George McGovern-A True Progressive

[BayCityProgressive]

Check out htis link and read his liberal policies. he was a true maverick who even made enemies in his own party when it was the right thing to do.

Although he voted in favor of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, McGovern later became a strong critic of defense spending, and was an early and vocal opponent of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam, often criticizing the policies of fellow Democrat, President Lyndon Johnson. And he was just as vocal with the Senate's "war hawks", such as when he assailed his colleagues for not supporting an amendment offered by Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield for a complete troop withdrawal from Vietnam: "Every Senator in this chamber is partly responsible for sending 50,000 young Americans to an early grave . . ." he exhorted. "This chamber reeks of blood. . . . t does not take any courage at all for a Congressman or a Senator or a President to wrap himself in the flag and say we are staying in Viet Nam, because it is not our blood that is being shed", and he blamed his colleagues for having contributed to "that human wreckage all across our land -- young men without legs or arms or genitals or faces -- or hopes."<2> And he dismissed a suggestion by powerful Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Stennis, "I'm tired of old men dreaming up wars for young men to fight. If he wants to use American ground troops in Cambodia, let him lead the charge himself."<3>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McGovern#Opposition_to_Vietnam_War

[monmouth]

1. Just saw McGovern on C-SPAN and thought he looked great..... God bless him.

[jwirr]

2. Yes, I love that man.

[UTUSN]

3. "enemies in his own party"? I'm going to take personal exception to this

I have voted for every Democratic nominee regardless of what wing of the party or who my first choice had been in the primaries. Why? Because my Democratic identity recognizes that we have a spectrum of principles and ideals, loosely strung together. Therefore, I voted for BOTH LBJ *and* McGOVERN.

I embrace the most Liberal end of our spectrum. But I know full well that a losing candidate, no matter how noble, will not be worth one CRAP for our total agenda. They disappear like mere flotsam in the stream of history.

I resent the demonization that Purists perform on other members of the same political party and movement.

If every one in the 2nd row had ALSO taken office, our country and world would be an incredibly better place. But if we can't field winning candidates, our agenda doesn't get furthered one whit in an all-or-nothing system.


A "moderate"------or GASP, somewhat "Conservative"----Democrat who ACTUALLY TAKES OFFICE will accomplish more, both in policies, nominations of office holders, and accomplishments than the PUREST IDEALIST who LOST.

I would be somebody who, as a child, watched my elder sister and my mother cry when STEVENSON lost the second time. And when McGOVERN was running, I wrote him a letter saying that I admired him personally and in all political stances, but that the eye-on-the-ball was to BEAT NIXON, and that I was asking him to step aside in favor of ANYBODY who could do that. I wish I had not lost his (or his staff's) reply. It was very polite, said that he appreciated my view but that he believed he understood the issues and that he could win.

They (candidates mesmerized by the public spotlight) don't listen. As DUKAKIS said, when you see FOUR HUNDRED people cheering you at an airport, it is difficult to DISbelieve you are WILDLY POPULAR, but in the grand scheme of things FOUR HUNDRED is nothing.

My image of McGOVERN during the campaign? A reporter said he happed on the candidate at a urinal. McGOVERN was doing the business with his shoulders scrunched and STARING DETERMINEDLY at the ceiling. The reporter didn't add an interpretation. What it meant to me was a dude very uncomfortable with his bodily functions. Uptight. Ultimately out of touch or unable to communicate. Now that I know he had a distinguished military history, it is that much more damning that he couldn't USE it as a tool instead of creating an ANTI-MILITARY image--that is, CONFUSING being against the Vietnam war with being ANTI-MILITARY.

We need PERSONAL SAVVINESS in a candidate. A TV game show host with principles. Fire away.