Dear Colleagues at DU,

[zapp]

I am writing this in hopes of expressing a point of view that may just be unpopular here right now, and if so, I understand.

This last election, in which John Kerry and NC's own John Edwards lost, either through direct votes or manipulation by those in power, is clearly and unambiguously over at this point. I say these words with regret, as nothing would have given me greater pleasure than to address former Sen. Edwards as 'Mr. Vice-President'.

I am a democrat in a red state. This state, during this past election, saw commercials on radio and television that aligned my fellow democrats with those who are 'morally bereft'. Several of the commercials aligned Dem Bowles with Bill Clinton. Clinton, as we know, besmirched the Oval Office with tawdry behavior.

I forgave Pres. Clinton then, and I forgive him now. He remains one of the persons I look up to, along with John Edwards. I have met Sen. Edwards several times, and each time was impressed with his depth of knowledge on subjects, as well as a genuine understanding of the struggles that working folks face daily.

What I heard from my neighbors was this:

They didn't think they could trust John Kerry because of his propensity to 'say one thing and do another'. In light of his pronouncement to 'Count every vote and make sure every vote counts', then his absence from the Senate today, I cant help but think that there may have been some ring of truth to the comments of those I talked with. I know that * does the same thing, but he wasnt the challenger.

I personally am disappointed in the democrats, and what the party has become. We are no longer a party seeking through integrity and principle to level the playing field for all Anericans. We have become a party that is more about compromise than ever before.

* won, and he won even when stating that people might not like him much because he stood for what he believed in. That puts you out on a limb, and sometimes the limb breaks, but not often. More often it bends a little- but the average joe sitting in his living room appreciates it when someone stands for something- perhaps because he or she doesnt have the cajones to do that themselves.

In closing, we ARE at the defining moment in our party's history. We brought much of the comforts and established laws to the United States in the last 70 years, and we have become complacent, even as our counterparts in the Rethug party continue to build a structure within their party that has outpaced ours. What we do for the next year or two will define what we are. I pray that whatever we do, we do it with an eye to the future. I pray that it is done with vision, and hope. The American people, above all, I believe want hope. I know I do.

I remain,

Blue Voter in a Blue County in a Red State.

[HEAVYHEART]

1. Thanks for your post

I too am a blue voter in a red state. Hello fellow NCer! :hi:

[zapp]

3. Hiya!!

Guilford County Here!

[Boswells_Johnson]

2. When Pierre Trudeau retired, he spoke of talking over the heads

of big business and past the institutions, directly to the people.

I think a more direct approach for the Dems would be effective.

[Obviousman]

4. You are right

We should be working to transform the party. Two great websites for latecomers are www.dailykos.com and www.mydd.com That will have all the info and ideas you would ever want to find about the DNC chair race and any other reform movements.

[Shopaholic]

5. Bill Clinton won because he could articulate very complex matters

in a simple, easily understandable way. I'm convinced some folks like * because he makes them feel smarter (for obvious reasons). Clinton never, ever talked down to us. He was able to empathize like no one else. He was, simply, one of the most naturally gifted politicans I've ever seen in my 40+ years. That's the type of candidate we need to run in 2008. Or we need to steel ourselves to lose again. Our party also needs to speak with one united voice and learn to stand up against the Republicans. Until we do that, we will continue to lose.

[readmylips]

11. Prez Bill Clinton was a fluke....

Never again would the elites of this country allow a Bill Clinton type to become president. That was the number one reason why he was destroyed, especially when he ran and won against an elite family like the bushes. The message was clear; no more Bill Clintons as president.

Clinton worked hard all his life and took the words to heart, 'only in America can a poor boy grow up to be president.' America should have been proud of him, instead the elites smashed the dream for all.

[RaulVB]

6. You'll never get it (n/t)

[Child_Of_Isis]

7. I'll never believe that shrub won. n/t

[readmylips]

8. Zapp: Very nice...

it's nice to dream but like it or not, we're a one party country and on our way to rule the world. Hitler's dream has come true and he must be smiling down on the White House.

Early this morning I watched the History channel when we had a republican miser and cheap president, Mr. Hoover. Just like bush says today things are great, Hoover said the same when Americans were dying of hunger during the great depression.

Along came President Roosevelt and a starving country followed him into greatness. During the bush era, people are not starving. Even the poor are too fat. That's why they voted for him. This country will have to hit bottom before the republicans are kicked out of office and it may be NEVER.

[Virginian]

9. I too am a Blue Voter in a Blue County in a Red State.

Mr. Bush did not always define himself. He let his minions define him as what any particular group wanted and then he stood there and said, "You know what I stand for."

We know he stands for winning at any cost.
We know he stands for war that can't be won.
We know he stands for the death penalty for repentant prisoners.
We know he stands for welfare for the wealthy.
We know he stands for big tax breaks for corporations.
We know he stands for outsourcing.
We know he stands for free trade that is not fair trade.
We know he stands for No health care for those who can't afford it.
We know he stands for TWO Americas, on for the wealthy and one for everyone else.

I am sorry your former Senator Edwards is not going to be our Vice President Edwards. He is quite a man and he has a lovely family.

[HeyManThatsCool]

10. W O W

Seriously, kudos on that post.
It was great.



I too felt as you did about John Edwards... truth be told I did prefer Edwards to Kerry. I have been to rallies with both (more than once for each one of them) and I felt that Edwards connected much better with the people when speaking in crowds. I thought Kerry connected better in small groups. And I have NO problem saying I preferred Elizabeth Edwards 2,000,000% to Teresa Heinz Kerry.
It's not that I "hated" Teresa, I just wasn't bowled over by her as I was by Elizabeth. I am hoping & praying that Elizabeth makes a full recovery from breast cancer. I am also praying that John Edwards runs in 2008. I will throw myself behind his candidacy.

I know many people here are very pro-Kerry & loved him as a man. I really just volunteered, donated & supported him because he was the DEM candidate (and was anyone but Bush). I wasn't rocked by Kerry's personality or his record in the Senate. (Yes, I know about BCCI & The Vietnam Vets & all the other things he did) He grew on me during the election process, but I was never as taken with him as I was Edwards... or Bill Clinton. I felt somewhat ambivalent about Kerry as a man. (Much the same as I did about Al Gore) Nice guy but the personalities werent as dynamic. (IMHO) I did feel he would have made a better president than GWB- but really, who wouldn't?