my caucus was a total abortion... go ahead and kick me.... it's the DU thing to do

[bobbolink]

I'm not asking for advice, I'm not asking for recrimination, I'm not asking for anything.

After all the excitement, after all the preparation, what an incredible mess.

I've been to many cauci, and NEVER have I seen such a mess!

NO place to park.... had people trying to run me over in the parking lot.

Went waaaay up the road, had to walk in the dark and cold, then the building had NO SIGNS... NO WAY of knowing where any of the precincts were. It's a huge building, and they had everyone crammed into one big room... no way to find your own fucking precinct!

Then someone had the gall to tell me, "Well, you missed it. If you'd been here at 7..." Fuck that shit! It took me a half hour just to get parked and walk.... So, everyone shows up at 5pm, then there will magically be more parking?????? Yeah, that's logic. Love these parental types. :eyes:

It was very clear there was NO way to speak, and that is the main reason for a caucus. From now on, Colorado needs to have primaries, so EVERYONE can vote!

After I decided to give up and leave (It was stiffling hot, on top of everything else), some woman told me they had tried to tell the party there would be a huge turnout, but they said, "We have everything under control." Riiiight..... The right wing of the party, you can bet has it "under control".

As I was walking in down the huge hallway, I saw people coming out and walking towards me. Now I understand why they were leaving.

As I walked in, there was Gary Hart, standing and talking to someone. I should have just waited my turn, and talked to him, instead of trying to find my caucus... it would have been more productive.

I give up, folks. No way to be heard, even when you do all the work. I couldn't even see that there would be a way to actually vote, so I give up.

And, you know what, it feels good to just say, finally, "FUCK IT"! It's been nothing but pain for a lot of years.... FUCK IT.

OK, go ahead and bash me. That's the DU way... kick a person when they're down.

Have fun.

bye now...

[Catchawave]

1. Oh honey.....

:hug:

All the Independent and Republican Florida Primay voters who wanted to vote for Edwards were told to EFF OFF too, because they were two weeks late changing their "party" affliation. AND, Independents COULD NOT vote for EITHER party's primary candidate.

Nobody knew. The RULES.

Kinda makes me want to go the Purple Finger route in the future.....

Show up. Vote with a sloppy X next to my candidate's name on a crappy, but functional, piece of paper. Dip your finger in purple ink. Have Jimmy Carter count the ballots. It really should be so simple :grr:

[bobbolink]

2. If the Democrats can't do any better than this, they deserve to lose.

I really don't give a shit.

[MissDeeds]

5. Bless your heart, Bobbo

You did your part, and did it on behalf of all of us. I understand how you feel. I am disappointed with our party on so many levels. It's hard to keep the faith sometimes. :hug:

[smokey nj]

3. Why would we bash you?

You tried your best, I don't see what else you could have done.
:hug:

[bobbolink]

4. Because that's what DUers do.

A number of years ago I couldn't go to my caucus because they moved it to a place that required $10 for parking, and I didn't have the $$$.

Yes, I got royally shit on at Du for that.

Compassion that the lovely Dems cut out those without $$$??

Hah!

Just shit on people, and feel superior.

I'm so sick of Dems right now!

[smokey nj]

6. $10 for parking? Sounds like a poll tax to me.

People bashed you for that? Fuck them! Heartless pricks come in all shapes, sizes and political denominations.

[MaryRN]

10. Me too. Beyond words. Thanks so much for trying. n/t

[Silver Gaia]

7. I am SO sorry for what you experienced today, bobbolink. And I am PISSED, but

NOT at YOU. No one here is going to bash you. You are among friends here, people who care for you.

:hug:

[SeattleGirl]

8. That really sucks, bobbolink

There's no excuse for not being more organized, especially because in all the previous caucuses and primaries, there have been huge turnouts. Was Colorado not listening? I'm sorry you had such a rotten time.

I just got notice that my caucus site had changed from where it usually is, so I think that they looked ahead and decided to go ahead and get a bigger place. We caucus here in Washington on Saturday.

[asdjrocky]

9. You do a lot more than just vote-

You advocate, we all do. And no one can take that away. Mother Jones said, "You don't need a vote to raise hell!"

Sorry to hear your story, but don't think because of that your voice, however small, hasn't been heard. There are people here that have heard it, and continue to hear it.

[redqueen]

12. Hear fucking hear... honestly voting is the *least* we can do. (nt)

[Lugnut]

11. I'd never kick you.

You gave it your best shot. It's not your fault that the whole thing was a mess. :hug:

[redqueen]

13. I wish I could say I was surprised. Our elections are a joke by design.

I'm really sorry it was such a waste of time & energy.

*sigh*

[eleny]

14. Hi b - Our location was jam packed and got too hot, too

We exceeded the fire code rules and they had to move one precinct to the cafeteria. I wish it was ours. We were way in a corner and it got hot. People were having to shout there was so much noise. But people did get to vote and speak and whatever they call it.

