Reply #2: Hey, I LIKE this one!

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I have lately taken to telling people that "if bush steals another one, it WON'T be because I sat on my ass."

Frankly, girl gone mad, I'm still a Howard Dean lover. And we all know how MY preferred candidate ended up. But he's still out there fighting and ROARING. He's still swinging his sword. And his strikes are drawing blood. He didn't just roll up and go home and cry in his beer. He transformed his campaign, and now is a FABULOUS surrogate for Kerry, willing and VERY able to say what Kerry might not be able to say himself, considering the possible ramifications. I find tremendous inspiration and encouragement in that, much as I've found a lot of it while getting to know - and come to support - John Kerry. Howard Dean will be able to look at himself in his bathroom mirror on November 3rd, come what may, and STAND TALL. He NEVER gave up, OR lost his backbone. We ALL need to be able to say we can do that.

Something else I like to tell people: Imagine it's November 3rd. bush either squeaked by, or got close enough to steal it, which his henchmen are presently in the process of doing. And you did nothing. How do you feel now? Even if the worst happens, I will NOT have to stand there and face myself and ashamedly admit that I did nothing.

Those who do nothing, or let their discouragement or their disheartened feelings get the best of them, will be a big part of making that worst case a lot more likely. I'm NOT gonna be one of 'em. In fact, I REFUSE. Just as I'm NO LONGER concerned about speaking out when it's necessary. I realized the bad guys can't build enough Gitmos to hold ALL OF US (hell, when it comes to that, and they try that, they'll only be creating MORE of us than they can ever hope to contain.) I won't have that on my conscience - knowing I gave in to my gloom and let it freeze me in my tracks so I wouldn't fight back. I gather, from everyone else's posts here at DU, that none of US will have that sorry state of affairs eating away at our consciences for the rest of our lives, either. And THAT, whatever else the outcome, will FOREVER MORE be a good thing.