One for the "Journal."

[Tyler Durden]

In my 55 years, I have found it very hard to recall an election like this one. Obama, Clinton, and especially McCain are the worst three candidates I've ever seen put forward for President, with the exception of Reagan and Bush II.

It is the goal of higher order to rise above "the beast." This is more than an "ideal," it is nothing less than the Moral High Road.

Is Clinton an angel? No. Is she VERY MARGINALLY better than Obama? Yes. Are either better than McCain? Slightly. This is NOTHING to be proud of, especially when caught in that most heinous crime of rational beings: a lie.

How do I explain the fanatical support for such a marginal candidate as Obama? Is it the "Stockholm Syndrome;" being captive of the Pig Bush for so long we grasp at a straw and call it "GOD?" Is it what we are so very good at...rationalization; where we assume what we have is the best because we WANT it, and that settles it?

I will never understand this election. If anything, it shows me there is likely an end to the republic in the melee of fanatical factionalism.

As an atheist, I cannot fathom "faith;" I must cling to reason and evidence. I see no evidence of superior worth in Barack Obama. Instead, I see the onset of the new politics of Personality, and the birth of its cult. This is what killed the Soviet Union, not us, and we can expect no better.

I regret bitterly being part of a footnote in history, and it is a hard thing to forgive.


Oh yes, I wanted to say I'd put this here because I won't post in GD-P, even by accident, and that's where this would have ended up if I put it in GD, and I wanted it in my journal. Sorry.

[TheWraith]

1. You're free to join reality any time you want. We have cake.

To describe the Dem candidates as only "slightly better" than McCain bespeaks a wildly out of touch world view.

[Tyler Durden]

5. Oh give it a rest.

MORAL behavior is just that, and NONE of these people are MORAL.

It is a shame that we have them and no one else to choose from. I am aghast.

[GodlessBiker]

2. So, who was your candidate?

[Tyler Durden]

6. Gore, originally.

After him it was hard to support anyone else. I gave some cash to Kucinich and Edwards. Biden was at least a constitutional SCHOLAR. Beyond them, shit. Who else WAS there?

[GodlessBiker]

8. Gore? A great guy, but hardly blindingly different than the rest of them.

No one should be defined by the lowest point in their career, but "no controlling legal authority" did say something about his world view.

[Tyler Durden]

9. Nice he managed to rise above that.

Since the odds say Obama will win at this point, he has a lot to atone for in my book.

[GodlessBiker]

10. And he has risen above a lot, as well.

[Tyler Durden]

11. Which sets a high bar for Obama.

He will have a very high standard to live up to. I'm not sure he's up to it, with his current level of "truthiness" and accompanying rationalization.

[leftofcool]

3. Great Post!

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. I think it is the whole "lesser of two evils" thing you may have heard about

The GLBT enthusiastically supports the Democratic Party because while the GOP would beat us to death, the Democrats are content to beat us to within an inch of our lives. When looking at the current crop of Democratic candidates, the GLBT enthusiastically supports Obama over Clinton because while Clinton would beat us within an inch of our lives, Obama has vowed only to beat us within an inch and a half.

At least, that how it looks from where I'm standing.

[Tyler Durden]

7. Sort of the choice between the gas chamber and the camp....

...politically speaking, of course.

You have no IDEA how horrible this makes me feel. These three, GOD, how ashamed it makes me feel. I thought we'd be beyond this now for so many years.

I'm so sorry.

[mitchtv]

17. One thing , Obama started that beating a bit early

Usually they wait until the convention. Hillary will betray us in the general. Obama,already has , and I fear his potential behavior in all those red states he seems to do so well in.

[MuseRider]

12. I am right behind you both

in age (54) and in agreement.

It is the last straw really. Unbelievably sad. I hope my children stay the next time they have to do a tour in Europe.

[Tyler Durden]

13. I truly am sorry.

It shames me that we have come no farther, and have forced so many valued members of our society to second class citizenship for so long without relief.

If given the chance, I would refuse to shake Bush's hand, but I hope I never meet Barack Obama in the flesh. I would be hard pressed not to slap him. As a person of color, he should be ashamed to come out in public for consciencing the BIGOTRY he has. The only thing that truly amazes me about this whole situation is just that: a man of color in line for the highest office, consorting with bigots to pander for votes.

Again, I am sorry.

[MuseRider]

14. Ahhh

don't be sorry, "we" are "ok". THAT is the prevailing attitude. It is just more of the take care of myself and fuck everyone else, I have mine behavior. I know that attitude has been around as long as there have been humans but the Reagan administration made that a cool way to behave and we have yet to get out of it. It is too late now. Compassion, acceptance, understanding and caring are all so passe now. Those are the bad ways to be. Greed is king. Anyone who posts the crap that they have been posting about the equality issue can argue all they want about how liberal and kind and good they are but when they let pass something like civil rights for all people and then argue to justify their candidates behavior in regards to that issue they can't really be any of those things now can they?

Well, all that and the worshipful way we are now running everything in our society spell doom for this nation. It was only a few months ago that I saw the film "Idiocracy" and thought to myself that we were in danger of heading that way. I never imagined it would be this close so soon.

(For those who honestly are supporting BO and not part of the worshipful, always justifying crowd I would ask you to think hard and pressure this man into doing the right thing. This was not meant to offend you. You I look to energize, to become his base of influence.)

