Kucinich to Edwards to Obama - my journey

[Ron Green]

I've for the past 4 or 5 years considered Dennis Kucinich the best presidential hopeful, the one with the best ideas and the moxie to talk about them in public. When Dennis left the race, John Edwards was the only one talking about "corporate Democrats" and promising to shine the spotlight on the real villains of the world, and I was puzzled and disappointed when he dropped out. Cynically, I figured the Fix Was In and we were left with the Woman vs Black Guy show, a silly MSM horse-race distraction to weaken the party and smooth the way for another Republican White House. Obama at this point was for me a bland place-holder for the media show, or maybe some kind of appeaser to a right wing that would just as soon shoot you and me.

Over the past few weeks, though, I've read Obama's books, done some studying online, talked to some other citizens, and now - The Speech. I'm thinking President Obama could very well trigger the awakening that is long overdue, one that could save this country and the world.

Much of my cynicism has turned to hope.

[tekisui]

1. We, you and I, are on the same journey.

:thumbsup:

[BringBigDogBack]

20. As am I...

seems there are a few of us. :hi:

[goodhue]

2. That is the road I have taken as well

Hope is the way

[redqueen]

3. Same path I took...

:hi:

[hisownpetard]

10. And I, as well.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

21. Me three.

[Swamp Rat]

4. Amen!

5th rec. ;) :hi:

[meow mix]

5. welcome home =)

i was happy to vote for kucinich in 2004

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. That was my route too now as I see it

John McCain represents the past, Clinton stagnation and Obama the future.

[elizm]

7. So happy to have you onboard...

Obama will not disappoint you. :)

[LordJFT]

8. Glad to hear it!

[Shakespeare]

9. I think a lot of us are making a similar journey.

I'm not all the way there yet, but almost. No one should ever, ever be discouraged from having hope, and if you can transform cynicism INTO hope, that's a great thing.

[Ron Green]

16. I so wanted someone like John Edwards to really take the fight to the right wing assholes,

y'know? And Obama seemed conciliatory, and vague. Now I'm understanding that he may be the one to harness the transformative power that has lain dormant in this nation's citizens for so many years. The fact that he's a black man, especially compared to McCain's extreme whiteness, is keenly symbolic. The enslavement of Africans in America has never really been worked through, although it's given America its distinct culture. I think now is the time to begin the true healing.

[sellitman]

11. Count me in.

I'm from and in the same place.

[housewolf]

12. Ron_Green, Welcome

Welcome to the hope in your heart.

[Beregond2]

13. K - E - O

I could have written this post. Thanks.

[slinkerwink]

14. welcome aboard!

[sudopod]

15. Why are you saying the things that I am thinking?

GET OUT OF MY HEAD, CHARLES!

[eridani]

17. My path also. More of a sourball than most--I just hope that

--all this collective good feeling can actually be transformed into real action in 2009.

[Ken Burch]

18. Eloquently put. I've been on the same journey.

Populism requires idealism, hope and eloquence. That's why populists HAVE to endorse Obama.

[FrenchieCat]

19. Hope is good......and I'm glad that you and I have found some!

[Tesha]

22. Gore to Kucinich to Edwards to decidedly lukewarm Obama

We started with some real possibilities this cycle, and
once again, I think we once again, with help from the
DLC, the Republicans, and the Corporate Media, have
managed to winnow our field down to the worst candidates
who stood for office.

Clinton is simply unelectable under the current circum-
stances. Her negatives *STARTED* far too high and that's
before the Great Republican Noise Machine gets revved-up
for the General Election. And even though I'm in her
"target demographic" and we financially supported her
Senate run in 2000, her votes since then on a number of
issues have made me turn away from her to the point that
I will *NEVER AGAIN* support her in any way for any office.

Obama, in any sane universe, wouldn't be running for
President yet. He (like Clinton) is far too inexperienced
to hold the highest office in the land. He God-mongers
far too often for my tastes and his positions are too
much like those of an old-time New England Republican and
not enough like those of a fire-breathing Democrat. He's
still long on sizzle and way short on policy steak.

If he's the Democratic nominee, I'll still vote for him.
But we could have done, we *SHOULD HAVE DONE*
far, far better this cycle than this pathetic, mutually-
destructive race between a sure loser and a very likely
loser.

Tesha

[Ron Green]

24. I hear you loud and clear, and a few weeks ago could have written your exact words.

But I've come to embrace a less pragmatic and more heartfelt politics, if you will, a "movement" that I truly scorned at first. I see Obama now as a catalyst in a fundamental change that involves more people as citizens rather than consumers. Under a fascist outfit like Bush's, many folks just kept their heads down and went shopping. My hope is that if Obama can articulate race as he did yesterday, he can do the same with peace and sustainability.

[Tesha]

25. I very much hope you're correct! (NT)

[Orsino]

23. Very much like my journey. n/t