My enthusiasm hasn't waned but I read his books and was also pretty clear-eyed about his positions, his judgment and the quality of his mind. When I read his speeches or listen to him, I hear a man of reason, a man who thinks through the issues. I might disagree with his conclusions or wish his positions mirrored my own but on the most important issues (#1 being getting these Republican assholes out of power) for me he's right on target.

I've also worked on enough hard Democratic campaigns in Red States to know that getting Democrats elected ain't always pretty and your conscience ain't always singing a sweet song. I've worked for candidates who had some individual positions that made me want to puke. But they had positions on healthcare and the economy and a host of other issues that were far better than the Republicans running against them. And I knew that in that state that would make a real difference to the people who lived there.

So just think of all the people who will be affected by this election. The people who need healthcare, the people who can't find a job, the
soldiers who will die . My own concerns with Obama look small compared to the consequences of not doing everything I can to help him be elected. I just think of all the destruction that happened in the last 8 years because some fools in the year 2000 couldn't see a difference between Bush and Gore and didn't see the coming disaster that was right before their eyes.

Gore wasn't pure enough, he was too centrist, he was a liar, wasn't a true progressive- all the same shit I've been hearing people who should know better say about Barack Obama in the last two weeks.

And before people start on this slippery slope of Naderite thinking again just remember every awful thing that the Bush administration has done in the last 8 years and remember that there was a point where reasonable people could have stopped it but they wouldn't because they thought their candidate, who we have all now seen is the most decent of men, needed to be taught a lesson about progressive ideals. And what a lesson it has been.

Posted at July 4, 2008 12:29 AM in response to Obama's Enthusiasm Gap

Enjoy your McCain presidency then! I'm sure he'll be real concerned about 4th amendment protections.

Posted at July 3, 2008 8:57 PM in response to Obama Responds To FISA Group On His Web Site

You know I thought after going through the pain of 2000 and watching the destruction that the Naderites helped bring about by whining about Al Gore and how awful and centrist he was, that maybe, maybe some people on the Left had learned their lesson. The last 8 years have shown in so many ways how indeed the Naderite Perfect of 2000 in the long run became the very terrible, awful enemy of the good that would have emerged from a Gore Presidency.

But my God no indeed people did not learn that lesson and some are again going to make that same very grievous mistake in punishing Obama for not being pure enough. It's like deja vu all over again and it's the fall of 2000 and I am pleading with unreasonable people to be reasonable to no avail. I hope people will get a grip because if not we will all be sorrier for it.

Posted at July 3, 2008 8:21 PM in response to FISA The Flag Pin Of The Left

Thank you Theda! I very much agree with your post.

Posted at July 3, 2008 10:14 AM in response to Group Urging Obama To Oppose FISA Cave Now Biggest On His Web Site

Excellent news! Hopefully she can helped refocus attention on this issue.

Posted at July 2, 2008 3:12 PM in response to Elizabeth Edwards To Promote Health Care Group

Excellent post. I was just thinking this morning that I was going to have to stop reading political sites until the convention because of all the hyperventilating and hysteria that is going on. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and keep their eyes on the prize. Disagree with Obama? Fine let him know but stop the damn wailing.

And know that having a President Obama in control is going to make a world of difference in term of the policy that this country follows starting in January of 2009. The DOJ, the Department of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, HHS, Education, EPA- all of that changes and for the better and toward more progressive policies. Please don't let the perfect become the enemy of the good. This election is too important.

Posted at July 1, 2008 11:23 AM in response to TPM Community, STOP LOOKING AT THE SQUIGGLES!!!

Oh come on! Have you ever voted for a political candidate before? Ever watched an actual election in action?

If you let this one issue discourage you from doing all you can to get those Republican thieves out of the White House, then you seriously have your head up your ass. What you want the Iraq War to continue? Millions of people to continue to go without healthcare? The economy to continue to stagnate in the shitpile and people to be unemployed? All because Barack Obama had the audacity to disagree with you on one issue?

I don't like the FISA bill but a lot of progressives are taking their eye off the ball here. A lot of people have been stomping around like whiny children and not seeming to realize that if Obama gets elected, the DoJ is going to get totally revamped. We will have a new Attorney General and all of that will make a difference.

Do you think that's going to happen under McCain?
Do you think he'll pay half the attention to civil liberties that Obama, the constitutional lawyer will?

People are starting to sound like Naderites in 2000 and that worked out real well for us, didn't it?

Posted at June 26, 2008 3:48 PM in response to Just What We Were Afraid Of

She is really just unbelievable. That was a speech that totally lacked any grace or class or any perspective on what a historic night this is.
I'm so angry and that speech makes me hope that Obama knocks her off any VP list.

Posted at June 3, 2008 10:04 PM in response to Hillary: "I Will Be Making No Decisions Tonight"

This is a horrible speech. Total tin ear for what a historic night this is for African Americans.

Posted at June 3, 2008 9:48 PM in response to McAuliffe: "Are You Ready For The Next President Of The United States Of The America?"

She started out well but landed right back in Classlessville.

Posted at June 3, 2008 9:43 PM in response to McAuliffe: "Are You Ready For The Next President Of The United States Of The America?"