It has been nice not having a candidate this time. It frees the mind...

[madfloridian]

to put things in perspective.

Hubby and I used up a lot of our energy in 03 and 04, I guess, and even into 05 and 06 we worked very hard.

We really had a passion because in the darkest hours as the shock and awe started in Iraq, someone spoke up and said "what in the world are our Democrats doing voting to give Bush his unilateral war." It was like a light bulb went on.

I really don't care this time around who the nominee is. I prefer some more than others, but I see good things in all of them. I also have some I don't prefer, but at this time it would not preclude my voting for them.

I am one of the few Deaniacs who survived the primary wars here last time. Most did not. I watch the interplays going on here now, and they are amazing.

I will probably vote for the Democratic nominee for many reasons. My most selfish one is that I want to see a Democrat win the White House while Dean is chairman.

I have learned something important about candidates. Some come onto the stage of politics, and they really don't make much of an impact even in winning. For an example, note the conservative Democrats in Congress.

Some lose and have a huge impact on the political stage. Even their losing was significant. Ned Lamont was one of those people. He had a huge impact in showing up Joe Lieberman for the snide little man he really is. Ned's still around and fighting for Democracy.

Howard Dean is another. His impact on the party is still ongoing. Some of us are wishing he would speak out more, but in reality we know he can't right now. May I quote a fellow Deaniac here at DU who is a real life friend of Howard Dean....and most definitely appreciates him.

If he is ousted, and we win the White House in 2008, any Democratic president that ignores progressive goals will be looking over their shoulder very nervously come re-election time. Howard will be there breathing down the neck of the incumbent, and with a few hundred thousand way-more-savvy once and future Deaniacs backing him up.

DFW's statement about Dean's influence.

DFW is quite right.

I am not even especially concerned about the Iowa Caucuses. There are enough people fretting about them. I have not turned on CNN or MSNBC for two days, nor do I intend to do so right now.

I think there are a few people who make major differences in their lifetime. Maybe not because they won, but because they lost and stayed to fight.

[Eurobabe]

1. Last primary taught me to NEVER fall in love

its too painful when the breakup comes. This year, I took a long time to decide, and when I did, it was a rational decision, not an emotional one.

Primary season has been much healthier for me, and I've felt no need to spew venom towards other candidates on DU. Of course I have my opinions, but they are not based on "oh my GOD my candidate MUST WIN, HE/SHE is the ONLY CHOICE," or other screams of desperation.

This time just feels good to kick back and watch the idiots spin themselves out :hi:

[Trajan]

2. Yay to both of you ...

And it's not that I don't desire anyone to make a choice in the primary season ... Hell: This is what starts the entire process afresh .... But it is those who would use the same old tired negative tactics AGAINST the other candidates, all of whom are very decent Democrats, as a tacit sort of dark ego expression ... Declaring their own choice as the only choice, where all others who would disagree are somehow in league with awful, unsavory devils ....

I'm in this for the long haul ..... and I can support ANY of the candidates without swallowing very hard .....

[Zynx]

3. Same here. I was in the trenches in '04 and built a massive ignore list

of other candidate supporters because I got my nerves worn down. I don't care nearly as much this time. I don't like Obama's Deweyisms, but I can easily vote for him.

[madfloridian]

4. I don't care this time...

and I still have a massive ignore list built up again. :rofl:

Can't win for losing.

[tavalon]

6. So, do you un-ignore them after the craziness of the primary wars ends?

[madfloridian]

7. Maybe. For a couple of years I had no one on ignore.

Then it started again.

[Eurobabe]

12. LOL, me too!! But you are not on mine ;)

[Dr.Phool]

5. I'm too busy lately to get very involved.

I got spanked several times by Skinner and the mods in '03 and '04 for trashing Liebermoron. The rules were different then.

I got to spend a day several months ago with all the candidates, one on one. I sent money to Kucinich, but finally pulled the trigger for Edwards on my absentee, after almost switching to Dodd because of his stand up performance on FISA.

Running a small business is a good cure for politics. I don't get to watch much news anymore. I try to catch K.O. (usually the late repeat), and catch the LBN on DU and Buzzflash when I get a chance. But, as my work load decreases, and I have more time to devote, I'll be keeping an eye on the repukes and our nominee, waiting to hold their feet to the fire.

[Sparkly]

8. Since we've so rarely agreed in the past, mf

I want to take the opportunity today to agree with you on this!!

I too see pros and cons to each, and have only one "please not him" candidate (although I'd support him in a general election anyway). I miss the excitement and hope of whole-heartedly supporting a candidate I really really believed in without any reservations at all, but I don't miss the tension of fighting lies and raging at the media and feeling powerless and exhausted from effort at the same time.

I feel for the good people who are going through all that right now!

A Democratic president, a STRONG Democratic majority in both houses of Congress, and Dr. Dean as chairman with a powerful group of liberal Democrat activists in the grassroots -- THAT is prize to keep our eyes on! It's our best hope.

:thumbsup:

[madfloridian]

9. Agreed.

:thumbsup:

[Cha]

10. Rec'd...Thanks for this post, mad..

I saw it much earlier and then I lost track in the shuffle but I wanted to find again. :)

I don't have a candidate, either..yet, who I had the passion for when Dean was running but I know I want change from the same ol' bush, clinton, bush..HELP!

Looking forward to hearing from Dean when we get our candidate and that won't be soon enough!

[NashVegas]

11. MF, I Am So There

I don't have a candidate either this time, and watching the campaigning going on this time around is hilarious for me. I've had some small fun getting a couple of diehards mad, as well, re: my recently arrived-at opinion of Barrack Obama, and my feelings on Dennis Kucinich.

[Mythsaje]

13. K&R for Dean

I've got a candidate.

[On the Road]

14. It is Freeing --

I've had several allegiances at various times, none of them as strong as my support for Dean last go-round. The flip side of that is feeling less passionate about the entire process.

[madfloridian]

17. I agree with your flip side.

It tends to make one care less in many ways. I still want what's best for our country, but I just don't have the passion this time. Bush has gotten so much of his agenda it is disheartening.

[speedoo]

15. Lots of wisdom in your post madflo.

Thanks, and K&R.

[madfloridian]

16. Thanks, it is a result of objectivity from a distant view.

:-)

[L0oniX]

18. Since DK is about out of the game, I will vote for any Dem but Hillary.

If she wins the primary I will wash my hands of it all and I won't be voting this year.