[Tyler Durden]

15. Do you think there is any chance long-term for humans?

We kill all other life, we despoil our own nest. I used to think that the only reason we evolved was to figure out a way to stop the "Planet Killer Asteroid/Comet." Now I think we couldn't get together on the colors for the bathroom toilet.

We are the only beings that can PROTECT the rest of life; instead we kill it, and each other.

God I'm depressed.

[MuseRider]

16. I am going out to walk my goats around.

I can't take much more of this.

I don't know if there is a chance for long-term survival. I am not even certain anymore that I want that to happen. God we are awful creatures that are occasionally able to do great and compassionate things, just not often enough.

It sure says a lot for the "Democrats" here when a significant segment of the membership will not post outside this forum doesn't it? I can't take it and you can't take it and we are not even the people who are being treated like they are lesser humans.

I am out of here, it is nice today finally and the little goats always cheer me up with their funny jumping and kicking and silliness.

Get some goats. Really.

[Tyler Durden]

18. I like goats. So does Deb.

[MuseRider]

19. They are very special.

Mine are pygmies, a surprise gift from my youngest and his past girlfriend (:() Both intact males soon to be wethered, another :(.

They are terrific companions, a bit smelly until they are fixed but hey, I probably don't smell too great to them either and they love me!

Really, not too much makes me feel happier than hanging out in the pasture and woods with my buddies.

[Tyler Durden]

20. Natural Lawn Mowers I understand.

No gas or oil required, and the blades are self-sharpening.

[MuseRider]

22. Well

mine are picky but that is because I spoil them. I just finished making their breakfast. I cut up lettuce, carrots, apple, potato, turnips and add a tiny bit of grain with some minerals twice a day. I really don't have to do that but they get that and my good horse brome and they have become picky little eaters. :)

We don't have a lawn yet, first summer here. Our lawn will be native grass and wildflowers so they just may like that better than fescue.

[Bluenorthwest]

21. Goats found coffee for us

They say it was the Dancing goats at the coffee bush that alerted humans to the divine Bean. Therefore, goats are my friends! Also love that feta!

Goats are far superior to politicians.

[MuseRider]

23. Agree with every point! n/t

[Tyler Durden]

24. Especially the SMELL.

LOL.

[LostinVA]

25. I wish we could have sheep

It would make my Border Collie so happy.

He'd probably like goats, too.

[Tyler Durden]

26. Deb wants alpacas.

If I can drag her up north, she might just get them.

[LostinVA]

27. OOOOO -- I love them

[MuseRider]

28. Very similar

and your Border Collie would be helpful. I can't just let my little guys roam because of all the farm dogs around my place that roam and would eat them and my dogs would most likely eat them at some point even though their yards share a fence, I see the looks the dogs give them....pure evil and they salivate too. :scared: A Border Collie would be great protection and would keep them where they should be. Love Borders. :)

[LostinVA]

29. Mick's herding instructor uses Kuvasks for his protection dogs and BCs for his herders

A while back though, he had a pack of pet dogs get in and maim/kill 40 sheep in one night. He said that at least the coyotes take one and eat the whole thing. It's not just senseless killing.

Mick is a great little watch dog, though. He's very protective of us and the property, but friendly when he's been properly introduced. Just what we want in a dog.

[Tyler Durden]

30. "Ah wants ta HERD me sumthin'!"

[LostinVA]

31. Actually, Mick has Scottish blood in him

[MuseRider]

32. Cool!

I did not even think about a herding instructor. Do you use whistles?

I lost a foal to coyotes. At least I think that is what happened. One day the mare was pregnant, the next day she was not and there was never any sign of a baby. The poor mare was beside herself and even today, 5 years later, she still looks that direction with a longing look in her eyes. Yes I know that is putting a lot into the situation but she does stand alone and look that way and she occasionally nickers and it makes me want to cry.

Mick sounds like just the kind of dog you need, I'll bet he is lovely to be around.

[LostinVA]

33. No whistles yet

He's only 10 months old. His instructor normally won't take any dogs younger than a year, but he checked out Mick's pedigree, and started him at 6 months. So far the commands he knows are "get out," "lie down," "walk up" and "that'll do." Soon we can start him on "come by" and "away to me."

The best part is, Mick was a rescue dog. His original owners gave him up at 5 months, because he ran around and chewed on things. He can be nuts, but he's actually a good dog. In the last few days, he's decided that he's in love with the cat. He'll just lie there and lick the cat's face/chest until the cat gets pissed off. Hopefully, he won't start humping the cat.

[Tyler Durden]

34. Vinnie wants to EAT the cat.

Then again, Vinnie will eat ANYTHING.

We were out in the yard picking up poop, when Deb said "So THAT'S where those earplugs went."

Yep. You guessed it.

[MuseRider]

35. HA!

I found the missing sleeve to one of my silk blouses like that. It was disturbing as well and quite funny.

[Tyler Durden]

36. OH my.

Vin and Jack have taken to destroying 100 year old quilts. Deb is PISSED, but she is stubborn and now uses cheap ones and makes me sew them up. I don't know how this punishes Vin or Jack, though.

[LostinVA]

37. I can beat that

Haruka's cat has eaten (and thrown up) massive amounts of aluminum foil TWICE. We have no clue how he's still alive.