Sitting here with a cold, I've got my coffee, my tissues....and some hope.

[Mother Of Four]

I've been reading news and editorials...
Reading here on DU, filtering through the venom...
Watching clips where I could.

I am and always will be an Edwards Supporter, I think his message is much too important to be thrown to the wayside.

However, as things have started to gather movement in the Primaries something strange has started to happen.

I'm starting to believe, truly believe. I've been listening and comparing, and it hasn't been easy.

It's true, position wise they really aren't that far apart.

What IS different, is the fact that when Obama speaks he gets it. He gets that to make a true change, we have to be INSPIRED to work for it. He gets that you have to have everyone, not just one party, to make what we need happen...happen for real.

The other thing that has happened, is that I used to have a pervasive dislike for HRC. One that I couldn't put my finger on. That pervasive dislike has gone away the more I've looked into her and where she's coming from. I used to be one of those "Please...not Hillary" people. Not anymore. This is a huge turn around for me, but if she does win the nod I won't have to hold my nose.

It's funny, I've gone from wanting to believing. I've gone from feeling a depression about our country to something akin to warm pride. I can no longer stand by and watch the tearing down of our country, and the huge rifts that are not just caused, but ENCOURAGED, in the American People. I used to laugh and roll my eyes a little at the "Fired up!" message, I admit it. I thought it was pompous and overblown. I understand better what is meant by it now, because it means lighting a fire in your belly. It means taking all of those helpless feelings of having your hands tied, and breaking away.

It means realizing that we have the power, we as a people, and we have to use it.

I started to write a huge list about what I believe in, and decided instead to put it in a nutshell.

We as a nation have to rise up and take ourselves back from a deadly choke-hold that will be fatal to our country eventually. In my very humble opinion, you must believe in yourself and be moved to make those changes. Without that faith, without that drive, making the changes so desperately needed is almost impossible.

I'm starting to truly believe that Obama can do this, that he can be a spearhead and we can be the haft.

[saracat]

1. He gets it does he? Then why doesn't he "get" health care?

Why doesn't he have a universal health care plan? Hillary actually has the same plan as John. And if Barack "got" it he wouldn't be promising the corporations and Big Pharma and the helath care industry a place at the table. Yeah, Barack is inclusive all right but the guests he plans to "invite " to his table are not to my liking. He also has some pretty big exclusions as well. He openly mocks baby boomers and engages in overt ageism.Odd since he is almost on the border himself. And it is obvious he is ethics challanged and a lot more will be coming out about that.

I understand your desrie to have hope, but with me at least, it has to be based in more than empty platitudes.I am no real fan of either candidate but id my research and let the facts take me where they lead.I sincerely hope you are feeling better soon and I hope for a better world for everyone.

[KittyWampus]

5. Clinton's plan is Universal Health INSURANCE but doesn't regulate/control insurance corporations

[truedelphi]

10. Funny thing how candidates need to pay back their contributers! n/t

[Angela Shelley]

6. Hi saracat ... a question for you because you´ve done the

research.

Is the president responsible for "designing the plan?"

I thought that the House and the Senate and the People have something to say about the issue.

My point is, does it really matter which plan wins the race to the WH? Isn´t it more important that a president is elected who can motivate others to introduce an effective health care system?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

7. Mandatory health insurance isn't universal health care

It's a big old subsidy to the very industry that's caused most of the problems.

People in MA are paying the fines rather than for the MittCare because the fines are cheaper. How is THAT universal coverage?

And don't tell me this will "lead to" or "evolve into" single payer. It won't. The powerful insurance industry is simply not going to willingly participate in it's own demise. Not gonna happen.

[Mother Of Four]

9. Thank you Sara...

I respect you and your choices, the health care issue is one of the reasons it's been so difficult to weigh things for me.

After looking at things, I had to weigh issues and ability to get things done. We are at a huge crossroads, each one leading to a different future. Obama's road may take a little longer, but it's more likely to lead to the future I want for my kids than Clinton's is.

In a perfect world, I would be voting for Edwards in the GE.

[4themind]

2. Thank you for your heart felt post

and drink extra chicken noodle soup!

[Angela Shelley]

3. You got it, Mother of Four!

[AtomicKitten]

4. Feel better!!

Thanks for your testimonial. I believe Obama can do it too.

[Yael]

8. I came to the same decision

I believe that he can energize these new voters to the polls in November. No easy task once the primary season is over and the GE blathering starts in.

It won't matter one whit what proposals are out there now if we sweep downticket and have a fillibuster proof congress. This will enable them to draft and enact legislation that will be much more progressive than we can imagine today.

[Mother Of Four]

11. Exactly... nt