The Next President

[davidthegnome]

Let's think about our political situation here. The Republicans have selected their nominee, good old McCain. We, the democrats, haven't chosen ours yet - it's down to Clinton and Obama. For a moment, lets dispense with the rhetoric and consider the facts.

Obama and Clinton both voted in favor of the Patriot Act.

Obama and Clinton both voted to continue funding (thereby supporting) the war in Iraq.

The Democrats are more divided now than ever - and us here on DU, we tend to be a bit left of center. What it comes down to is that the man who most represented our interests - Dennis Kucinich, was laughed right out of the primaries.

Our most popular candidates have split us right down the middle... they are, by far, more supported by corporations, and corporate politics, than Kucinich was.

Obama has promised to have us out of Iraq 16 months after he becomes President - Clinton has not set a time-frame, but promises to do so. So... how many believe they can, or will pull it off? Will the Patriot act be done away with? Will the immunity favoring the telecom companies suddenly vanish? Will the promises to obey and support our constitution be kept?

Or (the more likely scenario) will they continue to persue their own interests, to follow the corporate dollar and ignore the will of the people - similar to what this current administration has done.

And McCain? No way.

I think it's safe to assume that our next President will be a democrat - and also safe to assume that most of us here, originally, supported those candidates who were more aware of our best interests. Such as Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson and John Edwards.

Now, personally, I'm an Obama supporter. I felt as if I had to make a choice between two candidates who I really didn't care for much, and if I had my way about it, THEY would have been the ones laughed out of the primaries. I'm even a delegate - and have often made speeches, even written posts here in support of Obama.

I will of course, support my community and act as I should as a delegate. Nonetheless, in my honest opinion - who ever wins the Nomination.... I do not believe that they will have the interests of the American people at heart. I believe they will ultimately follow their greed rather than their conscience. I believe that we will remain a Country divided for many, many years to come. I am doubtful that we'll be getting out of Iraq within the next four years - let alone sixteen months.

I'm one of those members - one of those citizens who is proud to be a part of what some have dubbed "The worst generation". I'm a 23 year old liberal, certainly left of center, certainly far left of either of our two Candidates. I have searched for leadership for many years - and today, we have the charismatic Obama and the determined Clinton. What we do not have - what we have not had for many years, is a candidate that all of us can believe in and unite behind.

I'm so tired of the bickering, so tired of the talking heads spewing their rhetoric - and us here repeating it. The truth of the matter is, I don't really care which of the two of them win. What I expect, in the long-run, is more of the same. Sure, I hope to be surprised, but I'm expecting the worst.

Somehow, I have the uneasy feeling that, even with a so called victory for the left, our voices will remain unheard.

[ContinentalOp]

1. "I think it's safe to assume that our next President will be a democrat"

That's not a safe assumption at all.