A few regulars have been missing here the last few days

[PatSeg]

If we don't hear from them soon, we should try PM'ing them individually. I hate to think of anyone going through this alone.

[gateley]

1. Agree.

[KingOfLostSouls]

2. I'm here

I've been wrestling with who I want to support and focusing my thoughts on the congressional elections now that joe is out. its annoying, because watching those debates just going off my reactions, how much joe must be like having a fit. I felt like napoleon dynamite, "IDIOTS!!!!"

[PatSeg]

3. Ya made me laugh!

Not an easy thing to do lately!!!

I just noticed that some of our regular and often vocal supporters have been absent. I can understand being "speechless", as it has been a great effort to post lately for me, but hopefully they are reading some of the threads.

[gateley]

4. Don't pressure yourself - it'll come naturally, and just go with your gut when

the time is right.

I KNOW you'll make the right decision -- your choice of Joe is evidence of that! :hug:

[KingOfLostSouls]

5. its frustrating

I wanted al gore to run originally. he's my dream candidate. kinda like the mariners getting ken griffey jr for designated hitter. you want your guy to take the spot and finish out there like he should have. gore didn't run.

so I was like, ok. whos got the brains to actually win this thing? who has a grasp of policy and understanding? I didn't like edwards ever since he let cheney run all over him in 2004. I won't even go into hilary. barack, ehh...too inexperienced, and his goddamn stuttering problem. all of them kinda had this "not ready for prime time" thing going on. Dodd just seems to gruff, and I originally wanted bill richardson but he just seems too wishy washy. he's got the resume but he doesn't seem able to pull out some "oomph" when need be. he doesn't excite people. its like going to a job interview and being like, "heres my resume, hire me" without ever giving the person a reason to want you.


like, ok well Al is out. the MVP who could win it all and clear the field is gone, who else has experience, intelligence, a grasp of the facts, and isn't afraid to speak without a script. and I had my doubts about biden but the more I heard him talk, the more I checked out his policy, especially the federalism plan for iraq, it was like, heres the guy.

its just really annoying as hell because none of the 4 left, and I won't even get into kucinich and gravel because dennis is ready to pull a nader on the party if he doesn't get his way, which is really irksome. gravel is just crazy but he's at least entertaining. dennis is ready to be the manchurian candidate if no one notices the small man throwing a temper tantrum and stomping his feet.

anyways, its just really annoying its like, the one guy who COULD be a good president, isn't going to be there. so now I've lost my number one, al gore, and my second, joe biden.

if biden agreed to be VP for someone, I'd probably support them because I know we'd have a solid vice president who wouldn't let things get out of hand. but until then, its really annoying watching kiddie cars when we've already seen the F1 champion retire.

[1corona4u]

6. LOL...

I think you and I were separated at birth. ;-)

[gateley]

8. OT -- is there a chance the M's might get Junior for DH? nt

[KingOfLostSouls]

9. No

its just the dream of every single one of us mariner fans every season.

Gore is going to be to politics what Griffey is to the mariners, as was my analogy. every season, the mariners fans, we all sit back and dream of getting griffey as our DH to let him finish his season here. its like a whistful dream. and it never comes true, but we keep hoping as the years have gone by.


so gore is kinda that sense, he may genuinely be done with politics. he may just be so disgusted by the process, he'll give us a little tease now and then but he'll never come back to us and lead us like he should. probably the same with howard dean, once he's done as DNC chairman, he may just well retire and say, "A PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES!!!"

which was why I got so eager about joe, he's a real exciting and charismatic guy, someone who has both the intelligence and wit to really step up and lead. its just really sad now.

none of the other candidates are ready for prime time. I'll support the nominee but none of them really get me excited to do so.

[gateley]

16. I understand your analogy. I was never that aware of Gore, so didn't carry

the torch many of you do.

And I certainly agree with your feelings about Joe. I can't get excited about any of the others because they all fall short in comparison.

[PatSeg]

23. You know its funny

I often was curious about people who were holding out for Clark or Gore and really didn't understand it until now. Hmmm, interesting..........

[gateley]

27. You're RIGHT -- NOW I understand the commitment! Great observation! nt

[PatSeg]

30. Sometimes you have to walk in another's shoes

to really get it!

[Jennifer C]

33. "watching kiddie cars when we've already seen the F1 champion retire"

You have summed it up perfectly.

I feel Biden was the only real adult in the race. The debates to me feel so meaningless and elementary now since he's not there to inform the candidates and viewers the truth and what's right, and for them to agree. Myself as simply a viewer and supporter, I have learnt so much through Biden.

I love how Biden is able to connect the dots when it comes to issues and policy, which other candidates have shown they're completely unable to do unless they have Biden's guidance.

In November I was listening to a House subcommittee hearing on regional and global consequences of US military action in Iran, and there was a General giving testimony and one of his main points was that today in Washington not many people are able to connect the dots and understand the impact and consequences of their actions, and it's so fundamentally vital there are people leading the country who have this ability. I immediately thought of Biden.

Sigh. I don't understand why the US doesn't want the best person for the job.

[PatSeg]

34. Sadly it is what the media wants, not what we want

Thank god for the Internet.

[1corona4u]

7. Let's see....

Froward has been awol for a day or two, but he has other stuff going on.....I talked to Frustrated lady today.....NI4NI is missing, talked to him caucus night.....haven't seen CrispyQGirl yet...I know I'm leaving some out.....can't think of everyone right now...

[PatSeg]

10. I went through my PM's to refresh my memory

We're also missing Ginchinchili and Kad777. Mrigirl and BenV have posted.

What about Think82? Have we seen him/her abouts?

