A Sunday fable from an old political warrior. Me.

[Ninga]

When GWB became the GOP nominee in 2000, and fellow Democrats laughed and rubbed their hands with glee, i said I was worried. And they asked me if I was crazy.....Gore v Bush !! Ha, Gore would whip his ass, they would proclaim. I asked, what about what Bush and the GOP did to popular Texas Governor, Ann Richards? Shouldn't we study that campaign to learn, and understand so we know better how to fight? Nah, they said, not to worry, we have it in the bag.

Then, lots of things happened in 2000, and the press unjustly laughed at Gore. Gore and his clothes, Gore and his inventing the internet, Gore rolling his eyes and sighing....on and on, the press hammered him.

The vote was close enough so it could be stolen, and Gore chose not to fight. The GOP rushed party operatives into Florida, and the rest is history.

Then came 2004. And John Kerry. The vote was close enough so it could be stolen, and Kerry chose not to fight. The GOP rushed party operatives into Ohio, and the rest is history

Lots of things are happening in 2008. Democrats are laughing once again and rubbing their hands with glee. We have November in the bag, they say. I am worried I say.

There is a big huge rut being created in this country and it is because of the weight of politicians being carried around by the big huge machines of corporate interests. I am worried because the middle of the country is disappearing, being swallowed by a sink hole, a byproduct of the big rut. Not to worry, not to worry my fellow Democrats cry, the safest place IS in the middle. It is the middle that has brought us here today, they say. Is that a good thing, I ask? Ignoring me, they chatter on about time. It is time for a woman, some say. It is time for a person of color, they say.
We are better than the other side, they say. Are we really, I say?

So now we have a white woman, a person of color, and one who is neither. They tell us what they would do to fill the sink hole. And Democrats are choosing. In the beginning, in Iowa, Democrats were awed by their place in history, and chose. In New Hampshire, Democrats were fired up at their opportunity to defend, and chose. In Nevada, Democrats were cowered into thinking about their jobs, and chose. So far, it looks like the sink hole is winning.

The Democrats have 47 more chances to fill the sink hole, and boot the big corporate machines out. Can it be done from the middle, I ask? I say the middle is too comfortable. But, say the Democrats, everybody knows everybody in the middle...and the woman and person of color...fit well in the middle. So that is the winning formula, they say.

What good is a winning formula, I say, if it doesn't fill the sink hole?

Soon I will fly on a jet plane to South Carolina and talk to people. I will tell them that history, defense, and intimadtion will not fill the sink hole. It will take fight.

This is the end of my story, for now.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Going against "corporate interests" is not going to win us the WH.

While it's a noble and worthy goal that any of our Dem candidates should embrace, the GOP is NOTHING BUT corporate interests, and McCain is currently beating Hillary in most polls. Just as in 2000 and 2004, it's going to be image that wins. Mr. Authentic Courageous Maverick War Hero, if he's the nominee, will trump Mrs. Professional Politician, if that's how the media chooses to spin the race (and they will--just watch MSNBC for one day).

[venable]

3. McCain is not beating Edwards.

The one, the real voice against entrenched corporate interests, so I'd say that, yes, this message can win the WH, so long as it's in the voice of the right person.

The MSM has rendered this, though, a two person race. They couldn't do it in a two person (Edwards v ___), and the message would resonate.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Well, there are some polls that show he is not beating Obama, either--

although Edwards does consistently match up the best. But, the Dem party is probably not going to make him the nominee, and we have to deal with the reality of the nominee being either Obama or Hillary. Neither are as big of populists as Edwards is, and that might actually help us win in terms of attracting the "business" vote--I don't think a pure, avowed Dem enemy of corporate interests can win if there's a Republican who WELCOMES corporate interests. We'd lose--the American people would be too ignorant or too jaded to care, and again, image will be the major factor--it usually is.

[dmosh42]

2. You're on a worthy crusade! No time for shrinking violets! n/t

[Ninga]

4. What good is it to have some comfort, when so many barely have enough gas money or bus

money to get them through the week?

Have we become a people that will not make eye contact with those less fortunate than us, for fear they will ask us for something???

John Edwards focus and determination is an example for the ages, and he is doing the right thing by speaking out and being a champion for the working class.

Here is my feeling about "doing the right thing."

If doing the right thing were so easy, than everybody would do it.