I, too, wish we would go back to primaries. We did have them for the presidential as you know. Frankly, I think it was a Repuke ploy in 'o4 so that there would be less participation. And it worked in '04. But this year Dems are chomping and clawing at the bit. And they weren't prepared for the turnout. I'm contacting my state Senator, Moe Keller, who I campaigned for last time. She always answers my emails, so I'm going to put it to her for the state to go back to primaries and also paper ballots counted by eyeballs. Oh, btw, that was one of the resolutions I forgot to include in my PM. We voted for paper ballots counted by people at the precinct level.

Hugs to you. Try and find the faith again. Pace yourself and know that we're all in this together.

[waiting for hope]

15. Oh Bobbie -

We would never bash you - :hug:, you are an Edwards Democrat, and us ED's stick together! :loveya:

[bobbolink]

16. right.... that's why there's now a private club, where only certain ones here are welcomed.

Thank you, waiting for hope, but...it's not what it seems.

I've been deeply hurt by people I mistakenly trusted, once again.

I can't handle it anymore.

[RestoreGore]

17. No bashing here

Thanks for your loyalty and your participation in the process. Screw the idiots.

[OneGrassRoot]

18. Surrender....

I'll probably get bashed for using such a non-revolutionary word.

Bobbi, I can feel the absolute, all-consuming anger, frustration, and disgust you feel with everyone and everything!

And you have EVERY RIGHT TO FEEL AS YOU DO. Goodness knows, you've not only been personally going through hell, you're working so hard to help others get OUT of the same hell.

It will eat you up inside when you feel you give and give and give and no one notices you or helps fill you back up in any way so you can continue the fight.

I personally don't know what to do, so I won't act like I do. There are so many things wrong with our country and our world right now that we all have to do the best we can, based on what issue(s) we are faced with. For some it's poverty, others healthcare, others environmental crises. There are people facing crises every day in this country in ways that should never have been allowed to manifest. Your situation included.

They're all important and we all want it fixed NOW!

What I do want you to know is that you ARE noticed. Maybe people don't respond as quickly or in the manner you want, and there are many reasons for that, some probably justified and others may seem trivial given what you're going through. But you ARE noticed and valued.

I'm not a psychologist, an intellectual, or any other label to give credence to what I share here. I'm simply a woman who, like many here and "out there," cares about others. And that includes you. When I see you so torn up, not only about your situation, but about how others respond (or don't respond) to it, I desperately want to be able to fix it. For you and others. For me.

When you're this upset and have fought the good fight for so long and feel you're banging your head against the wall, sometimes it's best to surrender. Know you have done your best and keep doing your best to survive, compassionately and respectfully. You setting that example for others will go much farther than you can imagine. I know it's very difficult to do when you're trying to survive and get help. But let the fight go for now - don't let others actions or inactions add to your distress. You need to focus on YOU right now and get back to some sort of peaceful state so you can continue your fight. Hopefully others will take up the fight in the meantime, and then join you when you return.

You are not invisible. We're all only human, doing our best. And this human experience is an awfully damned difficult thing, in my humble opinion.


EDIT: I want to make sure you understood when I said "when you return" above, I meant return to the fight. I certainly wasn't implying you should take time off from interacting here or anywhere else. It's easier said than done - believe me, this much I do know from experience - but detachment is a skill we all need to learn at times, especially those of us who are empathic and feel others' pain so acutely. We can still be compassionate, yet detach a bit - just until we gain our strength again - for our own survival's sake. That's all I'm trying to say, albeit clumsily. :blush:

[bobbolink]

20. That's exactly where I'm at... SURRENDER. My chest pains are back,

my body is falling apart, people I thought I could trust lied to me and then left... To hell with it all.

As a matter of fact, I tried to permanently surrender in October. And I don't want to hear bullshit about it............ it comes from being too ignored and dissed, from too much discrimination from being poor and homeless and treated like garbage.

All while being alone, because the elite "progressives" can't quite bring themselves to care enough to actually TAKE ACTION.

Just, "hang in there Bobbie", and all that kind of crap.

No, I'm not "hanging in there".

I give up.

You are completely right.

Maybe when the streets are littered with bodies of those of us who have given up, MAYBE then there will be notice????

[OneGrassRoot]

21. I'm fully aware this is useless to you right now...

but all I can do is give you a hug. But it's a sincere hug, and I'm very sorry I can't do more. And, in my own way, I'll certainly be saying prayers for you.

:hug:

[Beaverhausen]

19. Bobbie- I'm so sorry to hear that. Caucuses suck!

I went to Nevada the weekend before their caucus to phone bank and canvas for Edwards and in no time I realizeed how stupid the concept of caucusing is.

Making everyone in the state have to meet at the same hour to vote might have worked 200 years ago, but it certainly doesn't work now.

There is no recourse for people who have to work at the appointed hour, who are sick and can't make it out of the house, or people who have an emergency and simply can't attend. Ridiculous.

Hang in there Bobbie. :hug:

Remember, you tried - it just sounds like they were overwhelmed by the turnout. That is a good thing, in the long run, for us democrats.