We should draft RFK Jr. for Pres. in 2008 -- saw him speak last night

[turbo_satan]

I had the pleasure of seeing Bobby Kennedy, Jr. speak last night in Gainesville, FL. I'm still buzzing. I've seen many political speeches in my time, but his speech last night was far and away the best I've ever seen. Those who have only heard him on radio or seen him on television may come away with the impression that he has a "croaky" voice and speaks haltingly; at least that was always my impression. Last night he spoke with fire and passion and conviction, with the words pouring forth like torrents. (I watched the teletypist for the deaf struggle to keep up and fail in several instances). The speech was ostensibly on global warming, and he took the podium before a very large crowd without any notes. Over the course of 90 minutes, he delivered a fact-filled tirade against the GOP corruption of science, the Bush culture of lobbyists staffing government regulatory agencies, the destruction of the public commons, the socialization of risk and the privatization of reward, the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine, the consolidation of the media, the corrosive influence of FOX and Limbaugh, and -- get this -- election theft. He tread where no prominent public figure has dared tread, railing against Diebold, Sequoia, and ESS, preaching the gospel of Steve Friedman and Mark Crispin Miller, talking all about the theft in Ohio, citing statistics, discussing exit polls, and spending a good bit of time on the Ion Sancho / Harry Hursti hacking story.

There were a few skeptics in the mostly friendly crowd, including a few Bushbots who applauded wildly whenever RFK mentioned Fox or Limbaugh. RFK was so powerful, so compassionate, and so persuasive that the destruction of the environment is a serious problem that is apolitical in who it affects that even the Bushbots within eyeshot participated in the standing ovation at the end. (This is not apocryphal -- I watched for it). His arguments in favor of acting NOW to protect the environment were simply so persuasive, from the religious aspects to the free-market aspects to the humanistic aspects, that there was literally no possible argument that could be made in defense of continuing down the destructive path we're currently following. It was a beautiful thing to watch.

RFK Jr. would lay waste to any candidate who crossed his path, from Dems in the primaries, to whichever GOP droid they sent to fight him once he won the nomination. I have no doubt that he could galvanize the people of the USA and unite them to serve a higher calling. I have never before witnessed a speaker with such power and eloquence, with such a mastery of the facts and an encyclopedic knowledge of history and the law and a genuine, practical vision for the future of the USA. There are those who say he's more useful in his current role as environmental advocate; I think RFK Jr. might very well be the person who can pull this country out of the death-spiral and put it back on the path to greatness. I was too young to have witnessed first-hand the previous generation of great Kennedys; now I understand the mystique. This is a man who could and should be President.