Since I usually post in GD...

[Mythsaje]

I hope y'all don't mind a cross-post.

:)

I've gone to great pains so far not to come down on the side of any particular Democratic candidate. I've offered up a little criticism, where I thought it was warranted, but I have not done so to raise the flag of any other candidate. I think all of them have their good points and their bad points, and even where outright criticism isn't warranted, there is room for questions.

I've been told that the primary season is almost unfailingly hostile here and I've seen hints of it rising to the surface over the past few weeks--if not longer. I understand that emotions run high, but I'm not sure it's too our advantage to slice and dice the opponents of our chosen candidates in order to bolster those we'd prefer.

I'm sure I'm not the first one to point out that it's counter-productive to fight like this among ourselves when our REAL enemies are currently in power and seem willing to do almost anything to stay there. Such viciousness on our part can only serve their purposes in the long run.

I don't really have a favorite, yet I've posted four different threads laying out what I see as the positives of each candidate. I threw Kucinich in gratis, though I realize he's not likely to rise as a serious contender. Which is unfortunate, in my book, for a number of reasons.

I'm more than willing to vote for whoever comes out on top when primary season's over. I'm not even going to declare a favorite at this point in time. Gore would be high on my list, had he entered the race, but there's no reason to think he will. And there's the question of whether he'd be able to catch up even if he did.

There are even things about Clarke I like, but the same could be said about him at this juncture.

My main goal is to see the neo-cons tossed overboard like so much smelly baggage. I'd like to see a more progressive or populist government in place, but I'd settle for being rid of this vicious pack of jackals. I'd like to see the corporations set down a peg or several, but I'd settle for a more balanced approach to dealing with them.

We're not going to get the perfect candidate, no matter what we do. There will always be a chink in the person's armor that can be exploited by someone else. But I dare say that any one of our potential nominees is head and shoulders above anyone the Republicans can put forward. It will be quite amusing to watch the sharks circle the Republican candidates during THEIR primaries, and remain secure in the knowledge that our candidates look like saints in comparison.

Warts and all.

I'm not telling everyone to play nice. I don't expect it to do any good. But maybe we can remember that our enemies have been running the place for the last several years, and were able to sabotage the good work that Clinton might have done through most of his administration as well. We need to really consider the ramifications of what we're about, and what we can do to positively impact the future of this country.

It starts with keeping Congress and winning the White House. And not letting up on the pressure even then. The netroots has become a force to reckon with and what comes out of it next is more or less up to us.

And, maybe, just maybe, we should all stand together...for, surely, should we fail, we will all hang separately.

And that's my word for the day.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[saracat]

1. Amen, and thanks for a great post!

[nevergiveup]

2. Nice way to start the day

Thanks for the post.