Personal thoughts on ABB

[WillyBrandt]

I've been ABB forever. I remember when Clinton said at that rally in Iowa, "Go ahead, fall in love, be for somebody ... But when the primary's over, let's fall in line and bring the White House back to our party."

My candidate, Clark, wasn't in then; and, alas, he isn't in now. But I was prepared to vote for, to work hard for, and to donate to any candidate, as soon as the primary season looked like it had been decided.

That feeling has only strengthened as time as moved on. It would be tragic--but unfortunately typical--if Democrats, progressives, and alarmed moderates squandered this moment. The GOP is wavering at the precipice: do we push them over, or jump over ourselves?

I realize that even if Lieberman were the nominee, I'd work for him. And not with my nose pinched either, despite how much I dislike him. The needs of the nation are greater than any candidate. That's what matters. Looking back at a candidates' failures, moments of cowardice, moments of ill-judgment is a fine thing to do, so far as it goes. Still. I like all the candidates, but even if you don't: would you give essentially a silent vote to a Tyrant just to spite an imperfect man?

I could pick out a few strains (oh, but what about issue X, or position Y?), but it's bullshit compared to the two Americas before us. One, an America returning to normalcy and freedom from a toxic aberration. The other, an America darker and deadlier, ever more estranged from her soul.

The first path is full of warts and spots and perhaps blood as well.

But the second we're getting just a small a taste of; the main course would follow were Bush elected in 2004. (Imagine a debt default; imagine a romp through Syria, an annihilated Seoul.) Things will not get worse before they get better. They will get worse and worse. If you think that you might reach heaven by wreaking hell, know that you will only wreak hell.

ABB is a devotion to doing whatever is needed for following the first path, however grand or bland it may turn out.

If principle interferes with pragmatism in a case as extreme as this, then realize the price of that principle will be paid in freedom and money and blood. If a human being has before him/her the imperfect and the Truly Horrible, then rejecting the choice altogether, and retreating from reality, isn't anything to be proud of. It's a sign of weakness, and narcissism in the face of crisis.

I'm voting and working against Bush no matter what. I'll stomach my doubts, and put aside my disappointments. There is so fucking much to be done.



PS I voted for Nader in 2000, out of dissatisfaction with the party, and a lack of seriousness that I now realize was essentially whimsy. Does that make me partly responsible for Bush's selection, and for all the harm and horror that has followed? The answer is yes.

[Endangered Specie]

1. Good post, I agree totally...

There comes a time when we must accept that we wont get all what we want in the Dem Nominee... But anyone would be better than aWol.

Its a weakness among many liberal/progressive parties around the world, bc we are so idealogically based, we often split our vote amongst many candidates and end up losing the election.

Winning a battle is not worth losing the War.

[JaySherman]

2. Eloquent words. And very true.

I hope you don't get flamed for your efforts, but I suspect you will.

[WillyBrandt]

7. Thanks. I don't see how anyone can be NOT ABB in a month or two

After passions have settled.

[Endangered Specie]

10. heh, you must not read the GD2004 "I will vote 3rd" threads much

[WillyBrandt]

11. We'll see--I think that crap's going to end after it stops being

cute and fun.

[Endangered Specie]

12. I sure hope so... but I doubt it.. case and point all them Nader votes

[WillyBrandt]

13. People had no urgency in 2000. It just won't be FUN

to be anything but ABB...

I really hope I'm right! :)

[Endangered Specie]

19. we shall soon see, I hope I am wrong, but I forsee alot of hardheadedness

wonder what the admin plan to do about any anti-Dem cand nominee that is still left around.

[JaySherman]

14. I don't see how anyone could NOT be ABB now.

But there are still some people who insist on acting like spoiled whining children because they didn't get their way.

Hopefully passions do settle soon. We all need to join together in the coming months or the next time we're together could very well be in a detainment center.

[ALago1]

3. The Clinton quote...

...accurately reflects my views on the primaries and my ABB stance.

Big Dog is tres wise.

[Catch22Dem]

4. Wow

Very, very nice. I couldn't have put it better if I tried. You know, a LOOOOOOOOOOONG time ago (4 whole years ;)) there were people who said there was no difference between Gore and Bush, so they said, "fuck it, I'll vote for Nader and make a statement." Um.....what was that statement again? Still think there's no difference? Are ya really willing to make the same mistake twice? Are others willing to make that mistake for the first time? I sure hope not.

[union_maid]

5. Yup. United we stand, divided we're screwed.

Thinking back to '92, I hated Clinton during the primaries. I liked Harkin, but not as much as I DIDN'T like Clinton. He reminded me of a sleazy televangelist. By November I was rooting for him like mad. Not forcing myself, either. The excitement of beating Bush carried me along and by the election I was an enthusiastic supporter. Didn't like every single thing he had to say and I still don't, but I don't regret it either. Beating this Bush would be an even bigger thrill, and ultimately even more important, than beating his father. Hopefully, we'll all get swept up in the wave that'll uproot the shrub.

