I am afraid for the first time. I actually fear what is ahead.

[Peacetrain]

In my 50 plus years, I have never really been afraid of the future. I have always had a sense of things will be okay. But times have changed. We have are living with the results of a totally inept and incompetent administration that is going to leave us on the edge of bankruptcy.

With the United States on the edge of a financial melt down, the world is also in danger. That can lead to conflicts unseen. The cold war is heating up. Getting ourselves extracted from Iraq and Afghanistan is going to be messy anyway it happens. There is no badda bing ending there.

And this fear inspires me in way I have never been inspired before in an election. It is that important that we take the white house. To put a finger in that dike and start to turn it around.

I am going to speak to two independents. Talk to them as much as they want. Look up any questions they have. I am going to concentrate on two people. I can do that. I can move two people with determination and heart and caring.


I do not want to see a President McCain and Vice President Palin, because they are clueless as to what to do with the mess we have. Fear can be a awesome motivator. And I am motivated.

[Steely_Dan]

1. I share your fears...

I fear that even with an Obama/Biden Administration, some things have gone so far south, we may never recover. Hate to be so cynical...

-P

[madaboutharry]

2. I feel the same way.

I too always had the feeling that things would be ok. I now have a deep fear of the future that is difficult to articulate.

[Peacetrain]

19. Its a real gut feeling that is for sure.

And it is something that is going to get me moving and not sitting on the sidelines waiting for others to get it done. This one is just too important.

[Aqaba]

3. It'll be OK

Tomorrow President Bush will show up on Wall Street with a bullhorn.

[RagAss]

22. LOL.....

[IndyOp]

4. This is going to be messy and painful and I am optimistic about the long-term...

The short-term future will be painful and we will need all enlightened hands on deck to calm the fears and focus on the energy of those around us who are willing to make the dramatic societal transitions that we must make.

Who is it who says, "Americans always do the right thing, after they've exhausted all other options" ?

:hug:

[codjh9]

5. Between Bush & Co. and global warming and fundamentalists, I've been afraid for

the future for quite some time.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. What a wonderful idea, to intellectually "adopt" two fence-sitters.

I would ask for others to also contribute to the battle. That is your way. Others will have their own ways. Doing campaign canvassing, data entry, phone banking, whatever--we all gotta do what we can.

[Peacetrain]

18. Its one thing I can for sure do.

No one person can do this alone. Even Obama, and I have faith in him, but it really is going to take a village

[Condem]

7. peace

you live in Western Iowa. The stupidest of the stupid. You HAVE to hear anti-Obama all day.

[Peacetrain]

17. Hey Condem..

Well that is the truth. It does not get any righter than Western Iowa. But I guess, I have never felt an election is as important to the future of the country as this one is. Fear does inspire one. Nothing like it to get a person moving and not waiting for someone else to take care of it :)

[TomInTib]

8. "Don't worry. Be happy"

See?

It's so easy.

Works for me.

But then, again, so does gin and reefer.

[Honeycombe8]

9. I hear you. I was wondering today, not to be overly dramatic, if a McCain win...

would mean the end of our democracy as we know it.

I mean, a person would have to be pretty stupid to elect McCain/Palin. Really. I don't mean "stupid" in the name-calling way. I mean it seriously. Stupid.

I was wondering...if the number of stupid people has grown so much that it is only the people THEY deem worthy of running the country, what hope is there for our country? We would end up with rulers, not leaders, wouldn't we, since stupid people are easy to run ramshod over? (For example, taking their civil rights away to eavesdrop on them without warrants...and the stupid people think that's okay, since Bush said so. Even though he didn't say so until he was caught doing it illegally and had to fess up.)

How will the country end up, being run by stupid evangelists? I was just wondering.

[mzmolly]

10. The only solace I have in the thought of the two bafoons winning is that

they'll be charged with cleaning up this mess.

[benld74]

11. I too my friend, I too!!!

[rufus dog]

12. I am trying to figure what to do either way.

Actually if McCain wins it is probably the easiest decision. It will basically be the end, I think foreign Nations will lose all confidence in the U.S. and tighten up loans to us.

When Obama wins it could get nasty. Republicans are dividers, the Hannity's and Limpballs of the world along with hard core righties will start blaming Democrats for everything, regardless of how ridiculous the claims are the wingnuts will be angry and react.

What is needed is a true leader from the Republican side to stand up, take the blame, and attempt to get their side on board. I have tried to think who would provide the leadership vacuum but can't come up with a person!

