Some Horse Race...

[Joe Fields]

If you've ever seen a beehive, then you know there's an orderliness to all of it's activity. And when a beehive gets poked with a stick or kicked, naturally the bees get agitated. Right now, most Americans are like upset bees. Little Georgie Bush, the spoiled bully of the block has poked us and kicked us every day, since he first took office. We are good and agitated. And, like a swarm of bees we chased him and stung him good in November of 2006. Or so we thought.

But we are still agitated. Here at DU the acrimony is palpable. I've been here a long time, and I've never seen us snapping at each other so early into an election season as we are now. It is for good reasons, too. We are being forced to back candidates in a horse race where all of the horses are lame. Not one single candidate is worthy or prepared to take on the numerous problems that this administration has caused. To my knowledge, no one has openly vowed, or signed a pledge to restore the balance of power between the three branches of government, nor have I heard them pledge to make environmental issues a top priority. In my opinion, their only saving grace is that they are somewhat better than the candidates on the other side. That's not a ringing endorsement.

But when it gets right down to it, they all work for the same people, and I'm not talking about you and me. They work for the corporatocracy that actually runs this country. And I think THAT, in a nutshell, is why we are so damned angry these days. We have been sold down the river by a bunch of con artists. We had a lot of high hopes when the dems took both houses of congress. Our high hopes turned out to be short lived. I thought impeachment was a sure thing. I thought we would hold strong against funding this war. And I thought our civil liberties would be vigorously defended. Still a little naive, I guess, after being on this earth 51 years. I'm a lot wiser now. Maybe it's the "Stockholm Syndrome." I suppose it's possible that democratic politicians in Washington had been held hostage for so long, that they began identifying with their captors, moreso than with their loved ones. But it hasn't taken long for us to realize that we are like the employee, whose boss invites us to a cocktail party, only to find out when we arrive that it was to work the bar, pouring and serving drinks to all of the very thirsty guests.

Why do we put up with all of this nonsense? Why have we bought into this dog and pony show? Why are we betting on lame horses? It's like what the habitual gambler said, when asked why he was playing cards in an obviously rigged game. "Because, it's the only game in town."

I'm sorry. I have tried to find reasons to back any of our candidates, but the stakes are too high, and the nation's ills are too many for any of them to rise to a needed level of competency, courage and conviction. That is why I have chosen to support Al Gore. And if Mr. Gore chooses not to run, I will write his name in, come primary day in my state. I know he isn't Superman, but he damned sure stands out above all the rest.

[spanone]

1. k&R

[BOSSHOG]

2. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE IDEA

My state's primary (Mississippi) is very late in the game and a candidate may be selected before we go to the polls and I thought My primary vote would be wasted but I too will write in President Gore's Name, (unless General Clark gets in the race.)

I do hope you will vote for whomever the dems end up nominating.

[wildhorses]

3. gore/clark

please.god.please.amen.

:patriot:

[fla nocount]

4. Great post Joe

It was enough to lure from under my bridge where I've been lurking. I think you've got me pegged; we're being given a nag to ride in a fixed race and there's enough DLC types here to make the posting and the prospects unappealing to the progressives who've been around since the beginning. Well, back under the bridge. I haven't posted here in months; just left without a farewell but I felt that I had to compliment you on your thoughtful and balanced thread.

[Joe Fields]

13. I understand where you're coming from...

I'm glad you felt strongly enough to respond. Hope to hear from you again soon.

[corkhead]

5. Award for most sensible post today. Rec #5

[tom_paine]

6. You and millions of Americans are waking up to the hard facts

I still hold out hope, and ultimately give the Democrats still more chances to show me why they were right to do what they have done.

But in my heart I know that a significant change is unlikely. Still, hope springs eternal and it is still possible.

[TahitiNut]

7. We're told that the corporatocracy is so deeply embedded inside the beltway ...

... that a candidate that's not part of that corporatocracy is "unelectable." Then we get people who think that's a "negative" - and drink the corporatist Kool-Aid.

"We have met the enemy, and he is us." (Pogo)


Back in the late 30s in Germany, I guess a "progressive" was someone who donated soap to the Jews entering the showers.