[WillyBrandt]

6. I think being ABB won't be a problem

It just won't be any fun, unless you're rooting for the Dem candidate. You'll see!

[hedgetrimmer]

17. United we stand, er... for what?

Beating bush? is that all? wow... beating bush, that's enough for me... yep lets get bush... wow this is my team and it is going to kick the other team's ass...

I stand for that, or for more than that...

United we stand for more than that or there is nothing worth standing for... except the unemployment mugshot at the local police station...

[WillyBrandt]

20. "Beating bush, that's enough for me"

It is for me. It's not a fucking game. It's not our team beating their team.

It's about keeping our liberties from eroding, our economy from collapsing, our soldiers from dying, and our soul as a nation from being ruined.

If you want nobility instead of urgency, then I'm sorry. We're in a fucking emergency.

[Adelante]

30. Well said

"We're in a fucking emergency."

What's not to understand? ABB all the way, Willy.

[hedgetrimmer]

35. Why can't you have both?

Sure we are in a emercency... ok fine... I want nobbility and urgency, urgency is not enough... it is an empty and shallow approach to a much graver problem...

At this point the truth is ACBB, (Anybody Can Beat Bush)

I am not going to ride a one trick pony, it is more than the capacity to beat bush, it is the capacity to pull this country from the depths of deprevity... anyone with half a god damn brain can look at the policies of the front runners and see that they are more in line with the current administration and things will NOT get better... this country will move more to a authoritarian state, the military will continue to be used more, the economy will continue to slump and we will pay more in taxes... any questions, read the fucking platforms, it is all there... no one trick ponies for me...

ABB, taking poison over the electric chair because you can live a little longer with the poison in your body... but you are still gonna die...

no one trick ponies for me...

-many blessings

[hedgetrimmer]

8. "freedom and money and blood"

KNOW, what you are talking about...

you've layed a heavy brick, what has come forward will not change with the primaries leader...

we the american people are in a whole lot more deep shit than anybody is ready to accept and when "our boy" gets the oval office don't be surprised when the "freedom and money and blood" go flowing away from our lives... do the research, just read the damn candidates sites, the front runner ain't hiding anything, the only ones hiding something is the supporters from themselves.

this is not about GORE, this is about a different entity altogether...
GORE is not 2004, let go of the Nader issue... he is not 2004 either...

get back on focus...

[WillyBrandt]

9. I don't understand your post

[hedgetrimmer]

15. what I said was...

we are in deep shit and just because Kerry gets the white house does not mean the deep shit is going away...

I want you to forget about Nader, forget about Gore and think about the deep shit...

[WillyBrandt]

16. My point was that things could get better or FAR WORSE

I'll take better, however mild that betterment is.

As for Nader: NO. I voted for him, and I've got to acknowledge that my actions aided the current catastrophe. It was a lesson to me to never vote like an idiot, or with ill-considered emotion. Too much is at stake. I'm not going to be a hypocrite and let myself off easy.

[JaySherman]

23. People here need to wake up and realize.

What we are dealing with here is not merely an inept, corrupt Republican politician, but a tyrant by every historical definition of the word. The man believes he has been ordained to rule by God!

Let's not doom ourselves to repeating the unlearned mistakes of history

[WillyBrandt]

25. Amen, brother

I don't know what the hell's wrong with people. Good night, friend--I'm off to bed!

[JaySherman]

18. Umm... Please explain.

I believe you are missing the entire point of the original post. How does John Kerry in the WH put us in deeper shit that George W Bush in the WH? Both plutocrats? Yes. Both megalomaniacal, tyrannical, fascist, criminal madmen? No. I would hope you can figure out which one is which.

[hedgetrimmer]

26. Umm... perhaps you have missed something.

what I said was what I said....

I did not stutter...

if you have a question about either candidate I would hope you had the commonsense to look at both candidates platforms and interpet them as to the best of your ability...

I did not misunderstand the original post, I was pointing out the fact that this is 2004 not 2000.... the idealogy that you learn from past mistakes is faulted... you are never in the same spot twice... this is not 2000, this is not about nader this is not about gore, no matter how much it fancies the soul to play upon those ill gotten fashions they are out of date.

Further, I hope you can understand how deep the shit is and will continue too be as you ride the one trick pony to the fair and hope for the f*king blue ribbon.

[WillyBrandt]

36. I'm sorry, your post is incomprehensible

It's more fury than sound, and I just can't really understand what is trying to be said.

[Leilani]

21. Very thoughtful post

I am ABB, but the enthusiasm is missing, along with my candidate.

