"Keep your eye upon the donut, and not upon the hole, son."

[ColesCountyDem]

My dad used to say this to me all the time when I'd get all 'het up' about some detail of what we were arguing about, causing me to lose sight of the main point of the argument. It was good advice then, and it's good advice today.

Folks, we ALL care passionately about our party, our country, our issues and our chosen candidate-- we're the party's activists and foot soldiers, for cryin' out loud! Unfortunately, the passion we feel for and about these things, combined with the anonymity provided by the internet, causes SOME of us to post and write things about issue X or candidate B that we would never dream of doing in the real, offline world. I've seen posts here on a daily basis saying things like "I won't EVER vote for anyone who supported HB12345XYZ" or "I will vote for the Green Party/Ron Paul/Ralph Nader/whothef*ckever if MY candidate isn't nominated at Denver".

Take a deep breath, folks, and actually THINK about those sentiments, would you please? Can you honestly and objectively tell me that you think Sen. McCain as President with a Republican-controlled Congress would be better for our republic than either Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama as President, and a Democratic-controlled Congress?

My candidate of choice withdrew, but I'm not going to take my bat and ball and go home, because what's at stake is far, FAR too important for me to do so. There are things I don't exactly love about Sen. Obama, and ditto for Sen. Clinton, but BOTH OF THEM on their WORST DAY are 10,000 times preferable as President than is Sen. McCain on his BEST day!

If you listen to the little voice inside, you know what the right thing to do in November is, so take a deep breath, clear your head, bury your disappointment and just do it, OK? The future of the republic is at stake, and that's the 'donut' here, folks.

I'll hush up now, and thanks for hearing this old fart newbie out...

:hi:

[tekisui]

1. I like that quote, thanks!

:thumbsup:

[ColesCountyDem]

3. Thank you!

I've used it with my own kid.

:hug:

[mcscajun]

2. Good post! Most heartily recommended...

...and a belated Welcome To DU! :hi:

[ColesCountyDem]

4. Thank you!

:hug:

[C_U_L8R]

5. Good old Burl Ives

watch the donut not the hole !!

[ColesCountyDem]

6. It may be a Southern Illinois saying.

Burl was from Newton, in Jasper County, and I'm originally from Benton, down in Franklin County.

:hi:

[C_U_L8R]

8. Fascinating. THX !

[ColesCountyDem]

10. You're welcome!

I'm rather a state and local history 'geek'.

:)

[mac56]

7. Welcome. Very sensible, well thought out post.

There are a lot of disappointed, disillusioned, even devastated people here, who were hoping for something far different than what we've ended up with. Especially after 7+ years of the worst administration our country has ever seen.

Like you said, my candidate withdrew. I've said all along: I'll vote for the Democrat who gets the nomination because the worst Dem is better than the best Republican.

So he or she will get my vote. But will they get my enthusiasm? My efforts? My donations? My advocacy? My heart? It doesn't look good so far.

Once again, welcome to DU.

[ColesCountyDem]

9. Trust me, I understand and empathize.

It almost broke my heart when my candidate withdrew. He spoke FOR me, and about the issues I care about most deeply and passionately. I didn't post for a while because I was too upset, but then I thought about what the RIGHT THING to do is, and what I'm absolutely certain that he intends to do. I was willing to trust him to lead our republic, so why wouldn't I trust him enough to follow his lead on the issue of who BESIDES him should do so?

I'm back, and I intend to stay.

:)

[ColesCountyDem]

11. Wow! Someone gave me a Valentine heart!

Thank you, whoever you are!

:hug::loveya:

[Bucky]

12. Why were you arguing with your father about donuts? Or was it "doughnuts"?

Donuts are meant to bring people together, dammit. Donuts, I'm saying, believe in hope.

[ColesCountyDem]

13. He liked glazed ones, and I liked cake ones...

Nonetheless, he was and I am a 'yellow dog Democrat'.

:silly:

[Shine]

14. Rock on, buddy .

:applause: I totally agree with your sentiment and I :toast: you, in welcome...

:hiI

[ColesCountyDem]

15. Thank you!

:toast::hi:

[ColesCountyDem]

16. Shameless self-kick. n/t