You know, I've NEVER been so distanced from our leading candidates as I am today

[bigtree]

Hillary Clinton has a good rap which gets under republican skin. And, Obama is a good Democrat.

But, neither has inspired me to support them, yet. I wonder if that's really going to matter . . . if I'm engaged with either of their campaigns. So much of the discussions here leave little room for dissent with the candidates. There's a whole lot of taking sides. But, I'm hung out right now, for the first time in my life. I've always been behind the nominee, early. I wonder if I'm just stubborn, or if there's something overwhelming me about the two which won't go away. You should hear me after I admit that I'll be in the nominee's camp when all is said and done. Just admitting that to myself sets me off on a rant about the things I feel they'll bring to the office . . . it's like I have a split personality mental illness or something. I just haven't bought into either of their campaigns.

I'm, frankly, not prepared to defend either of them -- their records or their proposals. I hope folks realize this as they're celebrating them. I'm a sure thing for the general, but I think it matters that I don't believe these two represent my philosophy, principles, or strategy for success against the republican opposition. I'm as forceful and committed an advocate as they come, but, I'm just not sure how to support and defend candidates who haven't convinced me they're all that. I hope there are still some folks here who are committed to persuading those of us who are on the fence, with more of an effort than the ridicule and boasting which makes up most of the posts here.

[bigtree]

1. lifelong Democrat here

cried in nursery school when the radio announced Johnson wouldn't run . . . mom gave me a huge Humphrey button . . .

[roguevalley]

15. I remember that. I remember when being a democrat meant that

you were Edward's agenda. You were all those things. Now, you have to have someone run a campaign to remind the other dems that this is what dems are: for the downtrodden, the disenfranchised, the hungry, the poor and the peacemakers. God, I am so tired today.

[bigtree]

2. *sigh*

signing off now

[Raine]

3. I feel the same

especially with Edwards gone now. :-(

[bigtree]

4. gut shot

I wish I'd gotten behind his campaign earlier. Richardson got my early support because of his out of Iraq stance. Edwards came in with his elevation of the plights of the poor and disadvantaged . . . and, he had the right idea when he pledged to move troops/base troops outside of Iraq within a year. I could really sense that he was going to be cautious with future deployments . . .

yeah. all of that.

[Triana]

5. Me either. It's a 'hold your nose' or write-in election..

...can't get particularly excited about either of them

I'll skip the primary now (since ours is in May) and either write-in Edwards or hold my nose and stick my hand down the toilet on one o the other two.

Bleah.

[bigtree]

6. I kind of feel this may be the responsibility of the other campaigns

I don't know. Maybe too prima donnish. But, I wonder if they will make any overt appeal to his supporters -- not just lip service . . . what, I just can't put together right now. Good question asked by a poster: What would you have the others adopt of Edwards' campaign. Is it possible morph personalities . . .?

[dkf]

7. I get what you are saying.

I think half the crew here will feel the same way when our eventual nominee is picked.

[bigtree]

10. I'm hoping for better from these candidates

Normally the campaign has a way of shaping these folks . . . I'll be looking, listening

[femrap]

8. Fuck this damn MSM...

I guess Edwards never had a chance. Think I'll see what happens next Tuesday...maybe my mind will be made up for me, who knows?

If I look back at history, the Black man got the vote 75 years before women. And Frederick Douglas went on to ridicule Susan B.

Right now, I don't think it matters much. The racists, the sexists, the Evangelicals, will come out and support the McCain/Huckabee ticket. Americans, as history has shown, hate change. They stick with the known disaster as opposed to the unknown one.

I think we're screwed....badly. Damn, I hope I'm wrong. I want to be sooooooo wrong.

[readmoreoften]

9. I'm not sure what a Good Democrat is anymore. There is nothing affirmative in our party.

I couldn't tell you what our party values anymore other than a pro-choice platform. We don't stand firm on anything except extremism:

Let's try to help the poor and working class a little, so long as it doesn't hurt big business.
Let's let LGBT voters know that we don't believe in discrimination, but do as little as possible to avoid losing votes of good "misguided" people.
Let's violate other nations through exploitative trade agreements, but only if we have to for political purposes.
Let's not start any wars, unless we have to because the MSM and Republicans will insinuate that we're unAmerican.
Let's do a little for the environment, so long as it doesn't hurt big business.

What do we stand for other than tempering the descent into fascist ideology?
What do we stand for anymore? I can't figure it out.

[bigtree]

12. middle of the roaders

incrementalism can be a drag

There still isn't any other coalition of our concerns which is in any position to rival the Democratic party in its ability to position our representatives where they best have the opportunity to effect the changes we say we want. We can't walk away from that opportunity. As my good friend, Guy Washington, used to say, "good always leaves, but bad comes to stay."

[readmoreoften]

13. What is the tipping point where incrementalism stops because it has won?

Is it when Obama authorizes an attack on Iran?
Is it when Clinton starts crossing picket lines?
Is it when Obama pushes for the faith-based funding awarded to ex-gay "mental health" centers?
Is it when Clinton signs line-item vetos?
Is it when Obama decides that choice is something he personally supports, but that belief shouldn't be forced on others?

When is it over? When is the party gone?

[bigtree]

14. you've got my rant down

almost word for word . . . I'll leave it to you

[Yael]

11. You are not alone -- and thats what makes us passionate supporters

We need a candidate to give us something to be passionate about and today, we lost that.