Help (I Hope) Is on the Way
John Kerry's blog says 15,000 were at Union Station in St. Louis for the start of his Whistle Stop ride across Missouri. I was one of them, though I never got inside the station but had to stand behind some railing. All in all it was a good rally. I especially liked Kerry's statement that "health care is a right." If he sticks to that position he just might get my vote. If not, I'll vote for Nader again.
Kerry talked a lot about plans. But that's rhetoric. I'd like to know the details of the plans. Saying I have a plan just isn't enough. Anyone can say I have a plan. He doesn't go into detail about his plan for health care, but to say health care is a right is to say come hell or high water everyone will get the care that's needed.
The rally had a big brother aspect to it. Volunteers were constantly telling you you had to complete a sign-up sheet that had spaces for your name, your address, your phone number, and your email. One volunteer said you had to sign for security reasons. I signed Jorge Shrub but refused to give the Casa Blanca as my address. Another volunteer said the rally was getting names for its data base. Sounds like a list to me.
The line snaked by Hard Rock (do you really believe Hard Rock is out to save the planet?) with a table set up with $3 dollar hot dogs and hamburgers. Those little packets of mustard and ketchup included. I stopped afterwards at QT for a 99 cents hot dog, complete with chili, onions, cheese, and jalepenos.
I've managed to miss every candidate, though I live here in D.C., or near it. I'll take that back. Last year, commuting between Cleveland and Washington, I shared several flights with Dennis Kucinich. He's the friendliest guy I've ever met in politics, and the most humble.
Like you, I voted Nader in 2000. My motivation? The Dems and Pubs seemed like tweedledee and tweedledum (or as some say, tweedledum and dummer). But I don't see how anyone can make that case in 2004, not after four years of Missouri's finest, John Ashcroft, or that monster Dick Cheney, or that overachiever Paul Wolfowitz, or that puppet Colin Powell. NOT TO MENTION LAURA BUSH, THE POETESS OF THE RIGHT WING!!!
I still "buy" Ralph's argument about the party duopoly. Not to mention his position on corporate/global big brotherism. And if I didn't think the Pubs were using him to draw votes from the Democrats (not just Kerry), and doing so with his full knowledge, I'd vote for him again.
Besides, the real issue isn't the presidency, it's the House and the Supreme Court. That's where all the troubles are for anybody who believes in freedom and liberty as defined by the Constitution. This country needs to throw out Delay and his kind next fall, or as soon thereafter as possible.
There. That's my politics for the season.