Reply #44: So very true!

[YvonneCa]

This is my first post in the "I believe" thread. I've been reading DU ever since November 2nd. I had so many doubts about the election results, and all of you kept me sane :). Seito, it's really true that you have to sometimes believe until you no longer doubt. Thanks to everyone here for helping me through a very difficult time. Here's something I've posted in other threads that I think applies:


"They hope you will just go away, they are COUNTING on it."

...John Kerry, in email to his supporters.


After voting for Wesley Clark in the primaries, I worked to support John Kerry in this election as I have never supported a candidate before, because after 2000, I knew the only way I could survive a similar result in 2004 was if I personally had done everything I could to prevent it. So I did. I think John Kerry did, too.

After November 2nd, while trying to understand what happened in this Presidential election, I started doing on-line research. Like many of you, I discovered the facts. I completely believe that Kerry won this election, and his actions from the beginning also show he knows it. I decided that my yard sign would stay until January 6th, when I would understand more about what had happened and could make a better decision about how to proceed. I decided my bumper sticker would stay there forever, because I want the world to know I didn't vote for this administration's planned policies (like changes to Social Security, pre-emptive war, etc.) John Kerry, in my opinion, would be an excellent president.

I watched Thursday's Electoral Vote challenge with great interest. On the positive side, I am thrilled that history was made, and that activists helped to promote that. While I was disappointed that Congressional Democrats did not vote for the challenge, I was, and am, so proud that they spoke in support of Election Reform, which should have happened after the 2000 Election. I am especially proud of Senator Barbara Boxer (from my home state of California) for being the senator to sign the challenge. Just the fact that there WAS a signed challenge this time, is a step toward the goal of fixing elections before 2008. On the negative side, we were mocked by Congressional Republicans...by both their words and actions. They don't want election reform, and I could see in their faces that they viewed this challenge as an annoyance and a joke. So the down side, for me, is I finally understand how hard this is going to be. I think John Kerry knew this from the beginning.

In John Kerry's email (way back in November) to his 3,000,000,000 on line supporters he included a videotape with the words, "They hope you will just go away...they are counting on it." When I first listened to his words, they seemed very "out-of-context" to me. I've listened to them several times since, and they fit the context of January, 2005 perfectly. While it was very disappointing to me that he seemed to be looking beyond Election 2004 and telling us (his base)what he wants us to do, after yesterday, I now see that he is right. We Democrats, liberal or moderate, are TOTALLY out of power. We have little say in Congress or in the courts, and no say in the executive branch. The only way we will be able to accomplish anything within this government, especially considering we have a broken election system, is if we do not just go away like the Republicans are counting on us to do. John Kerry said we must "stand firm" and he is right. In his most recent email to supporters (the one where he asked us to call Speaker Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Frist and then LET HIM KNOW WHEN WE HAD DONE SO ) Kerry has begun the fight. If we, his on line supporters, go away, Congressional Democrats will have even less success in this fight. I believe we must stay engaged and support John Kerry and Democrats (who spoke so eloquently Thursday) in their efforts.

I don't know who I'll vote for in 2008. I still think Wesley Clark is great. I like John Edwards' enthusiasm. If Al Gore ran again, I've always thought he would make a great president. Maybe John Kerry, with our support will yet surprise us all (I REALLY hope so!). But I do know I'll never vote for a Republican, and I do know I want my vote counted this time. I think Kerry IS still fighting for us and there IS something to hang on to. So no matter who I decide on for 2008, Kerry has my support until this election reform fight is won!

I BELIEVE!!!!!!!!


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