"Democracy is not a state. It is not some high plateau that we struggle to reach so we can finally settle down to rest. Democracy is an act. It is an act that requires participation, organization, and dedication to the highest principles. It is an act, a series of actions that require us to continuously verify our commitment to civil rights and social justice at every challenge."
- John Lewis
American Freedom Rider, 1961
United States Representative in Congress (GA) since 1987
"The conscience of the US Congress"
Dear Texans,
- John Lewis
American Freedom Rider, 1961
United States Representative in Congress (GA) since 1987
"The conscience of the US Congress"
Dear Texans,
For the first time in a really long time we matter in a primary election. We actually
get to have an opinion about which presidential candidate's name goes on the ballot. This is an exciting time for us, and it also gives us great responsibility. It is our duty to voice our opinions. PLEASE vote on March 4th. Please act.Sincerely,
Ginger
Ginger
5 comments:
AMEN! I've never been so excited about a Tuesday! Being a... well... I don't know what I am politically... so, being NOT a right-wing republican, it's tough to get interested in national elections here. You're right -- this is special.
And I'm not allowed to say this at work, so I'm going to say it here (thanks for the podium, Ginger!):
VOTE OBAMA!
This really is a dire situation for the Democrats (and the Republicans too). I'm with you Fougs. I'm not sure what to call myself politically, but I am voting for Obama. We cannot let this one go to convention. Let's put Obama on the ballot, securley and with confidence!
I realize that Clinton and Obama have similar platforms and policy reform ideas, but for the love of foreign diplomacy(!), vote Obama!
ASIDE: Great song your blog is playing right now. Harmonica rocks!
Ok, now that that's out of my system...
I feel you on the fact that this will be the first time in TX my vote will actually matter. Wow. Never thought I'd see that day.
I feel you on Obama for the sake of foreign policy.
But honestly, (and this sucks) I'm torn and completely undecided this time around, when it finally matters. Five years ago, I would have been totally swept away by Obama -- he really is a "Kennedyesque" figure for our generation. But my once-solid liberal Democrat credentials have shifted in the past few years, not toward the right, but away from both parties. The issue that matters most to me is the one that still plagues so many of my former students and their families: immigration.
And ALL of the candidates (Obama included) SUCK royally on this issue. Obama (and Clinton, and McCain) is in favor of building a border fence. A FENCE????? What's the difference between a fence and a wall? Didn't we learn anything from Berlin?
I know I shouldn't be a one issue voter, especially when that one issue takes me completely out of the race. I probably will vote, but I'm severely tempted to exercise my right not to vote (in protest) this time around.
If I vote for Clinton, it will be because of her past activism and involvement with the Hispanic community going all the way back to her college years -- even though her current platform sucks.
If I vote for Obama, it will be as a reconciliatory gesture for all the oppression our nation has perpetrated against African Americans and other minorities. I know that race probably isn't the best reason to vote for a candidate, but at least in this case it would be race-ism in the correct direction? Maybe?
But either one I vote for will seriously still have to re-earn my vote come November (possibly with Bill Richardson as a VP pick?) or else (don't judge me) I will seriously consider voting for McCain, whose foreign policy STINKS, but who has consistently been a friend to immigrants in the past (again, despite his current SUCKY platform).
Why do I have to be the cynical, negative one in the season of "hope?"
I actually agree with everything you've said about the candidates, including McCain. And the second that Romney dropped out of the race, I did a happy dance complete with sparklers and confetti. I knew at that point that no matter who gets elected, things can't possible be any worse than they are now. Romney would've made things worse (especially since all Democrats "give in to terror").
I agree that building a border fence is a load of bulls*it, and that it is a farce to believe that that would help matters in any way, shape, or form. But as Rich says, to be electable at all, it seems that your stance on illegal immigration ('illegal' being a key word)has to be one of "build a fence". As far as human rights are concerned, it's a travesty to treat people this way.
I think the economy is sunk no matter who gets elected. I think that foreign policy HAS TO be reformed, and having a president whose name is Obama certainly would be helpful. Also, I'm for anyone who is willing to negotiate (as in conduct talks) with any nation. No one said anything about "compromise."
Clinton is running with the idea that she has experience, which she does. But I think that knowing how to "play the game" is detrimental to change because the game happens to be a losing one at this point. I like the idea of having a newbie (one who may be, perhaps, a little too idealistic) at the helm. Let's play a different game.
I also like Obama because he is a "bootstraps" kind of guy.
etc. etc. Kennedy, and so on.
Yeah, I agree with you Ginger. And Neal, I don't think you're being cynical; I appreciate that you're putting so much thought into it and being analytical about it. And I totally agree on the fence issue. Why aren't we making that Berlin comparison more? Do we really want to be behind a wall? (Answer from a frightening number of people: yes. Queue sad sigh from the rest of us.)
Sometimes I feel like pulling for Obama is, for me, more a vote for the presidential aura than the presidential platform. In a real, issues-based sense, I'm back to the lesser-of-evils kind of thinking that usually drives a national election.
When it comes down to platform, Obama is too liberal for me. I'm (gasp!) an old-school, small government Republican with left-leaning social policy ideas. (I think most of us are Libertarians now, since the phrase "fiscal responsiblity" is a joke in both parties).
For me foreign policy is at a forefront, and that's why Obama will get my vote, now and in November. Is he untested and idealistic and possibly not the best choice domestically? Maybe. But I'll take all of that if it means that we become less of the world's bully and more of its friend.
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