December 11, 2005

• Many of us "kids" do know about stuff that happened before we were born. My dad went "clean for Gene" in '68. We could so use a new McCarthy clone, but I don't know whether the Democrats have the basic where-with-all to nominate anyone so willing to stand up for liberal principals. We had one, his name was Howard Dean, and they didn't.
• drjimmy - I understand about Dean, but he didn't capture imagination to the degree that McCarthy did, IMO. Maybe because there really isn't a real Democrat party anymore. Things being as they are, I'm not sure that even an FDR or a JFK equivalent could bring the liberals and moderates together the way those did in the past. Maybe McCarthy was right in his later years, and we do need a 3rd party, but the one seeming contender which has surfaced, The Green Party, is too specialized to cover all issues. And, I don't think Green issues will get much attention since there are so many problems that are biting us now that don't fit their agenda. There doesn't seem to be a central core that would charge me and others up to really fight for any particular candidate's victory.
• Maybe because there really isn't a real Democrat party anymore. Bingo. IMO, the real problem is the (we) goddamn hippie liberals can't unite, and we don't have a powerful leader to follow. The conservatives hate each other, but they are smart enough to realize that if they all band together, then they can spend their time fighting amongst themselves rather than with a real enemy. /not very well thought-out rant
• Oh, and: "Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people...it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." -John Stuart Mill
• End of an era, Path. End of an era.
• My mom was a local McCarthy '68 organizer (we had these plastered all over our suburban station wagon). I can remember very well how excited and inspired she was by McCarthy - and how crest-fallen and embittered she was by subsequent events of '68. I don't think there has been anyone on a national (American) level since who has so clearly stood for "doing the right thing" and done it with such panache. We could really use another Gene McCarthy these days but I wonder if we (and our press) have become so jaded and cynical that we could permit ourselves to be inspired by someone like him (as evidenced in some way by what happened to Dean).
• Hey i know about dreams: in Australia we USED to have an opposition ( ie aomeone else to vote for)
• Weezel the difference is that the conservatives all have the money to do it and so many years of conservatism all around the world have defeated the purpose of ' a common world' as opposed to the goals of 'we' as the human race i guess - somebody shoot me now please!!!!!!!
• We could so use a new McCarthy clone, but I don't know whether the Democrats have the basic where-with-all to nominate anyone so willing to stand up for liberal principals. Dunno about clone, but Minnesota gave us the promise of another shit-stirrer in Congress, Paul Wellstone. Feingold in Wisconsin is another who often "speaks truth to power."
• In 1980 he endorsed Republican Ronald Reagan with the argument that anyone was better than incumbent Jimmy Carter, a Democrat. Shouldn't this should automatically disqualify him as a reputable leader?
• Might make him a bad follower, instead.
• .
• Thank you Mr. McCarthy for what you did. Now, can you do something on the other-side to stir up the mix over here?
• I understand about Dean, but he didn't capture imagination to the degree that McCarthy did, IMO. according to deaniacs, he did. and the deaniacs who were around for mccarthy were all, "gee, this is so much like the clean gene days." