green/independent etc. i do not think kerry inspires in the same way..however i do think kerry/edwards are excellent candidates to the cause...

i think deans inspiration has caused people to pay attention and be devoted to the democratic cause

[sangh0]

20. Boring doesn't go with inspired

The fact that dkf is bored calls into question just how "inspired" dkf was by Dean.

i think dean was inspired a lot of people

Yeah, Dean inspired them to vote for Kerry. And the devotion to democratic causes that Dean inspired is leading democratic voters to nominate a Dem that voted for IWR, PATRIOT, and the NCLB

[La Lioness Priyanka]

24. i disagree

i think you could be bored with the current debates and still have a strong desire for kerry/edwards to win

[sangh0]

26. "Bored with politics" is what dkf said

not "bored with the current debates"

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. alas tis true

kerry a bit boring...so politician like...i even like deans now infamous scream...


ABB all the way!

[sangh0]

12. Waah! I'm not being entertained!!

My condolences

[dave29]

39. I'm being entertained

but not inspired

;)

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. So get on the Kucinich bandwagon. He's got a lotta spine!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

18. And he's not boring!

Of course, you'll have to work hard to FIND him in the mainstream media.

[blm]

15. Many of us who have been passionate since IranContra are quite pleased

that the man who exposed more government corruption than any other lawmaker in modern history is now the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

Those of us who have been a longtime passionate about the environment are quite pleased that the best environmental candidate is now the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

Those of us who were longtime passionate about healthcare are quite pleased that the man who developed a healthcare proposal to be implemented within his first 100 days in office is now the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

Try STUDYING and LEARNING about all the candidates, their actual past records and their current policies. Passion might not be far behind.

I imagine that those who have been liberal activists since the Vietnam era have waited for over 3 three decades to vote for John Kerry and many of them have maintained and increased hat passion over his many accomplishments since then.

[sangh0]

22. Yep, I've been inspired for more than 20 years

That's what REAL inspiration is about. Inspiration doesn't vanish when the entertainment recedes

[blm]

35. I didn't become very active till the 90s, but, I had the good sense

to support and appreciate those who were protesting IranContra (and Reagan and Bush's illegal wars) in the streets.

Many here have even been part of protests in the 60 and 70s. Salute.

[redqueen]

21. Don't let the media be your only source

They let Dean have his say and that was exciting for you.

Seek out what Kucinich is doing and saying. It doesn't get covered in the news, but it's just as inspiring as Dean.

[eileen_d]

25. Are you inspired by issues, or by personalities?

Dean is out of the race but all of the critical issues still remain. If the issues are important to you, continue fighting for what you believe in... locally, regionally, nationally.

If you can't be inspired by the issues without Dean, find another hobby. Since your need to be entertained seems to be paramount, how about WWF?

[dkf]

41. I used to be inspired by the issues, but now I realize that the

greatest threat to our democracy is the fact that our politicians are bought and paid for.

I told this to my fellow Dean supporters tonight and their consensus opinion was "no wonder you're depressed". sigh...

At least if your cause is gay marriage or the environment, you may have a chance that Kerry or Edwards will do an ok job.

They can't do much about my pet issue though, because even though they are better than Bush, that isn't saying much.

[Uzybone]

27. Yep it sure is boring

after all troops are still dying in the illegal Iraq war, Osamas 2nd in command is taunting us, Paige calls a teachers union terrorist, Bush is pushing a constitutional amendment, Bush appoints yet another right wing zealot via recess, it goes on and on. But yeah....without Dean all is boring. There is almost no reason to live.

[sangh0]

29. *Yawn*

"wake me up when something important happens"

:eyes:

[Debi]

33. Hmmmm

How did those troops get over to Iraq? And how will they get paid???

[jansu]

30. Want it not to be boring? Get everyone to vote for Dean!

He did NOT withdraw. He has asked us to still vote for him. If he really did well in the next primaries, can you imagine how all of the media, the "leaders", the DNC would react? Talk about NOT BORING?

First, they would all be running to clean their pants and then the fun would begin!

And, our message would once again be getting out. But, more importantly, he would be taking enough delegates to the Convention to make a difference, along with all the other non-leaders. It would be a brokered Convention AND THAT IS NOT BORING! A brokered convention, the people have the POWER!

BORED? HELP GET A BROKERED CONVENTION!

[Anwen]

31. I very much agree.

:boring:

[jonnyblitz]

34. Nader has livened things up a bit wouldnt you say? n/t

[tom_paine]

36. Clark supporter saying life is boring without Dean and Clark BOTH

They were the only ones to challenge the Matrix, as it were.

Whatever else Kerry does, he isn't going to attempt to address the media consolidation issue and he isn't going to restore the Fairness Doctrine.

Yes, both Clark and Dean will be sorely missed. Perhaps Kerry will surprise us all.

[John_H]

37. You need Howard Dean to make your life interesting? Yikes.

[dkf]

42. The energy and motivation I got from him are like nothing else

I have ever experienced before.

I really did feel like I could help change the world.

[Larkspur]

40. If Howard Dean had not done what he did last year, I'd be voting for

Bugs Bunny on March 2. I will be voting for Dean on March 2.

Kerry, if he's the nominee, he will get my vote in November along with my scorn, which he has earned from me long ago. Kerry is a Janus politician. He's no liberal. If he was in Zell Miller's district, he'd vote conservative, at least that is what my Mass Dem co-workers tell me.

[Adjoran]

43. Yes, Dean was more exciting

but I'd rather be bored by Kerry or Edwards than aggravated by Bush.

[CWebster]

44. True

Though kucinich doing so well in Hawaii is a lift.