What I've learned about politics

[eileen from OH]

and if it sounds a tad bitter, well so be it.

I'm 53 years old, a mother of 3, grandma to 2 and while always politically aware, have never given to a candidate or party, have never worked for a candidate or party, have never really been involved beyond voting and bitching and writing letters to the editor. For the first time, this election, I've worked my ass off, been an organizing diva, and been damn effective locally, for my candidate.

I've learned that the whole primary (and, in particular) the caucus system sucks. Sucks, sucks, sucks.

A handful of people in Iowa (in a combo parish supper/political swap meet) have more say in who gets to be nominated than people who have actual real, live, people-vote-in-'em primaries.

A teeny, tiny state that is as representative of the country as I represent the hip-hop generation, have an undue, completely disproportionate amount of influence.

I live in Ohio, a must-win state by every one's accounting. In the general election, we are always accorded tremendous importance. Jeebus, but we get attention in the GE. Too bad our #$#@#@ primary is so late that we don't get any voice at all in the choice of candidate.

Evidently, we're supposed to suck it up and support the choice of Iowa and New Hampshire and the states whose primaries precede ours. OR, we're supposed to sit back and not get involved until we're told who to support. Which is a goddam recipe for apathy.

Right now, I'm faced with the possibility that I won't even get to VOTE for the guy I've given to, worked for, and supported for a year. And I know I ain't alone. As I write this, bitchin' away, I really feel for all the states whose primaries are even later than ours. Or the Gephardt/Braun supporters in other states, who worked and gave, and didn't even get this far.

Yeah, I know this is politics and this is the way it's always been, blah-blah-blah. And I'm too politically naive to have any answers, although I'd start with this:

- Screw caucuses. If it ain't a primary, with real, live votes from people, skip it.
- Screw first-in-the-nation crap. Is this a democracy or a "dibs" contest?

Frankly, I'd trade pissing off Iowans and New Hampshirites for a whole bunch of people who might get involved if they thought it would bloody well MATTER.

Again, I'm naive, a newbie, and knew the rules goin' in and that it wasn't just about winning, doo-dah, doo-dah. And I freely admit to being wholly stoopid about all this. But tonight it REALLY hit me.

Again, I don't have any answers. But I DO know that if the Dems really want people to feel like they have a STAKE in the direction of their party and their country, they oughtta start by taking a good, hard look at how we choose our candidates.

eileen from OH

[Democat]

1. Good for your for getting involved

I don't know who your candidate is, but I hope you do get a chance to vote for him or her. No matter what happens, you did more than most Americans will in helping to determine what direction this country will go in.

Please don't get too discrouraged. More than anything, we need to beat Bush this year. It doesn't look too good for the candidate who I think has the best chance right now, but I will support whoever we nominate because just about anyone is better than Bush.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

2. Amen...

It sucks, but in the end we've got to keep our eye on the prize. No matter what we've got to be ABB.... or he wins. (and we can't have that!!!)

And after the dust settles, then we need to address

Campaign finance reform
Primary dates
Voting technology (with special attention to verification)

It's an uphill battle, but I guarantee any Dem is going to level the playing field before this admin does. If we're not ABB, we've got even dimmer chances and the threat of further deterioration of the process. (and worse, the threat of a one party system)

[eileen from OH]

5. I'm not so much discouraged as MAD

. . .I can live with getting beaten up by the other party, but to get beaten up by my own party's "system" really stinks.

And, yes, I'm still ABB and will vote and support the candidate (the extent of which will depend on WHO that candidate is.) I don't harbor any grudges at all.

But, frankly, if it does turn out to be Kerry, I will focus more attention, efforts, and contributions to local and state races. Particularly for my Congressman Tim Ryan, who is one of the "good guys" and for whoever winds up running against Taft - aka Governor Dickhead. (Please God, don't let it be Jerry Springer. We've only just recovered from Jim Traficant and I can't take much more.)

eileen from OH

[hope42mro]

3. I feel your pain. Democracy is a bitch in a country of 300 million. n/t

[mmonk]

4. Parties control everything political in this country

Access, candidates to some extent, jsut about everything. Though I belong to one, the constitution was originally was written with the idea of citizen government, not for the process to envolve political parties.

[pacifictiger]

6. I don't know who your candidate was, but

one of the reasons I like Dean so much, is because he is a breath of fresh air in this apple full of worm holes. Its going to take a lot of $50s from all of us, sometimes in differing directions, and a lot of smarts, courage and energy to even begin to make a dent in the corrupted system. Keep the faith - it took the founding fathers many years to establish this democracy and not all of them got everything they wanted. It will take many years to undo this mess and get back to the fundamental essence of their intent. I'm sticking with the "unconventional" one all the way just to make things interesting, even if he doesn't win, he will be remembered. I think Ben Franklin would have really liked Howard Dean.