I spoke with a Communist today...

[Cuban_Liberal]

Yes, we actually have at least one here in very-Republican central Illinois! He's 70, extremely well-read (self-educated), a retired dry-cleaning plant employee and a Korean War veteran. Any way...

Mike knows that I'm a yellow-dog Democrat and when he saw me out in the yard, he stopped by and clearly wanted to talk about the general election, among other things, like Iraq. To make a long story short, Mike said that he had never before voted for anyone from a 'major party' for President, but that he intends to vote for John Kerry this November. He said, "Although it goes against everything I have ever believed to vote for John Kerry, I believe that this coming GE will determine whether or not this republic remains a republic, and I cannot in good conscience NOT vote for John Kerry. George Bush and his evil cabal have proceeded to willy-nilly trample upon the Bill of Rights and embroil us in hopeless foreign wars. I cannot and will not be a party to a continuation of this process by not voting for the only viable alternative to George Bush."

I was amazed! Perhaps we have allies we don't know we have, eh?

[Warpy]

1. Maybe this time

However, if the DNC wants our votes again in 2008, even if the RNC goes according to plan and runs Jebbie, they will have to work for them. Business as usual, the type we had under Clinton where the unfair tax code went unchallenged and the burden of government was shifted more and more onto the backs of labor experienceing stagnant or declining wages, will simply not do. Nor will allowing CEOs to grab whatever paper savings they produce by shipping jobs overseas and using the US as their primary market (at the original price, of course).

Unless these things are addressed, the DNC can kiss the votes of most progressives, socialists, communists, and whatever goodbye forever.

[Political_Junkie]

3. well said, Warpy

n/t

[Redneck Socialist]

16. Very true

I'm struggling with this myself. I'm afraid that this fall may be the last time I can in good conscience vote Dem.

[porkrind]

18. Compromise

I think we should always fight to get the liberal message out and educate the public about right-wing scams. I think we should also promote liberal candidates and policies. When it comes down to an election though, there are two options:

1) In a close two-candidate race, we need to pick the best one, or failing that, the lesser of two evils. Ideals have to take a back seat to practical tactics. If not you wind up with a terrible candidate instead of a marginal one. I think this is where we are now with Kerry vs. *. Kerry's not perfect in my book, since I am pretty far left of him, but it's much better than 4 more years of *. We can argue later, and we can even be a thorn in his side when he is elected, but until then, we need a united front to beat the right-wing fascists.

2) In a not-so-close race, where your vote won't be absolutely necessary to helping turn the race, voting for your ideal candidate helps to send a message of what you, the public, really wants. In these races, significant votes for third-party candidates show incumbents what they need to do to keep the public happy.

We need to be idealists, but we also need to vote strategically if we want to eventually win.

[Cuban_Liberal]

20. I think that's where Mike is coming from.

He's not a John Kerry fan, by any means, but he sees him as a far better person than *.

[JohnKleeb]

2. wow

I am a yellow dog dem too just like my grandaddy who was in Korea, however I think I have your friend's political beliefs mostly. Interesting, good for him.

[murielm99]

4. I live in northern Illinois. I received my very first puppy from a

communist. I was 6 years old, and the puppy was a cocker spaniel named Sandy.

Mr. Thompson and his wife took care of me when my mother went to the hospital to have a baby, too.

Mr. Thompson was a retired railroader, and an old union organizer. My dad was a railroader then, and he said the communists made the best organizers.

Once, Mr. Thompson gave my dad a whole bunch of communist literature.
He filled the car trunk with it!

But, it was the McCarthy era, and my dad was frightened. He took it out of the trunk and burned it, in the dead of the night.

Dad remained a Democrat.

[Cuban_Liberal]

11. Mike's a really good guy.

He's a true 'gentleman' in that he is a 'gentle man'. He's soft-spoken, normally, except when it comes to politics. I wish I could convey the absolute intensity of his words this afternoon...

[Misinformed01]

5. I married one

No, wait...he's a Socialist!

They aren't all that bad!

[JohnKleeb]

9. I have had crushes on them

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Good for him and good for central Illinois!

I was raised there, and my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were born there. As I recall, unions were big there. Your Communist neighbor is right on.

Is this Champaign-Urbana, Lincoln, Springfield, Decatur, or Bloomington-Normal?

[Cuban_Liberal]

10. Near Champaign.

Douglas County.

[Capn Sunshine]

7. THIS is how much the Bush cabal scares people

when the commies are ready to vote for a fractionally better candidate, you KNOW there's something to it.

I'm no commie, but I agree with him completely.

[boobooday]

8. Well, he's right

I hope many are thinking likewise!!!

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[sspiderjohn]

12. You might be surprised to learn that . . .

My wife and I are card-carrying democratic commies, and most of the other party members we've met (few, to be sure) endorse the Dem candidate in national elections.

Philosophically looking toward our ideal distant future, which we would define as democratic rule by-the-people in a socialist/communist economic system -- we have to ask ourselves what steps we can realistically work toward in OUR generation: (1) true democracy, rule by-the-people, (2) a strong social safety net, (3) increasing socialization vs. privatization of the nation's resources.

You don't have to be a capitalist to be democratic.

[citizen snips]

13. You spoke with a communist.

I am glad he is voting for Kerry but communist are not our allies.

[BigDaddyLove]

14. I've often wondered what good it does being a..........

Communist in this country.

It would make sense in a country in which Communists actually have a shot at any semblance of power, but here, in America it just seems a little ridiculous; kind of like pretending that you're a cartoon character.

But I'm glad your friend intends to vote for Kerry.

[Cuban_Liberal]

15. HILARIOUS picture in your sig line!

Is that a lime on that kitten's head?

[sspiderjohn]

17. Cartoon character? LOL -- but the little Lenin hats look spiffy.

I should know -- I wear one. Your point is well taken; I sometimes do feel like a cartoon character. In our area, it's really more of a political/ideological discussion group than a political party.

[Cuban_Liberal]

19. Mike is a big LTTE writer.

He writes well, and I always enjoy reading the wingnut replies to his letters.