My heart bleeds for Gephardt today.

[blm]

The man took alot of unfair hits last year. He was smeared early as "Bushlite" and yet that was nowhere near the truth of his career.

The man carried as much Dem water as anyone over the many years. It wasn't easy to rack up strong creds the way Gep did when you're up against the likes of BushInc. and Newt Gingrich in his rise to power and the rightwing media control.

He did a GREAT job under those circumstances. Many of lesser character would have folded completely against that onslaught over an extended period of time.

Gep....This liberal Democrat salutes you.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. I do have some sympathy

but no one ruined Gep's credentials for him. He could lead in the majority but when the rubber hit the road, he was impotent as a minority leader. He sacrificed his OWN party leadership for his aspirations and was burned by nobody but himself.

I respect his past but do find his present to be a bit unforgivable. His own neck of the woods saw him lacking in the mettle to be a leader in the WORST of circumstances which is when leadership is MOST needed.

[blm]

9. I understand your point.

I don't dismiss its validity at all. But, I am speaking specifically on his work as a Democratic lawmaker. Maybe he shouldn't have been propelled to a leadership position, but he was a great representative and a great Democrat.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. I would bet his own constituency still sees a senator in him

I would even HOPE they did.

[Wetzelbill]

2. You Bet!!

Geppy has been fighting the good fight since what seems like the Civil War era. He's been a good man for a long time and I'm sad to see him go.

Kudos Rep. Gephardt. I salute you as well.

[Walt Starr]

3. My take on Gephardt

He committed political suicide in order to get other corporatists into the winning seats.

:shrug:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. John Kerry is not a "corporatist"

I hope you are not implying that.

[Clark Can WIN]

23. BItter drive by alert!

careful, watch your toes.:D

[Walt Starr]

26. I consider the following candidates to be corporatists

John Kerry
John Edwards
Joseph Lieberman
Wesley Clark

That's my opinion and I am entitled to it.

[alexwcovington]

4. Gephardt's best days were behind him

Everyone wants to go out on top, Gephardt is no different. It's understandable he'd want to make a run for the Presidency before leaving politics. Ultimately, the momentum just wasn't there. Labour unions have not fared well in the age of global corporatism, and neither have hard democratic values in an age where conservatives choose how the debate is waged.

We would all do well to look at Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" for this campaign...

[cryofan]

15. huh

What are you talking about? Gephardt lost because he is not as good a stump speaker as some of the others. He is not as persoanble as some of the others. And you think you are going to win by playing the game on terms set by the other side....that seems nonsensical to me....

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

5. people's true colors came out by attacking Gep

THE labor candidate, and look at how little solidarity he got from "liberals".

[blm]

18. My sentiment as well.

.

[aquart]

6. He folded up enough.

It made him less enough. We needed a hero to stand up and he didn't. He just didn't.

Is that unfair after years of good slogging work? Yeah. But the last thing we need now is a man who caves in the crunch. Sorry.

[Colin Ex]

7. Word to that.

Props to Dick Gephardt. He's a good person and I wish him the best in the House.

Dick Gephardt = teh win

-C

[Cocoa]

8. at least the decision was easy for him

I don't think he agonized much over it, which is a good thing.

And he barely managed to hold back tears in his great concession speech.

He went out with class, and included a great line, "we're going to beat George Bush, because we HAVE TO."

[blm]

11. He hit that tone perfectly with that remark.

.

[hamerfan]

12. The crowd has to thin out....

Gephardt is good for the working family. That said, I wouldn't have voted for him in the primaries, and I'm union {IBEW} from Missouri. Why? I really don't think he could take Bush...

[sistersofmercy]

13. Mine too!

If he chooses to, he will make a fine Senator. Someone last night in a post suggested the Labor Secretary position which would suit him well, also. Thanks for the post.

[SeattleRob]

14. I used to really admire him...

I wrote him a fan letter during the NAFTA fight because of his principled stand. But seeing how low he sunk - appearing with the chimp in a photo op and his trashing of Dean advance in the campaign, I lost a lot of respect for him.

At least he did the classy thing by bowing out.

[Jerseycoa]

17. He showed true class last night

I was moved to tears, sure, but it was his courage and his show of loyalty throughout the loss he suffered I admire most.

[maddezmom]

19. another dem salutes Gep

he's on CNN right now.

[blm]

21. Thanks for bumping.

I'm tearing up right along with him.

[maddezmom]

25. he's been working hard for a long time

his speech really got to me, it's got to be hard for him, his family and his supporters.

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. OMG. Did you just see his speech?

My heart is broken. :cry: He is such a kindhearted soul. He's a good man.

[Clark Can WIN]

22. ay! spot on!

I hate it when Democrats make me cry. His departure speech was very touching. He doesn't deserve the pure manure that got thrown at him and it's painfull to watch him go.

Thanks Gep, we will miss you.:cry:

[mmonk]

24. Gephardt represents

what's good about America. I'm grateful for his years of service.

[cmf]

27. He is a good man, a great representative, but

an ineffective leader. I have sympathy for him, but it just wasn't meant to be.