I admit. I'm depressed. How can we win? I need shot in the arm.

[PretzelWarrior]

I've enjoyed checking in here a little bit from time to time in my recently very busy schedule. Still, it surprises me the power, effectiveness, and relentlessness of the attacks from the powers that be.

It should seem so straightforward to all regular Americans what a disaster we are facing as a country, but somehow the chokehold on information and public opinion is a strong as ever with big business controlling the agenda.

I don't even think of it as left/right anymore. I'm going Noam Chomsky on you guys and looking at all the times in the past when the US acted like royal dicks to the population around the world whether it was in attacks on Native Americans, attacks on Hawaiian queen and followers, fighting/slaughter in Phillipines, central America, Southeast Asia...and lately over in the middle east.

This is all about controlling the means of wealth just as the policies of Bush are centrally focused on maintaining power and increasing it.

Sorry, but it feels like Oceania as the real deal. They are all about power for power's sake and will get what they want throug brute force if they can't get it through chicanery. Last time it was the selection. Next it is surveilling legitimate protesters. Then it will be electronic fiasco in voting machines. They will poke and prod and observe and monitor the many proles to extract every ounce of efficiency out of them.

It's just plain making me sick. I don't know if we can stem the tide of these gargantuans that rule the world and have no sovereign power controlling them. We are in the age of the great corporations as dictator of the world.

[wurzel]

1. Who are "we"? n/t

[PretzelWarrior]

3. I guess "We" was "dems" at outset of my post....

but turned into "we the people". Our country and other industrialized countries have the power to create a sustainable and dignified standard of living not just for ourselves but for countries around the world. The people (whether in Burundi, Iraq, Mexico, China, US, France, Sudan, etc.) are getting screwed.

[The Traveler]

2. That's why we can't give in, friend

And if we lose, let 'em at least have cause to remember we were here, standing.

[silverlib]

4. I hope this is a shot in the arm...

but it could be a soap box, as well, although I hope not.

I am fifty-three years old and quietly opposed the Viet Nam War, thinking nothing would change.

I quietly supported the civil rights movement, thinking nothing would change.

I feel I am in the midst of a revolution. I am no longer quiet. I will not miss this one. I will be a part of it and I will FEEL it.

I anticipate and have heard the 40 million more people will vote in this election than in the 2000. The polls are based on likely voters, mostly voters who voted in 2000. The more people that vote in this election, the bigger we will win. And WE WILL WIN.

I am a huge Kerry supporter, but not because I agree with where he stands on all issues. The majority of the delegates at the Convention did not originally support Kerry, nor did I. We have the backing to hold his feet to the fire as President. We are IN CONTROL and we will stay in control.

Well, there's a shot in the arm, or a soap box. Hope it helps.

[shraby]

8. From time to time I

get depressed about all of it too, but then I see the rising tide against those in power and the will of the majority of the people standing up to them and I snap out of it. Gore won with a majority of votes last time, this time we'll absolutely swamp them because many many more are motivated by the stolen election last time, the policies of this administration, the lying and crimes committed by this administration, the unnecessary war that is killing and maiming our young people and innocent Iraqis, the torture that was sanctioned by this administration, and a host of other reasons. We had a majority last time, and we'll have overwhelming majority this time. Think positive.

edited for tpyo

[Kanary]

13. starting that revolution.......

I was too young to be a Freedom Rider, but I admired them.

I *was* in the middle of the Vietnam protests, and thought we had accomplished something -- I just knnew that we were changing our world -- silly me.

I saw changes in the way the poor and disenfranchised people were treated, and I thought we were bringing us together. Silly me.

I watched us build communities, and learn important skills in working together, and thought we *were* building a new society. Silly me.

I saw women get tired of being relegated to backstage support roles in the "movement", and come together to strengthen our positions. I thought we had really changed our status. Silly me, it's over 35 years later, and we're still fighting many of the same battles, in another "movement".

Now, I'm the one who is tired, just about out of fight (I'm older than you, which figures into that), and wishing I could sit this one out, and just go smell the flowers and watch the butterflies. But, I'm on automatic pilot, and do as much as I can.

The last thing I feel is CONTROL. It feels like being in the midst of those swirling winds.

What would really help, is if a large group of us could talk together, and *formulate* ways we can "hold Kerry's feet to the fire". But, that seems to make some anxious, and we're keeping quiet, which just gives the anxiety more room to build.

