Reply #83: Right.

[H2O Man]

I'm a democrat, and I'm always going to be a democrat. but I think that democrats at the grass roots need to re-think some of the political "truths" we've been handed down for generations.

I tend to think on a grass roots level. And here in rural upstate New York, one of the people I have enjoyed working with is not a democrat. He's a socialist. I've known and worked with him since he was with Legal Aid, decades ago. I have far more in common with him, than I do with some of the local party leaders, many of the state party leaders, and most of the national party leaders. And I have numerous friends in the Green Party, who I have a lot in common with, as well. And I have lots of friends who are independent.

They aren't able to vote in democratic primaries, but we can still coordinate efforts on campaigns on the local and regional level. And that gets people's attention. It makes people re-think old ideas, and think about some new ones, as well.

I am convinced that the chances of inspired leadership from the "leaders" in Washington is -- at very best -- a bit less than zero. I don't think that many have the ability, even if they had the desire. The change can only come from grass roots people organizing and putting pressure on the weakest links such as Lieberman.