No. I won't leave. :)

[Selwynn]

Just because I am a democrat, and just because I will vote for Kerry doesn't mean I have to lie about how good of a nominee I feel he is. It's a sad shame that these are the kind of people that define our party nowdays.

I will not sit down and shut up or "leave" because I want my democratic party back. I will vote for Kerry simply because voting for Kerry over someone else is the differece between voting for a weak platform of a me-too centrist party vs. enabling the re-election of a base evil administration. But once Bush is gone I will show no mercy in my campaign to force Kerry towards more progressive positions he never intended to take, and I'll be just as critical about the bullshit done with his rubber stamp as I am about the bullshit that has been done with Bush approval.

[iconoclastic cat]

1. I agree.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. Ok. Don't!

:-)

[TrustingDog]

3. right on.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. You have NO clue as to how Kerry will govern

When Clinton was doing his hatchet job on welfare many of us who STAYED active with the party tried to warn people. That was the time to act...frankly after 22 years being involved in policy I am annoyed to be considered a "me too" centrist by people who think posting on an internet message board has SHIT to do with activism.

I applaud the fact that you won't rest on your hands....public participation is necessary even when things are good...or better...but please don't tell those of us with the political sense to ADD electoral votes that we are ME TOO centrists...I've actually GOTTEN labor policy passed with a hostile governor (during Pete Wilson's gubernatorial tenure)

[Selwynn]

5. You have NO clue as to *me*

First of all, nothing I'm saying has anything to do with you specifically. I think extremely highly of you.

Second of all, I have a little bit more than a "clue" as to how Kerry will govern, as does anyone else who pays attention to the campaign, reads the democratic platform, and listens to what he says, looks at where his support comes from, is familiar with the most powerful influences on the democratic party at present, and has more than a juvenile grasp on political trends and analysis.

Third of all, being a member of the democratic party does not make you the individual an anything. However, I think it is pretty disingenuous to try and deny that the democratic party as an institution has undergone a policy shift prior to electing Clinton President. There was a move away from more progressive "opposition" party positions and a move to the center, toward co-opting the conservative agenda and issues, toward saying, "well we believe that too, only we would do it slightly differently." Gone are the days of, "we don't fucking believe that at all, instead we believe this. Why? Because we're right and they are ruining the country."

Fourth of all, the sense I got from your post was that you were implying offense because you are a 22 year veteran of policy and you believe that I am a person who thinks posting on an Internet message board has something to do with activism. Of course, you know absolutely nothing about me. You don't know how I participate locally, what activism I am involved in, how I pursue political issues and reform. You just know that as one thing I do, I happen to make comments on at least one Internet board. For all you know I've been involved in public policy for twice as long as you, as if that really even matters at all.

If you somehow assumed that with my little statement (which was in response to the previous thread telling people who dislike Kerry to leave) I had exhausted all my resources for involvement. That's just not the case. In fact, I'd really like to invite you to check out this article I recently wrote: http://selwynn.blog-city.com/read/717350.htm

The grassroots necessity I speak of there is where my heart lies. And that's what I want to be involve with.

Fifth and finally, I was not telling you specifically that you are a me too centrist. But if you can't see that the Democratic party has full throattedly embraced a philosophy of me too centrism as its fundamental guiding methodology, then maybe 22 years in policy isn't as much as its cracked up to be.

[CaTeacher]

6. Good for you!

Hey--we all have the responsiblity to do what we feel is the right thing. That applies to voting, pressuring the government, protesting and whatever.

It is very sad that some people try to intimidate others into keeping their thoughts and concerns to themselves. I support free speech, I think it is healthy to criticize Kerry when we disagree with him.

However, it is not a big deal to me when I disagree with someone about something. I expect to disagree with nearly every person on some issues--I am an original and no one in the world agrees with me on everything. But I am not a one issue voter, as long the Democratic candidate will generally do the right thing and protect the rights of the people--I will support them.

to me Nazis are those who want everyone to march in lock step with them. I have ZERO telerance for Nazis--no matter what their political affiliation is.

[eridani]

10. How Kerry will govern--

--depends one helluva lot on US!

[Isere]

7. I applaud you.

We have an urgent duty to get Junior out of the White House before he causes an even greater calamity.

I know that Kerry isn't the dream date of the century for many progressives, but we need to do whatever we can to rid the world of Bush.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

8. Kick!

:kick:

[Beacho]

9. Good for you

I was a Dean delegate to the county convention and will vote for Kerry

However, defeating Bush is the beginning, not the end.

I'm looking to make sure that there is no further backsliding by the DLC types and to get more progressive liberals into the mix of the party.


The work has just begun, it doesn't end on Nov 2