I'm feeling very different all of a sudden. Blame Iowa

[Bucky]

With the sudden 4-way horse race in the Bucky state, I mean the Buckeye state, I'm feeling really good about our chances. The guys going negative saw it was hurting them and so they quit going negative. The people have spoken and the leaders listened. That's good stuff.

But there's more. If any one of them can surge up based on their Iowa momentum, leading to them getting the nomination, then I'll be proud and personally at peace with whoever holds our mantle. Now that the voters seem to be paying attention, and candidates behaving themselves better, we're starting to see just how strong the party is.

But most importantly, we're seeing how strong democracy is. When many of the the big guns bowed out--Clinton, Gore, Biden, Daschle--the meme at hand was that the Democrats were weak on leadership. But that's clearly not the case here. We have many fine, strong leaders. The weak link was a national news media who were weak on covering issues of substance that affect our public affairs.

So whoever wins the balloon toss in Boston this summer is my leader. I'm cool with that now. The notion spread last December that it was "already over" and the presumptuousness of Gore telling the rest of the party to just shut up and don't bother voting was far more irritating than any gaffe or seemingly arrogant statement Dean made. Democracy is a process and it works best when, goddammit, we go thru the actual process.

Now if Kerry comes back, or Edwards comes to the front, or Dean regains his momentum and stays with a positive message, or if my candidate Clark holds strong in New Hampshire and can stand off these newly surging campaigns, then I'll be satisfied that democracy has been served.

I keep having my faith in democracy tested. No, this country keeps on testing democracy's faith in us. The impeachment nonsense, the stolen 2000 election, the vile "Democrats are soft on terrorism" tactics of the 2002 election are affronts to the principles of good citizenship and the institutions built by the Founding Fathers. But every time liberty takes a hit, like Mohammed Ali bouncing off the ropes, democracy comes back and keeps hammering away the bad guys.

The un-democratic message that it was over was bunk, the bogus impeachment was bunk, and the 2000 robbery was the biggest load of horseshit this country has seen since slavery. Now, once again, democracy is giving us a chance to redeem ourselves. I'm confident we will.

[placton]

1. Actually, Ohio is the BUCKEYE state, although

the mascot of the University of Iowa is a Hawk, and they are the (non-sexist, politically correct) HAWKEYES.

I hope you are right.

[janx]

3. I studied at the U. of Iowa and once had a T-shirt that said:

University of Iowa
Idaho City, Ohio

(It was great!)

[lancdem]

2. I feel exactly the same way, Bucky

I love the fact we have a real race, so whoever wins will have absolutely earned the nomination. The voters will make the choice, which is much more important than any endorsement. And our nominee will automatically become our standard bearer and party leader. I'm very comfortable with that. And like you, I love that the negative ads have been dropped and the focus is on what each candidate has to offer.

[bigwillq]

4. I'm glad they dropped the negative. This should be a positive

campaign to put the DEMS back in power. I think the other candidates should support one another. Yes, it's a competition but may the best man (Sorry CMB) win. They could fight friendly fire and still stay positive.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

5. Hate to say it but it's going to get worse - just wait til New Hamp.

they'll all be beating up on Clark. I hope our guy (Clark) can stay positive and be above the fray...

[chookie]

6. Isn't it exciting?

I agree that we have an outstanding lineup this year. Hell, any one of them would make a fine president, infinitely better than His Chimperial Majesty -- and some of them have the makings of greatness.

Iowa has really shifted the dynamics of the race. Boy, even a week ago I would have told you that the candidacy would be won by Dean or Clark (my guy) -- but Kerry, Gephardt and Edwards are all performing superbly, and I think it's anyone's guess who will prevail.

We're really seeing what these guys are made of. It's been in some ways a mean campaign, but given that the inevitable winner is going to have to go toe to toe with the Rove Character Assassination Machine in what is going to be the most vicious and bizarre campaign in American history, seeing how these guys take their punches now can give us a sense of how they will manage in the future.

I had made the mistake of writing off Kerry and Gephardt -- boy, what a mistake that was!! Both men are shining now. I am glad that Edwards is proving himself now, although he's not coming across strongly to me personally.

I've had my own ideas about this stuff, but tried to keep an open mind, and was always very interested in hearing all the different viewpoints on DU. It's helped me to help out people who are less involved in following this stuff to find their candidate through all the noise, because I have seen so many different perspectives. Thanks to all the supporters of all the candidates!