[PATRICK]

8. More and less than that

I think the problem is worse and more general but that the GOP is not just a little worse but an entirely over the hill criminal organization. The ONLY democratic choice is a dithering polite slate of a losing generation deferential to an exposed illusion and utterly corrupted and stolen system. When I say worse it is because I cannot exactly say with that sweeping ease "they are all alike" and then go for Gore simply because he has not been dragged through the current mire which has degraded BECAUSE the two parties thought they could do everything better than the league of Women Voters and ignore the gutted media that frames them terribly(intentionally or not). By that logic I would have expected Kucinich as the alternative, but apparently either it is more complicated than that or the real problem is the infuriating length of a meaningless interval of repetitive sound and monied fury waiting to actually vote.

Then there is the corporate rule fact, the ownership of a vestigial democracy and unenforced, owned laws. Only a classic dictator hybrid like Cheney/Bush would have so disillusioned and exposed the evils for what they were. Nothing breeds enemies like failure. The major cause for anger among us mere mortals who ordinarily are appallingly forgiving of flaws that don't directly impoverish us is how we are herded away from core realities in toto and can't so much as break into the national discussion as a factor anymore. It is one thing to be subjugated and oppressed, but the real character of tyranny stands revealed as the assumed control over the MIND of the populace, steering it like Cheney on Jim Beam, reckless and irregardless of passengers or direction. No one is allowed to think other than express indirect of "democratic" anger that will be directed again as the powerful decide through their propaganda bread and circus sops to the unwashed drones they must put up with.

This emotion I have seen back up a Nixon, Bush I, reagan and ever other "slightly" lesser evil. May I suggest one immediate way of backing modest progress toward really addressing the anger in OUR direction would be to at least elect a Dem president and the most progressive candidate. Failing that do other things. The easy answers all sound unlikely or enabling of the crooks doing it to us again. My choices to BEGIN doing something with a nominal restoration of law and sanity are Edwards, Kucinich and Obama in that order. Hillary will necessitate a lot longer and harder work, but the option is another Bush stooge and likely another King Bush and a good chance for the miserable ruin and death of the human race as a merciful byproduct of Darwin's revenge. Gore, not exactly the greatest political talent for tactics, is not even making an effort yet. Risky fantasies that we can presume to remake the defeated past into a reborn messiah. Lwet's just get involved in our state primaries and with the candidates. Give them the swift kicks in their own chat rooms. Our slate is not as enriched or as dean activated as 2004. It would have been an equally sorry, evasive affair without Dean and a much likelier
actual Bush win. Put up with the process- this year- and let someone know you are behind them and why and what you and the nation demand. Most Dems at least listen(without the spy gear and prisons). Now all we need are the doers and the offices.

[smoogatz]

9. I'd love it if Gore jumped in.

And writing him in in the primaries isn't a bad idea. But I disagree that none of the current field of Democrats can do the job: they all can, and they can all do it a hell of a lot better than anyone in the Republican field, or any of the miscreants currently farting into the Oval Office desk chairs. None of the current field of Democrats excites me; any of them would be fine.

[wildhorses]

10. but,

can ANY of them win?

is that the $64.oo question:shrug:

[smoogatz]

11. Against the Republican dickheads currently in the race?

Sure. Not that it won't be close--and it wouldn't be if Gore ran--but yes, I think either Obama or Hillary would win against any of the Republican contenders. Hillary's very tough and very smart and would personally stick an icepick in Giuliani's eye if she thought she had to to get elected. Obama is an electrifying speaker and has the almost singular gift of having been right about Iraq from the get-go. If you think Iraq's a clusterfuck now, just wait until the surge winds down--as it will in 2008. Holy shit. It'll be THE issue of the 2008 campaign.

[DCKit]

12. Dayum, some of you folks can really write (Joe Fields, PATRICK)

Yeah, I'd thought about writing in Gore as well, but would rather he declare and not "split" the vote as a write-in. A resounding, direct vote for Gore would send a clear and frightening message to those currently in power on both sides of the aisle and the MSM reaction would be a hoot to watch.

[Joe Fields]

14. Write him in...n/t