A view from the cheap seats....

[Green Mountain Dem]

I have been here at DU for about 6-8hrs every day during the past couple of weeks. This is not anything unusual for me as I have been doing it for the past 18 mos. Although I don't post often, I do read most of the forums and I continue to be amazed at the wealth of information that is exchanged here on a daily basis. DU and Democracy Now have become my primary news sources and I seldom even tune into any of the mainstream media anymore.

In any event, I thought you might be interested in what it has been like for someone like me, an undecided at this point, to view all the candidate bashing/supporting threads during the past 2weeks.

It has, for me, been somewhat like being at a hockey game sitting high up in the cheap seats. I have observed all the intesity of the on ice action with some brilliant finesse moves...and then BAM!!...an awesome body check. And don't forget the fisticuffs and resulting penalties (most were minors as in "NAME DELETED"..but a couple were majors as in "TOMBSTONED"),and so far it has been a very spirited excercise.

My problem is that I don't know who to root for as I haven't decided on a favorite. However, I continue to cheer the best plays for both sides and Boo the dirty ones and also the so called "cheap shots".
I have noticed that some of the dirtier play is not only being done by the rookies but also by some of the veteran players as well. It appears that the coaches are using the same tactics and while the game remains entertaining I am becoming more concerned with the outcome.

I realize that it is still in the 3rd period, and there is time left on the clock, but this is the last game before the playoffs, and I still don't have a favorite!! BTW the refs in this game have been fantastic and have remained consistent in their calls and I cheer them for that. I just hope we're not headed into overtime...meanwhile, I will continue to observe the action.

Ron in the cheap seats...with a huge cup of Bud Light!

[acmavm]

1. How funny. And you gotta love all the "I'm not going to vote for

(insert name here) if they get the nomination because they (insert action here).

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Thank you for this post

Personally, I, too, am getting my news from the internet rather than TV news. I do listen to NPR (because I don't have internet connections at work), but that's it.

I feel that the flame wars and snide remarks made by people do not help the Democratic cause at all. Those that say that Dean cannot win give the impression that they won't support him if nominated, that the cause is lost, and everyone who isn't a freeper should stay home on election day and sit on their hands. Those that support Dean but bash other candidates, calling them losers, etc, are doing something similar (I've only read that they think other candidates won't win the nomination, not that those candidates would lose against Bush). How in the world is any of this going to help us regain the White House? Personally, I plan to work for and support WHOEVER is nominated, because I realize if Bush wins in 2004, our country is lost. I don't understand anyone who is so hung up over their candidate that they say they won't do the same.

[Hep]

3. You need to get in the game!

We just lost our third line winger and need someone to fill in. It's carnage out there. We ned to recruit some people from the stands or this game is never going to end. We've got Pedialite in the locker room to keep everyone's energy up, but we need fresh skates.

[creativelcro]

4. check out this site for a lot of comparative info in the same place

http://www.issues2002.org

[SoCalDem]

5. I am with you in the cheap seats..

I have not decided on any one candidate either.. I am confident that ANY candidate that emerges from this street brawl will be more than capable of defeating *.. The ONLY issue I have about this whole drama, is the cnadidates bashing each other.. I cannot shake the mental image of Karl Rove & Co in the WH basement, making commercials by skilfully cobbling together OUR OWN CANDIDATES' WORDS AGAINST EACH OTHER.. We will be seeing commercials using dems against each other.. Bush just will be featured on the rubble pile, and pretending to be presidential, while our candidate's attacks on each other will be used against the eventual "winner"..

In a perfect world, each candidate would be given equal time and just lay out their own plan.. There is really no need to attack each other if all they are doing is giving ammunition to the enemy..

The candidates are trying to dominate the news coverage and attract attention to their own campaigns, and I can understand that, but it's just too bad that they could not have all conferenced at the beginning, and decided that exposing all the filth in this administration should have been the goal..

They should be talking in unity about Halliburton,the BBV issue,and all the other stuff this admin is foisting on us..

Diebold, E S & S, and Sequoia could trump everything we accomplish, and THAT should be front and center..

[Green Mountain Dem]

7. Amen....but isn't it a sad...

scenario when the only way Dems can get any media coverage is when they bash each other. When are the people of this country going to realize that our national media has sold out to the corporate interests.

[BeFree]

6. Except for the cheap shots..

Ya gotta admit it's been a pretty good game.

It's me... sitting in the row just down from you.

Say, when your done with that beer, could ya get a Samuel Adams or something? I don't like Bud beer. Thanks. And, is that your girlfriend, there? <grin>

[Green Mountain Dem]

8. Jeezus.......

Shhhh about the girl thingy...here take the whole cup. BTW...Sam Adams...hmmm better not go there.

[SpiralHawk]

9. Here I am in the cheap seats, too ! Yikes ! How did that happen?

But I am going to get out of this section quick, and jump into the action. Monday morning I head off to the County office to change my registration from I to D -- that way I can participate in the state caucus come February. Monday's the last day, and so I am making a point of it.

My mind is not made up on a candidate either, but I do agree with our appointed pResident* when he advocates "Honor and dignitude." Fer sure, dude. I go for that. That's why I'm not voting for you.

(P.S. - I did consider registering R, so I could go to that caucus and have a voice. I thought i would stand for some other R candidate, even if I was a caucus of one for some write-in entity of my own devising, and then to make a short, cool and cogent speech advocating regime change. But I have nixed the idea. I want to be for someone, not against someone -- as necessary as that may seem.)


* AWOL while honor-bound by solemn oath to be serving with the Texas National Guard in the 1970s; defeated by a clear majority of patriotic and discerning American voters in the 2000 election; appointed to office by the so-called supreme court.

[Green Mountain Dem]

10. Thank you...Thank you....

Just reading your sig line, combined with your own words..."I want to be FOR someone, not AGAINST someone"...has removed me from spectator status. I am ready to play in this game and will choose my candidate before this day ends. I will then do everything in my power to support and enable my candidate to move us closer to this new world.