Tonight, I hate everything and everybody.

[nonconformist]

I'm Italian and Irish, so I'm dramatic that way.

Anyway... this entire process... egads. What a freaking pile of bullshit. I was one of those people who hoped Gore or Clark would run, and when they didn't, found myself behind Edwards. Eventually passionately. Now, I should know better than that, because I've been hurt like that far too many times to count, but what can I say. I love the guy. I'm a populist through and through, and he just speaks to me and really inspires me. That ended badly, we all know.

Then, I was forced to chose between two people who were not even near my initial top choices. I did a lot of research and some soul searching, and found myself surprising backing Hillary Clinton. I had always liked her, she is the epitome of a strong woman to me, but I never thought I'd find myself supporting her in the primary. But as I was making my choice, I found there was a whole lot to like about her. I also found there was a whole lot I didn't like about Obama. I think with Hillary starting out at a deficit, it made finding things I liked about her really shine... while the opposite was true for Obama. I started out liking him pretty well, so when I found things I didn't like, they stood out more. In any event, I started supporting Hillary stronger than I ever thought I would.

Now, I just feel so mentally and emotionally exhausted. You would think I would be used to feeling distraught over politics, and I am, but this is different. I am at odds with "my people", so to speak. I remember during the lead up to the war, when I finally registered here at DU. Before that, I was starting to feel like the lone occupant on the Sane Island, and so many people I thought I knew became strangers to me. But DU, it was a godsend. I found so many like-minded people, and that helped so much. Now, I kind of feel that way again. The infighting is awful, through the whole party. And that's why it's different... it's hurtful and marginalizing, from people who know what that feels like.

Basically what I'm saying is... Primary 2008 sucks in the most massively sucky way anything can possibly suck.

[BlackVelvet04]

1. Big ole donkey dicks. n/t

[RememberWellstone]

2. It hurts

To see like-minded people starngle each other for power...sad to me.

[sfam]

3. Sorry your candidate didn't fare well. Hopefully you'll get over that feeling soon...

Definitely no fun. We've all been there. And yeah, the hatefulness generated on both sides has been pretty disheartening. Hopefully you feel better about things by the GE.

EDIT: And yeah, we ALL wanted Gore to run...

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. I'm Italian and Jewish

I get angry then feel guilty about it.

[Flying Dream Blues]

14. Bwahahaha! I do that, too, but can't claim the heritage. Just

garden variety guilt-tripped, I guess.

[JVS]

15. I'm German and Swedish

I get angry but don't tell anyone.

[mzmolly]

25. I must have some Jewish blood in me?

I've got that "guilt" thing too. ;)

[nonconformist]

28. Tee hee!

I'll see your Jewish guilt and raise you growing-up-Catholic guilt.

[calimary]

43. NOTHING tops Catholic guilt!

Catholics have got it all over every other group in the guilt department.

Oh God - now I feel guilty for saying that!

:silly:

[Hepburn]

48. Obviously.....

...you have NEVER been guilt tripped by a Jewish mother! :hi:

[calimary]

50. Oh, I've witnessed a few of 'em.

Directly and indirectly. They're doozies, that's for sure! Of course MY mother was busy force-feeding everybody. EAT! I cooked all day! Just a taste! (Just a few minutes before she'd shift gears and complain about how much weight you were gaining.)

I had a local rabbi on as a guest on a radio show one morning. We had a great time talking about this - who's better in the guilt department. We dueled to a draw.

[nonconformist]

55. By the time my Catholic mother is done with you...

you feel guilty for feeling guilty.

It's a rare art form.

[LisaL]

5. Yea, I was hoping Gore would run too.

I never liked Edwards.
But I do like Hillary.
Looks like Obama will get the nomination.
I don't think he can beat McCain.
Oh, well.

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. Yes. It sucks ass.

But I have no Italian in me. Where did I get it from?

[stillcool]

7. that's how it worked for me too...

I had no ill will towards any of them. But the more I had to defend a candidate the more I learned and the more I liked. And then the attacks had the effect of my losing all respect that I had ever had for the other candidate. Sad.

[goodgd_yall]

8. I'm part Italian and part Polish

and I'm so used to infighting, it doesn't faze me. I just go to my room, so to speak (log off DU), when it gets too much for me.

