I am a far left liberal who enthusiastically supports Dean-Some thoughts [View All]

[Northwind]

And guess what, I am under no illusion that he is as liberal as me! I KNOW he is more centrist. And right now, that is a good thing. The media has managed to demonize the word "liberal" to such an extant that people will shy away from far left liberalism even when they agree with its precepts. We need someone with broader support sop that we can gradually move public perception back towards an appreciation of the left. I think Dean is that someone.

Is Kucinich more liberal? Why, yes, he is, but I just do not see him inspiring the same passion among a broad range of people the way I do with Dean. I agree with Kucinich on just about every issue, but he does not even get me revved up. It would be ncie if elections were entirely about issues, but the fact is theyare not. Sorry, DK supporters, that is just my opinion, and I am glad people are supporting him, but I do not see him surviving the primary, although I hope he stays in the race all the way as far as he can go.

Gephardt, Edwards, Kerry? I like them on most issues. But I just do not see any real fire from them. They come off as a big ho-hum for me. This is not a slam on their supporters, but they just don't do anything for me personally.

Graham. Decent VP choice, not enough real fire and passion for the top job.

Leiberman? He comes off as slimy to me. I do not trust him. He inspires nothing but suspicion in me.

Sharpton and Mosley-Braunare simply not realistic candidates, and I think any clear thinkers here know that. Is that terrible? You bet it is, but we cannot remake the nation in one day, or even one year or even one decade. We have to work in the now or we become extinct.

At least some sense of pragmatism is absolutely essentialy right now. Idealism serves us well, but blind idealism will kill us. Liberalism is not going to experience a great renewal while people like Bush are in office, because as long as people like Bush are in offce they will stop at nothing to eradiucate it. If we blindly insist on an ideal at the expense of now, we kill the liberal ideal, forever. I hope we all keep this in mind while we discuss candidates. And more than anytyhing, I hope people will stop judging a candidate, ANY candidate, by the actions of some of his less discreet supporters.