{1} Attorney Weinglass: Prior to coming to Chicago, from April 12, 1968, on to the week of the convention, did you enter into an agreement with David Dellinger, John Froines, Tom Hayden, Jerry Rubin, Lee Weiner, or Rennie Davis to come to the city of Chicago for the purpose of encouraging and promoting violence during the Convention Week? …
Abbie Hoffman: We couldn’t agree on lunch.
--Transcript from Chicago 7 trial
There are a number of important issues that progressive grass roots democrats should be discussing during the primary season. This will include healthy debates about the strength and weakness of each of the candidates who are in the primary contests.
The debates on the Democratic Underground span a wide range: some appear organized and well thought out, while others are more spontaneous; some favor candidates doing well in the polls, while others advocate for the underdogs; some appeal to rational though, and others express the power of emotions; and some attempt to unite, while others tend to divide.
Four decades ago, Robert Kennedy said, "There are those who look at things the way they are and ask why; I dream of things that never were and ask why not?" I think that this could lead to an argument on DU today, because it was not an exact quote of George Bernard Shaw:
"You see things;
and you say, ‘Why?’
But I dream of things
that never were
and I say, ‘Why not?’ "
It’s good to discuss and debate the candidates and issues. But with the potential for good, comes the potential for the not-so-good. And it isn’t just that a handful of good DUers might leave the forum – though I think that is a very real negative. But more, the divisions that are being brought about can have a very real impact tomorrow.
It’s not a matter of asking rhetorically, "Well, will you vote for the democratic nominee next fall?" Yes, most people on this forum are going to vote for the democratic candidate. The divisions create a greater threat than that.
We need each democrat on this forum to invest in the 2008 election season. Not just money, though financial investments can be important. But also, getting out and registering potential voters. Writing letters-to-the-editor to educate other voters. Getting people to the polls, not only to vote for president, but equally important, to vote for congress and other offices.
I haven’t even begun to make a serious choice on which single candidate that I think would be best for our party and the country. I think that we have a good group of candidates to choose from. I think that it is important that we use DU to consider ways that we can move the party to the left -- and send a clear message to each candidate about what our expectations are – rather than attempt to move DUers to the right, to make the status quo more acceptable.
Senator Kennedy was fond of quoting Alfred, Lord Tennyson:
"The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks;
the long day wanes; the slow moon climbs; the deep
moans round with many voices. Come, my friends.
‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world."