Anyone but Kerry or Edwards [View All]

[Polemonium]

in the upcoming primaries. A plea to avoid jumping on a bandwagon that will further alienate progressives.

Fear is the unfortunate fuel of America lately. Corporate America scares us into buying their products, fear of terrorism allows us to put on blinders to the destruction of our democracy, and unfortunately Democrats, and progressives have been running on fear as well. We are afraid of loosing more seats in both houses, and most of all we are afraid of another four years of bush*. Fear is an interesting irrational beast. Sometimes it keeps us from jumping off a cliff to our deaths and at other times it paralyzes us while we are climbing up the cliff to the degree that we fall off. Unfortunately, I feel fear has paralyzed most Democratic and progressive voters, to the point that we risk falling off the cliff into political obscurity. "Electability" as a prime concern in most folk's minds shows just how palpable that fear has become.

Interestingly, with bush* in the white house I feel that if we shed our fear and climbed on with courage just about anyone could defeat shrub*. Unfortunately, most can't shed the fear, and I'm afraid not only will it hurt progressive candidates for the nomination, but it stands to defeat the eventual nominee as well.

As far as I am aware the level of political dialogue in the USA is lower than in any other democracy. A vote in the upcoming primaries for either Kerry or Edwards would simply ensure that the level of dialogue in the USA remains low. If you didn't support Kerry or Edwards a month ago, don't support them now. If we send delegates to the convention that represent the diversity of the party, the eventual nominee might have to take notice, and the platform may actually be forced to drift left.

Dean, Kucinich, Braun, and Sharpton raised the level of dialogue in the Democratic Party. It is important that we maintain a high level of dialogue if we hope to encourage participation and support. Participation leads you to support the toad warts and all. We owe it to ourselves to send delegates that will represent the platforms that threaten to give the Democrats a spine again.

Vote your hope - not your fear (at least for the nomination)

Then lead with your hope not your fear

I come from a town with a green mayor, and a green majority in the population. We're a town of a few thousand, and being both politically and geographically isolated it's fair to say that folks are comfortable in their progressive skins. A few months ago, the Democrats had won many of my neighbors. Between Dean, Kucinich, Braun, and Sharpton nearly all of them had found a Democrat they could live with. Recent events have shredded that support, and most are talking about not voting for the Democrat in November. The only way I see my friends and neighbors considering voting for a Democrat in November is if the DNC and the eventual nominee reach out to them. They will not respond to Bush fear, or most other fear mongering that seems to be the way most Democrats try to get them on board (trust me I've tried and not one taker). Fear of Bush isn't going to do it. But perhaps if they see at the convention a diverse party that considers progressive ideas and isn't all behind either Kerry or Edwards, well perhaps then they would get on board.

Hey perhaps we don't need those pesky progressive thinkers in November. We can win without them and their activist approach to life.

Party unity and expansion might be achieved through respect for diversity within the party, meaningful dialogue, and compromises with those in we might not agree with.

A Kerry/Edwards bandwagon convention would simply further alienate some of the people we hope will vote for the Democratic nominee in November.

Vote your hope - not your fear (at least for the nomination)

Then lead with your hope not your fear