Reply #38: My take on the speeches last night. [View All]

[Hatchling]

First, my candidates of choice didn't win last night. I was/am a Kucinich supporter who has been increasingly been drawn to Biden lately since the Pakistani assassination. Neither proved viable last night.

So I decided to listen to the three candidates speeches with an open mind last night.

In the order in which I heard them:

Edwards speech excited me, made me want to join in the battle. I felt he was fighting for me and people like me. I understood what a victory he had in coming in second and I was proud of him.

Clinton's speech gave me nothing. Perhaps the disappointment of not doing as well in Iowan affected her. But it was not inspiring. I wait to hear something more from her.

Obama's speech began with things that troubled me. I am not happy with the concept of bipartisanship, but as he continued, I began to fall into the rhythm of his words. He showed some of that fire and spirit that made me first take notice of him in 2004. So many of his supporters here on DU have said that they have felt uplifted by his speeches and last night I was.

But as the fervor dissipated, I felt once again that the substance of what he was saying what not what I wanted. The phrase "affordable health insurance" stuck in my mind. Who decides the insurance is affordable. And again the word bipartisanship. As a progressive, I have felt that bipartisanship has screwed me over and over again through the years.

Then I listened to Huckabee's speech and I was frightened. Because he was good. Not inspiring like Obama, nor exciting like Edwards nor steady like Clinton. But his words were calming and comforting and reassuring. If I did not know what was behind this candidate ( fundies, and prejudice), I would have been favorable impressed. This is what scared me. The man has a way of ensnaring you, of making you feel he is trustworthy, if you know nothing about him at all. Huckabee is a danger to us from the less politically educated.

Although Obama was clearly the winner last night, in my opinion they each got approximately 1/3 of the vote last night. Which meant 2/3 of the voters were against each candidate.

So my personal goal now, is to research each of our three viable candidates, because at this moment I feel they are all three still viable, and to educate myself more deeply what each stands for. To determine who I think is the best for our party. But I will vote and campaign for any of them in GE. This election is not going to be a slam dunk.