Reply #21: Absolutely! [View All]

[regnaD kciN]

Once the primaries are over, we are all Democrats, with a common opponent -- not just Bush (as tempting a target as he is), but the Republicanism spawned by Nixon/Reagan/Bush(x2)/Gingrich, which is now the effective dominant ideology in this country, and must be brought to a sudden and conclusive end.

We can do everthing possible to eject the Chimp and elect JK, but even that won't be enough if he has to face a solidly Republican Congress. We all saw where that led to in Clinton's last term. We have to throw all the bastards out, and give President Kerry a supportive legislative branch, not one that's out to block him and preserve the Bush agenda at every turn.

I'll even go further than this -- we need to support Democrats at the state and local level (even city councils, school boards, and utility districts) just as much, for it is there that future Democratic leaders emerge from. I think one of the weaknesses of the Democratic Party over the past thirty years has been precisely this sort of neglect of the "minor leagues" in favor of focussing on the big races. While we've been concentrating on presidential contests, we've gradually lost the influx of young, committed Democrats to form the next wave of party leadership, such as the wave that produced John Kerry in the early 70s -- instead, such people either lose interest in politics altogether, or find a home in a marginal party such as the Greens. Now, even our "young voices" are getting old, and who's going to replace them in time? Unless we explicitly groom a new generation of Democrats, the party will gradually fade away.

This is part of what I hope Dean's new organization, as well as People For Change, will be about. For this year, though, it is important that we unite, and pledge to support all Democratic candidates, everywhere!

:kick: