Here's some trash for you:

[NoSheep]

Consider this quote:

"The larger the mob, the harder the test. In small areas, before small electorates, a first-rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even the mob with him by force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second and third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre — the man who can most easily adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum.
The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
H. L. Mencken

WOW! I got you to read my post. Please continue and respond if you will.

I'm wondering what in the world the Democrats are going to do to get together and come up with a fundamentally sound plan to better this insanity we have found ourselves in.

I've very recently had my attention turned toward HL Mencken 1880-1956 (journalist, satirist, social critic) and William Jennings Bryan (politician, orator, progressive, fundamentalist Christian!) Two great thinkers who, however exceptional, were very much a product of their time. Both stand accused today of imbalance, one for his curious outlook on evolution and fear of science (Bryan) and another for his heavy-handed criticism of American society in general and just about everything else! (Mencken). The amazing thing is, so much of what they had to say is so relevant right now as far as politics go. People haven't gotten a whole lot smarter than Bryan and Mencken's dumbest moments. Democrats can certainly learn from Bryan's arguments that it is a moral imperative to shape policy that seeks to protect the less advantaged. And Mencken, while a most fabulous smart-ass, can show you how futile it is in times like these to be "above" humanity with ones wit and cynicism.

There is a new book called A Godly Hero (by Michael Kazin) about Bryan and I think if you can get beyond his fundamentalism, it might be a great read for anyone who'd like to fly back in the face of the unethical Republicans who beg to take the higher moral ground.

We all know the Republicans see social issues like abortion, gay marriage, etc. as a bandwagon they can ride to get votes. All the while, being morally reprehensible themselves.

Here is my favorite quote from WJ Bryan:

"The poor man is called a socialist if he believes the wealth of the rich should be divided among the poor, but the rich man is called a financier if he devises a plan by which the pittance of the poor can be converted to his use."

The quote I started with of Mencken's is typical of his point of view, which I agree with completely. However...that sass is NOT going to turn our Republican neighbors into open-minded, ethical voters who think beyond "survival of the richest."

Believe me, I don't want to go back to a pre-Darwinist world as Bryan would have it. And I wouldn't take a million bucks for a smart-ass like Mencken (he reminds me so much of myself). But the Democrats don't just need to win (and they will) but they need to make genuine change and do it with moral conviction and assurity. I fear many Democrats in office have become just as corrupt as the Republicans. They've seen the fast route to power and may be doomed to repeat it to get back on top. We don't need TWO Republican parties. Democrats need to remember where we come from and that, I believe, is from a moral higher ground.


edited for subject clarity

[NoSheep]

1. Kicking because I think this is important.

:kick:

[NoSheep]

2. Yall are fast!

[NMDemDist2]

3. nothing like that will happen until we have federally financed elections

and voting machine reform

[NoSheep]

4. You are so right. So right.

:(