I will vote for the nominee, because another 4 years of Bush is untenable.

But it's just not fun anymore.

[WillyBrandt]

22. The enthusiasm will come back

We're spent. Take time off--I'm really optimistic about how this will turn out.

[JaySherman]

24. I'm glad you're so optimistic.

It's refreshing. Yet you're also aware of the reality. I wish I could be that optimistic in the face of what's happening.

[DeepModem Mom]

27. Thank you for this post --

I got up in an uncharitable mood this morning, and posted the following on another thread:

You're on the wrong board if you vote third party, because you're voting for Bush. These third-party threads are frightening and depressing. This is not just any year; we're on the brink of losing this country. If you think the country's "broken" now, you ain't seen nothin' yet, once we get into a second Bush term, with a compliant Congress, and Republican Judiciary.

Sorry, I've made it a point to be unfailingly polite and fair-minded in every post I've made since I came to DU, but I've had it. I know your intentions are sincere, but to my mind, they are dangerously wrong-headed. Please vote one more time for a flawed Democratic nominee.

As someone who's been vocal in my opposition to the Bush regime, I feel I've risked a knock on my door at some future time, and I accept that risk, but I fear for my family in a right-wing extremist, one-party theocracy -- and I fear for all registered and posting here.

[WillyBrandt]

29. I agree entirely

It's amazing to me the hardheadedness of some people.

I'm really beyond trying to understand. They're fucking lunatics. They're like people in a burning House who refuse to call 911 since they don't like the phone. Nuts.

[VOX]

28. Very passionate, well thought-out post, WB -- thank you for this!

You speak the truth, point by point. Without the discipline to band together and close ranks, our nominee could be Jesus Christ himself and still lose.

We may not 100% *like* the candidate we get; there will most likely be flaws, big ones perhaps. But it's essential to look beyond to the bigger picture.

The danger could not be more clear or present -- it is right before us, and the damage it has already done will take years to clean up. If the cancer of the right wing is allowed another four years to metastasize, the injury to our nation (and the world) will be irreparable.

[Adelante]

31. Your post, too, rezmutt

Nicely said and scary as hell. Thanks.

[magnolia]

32. Well said and I'd like to add....

If all of us here on this board can't agree on one candidate or one set of issues then is it realistic for each of us to expect to go to the polls in November and vote for a guy who we agree with 100%!!!!! Really...think about it!

If you think this is a decision between principles and winning then maybe you need to review the basis of your principles. I don't want to generalize but in my own circle of family and friends it's the younger ones that tend to think 3rd party. When I was young and hadn't experienced life or accomplished anything, my ego and opinions meant a lot to me. In time...you realize that being right and having your way isn't that important. Especially when you become a parent, you learn to gladly sacrifice your own desires for the good of the whole. Whether it's your family, community, country or world...a mature person doesn't just say "this is what I want"...they consider what is good for everyone. We all dream of a perfect world...but that's something we have to evolve to. For now...all we can do is look at our choices and pick the best one.

All I know right now for sure is that Bush is bad for our country and for the whole world. A democrat...any democrat would not be perfect...but way, way better than Bush. If our candidate needs to appeal to both sides in order to get elected...that's fine with me.

[Mari333]

33. Please vote Dem everyone

if not for yourself, at least for these guys . Bring them home


Kerry, as much as I dont care for him, will have his feet held to the fire to get the International community involved, which he said we will do. We have to get these kids home. After that we can hold Kerrys feet to the fire on all the issues..the pendulum swings back slowly sometimes..right now its so far right we cant see it. Bush has got to go.
and I still , on domestic issues, am for Kucinich. But I will vote ABB.

http://www.bringthemhomenow.com

[Crunchy Frog]

34. Hey, you voted for Nader too?

Us Clarkies are a pretty diverse lot aren't we.

I totally agree about ABB. I'm not at all excited about the candidates that we have left, but after we get a nominee, I will make myself get excited even if it kills me. I don't even care if Edwards thinks the Iraq war is the greatest thing since sliced bread, or Kerry puts me to sleep with his speeches. Whoever gets the nomination will be the greatest guy in the world if he's going up against the chimp. Just get the chimp the hell out of the White House, then we can start holding the new Dem administration's feet to the fire.

I do feel kind of bad about my Nader vote, but it wouldn't have made a difference in my state if I had voted for Gore. I also worried that Gore would be so weak in standing up to the right wing that he would have been totally innefectual, been a one termer, and then Bush would have won in a landslide in the next election, only delaying the inevitable, and making it worse because Bush would actually have a mandate. It felt like a lose/lose situation to me.

Excellent post.

[WillyBrandt]

37. Yeah, voting for Nader is up there with the stupidest things I've

ever done. I was a wee babe, but still really dumb.