I don't think the American people will be manipulated this time around.

[Raven]

Call me an incurable optimist but I think voters have the playbook this year and they are not going to be fear mongered or hate mongered into voting for the candidate who slimes the best. Their coach has been George W. Bush.

I think this will be the case because of the incredible turnout of voters all over the country. I've spoken to many people who don't vote and they are an interesting bunch. Many have never registered to vote; are completely alienated from the political system; think all politicians are dishonest; believe that their vote won't matter; believe that things in this country will never get better; don't have the faintest idea how to register to vote; are working two shifts and don't have time to register to vote.

These are the invisible Americans. They are young, middle aged, elderly. Many are one missed paycheck away from ruin. They are frightened and many have been without hope for years.

So, for these folks to pick themselves up and dust themselves off, take time off from work and go to the trouble of finding Town Hall and filling out the forms and getting to the polls or caucuses in all kinds of weather...to vote for a Democrat, Clinton or Obama, speaks volumes to me.

I met a young woman canvassing one day back in 2004. She had 4 kids of her own and she and her husband took in foster kids with disabilities. She was a conservative, pro-life Catholic. She told me that she had voted for Bush in 2000 solely because of his anti-abortion position. She said that she had realized that voting solely on one issue was a mistake and that she had actually voted against her own best interests. She said she would never do that again.

So I think that this year many Americans have realized that allowing themselves to be manipulated by hate or fear is against their own best interests. They see the possibility that things might actually get better for them and they are going for it. They are seeing through the smoke and getting past the mirrors. We have George W. Bush to thank for this. He pushed these folks to their limits, past their limits, and they are shoving back. The turnout says it all.

[EmilyAnne]

1. I agree! Great post. n/t

[samplegirl]

2. I feel the same way...

people quit listening to media as they have just been lied to
on a continual basis. What I do fear however is whatever B**H
will make permanent before departure. Also the corruption to make democrats ineffective.

[TexasObserver]

3. The country is repudiating Bush and all who have been too close to him.

Hillary screwed up. She thought she needed to morph into the middle of the road, DLC accommodater, and she bet wrong. She's viewed, correctly, as being too much like the other side on some really fundamental issues.

Her health care plan is not a Democratic plan. It reeks of Republican. Insurance, my ass! Poor people need health care, not a bill for health insurance.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Those whose eyes have been opened will outnumber the sheep

but that doesn't mean we become complacent. We must strongly counter the outright lies being spread about both candidates, preferably in writing or on TV. We must make SURE that all voters, especially new ones, make it to the polls and are allowed to vote unhindered.

[Raven]

6. Absolutely! There is a lot of work ahead! n/t

[stellanoir]

5. I get the feeling the zeitgeist right now is that people

are really sick of being lied to.

[Red Zelda]

7. Sorry

Never underestimate the rancid stupidity of the residents of Dumbfuckistan. American Idol contestants are smarter than most. McInsane will be the next president. Votes will be stolen and the morons will just sit and stare.

[sendero]

8. I think you are right...

.. and I can't WAIT until November!

[MagsDem]

9. Too late - they already have been

[hootinholler]

11. That's what I was going to say. n/t

[Raven]

12. How?

[Justyce]

14. Agree. nt

[OHdem10]

10. The Media has manipulated the Primary big time---this is the

way things work.

[billbuckhead]

13. Did you watch Saturday Night Live last weekend?

The obvious media manipulation on this election is already part of our culture. More evidence of a "managed" democracy.

[WilliamPitt]

15. Your lips to God's ears, mom.

:hug:

[Raven]

16. I really think I'm right about this. People aren't going to listen to

the shit anymore. They are going to hope for the best and vote that way. God help the Democrats if they don't deliver on their promises.

[WilliamPitt]

17. I'm writing an open letter to Waxman right now

An Open Letter To Chairman Waxman
By William Rivers Pitt
t u t h o u t | Columnist

Tuesday 26 February 2007

<blockquote>

Loose lips sink ships, Ed. And if Bush gets another four years, even you might be put in prison…think about it. We can make a deal: if you’re right, I will shave my head as a feature on your Oriental news hour—and if you’re wrong, we will shave your head on Crossfire…on Monday. We are too short on time to start whooping it up by spreading kinky rumors about popularity polls.

- Hunter S. Thompson, to Ted Turner, August 1993

<blockquote>

Dear Sir,

Frankly, and with all due respect, you and your “committee” can get stuffed. for real and for good, because you seem to be essentially useless. Let nothing come in between us and the battle, right? Yeah, sure. Stuff yourselves into a bottle and have someone throw you out with the ebbing tide.

Your “committee,” Mr. Waxman, has served as windowdressing to some of the most humiliating Congressional embarrassments imaginable, to the worst kinds of brazen anti-American legislation ever written; every one of you had faced civil, legal, moral, and ethical dilemmas since acquiring majority power, and without fail, you have folded under pressure “From The President.”

It was put to me a few days ago, and bears repeating: we will all rue the day we failed to impeach the whole lot of these hyper-treasonous war-profiteers on the very first day the committee gavels changed hands in January of 2007.

Yes, yes, that whole mess isn’t part of your committee’s bailiwick.

Let’s see what is, shall we?

...because of this horseshit: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3264533

[DemReadingDU]

18. evening kick

[Forkboy]

19. I'm a total pessimist and even I agree.

I guess that doesn't make it "total", does it? :)

[mudesi]

20. Are you new? THEY ALREADY HAVE BEEN!

Where is Kucinich? Edwards? Gravel?

[KoKo]

21. We are Soooo Manipulated .....it's Amazing the strength of the "PTB"

given their failures in Iraq/Afghanistan and on Wall St.

That America is now Dependent on "Sovereign Wealth Funds," is but the tip of the iceberg of what we are... We are no one...we are dependent on everyone...

[DemReadingDU]

23. PTB - Powers that be?

:shrug:

[KoKo]

26. Yes...sorry...shoulda spelled out..

[Big Blue Marble]

22. I am with you on this one.

We want better than they have given us. Many independents and even some Republicans are with us.
Obama appeals to our better nature. He reminds us that we can affect change from the ground up.

This is what we want. Not to be frightened into giving up our power. We want it back.
That is what Obama's campaign is about. That is why he is winning.

[Shine]

24. Sadly, that logic can't be applied to my mother

:(

she's a staunch Catholic and the abortion issue is her big wedge issue, so she's voting for McCain.

We've had many many conversations about it, to no avail. She's determined he's her guy.

I frankly cannot understand the hypocrisy of a war-mongering candidate who claims to be "pro-life".

:crazy: The mind boggles....

[KoKo]

27. "issues oriented candidates" are still out there..and it's their Right..to be that way

isn't it? My issue is "Media Ownership" by the "Few." I don't hear either Hillary or Obama addressing MY ISSUE...and considering they are Dems...I would wonder why they don't.

Then there's that Iraq Occupation Thingy. I've give up that either Hillary or Obama will deal with that one. :-(

[khaos]

25. americans have already been manipulated.

the front runners on both sides would be in prison if the public was aware of what they have done/allowed

[KoKo]

28. ....there's much truth in what you say...but folks need "hope" to live on or we'd all kill ourselves

...waiting for some "True Soul" to address the "real issues." :-(

[khaos]

30. that "true soul" is us

and we're not doing a very god job..




http://www.clintonforpresident2008.com/

[blm]

29. I think it started during the debates in 2004 when media couldn't spin them into a win for Bush no

matter what, and the teflon continued to wear off after Social Security grab, Schiavo and then Katrina. Unspinnable.