[LadyVT]

9. WA primary 50-48, Clinton

[Armstead]

18. I don't understand the Washington primary

Why does it have both a caucus and a primary?

[grantcart]

52. The primary is required by statute but the power to allocate delegates

is decided by the party's The dems decided to go with a caucus and that happened and Obama won. The reps decided to split. They had the caucus and now they will give have the delegates based on the primary

Texas is also split primary and then caucus but on the same day.

[grantcart]

53. see above

[Coexist]

10. I felt kicked in the gut by candidates more times than I care to remember

and I keep climbing back on the damn horse, no matter how many times I say I'm done!

[Sapphocrat]

11. Darlin', it won't help a bit, but...

...you speak for me. Every last word. Every last damned word.

I haven't got "Teh Irish," but I know it, and love it, as well as I know and love my own name. Otherwise... Tu sei il mio camadre, mio paisan, mio amica. Capisco. Ed io invece non ti dimentichero mai. :hug:

[nonconformist]

24. ...

:hug:

[meow mix]

12. sounds like 2004 for me...

i never picked a winner yet... nice change lol

[AlCzervik]

16. oh when Dean went out i swear to gawd i was in mourning, i felt like i was punched

in the gut and all my air and enthusiasm just went. I voted for Kerry in the generl but i loved and still love Dean.

[meow mix]

19. yah exactly.. clark was my favorite one yet =)

never figured obama would even win lol

[faithfulcitizen]

35. me too. to the OP...

:hug:

[LiberalHeart]

13. We're experiencing the same thing...

I check in here from time to time, but now follow little of what's going on because it just doesn't matter any more. The strongest reactions I have to anything re the primaries now is my aversion to Obama and my bewilderment over what people see in him. Edwards would have been a great president.

[saracat]

34. And you speak for me!

[nonconformist]

39. That's my strongest reaction now, too.

I just.don't.get.it. I think we're being taken for a ride here.

[hfojvt]

49. I started out not liking Obama

I thought the bi-partisan rhetoric was nonsense and other parts of his agenda seemed like the usual DLC crap - tax cuts, fiscal responsibility. However, he did release a pretty good anti-poverty proposal, although he does not seem strongly committed to it. Mainly what I see is that he is not a Clinton. He's not as DLC. He's not as funded by the rich and famous, and he's not as likely to motivate the Republicans and disgust the left. Also, he opposed the Iraq war while Hillary and Bill promoted it. She thinks a person making $110,000 a year is in the middle class, and he said strongly that they are not.

It may not be much, but it's enough. Kerry was not my first choice either, more like 5th. Neither was Dukakis or Bill Clinton.

[formernaderite]

17. that's becasue prior to this our distaste for bush

bound us. But Bush is gonna be gone...so we've got to fight out the direction and leadership questions within our own party. It's not sucha bad thing...we end up on the same side in the end :]

[nonconformist]

40. I used to think so.

That in the end, we were all on the same side. I'm not so sure anymore.

[Armstead]

20. I prefer Obama, but I know how you feel

I was an Edwards guy, and I got so bummed out after New Hampshire and S. Carolina. His pulling out was anti-climactic.

I supported Dean in 04, and we all know how that one went.

[Tatiana]

21. Well Gore was my #1. And Clark was my #2. And Edwards was my #3.

And none of them are one of my options at this point.

So I know how you feel. We don't really have outstanding choices. Politics in general, I think, has discouraged the cream of the crop potential candidates from running.

You know what I wish? I wish we'd shown the same fight and passion and skill and research that we're showing now on behalf of Clinton and Obama for Al Gore, who truly deserved it.

We let him down and we're still recovering from it.

[Horse with no Name]

22. I'm not part of the process

I don't follow Pied Pipers very well without questioning where the hell we are going...and as many of us have found, you don't question the Pied Piper...you suck down the various memes, drink the koolaid, BE HAPPY!
However, without any real substantive answers coupled with a whole shitload of rabid, nasty supporters...I don't belong to that.
Even more, I WON'T belong to that.
I will exercise my voting option because I have local things that matter to me, however, I will not vote against my conscience.