[demommom]

12. Not hearing from Kad777 is worrisome for me.

I have his personal e-mail at work, I think I will e-mail him tomorrow if we don/t hear from him before.

[PatSeg]

14. I got an email from him a couple days ago

and he said he add me to his list. I haven't seen anything from him since.

[jillan]

17. I have seen Think82 - s/he is supporting Obama or Edwards.

One of those 2 'change candidates'.

[PatSeg]

11. Maybe we could do a roll call and see how many are

hanging around, but just not too vocal right now.

[demommom]

13. Good idea!!

[NI4NI]

32. I'm still here

As a former Steelworker who voluntered for seven weeks for Joe's second Senate campaign, and as a Delawarean who has voted for Joe ever since, and watched him win, I was still shell shocked as of Saturday night, and I had nothing good to say; I still don't, and likely never will.
But it all turned to ANGER at the fact that the very first issue in the very first debate without Joe was about PAKISTAN.

I will still cast my vote for JOE BIDEN in the Delaware primary, PROUDLY!
And as for the General Election, next November, I will still vote for the Democratic nominee but without any enthusiasm for or little confidence in, only because I believe Joe will be voting for them too.

[PatSeg]

38. There you are!

I know exactly you feel. I would just sit at the computer with my hands on the keys, but my fingers wouldn't move. I couldn't put together a coherent sentence.

It is starting to lift today somewhat and my mind is starting to function again.

[monmouth]

15. I'm hanging out in the lounge, drinks are free and they are hilarious!!

[jillan]

18. I have never been a lounge lizard.

Now that I'm not on a mission to post anything and everything about Joe, maybe I will stop by.

[justinrr1]

19. Im here

but am usually not that vocal so I dont think anyone is wondering where I am. LOL!

[PatSeg]

21. I'm sorry

I was trying to remember people and realized there were so many! Then I had company come by while I was trying to search for names. Glad you're still around, don't want anyone left behind.

[jillan]

37. No Bidenite left behind :)

[NCarolinawoman]

20. I just arrived here.

I was over at GDP trying to explain to an Obama supporter why Obama was no JFK. Obama supporter was claiming that Obama had more experience than JFK.

Let's see....JFK: Decorated war hero, 3 terms in Congress, and he was actually RE-ELECTED to a second term in the Senate. Oh well....

[gateley]

22. These people don't understand what "experience" means!

[politicasista]

24. They also don't understand what "fighter" means

except for name-calling, yelling, screaming, and red-faced/red-meat rants.



I hang out in the Kerry forum, but I lurk here. It's a shame Biden had to drop out because he would have added some substance to the debates. :hi:

[gateley]

26. Ha! I know what you mean about the "fighter" -- I saw that.

Hang out here more often - you're always welcome! :hi:

[politicasista]

35. Thanks n/t

[PatSeg]

40. I second that

Your input is more than welcome here.

[1corona4u]

25. Yeah, they think he walks on water...

I think he reminds me of MLK, not JFK. Funny how they never say that....'I have a dream", vs, Hope.....

[PatSeg]

28. I think at heart, Obama is a solid, decent guy

but all this attention and hero worship could affect him, and he might start to believe the myth. That would be a shame, as a certain amount of humility is important for someone who wants to reside in the White House. Something the present occupant is sorely lacking.

[1corona4u]

29. I just don't think he's qualified....

and what bothers me even more than that is, I don't think he has EARNED the job. That pisses me off more than anything. I feel like you should have given more time to this country before you are able to get the highest job in the land.

Bush hadn't earned the job either in my mind.

[PatSeg]

31. I agree

I believe if you want the highest office in the land, you have to pay your dues, especially now when there is "no margin for error". Potential and rhetoric isn't enough, but it appears only a handful of people understand that.

[jillan]

36. I think he is a very skilled politician.

Probably one of the best we have seen.

He's got it all figured out. Look at what he is doing.
He is going to win the nomination, mark my words. He started a whole movement in this country by giving pep rallies instead of political speeches. He talks about hope and change, and fumbles his way through the issues that Americans care about.
He took down the Clinton machine. He got out the vote at the caucuses. While serious politicians like Biden were talking about how to get out of Iraq, he was asking his crowds if they were fired up. And he is the only candidate that has already opened up an office here in Phoenix. He did that about 6 months ago! Right at Arizona State University.

He was here in Oct 2006 to campaign for a dem that was running for Congress. I went to see him. There were hundreds of people there.
I remember at one point of his speech (his speech sucked btw) he looked around at the crowd, looked behind him to see how many people were there, and then broke out into a big smile.

Joe would always say how he thought more about what he would do as President than he thought about how to get there.
I think Obama has it all figured out how to get there. And I hope and pray he will know what to do when he wins.

[PatSeg]

39. A politician's politician?

It seems so and I think someone(s) sold him on the idea quite a while back. He was being prepped for this by members of the party. I probably watch too many political movies, but I tend to see the back stories when I look at the candidates and their handlers.

[1corona4u]

41. I wouldn't call him 'skilled'...

I'd call him 'crafty'.

[PatSeg]

42. Or "skillfully handled"?

[jillan]

43. Definitely a much better word to describe him.

I feel like this is a game to him.

I hope he is sincere.

[PatSeg]

44. I think they get so wrapped up in the non-stop politics

that they lose their perspective. It looks absolutely exhausting. I think Biden stayed grounded though, as he's been down that path before.

[livvy]

45. Still here.

I've limited my visits to DU in general. I just didn't have the interest, but when I have stopped in, I've been reading here, lurking in the Photography group, and the Election Reform forum.
I've got to get my steam back up, but the revival of Dough4Joe has helped immensely.

:grouphug: to you all!