Enough is too much...

[Mythsaje]

Lately I feel like I'm spinning my wheels here. Nothing of any import is being discussed anymore--it's just an almost constant barrage of candidate bashing and, even worse, supporter bashing. I'd love to say that it's nearly all the supporters of a specific candidate, but it's not. Some are worse than others, but I've seen people wearing every candidate's colors post some pretty screwed up stuff. People question motives, assume facts not in evidence, and simply bash indiscrimately.

But it's not just the candidates and the Primary arguments that have dragged everything down. I've read some stuff over the past few days that I found so disgusting I can't deal with it anymore. Things have grown so callous, so vicious, that some people see nothing wrong with posting just about any disgusting thought that comes to mind. And, yeah, some of them are pretty damn disgusting.

I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of arguing to no avail. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who's feeling that way. I'm real close to throwing my hands up and walking away. Come November, I'm going to vote for the Democratic candidate, and I'll remain an Edwards supporter until the time comes when it's no longer possible. But in the meantime I don't know what I have to contribute to DU, nor what DU can possibly do for me other than aggravate me.

I'm not storming out. I'm not "leaving," as such. But I'm done with all the in-fighting. I don't think it's good for America, good for the Democratic Party, or good for us as people. I SO want to be involved in discussions about the issues that confront us, but there seems to be no way to do it without also dealing with the hostility that seems part of the whole package right now.

You know, it might be that Obama is exactly what his supporters believe he is.

It may be that Clinton ISN'T the Centrist some of us believe she is.

It may be that both of these possible candidates are offering more to the voting public than John Edwards is--and it also may be that the media has deliberately framed the primary as being between two historic figures--the first black candidate and the first female candidate and the ones speaking directly to the issues have been deliberately sidelined.

It may be that we'll actually see real change come 2009. It may be that we won't. All the venom and vitriol here and other left-leaning will, in the end, prove more or less meaningless. Some of us will be able to put it behind us, others will not.

But, in the meantime, I think I'll go on "calling" myself a writer and getting deep into the business of writing and promoting my novels and hoping that everything turns out all right despite what I see as some people's need to screw it all up.

I'm not sure anyone, least of all me, has to add to the debate at this point.

Hell if I know.

[AX10]

1. I know how you feel.

[Catherine Vincent]

2. Good luck to you.

:hi:

[2rth2pwr]

3. Try the Serenity prayer

[Tatiana]

4. I know how you feel.

I can't believe we've degenerated into this. And these are not children starting these foolish arguments; these are (as my mother would put it) grown a$$ adults. There is NO perfect candidate - there hasn't been in the history of politics and you go back to George Washington on that one. They all have so-called "skeletons" and mistakes they have made in the past. That is a part of life and being a human being.

The question is whether or not someone learns from their mistakes. Case in point: the dude currently in the White House has exhibited a preference for "staying the course" no matter how many times that course fails. We don't need anyone like that as president ever again. I do tend to think that the in-fighting between the supporters of the various candidates occurs over issues of style, personality, and charisma rather than substance because honestly NEITHER IS THAT DIFFERENT SUBSTANTIVELY.

They all want out of Iraq.

They all want to crack down on corporate abuse (some more than others).

They all want to restore civil liberties to this country.

They all want this nation to become more energy dependent and environmentally-friendly.

They all want American children to get the best education possible regardless of income.

They all want to improve the middle class and provide assistance to the poor (again, some more than others).

They all favor a less interventionist foreign policy that engages in regular diplomacy.

They all favor ethics reform.

They all favor health care coverage (in some form) for all Americans.

It's a matter of degrees. Edwards is much stronger on the issues of poverty and corporate accountability. Clinton's strength is family and education (FMLA, HIPPY, elderly respite care). Obama has excellent ideas on ethics reform (full disclosure of federal contractors and where their lobbying $$$ go, 5-day public review period before signing any "emergency" legislation, end of no-bid contracts, Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act).

I'd take any of these people over Mittens, Insane McCain, or Hallelujah Huckabee. Competition is only going to make our democratic candidates stronger.