2008

[funeralcrasher]

I tend to lean left on most issues and while I love the idea of a woman president, Ms. Clinton won't receive my vote if she runs in 08.  And I hate that.  She is powerful and obviously capable of handling public office but I do not want another elephant in sheep's clothing leading the way for Democrats. 

The democratic party seems to be splitting between commoners (DNC) and corporatists with (occassional) liberal tendencies (DLC).  (discussion of difference between DNC & DLC)  I've had enough of the latter.  I want this country turned around more than I want a female president. 

I will choose to support a democrat with backbone to vocally and unequivocally support gay marriage (Hillary has not), a renewed investment in the American workforce, and with strong unwavering support of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, which does not include widespread spying & monitoring of American citizens by their government.



Right now, Howard Dean is the only democrat I am remotely interested in supporting in 08, were he to run. 

Comments

[pkbarbiedoll.livejournal.com]

I'm fairly sure he voted against the PATRIOT Act as well.

He did.. he was the only one.

The first Clinton accomplished so little in office

He happened across an ideal time in IT land, which undoubtably helped his approval ratings.

But let's not forget NAFTA.

[radargrrl.livejournal.com]

There's a reason Michael Moore refers to either/both of the two major US parties as "Republicrats". They're one and the same. As Jello Biafra commented: "The Republicans are on the outside what the Democrats are on the inside."

It's the same up here. When the Chretien government defeated the Mulroney Tories in '92, they ignored just about everything they had campaigned on, and essentially continued where Mulroney left off...signing NAFTA, refusing to shitcan the GST etc etc etc.

There's always Nader. This might seem like a wasted vote to many people, but if more people supported a third party, maybe the other two might wake up and smell the coffee. Or not.

[pkbarbiedoll.livejournal.com]

The problem with third parties isn't the third parties themselves. It's politics, specifically our One Vote One Candidate system.

When I vote for Nadar/Perot/ChickenLittle I effectively vote NO on all other candidates. That's what Americans have been raised and taught to accept.

But if we allow multiple choices per voter, like this:

1st choice: Elmer Fudd
2nd choice: Ralph Nadar
3rd choice: Russ Fiengold

Third parties instantly become viable.

Because our uniparty system values their power this will NEVER happen. Even though it would be good for our government.

[radargrrl.livejournal.com]

Agreed. But you do need that third party for a single transferrable voting system to work. Otherwise, there's no point.

I like, too, something the Aussies do, namely a mandatory vote.

[mb2u]

I actually supported Dean before he pulled out in '04. Feingold is the only Democrat I really respect nowdays. Obama, in '12, will be badass. And John Edwards would be a good choice.

But the Democrats need to stop trying to find another Bill Clinton or Rebublican Lite and start working on a "The Republicans have fucked you over, and we're here to stop it" strategy that has no holds bared and is willing to give peole some fraking hope.