[jimlup]

13. That was my feeling that aweful morning in November 2004 and...

It is a feeling of fear I had started to think we could put behind us this November, but... I am frightened, truly frightened by the recent polls.

I'm trying hard not to get depressed because now is the time we all need to bit down and work for Obama and the dems he'll need in congress. We have to do this NOW. The future of our country and possibly the world is at stake this election cycle. There is no time to try again.

[Lifelong Protester]

14. Going through the fire...

is just what might, and I'm sorry to have to use the weak 'might', turn things around. The ability of most Americans to pay attention to any issue longer than an episode of "American Idol" makes me use the word 'might' instead of 'should'.

The crises keep coming, one after the other, and I cannot see how 'fence sitters' can be leaning towards more of the same in Washington by voting in a man who by his own admittance knows NOTHING about economics. And forget about the pageant queen. There is certainly the element that we will never change~ they live in some alternative reality universe where the polar bears are causing global warming and God and Jesus are looking out for just a few folks.

Perspective is important here. This latest crisis would have to go a long way to equal the Great Depression (I wish more folks would read "The Worst Hard Time Ever" about the Dust Bowl era before we all go freaking out over how tough it is).

But that said, there is a LOT to shore up after the disaster, unmitiagated disaster, of the last near 8 years. The problems of Wall Street, for example, can be laid directly at the feet of this administration that sought to lift ANY and ALL regulations for Wall Street, in order to line the pockets of their "base". If there is some intelligent connecting of the dots by the Democrats, this will be a plus issue for us.

[On the Road]

15. I am Very Afraid of McCain's Economic Cluelessness

It means that if he becomes president, he will likely to appoint a bunch of hacks who would have no idea what to do in a crisis like we're experiencing.

On the other hand, Paulsen and Bernanke are handling it well, and Obama will put good people in charge. I am not afraid of another great depression. Crises pass.

[Peacetrain]

30. Me too!

His economic vision is zero. The thought of him in command is just chilling.

[grasswire]

36. he's not gonna be in command.

Todd Palin will.

[gateley]

37. Especially since his economic guru said we're all whiners.

Tell that to the people who will be affected by Lehman Brothers. They probably agreed with him before - I sure bet they don't now.

[Waiting For Everyman]

16. Laissez-faire is a proven fraud, everyone knows it.

If people admit that and vote for Obama, we can turn around. If they go on with this charade, it will collapse. Entirely. And there is no safety-net as other civilized nations have, and McC won't create one. It will be anarchy.

Which btw, is what they want. They will NOT clean this up. They will take it further, until they have their police state. Fascism on steroids.

When the middle class (the rest of it) goes, it's over. This is our last chance to get out of the path of the hurricane.

[NYC_SKP]

21. You are correct, sadly...

Since the pnac plan didn't work out in Iraq, rome's gonna burn.

Our economy is collapsing as those very few rich pillage what they can, all the debt is dumping on us.

We're headed for chaos, anarchy, revolution, or some combination of the three if we don't get it right this time.

:patriot:

[Peacetrain]

23. I agree, if we all get into this together we

can start that move to turn it around. Bush has run this country so far into the ground that no one administration could possibly get it all done. But Obama and Biden can put the brakes on and get us turned around. McCain and Palin.. right over the cliff.

It is our LAST chance. You are absolutely right

[casus belli]

20. Republicans have become the party of mediocrity..

and they seem perfectly ok with that. I share your fear. We've seen, over the last 8 years, what over-confidence and mediocrity gets us.

[Peacetrain]

25. The willingness to lie and lie on purpose

and be up front about it.. Just shows what disdain they have for the American public.

[casus belli]

31. Amen. And they're completely unapologetic...

I find the fact that McCain could DARE to use change as a platform to be more insulting than humorous. It's like saying, "Well, yeah we've been driving the bus for the last year, but I'm gonna let him drive for a while and he knows a shortcut to get us back on track. He's way better than that other schmuck, his twin."

I don't blame them as much for trying as I do the American public for not immediately calling bullshit.

[Peacetrain]

32. The American public had better wake up

If they think things are bad now.. it is only going to get that much worse.

[bdamomma]

45. arrogance, ignorance and total disdain for this country

and for the American people, and those extreme religious wingnuts can go to hell, with imposing their will on others. I am sick of hearing about their sick ideology.

[Peacetrain]

46. Oh my gosh.. me too..

That and the meme that is going out now to try and suppress the vote. The one they are spreading about the "bubba" vote, so people who have never really been in the process before will think their vote does not count.

