Kerry and Edwards photo

[The Traveler]

I beg your indulgence in advance for the length of this post.

I am staying home from work today ... strep is working through the family and it is my turn in the barrel. I was feeling pretty down between being sick and being exposed to Rudy Ghouliani's hot air last night. I was fortunate enough to receive in the mail today a really splendid photograph of our men, John Kerry and John Edwards. This gift from the DNC of course came with a solicitation for donations.

Confession time. Economic hardships and maladjusted priorities have caused me to neglect that aspect of activism. I have not as yet donated to the Kerry campaign.

I must confess again. I was a Clark man, though I was strongly drawn to Howard Dean and much admire Dennis Kucinich. I was intrigued by Edwards but did not feel it was his time. I am not a fan of Kerry.

But the more I learn about the man, the more I like him. Many of his alleged "flip-flops" represent the actions of a skillful negotiator and dedicated analyst. A senator must horse trade. A senator must shift positions as additional information comes in. And Kerry's so-called vote against funding our troops was a symbolic gesture intended to protest making this expenditure an outright gift to Iraq as opposed to a loan.

Hey, man, our schools sure could have used $87 billion. Think of all the alternative fuel research that could have advanced. Think of health care advances that could have propelled. Think of the malnourished Americans that could have fed. America has many purposes that desperately need $87 billion, but we are told we cannot afford it. But we can afford THIS???

Kerry's vote is NOT a flip-flop, nor is it difficult to understand.

It is therefore with some pleasure that I am donating a small amount to the Kerry campaign today. I wish it could be a larger sum. I wish I had done it sooner, as so many of my friends here have done.

A lot of people here are rightfully concerned about the way things have been going lately. But we cannot let fear or dismay freeze us right now. John Kerry is a strong closer .... we must remain strong with him and give him what we can of our time and money.

Gotta go and mail that check ...

Rob

[Butterflies]

1. I got my photo from the DNC the other day too

and I put it in a nice black picture frame on my mantel. It's so joyous and it makes me feel optimistic to look at it. I've been giving money to John Kerry periodically in small amounts - you don't have to send a big fat check to help. Just $20.00 each from many supporters will help immensely.