Being a Democrat is fun again (Ed Garvey column in Fighting Bob)

[xray s]

I know things are intense in NH right now, but out here in the sticks there is something good happening. And it is starting to make me smile :)

http://www.fightingbob.com/article.cfm?articleID=167

Fun again
By Ed Garvey

I had almost forgotten that politics is fun.

We have, by necessity, been so serious and down since Scalia & Co. imposed George W. on us that Democrats forgot how to laugh. At least two years were spent pointing fingers after the Gore election. Was it Nader's fault? Was it Lieberman? Should Clinton have done more?

But now we live with the Patriot Act, efforts to gut the Environmental Protection Agency, the invasion of Iraq, a trillion-dollar deficit built over two years and the loss of nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs since Sir George ascended to the crown. Now we know just how bad it could be.

This past weekend I had fun attending forums to debate the choice for president - on the Democratic ticket. There was no finger-pointing, but there was plenty of laughter.

(snip)
What I loved about Park Falls was the straw poll showing almost equal support for Kucinich, Dean and Clark, with Edwards and Gephardt getting a few votes. There were plenty of moving comments from the audience that Bush must be defeated and there was genuine pride that the Democrats have fielded such a talented group of would-be nominees.

Similar sentiments were expressed in Portage Sunday and also among Dane County Democrats recently. "Bush must be defeated if we are to save our democracy." "Get our troops out of Iraq, balance the budget, provide national health care, protect our jobs." The issues dominate this primary season and that is indeed refreshing.

And there is something else. Respect for other opinions. This is not a knock-down, drag-out fight among the rank and file Democrats who will decide on Feb. 17 who best represents our progressive traditions in Wisconsin. The consultants might want you to believe that Dean is bad, Kucinich is out of the mainstream, Clark is a closet Republican, Edwards is not deep enough, but the rank and file Democrats are not buying into the negatives. They have been introduced to the candidates and they like them and won't have trouble supporting any one of them.

Now THAT"S what I'm talking about!
:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[lancdem]

1. Thanks for posting this

I agree. The primaries have really got me psyched!

[MariaS]

2. I live in Wisconsin

in the small town of Park Falls that Ed mentions in his article and was at that meeting. It was great fun with a serious undertone. Clark was actually the winner of the straw poll but he is right it was close with no votes for Kerry which did surprise me.