You seem to have enthusiasm, and this time, I think I'll let you be the Keeper Of The Enthusiasm.

Kanary

[Robbien]

5. Go read Josh Marshall's post today

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_08_15.php#003277

It will make you feel a bit better.

[PretzelWarrior]

7. you're right. it did help. it is very encouraging.

I just keep thinking they've got a bunch of truly horrific ideas planned for the late summer/early fall to keep people reeling and to keep Kerry from hitting homers like he did at his Nomination speech.

[Robbien]

9. Kerry may not be the best candidate for the progressive issues, BUT

they are right, Kerry knows how to win.

Watch, it will happen. Just do your part. Each of us should keep doing our part. Kerry will take care of the campaign. He has been hit hard in the last couple of months and he is still ahead and still going strong.

He is going to be a good President.

[Cleita]

6. Hmmm.

eom

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. Look at these pictures and you'll feel better. Trust me!

:)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=627271

[Wheelie_Alex]

11. Kerry has to be forceful, show he has

His convoluted answers and "I'll do it better or different...or something." are not helping. He needs to stop being such a politician. That may play well in Kennedyville, but not on a national scale.

Bush has shown he has them (even if it was a sock in his flight suit).

[Robbien]

12. Kerry is doing just fine.

Bush only has balls when he is talking while being surrounded by a dozen SS. Kerry has been using his in his actions.

[tedzbear]

14. I know what you mean...

Ever since I read Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" I am aware of how much today is just like one hundred years ago in so many ways.

I won't elaborate as I would get flamed immediately.

#1 goal: We vote Cheney out of office. After that, we can start working on Kerry who I am hoping will be a bit more reachable when it comes to the complaints of the lower classes.

It's funny. One minute I have this feeling it's going to be a landslide for Kerry in November. Then the next minute I lose hope in the wisdom of the American voters and feel Bush is going to win the landslide.

[Wheelie_Alex]

15. I see a lot of Kerry's support as...

not being very strong. A lot are fence sitters, their legs are dangling on Kerry's side of the fence but they haven't jumped to the ground on that side. They are the shifts you see in the polls from week to week. "Wow! Kerry has a point! I'm gonna vote for him. Oh wait, Bush just made a good point, that is the way I am going to go."

These folks are taking a wait and see attitude, they just happen to be leaning toward a candidate. Right now, they are leaning toward Kerry. I see these people as the key to the election. The can either break to Kerry's side for good or they can go the other way. Who ever gets to them wins or whoever fucks up loses.

[juajen]

20. Stealing it is possible, but winning it? NEVER

[incapsulated]

16. Gandi quotes might help...

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS."

"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems."

"We must become the change we want to see."

:hi:

[tedzbear]

18. Gandi is right but...

...before the tyrants and murderers fall, countless victims always suffer or die violent deaths.

[MFUSA]

17. We will see in November.

There are many reasons to be concerned however I think more cards are yet to be played.

[0rganism]

19. Don't _overestimate_ the power of the Dark Side, either

Are they relentless? Yes.

But are they effective? Check out the current poll-based electoral map:
http://www.electoral-vote.com
Kerry 327 Bush 211

bush has massively outspent Kerry on advertising, and still he lags.

bush has impugned Kerry's integrity and misrepresented his comments, and still can't pull ahead.

bush casts himself as "The Popular Wartime President", backed up by a chorus of slavish lapdog rightwing presstitutes, yet his incumbent presidency can barely crack 50% approval.

Their very daunting and real information chokehold isn't working, because PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN PAYING ATTENTION TO IT ANYMORE. Most of the nation has written off the press as untrustworthy, and just looks around at how things are going to make their decisions. And it isn't going so well for a lot of us. bush can talk big all he wants, but there are a lot of former supporters who had to take some real shitty jobs since he took over. There are people 10 or more years out of the full-time military wondering if they're going to be called back to serve in fucking Iraq, of all places.

bush is soft and vulnerable. The GOP can't even let him appear in front of un-screened audiences, for fear that he'll fuck it up. John Kerry travels the country like a ROCK STAR, greeted by thousands of energetic supporters at every stop.

The people of this nation, especially the young first-time voters, are not so easily swayed by bush's hollow platitudes. They will vote him out of office. John Kerry will be the next president in 2005.