It is so low, and conniving .. but that is what the republican party has become

[apnu]

24. Not afraid, been seeing this comming for 15 years now.

I've long gotten over my fear. We (the Apnu family) are going to hunker down and weather the coming storm. That, and do what good we can when we can. Removing the fear from the situation has given us an eerie calm.

[OwnedByFerrets]

26. I am beginning to fear that even a democratic administration

cant keep the US from collapse. I hope I am wrong, but I fear I am right.

[Indiana_Dem]

39. I think you're right--but who better to lead us in the hard times other than Barack? nt

[CANDO]

27. The shit storm cometh

We have a chance at redemption with a Democratic administration working with a Democratic congress. God help us otherwise...

[Birthday]

28. May all of our fears,

lead us to contribute our time, resources and energy until the closing of the polls on November 4. And after we have done all we can, let us participate, always, in this fragile democracy, in order to preserve it. Let us not grow weary in this great cause. With all that is at stake, our fears may feel paralyzing. But we must think, read, listen, discuss, and act. We can rest when we are old and broken down and really at the end of our lives. Until then, let us work together.

[Peacetrain]

29. Good words and thoughts!

[gateley]

33. I found it helpful to focus on the facts, records, issues, and remove

Obama and McCain personally from the equation (since the person I was converting was a racist - although she would never see herself that way.) I kept saying The Democrats and The Repubicans, rather than Obama and McCain, so she could look at the bigger picture. I also made it personal to US, how we had been affected at the grocery store, our utility bills soaring, the price of gas. It worked in this instance, just passing the tip along if you think that might be a good approach in either of your efforts.

Go get 'em! :patriot:

And I share your fear. I think this is our last gasp.

[renie408]

34. Electing Barack Obama will be a big step in the right direction. That is what we need to stay

focused on.

[Peacetrain]

43. He is our only option, and the man for the job... NT

[liberaldem4ever]

35. It amazes me how fast this happened

In just eight years, our country has made so many changes for the worse. When I consider how America was when Bill Clinton left office, and where we are at the end of Bush's second term, it is shocking.

I am really, really scared about our future and our children's future. I can't even imagine what will happen if McCain gets a chance to accomplish his rich people first/war monger policies.

And God save us from Moosezilla. She is giving me nightmares-she looks just like a sadistic teacher I had in fifth grade who giggled every time she read aloud the words "devil" and "hell" in a book. :scared: :scared: :scared:

[Frank Cannon]

40. Oh, believe me, this has been in the works for 25+ years

At least since Ronald Reagan entered office. Bill Clinton threw a monkey wrench in a lot of their plans, but he still gave us NAFTA and the Telecommunications Act which were right off the neocon Christmas list.

For years, the corporate-owned American Pravda media were able to hide the damage, but it is now simply becoming impossible. So it only looks like this mess just happened overnight.

[Peacetrain]

42. You are right this has been a long time venture

And thank GOD they did not get our social security privatized... can you imagine..

[judasdisney]

38. Those of us who've seen 1973 Chile headed our way since 12/12/00 got ridiculed & scoffed at

Obama will be president, and Cheney's Sleeper Cells will take over and wage havoc, and Obama will be the scapegoat. But Democrats hate to think ahead. Those of us who warn are ridiculed.

Peace Train has not been one of the ridiculers.

But I don't have much sympathy after the failure of so many, if not most, Democrats to stand up and bear witness. I see people with real fears get ridiculed on DU regularly. I'm tired of standing up against bullies when nobody else will. That goes for national elections when Pelosi & her minions refuse to fight back.

Bring on the military coup and the mushroom clouds. I for one am tired of fighting my own side to wake the fuck up.

[Peacetrain]

41. Well my friend, I do not see a military coup

or mushroom clouds from .. but I do see an economy that is tanking, and it can cause problems on a world wide scale.

But hopefully from my op, people can use fear to inspire them to get out the vote. And we need to get it out down ticket also.

We need a complete democratic sweep and majorities in both house, and the white house, and the statehouses, to start correcting the excesses of the republicans.

[bdamomma]

44. all the more reason why we have to get Democrats in the WH

or face the consequences of our actions, the world is watching and we must pull this off.

we are facing a cult and class war.

[Peacetrain]

47. And Iposted this to someone else also.. we need Democrats up and down the ticket

So important that we get the vote out, and get it out in a big way. No split congress executive branch like the republicans are trying to hint at. We need bold actions and it means a united Congress and Executive branch.