Just watched the Iowa dinner speeches: If we could just combine these candidates...
First, I want to say, how sincerely impressed I was by all of our Democrats who appeared on stage and gave their visions for America and their appeal for the presidency. It's an amazing time to be a Democrat and I can see by these speakers last night that we are on the verge of a great transformation in our politics, as well as a great change in the way our government responds to the challenges we face.
I want to focus on three of the candidates which I think represent most of us here at DU and represent, to me, the possibilities for enacting those changes we need and deserve...
Bernie Sanders was extremely gracious in extending his thanks and appreciation for his fellow candidates at the outset of his remarks, and I think that was a grand representation of how we all should conduct our politics in this election and beyond. As he forcefully outlined issue after progressive issue which I think the vast majority of us here agree, we could see urgency and determination in the Senator which we can reasonably expect would not diminish one bit in the presidency, if he should achieve office. The issues and concerns he outlined were Democratic ones which most of our party has aspired to advance for decades. These weren't 'socialist' issues he raised, but American issues which we can all identify with and aspire to achieve. In his call for a political revolution, Sen. Sanders challenged Democratic voters to join with him in demanding that our legislators adhere to the values and principles he outlined, and bade us to reject those who don't adhere with our votes and with our activism and our advocacy. His was an uncompromising appeal which was as refreshing in our political debate as it was a rarity in our compromising political system.
Hillary Clinton gave one of the most personal and thoughtful speeches I've ever heard from the former First lady, Senator, and Secretary of State. As she spoke of her perspective as a grandmother, and reflected on her desire and determination to make our nation more hospitable and opportune for, not only her own family, but for every family, I was struck by how much her appeal resonated with my own aspirations and aims of influencing our political debate and system to effect the changes we need to help give every person in America the opportunity to succeed. Hers was an inclusive address which put our priorities into clear focus, emphasizing the need for an economy which works to lift up Americans, and highlighted the way our economy has been hijacked by those who are determined that it benefit a privileged few. As she reasoned, advantaging women, advantages families; advantaging the least of us, advantages all of us and strengthens our economy and our nation.
Martin O'Malley gave one of the most forceful speeches I've ever seen from him. What struck me, as he went through his litany of progressive achievements from his terms as City Councilman, Mayor, and Governor in my state of Maryland, was how much he had grown in the role he's assumed of moral leadership in our Democratic party. He absolutely embraced and embodied almost everything that I've imagined our party to be; projecting a firm, but compassionate insistence that our party and national government take responsibility for the challenges which face us. That insistence was bolstered by the experience in office he brought to the room, to our political debate, in actually accomplishing a myriad of the progressive goals and aspirations in my state which he wants to achieve for our nation. There was also a bold sense of moral authority he projected in his insistence that Wall St. and our financial monoliths either act with accountability and responsibility, or cease and desist. One line which resonated:
"If a bank is too big to fail; too big to jail; too big to manage; then it's TOO DAMN BIG, and it needs to be broken up before it breaks us up!
Amen. Whatever the course our Democratic campaign takes, I hope we can experience much more of that firm and compassionate leadership from Martin O'Malley. He proving himself to be a powerful and important voice for our progressive cause and our party needs his contributions in that regard to our debate.
In fact, our party needs each and every one of these Democrats who appeared at this forum to keep speaking out as forcefully and as often as they're able. Together, our Democratic coalition represents an insistence that our government get about the business of progressive change, and do so without reservation or hesitation. Our Democratic field running for the presidency this time around represents the best of what we should aspire to. Last night was a promising beginning to that journey.
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bigtree, you rock. elleng is also an O'Malley supporter and she is also among the best of DUers 
