Reminiscing before my 13th Democratic primary vote (KY).

[JohnnyLib2]

JFK in 1960, what a way to start. For someone from an Irish-Catholic family,
his nomination was almost too much to hope for, and yet...

LBJ in 1964. Worked for his election with more cynicism, less enthusiasm

Humphrey in '68, after the awful loss of RFK. Voting with a military obligation, going to antiwar rallies, greeting the bus from the Chicago convention. Cynicism much, much deeper.

McCarthy in '72, now voting in uniform but aligned with antiwar efforts. Alienated the local party regulars. (yes, it has happened before).

1976, Carter, '80, Carter, '84 Mondale, '88 Gore, (sensing weakness of Dukakis), 1992, Clinton, with renewed enthusiasm, '96 Clinton, 2000 Gore, (knowing he had backed Clinton too long), 2004, Kerry, with rage about the swiftboating.

So00 5 of my 12 were elected President. Each received merits and demerits in that role, and my expectations now are much more modest. I don't remember any particular animosity toward the primary opponents; cream tends to rise to the top.

Tomorrow, I'll vote for Sen. Clinton, having believed for some years that she would be one of the more hardworking and effective presidents in my memory.

[Johnny__Motown]

1. 5 for 13 isn't bad

[Straight Shooter]

2. I have only had the chance to vote in one primary.

I'm in Oregon. I voted for Hillary and dropped my ballot in the box last Thursday. :)

[Honeycombe8]

3. If only all Americans took their voting rights as seriously. Congrats for making your voice heard..

all those times!

(It's too bad, of course, that your incorrect vote this time will hurt your average, but oh well, at least you voted! :eyes: )

[Ken Burch]

4. Interesting that you voted for McCarthy in '72.

He didn't have much of a campaign that year, and was probably already out of contention by the time your primary came 'round(unless you were voting in Illinois, where McCarthy got 37% in a straight race against Muskie). What drew you to Clean Gene that year?

[JohnnyLib2]

7. Y'know, I may be mistaken about the actual vote.

A group of draft-affected antiwar families stationed at Ft. Knox got together and did fund-raising and awareness stuff for McCarthy. I believe all were from out of state. Made sense in those times of huge ambivalence; hard to explain now.

[Ken Burch]

10. That's cool

n/t.

[lumpy]

15. 1968 I voted for McCarthy in the primary. Hubert Humphrey got

the nomination much to my consternation. I wanted so much to see McCarthy get the nom. I think that was the first time the Pubs started using liberal as a dirty word; Eugene McCarthy was the liberal activist anti-war (Vietnam)candidate. So I didn't get to vote for my candidate. McCarthy was hawkish (at last in my eyes).I felt McCarthy would have gotten us out of Vietnam. I was pissed to say the least when he didn't get the nomination. I was sucked in by one of Richard Nixon's better speeches pledging to get us out of that damned war as his first priority. I cast my vote for Richard M. Nixon. Have kicked my..uh..self ever since.
Eugene McCarthy was a true progressive, smart, great experience, in every sense of the word a good liberal Democrat. It has taken many years for the word liberal to be accepted in the true meaning of the word. The L word was used by the Republicans in a derogatory sense and many voters equated that with a being a 'pinko'.



http://www.ncs.pvt.k12.va.us/ryerbury/wes/wes.htm

[JohnnyLib2]

17. Thanks.

It's good to know that I'm not the only one who remembers past battles and some "what might have been" elections.

[Diamonique]

5. I wish all of our citizens voted as regularly and as seriously as you.

Go and cast that vote tomorrow proudly.

[billyoc]

6. John, I don't support your candidate, but if she wins, I'll remember your words.

While I'm getting my DLC tattoo. :hi:

[JohnnyLib2]

9. Heh, one blessing of age is knowing that there were Democrats .

before there was a DLC. The game goes on....

[elocs]

8. If Clinton had suspended her campaign last week would there still be a vote in Kentucky,

or would they have canceled it? Would you still get to vote? In 2004 when Kerry was the early presumptive nominee did they cancel the primary votes in all of the other states after that, or did they still get to vote?

[JohnnyLib2]

11. Hey, hey, we are picking an opponent for Mitch McConnell, too.

This primary and others go on (in case you are being serious). The Obama/Clinton fracas really isn't the only show in town.

[elocs]

12. My point is that in every presidential primary year when there was a presumptive nominee

everybody after still got to cast their vote. I got to vote in Wisconsin in 2004 although Kerry had the nomination in the bag already and so did everybody after me get to vote. This is in answer to the "we need to let everybody get to vote" mantra that has been going around. Everybody always has been able to vote before. No elections were ever cancelled just because there already was a presumptive nominee.

[JohnnyLib2]

13. Aye.

[lumpy]

16. Good point. Everyone who claims a party as their own should

get their chance to vote in the primaries. It's the Democratic thing to do.

[roseBudd]

14. The primary goes on, turn out just drops

[ruby slippers]

18. uh, I dunno....13 is a very superstitious number but then again Hillary

has a lock on the Illuminati leadership, or so they say. Rumor has it she is higher on the totem pole than Dubya. So, good luck....on your 13th vote...oh, and it is a full moon, too...

[JohnnyLib2]

19. LOL, I've been reminded of ancient Celtic warrior queens.

Or at least the mythical ones.

[ruby slippers]

20. well, Hillary believes in myths anyway.....just kidding

[ElsewheresDaughter]

21. agreed and good no you!

:applause:

[wellstone dem]

22. kick, while I didn't vote the same way you did

I appreciate your thoughtful reflections. Thanks for sharing.