[Metric System]

45. And you speak for me. I couldn't say it better myself. I am a cynic who questions things, and

the Pied Piper sets off alarm bells in my mind.

[Umbram]

23. Hope you feel better soon.

Step back and reflect - originally you found Obama and Hillary to be close then began liking H.C. and enjoying reinforcing that view.

H.C. isn't calling it quits yet, but if she does, remember, Hillary was "not even near" your top choice, yet you educated yourself and began liking her. Should it come down to B.O. vs J.M., I think you'll find yourself excited to support Obama after comparing the two.

[nonconformist]

27. Not exactly.

It's different now. Different than ever before. I can't just be the good little obedient Democrat anymore.

Now, I may be able to muster up an anti-McCain vote. But that's all it will be at this point.

[Umbram]

30. Well, all the best.

Politics is different things to different people. For me, I don't get invested in individual candidates on an emotional level. Perhaps that is why I support D.K. time after time, knowing it's a lost cause. :7

I'm in no position to preach, but I don't like seeing good people down - so I hope whatever attracted you to Democratic ideals in the first place lights a spark for you and keeps you fighting the good fight, even if it only involves non-presidential politics (there will be pleanty of candidates and issues to support!)

[nonconformist]

32. That's not it.

Some of the pain is emotional investment, and I've felt that way before. But again, this is different. It's that I don't like the direction things are going. I hate it all.

[Metric System]

46. I completely agree with your sentiments and I'm glad to see we're not the only ones feeling this

way. The funny thing is, I'm a 25 year old college graduate so you'd think I'd be eating this stuff up, but the truth is it's been giving me nothing but indigestion.

[nonconformist]

47. It's unbelievable, isn't it?

I'm only 34, and I just don't get any of this. The naivete is astounding.

[ProgressIn2008]

31. "I can't just be the good little obedient Democrat anymore."

Exactly, it IS different now, and I'm not sure why. I'm not sure what switch has flipped in my head, but for whatever reason, it's flipped. Can't do it anymore. I'll try for the mustering of the anti-McCain vote, maybe that'll do the trick. But you're right. That's all it will be, and I'm expecting little indeed for the economic mayhem that's brewing.

[Barack_America]

26. Then eat, drink and be merry.

That is how someone of Italian and Irish heritage should approach life, no?

:toast:

[clyrc]

29. I went from wanting Gore to supporting Kucinich to supporting Edwards

to a very lukewarm support of Clinton. I really don't know why I'm still following politics, right now anti-depressants and lots of mindless tv seem like a good life plan.

[nonconformist]

33. Apathy has never been more appealing. nt

[HeraldSquare212]

36. I didn't have to support my least favorite candidate.

That's success.

[saracat]

37. I am Irish too and I am going through exactly your process!

Boy , can I ever relate.This sucks , really.

[Steely_Dan]

38. I Could Not....

agree with you more.

I supported Biden...I still do.

-P

[jillan]

42. With McCain as their nominee -

I am more heartbroken than ever. Biden would have been able to go toe to toe with mcCain.

I often think of when he said "I like McCain. We are friends. But he is wrong."
:(

[jillan]

41. If anyone would have told me 3 months ago that I would support Hillary, I would have told them to

have their head examined....she was the last person I would ever support.

But just like you, the candidates I believed in dropped out. I was all set to support Obama, but instead I found out what an amazing woman Hillary Clinton really is.

damnit! It does suck!

Anybody have any kool-aid? I think I'm going to need some.

[RiverStone]

44. Sorry - I hope when the dust settles...

You will still be supporting the Dem nominee in the fall.

Maybe a break from politics would do ya good for a while.

Take care of yourself.

peace~:)

[gate of the sun]

51. I agree but found myself endorsing no one

well that is hard after 8 years of Bush it is almost mind numbing.......I console myself by saying what kind of crazy MFO would want to take on this country right now? we need someone incredible, impeccable and willing to do the hard work...We are fucked.....in this country and I hate the political
sportsmanship. good luck to the elect and good luck to us. We are in a hard spot.......it seems to get lost in the election fervor.

[grantcart]

54. I had given hope of my guy ever getting in so I understand how you feel