More (reasoned, I hope) thoughts on the "support the nominee" question...

[T Wolf]

Let me start by confessing that for a long time, I have been so angry that "our" party has been slip-sliding to the right that I had sworn off supporting the DLC-Dems (I have both a DLC Representative and Senator). And there are many of us here that feel the same way.

I have felt almost totally betrayed by the party powers and the system in which they operate to the point that even bothering to vote seemed an exercise in futility. I was, and still am to some extent, of a mind to conclude that seeking a political solution is doomed to fail. A revolution, however that is defined, seemed to be the only solution.

But that rage, as strong as it is at times, sometimes fades a bit. It is hard, and destructive, to maintain.

With the primary season still months away and, more importantly, the general election over a year in the future, I wonder how many of us "dis-affected Dems" will come home in November '08 and how many of will stay home. A lot can change in a year - actual events, personal situations, emotional reactions.

This rethinking has been prompted by two specific factors. For the first time in a long time, I actually watched some media coverage of a couple of our candidates. Hearing them speak, it reinforced in me the perception that no matter how "centrist" they are, they are infinitely better on practically every issue than anything the dark side can bring forth.

Sure, I would love to see DK nominated and elected. And there is still a (dreamer) part of me that hopes it will happen. But,.... there are so many goddamned buts.

Secondly, events MAY be coming together that MAY present a last, unique opportunity within the political framework. Many people do seem to be fed up with Georgie and his gang. A lot of puke pols are taking their pensions and heading for the private sector. So, there is a little voice inside my head that is being lured by a siren's song of "maybe one more try" at the ballot box.

But, if I do wind up playing one more time and get fooled again - that will be the last time.

So, that is where I am. Now. A year away. I will probably go back and forth many times before 11/08. I am not sure where I will wind up.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. Think of national politics as a system and it all makes sense

Presidential politics gets the most attention, but it has little to do with real politics. Politics really is local.
Large changes occur in small political units -- towns, cities and states. Ideas and solutions explode onto the national stage only after a long process of upward percolation from small government.

It is illogical to expect large differences between presidential candidates because the election is national, involving averages of hundreds of millions of individual attitudes. Of course the result is bland... it cannot be otherwise. The idea is to best approximate the average of everybody in a large country.

The best way to think about a presidential election is the game show The Price is Right. In a national two party race the goal is not to be right in the abstract. The goal is to be closer to right than the other guy without needlessly alienating nessecary blocs of voters.

Imagine that the item is a refrigerator. One candidate guesses $850. The other candidate believes the refrigerator costs $1249. What should his guess be?

If his interest is in being RIGHT then he would guess $1249. One could say that $1249 is the principled answer because it is what be believes to be true. But If his interest is in actually winning, the only correct answer is $851.

Then everybody says, look, there is only $1 difference between the candidates.

There are actually vast differences between the parties, but they are minimized in national elections. To effect dramatic change, turn to local politics where an individual can make a large difference. Presidential races are special cases.

[redqueen]

2. "no matter how "centrist" they are, they are infinitely better on practically every issue"

When you get down to the nuts and bolts of it, there is no way to argue that that is not the case.

Third-party votes can push a mainstream party to adopt some more progressive planks... but they could also usher in another 8 years of unprecedented disaster. *sigh*

:hi: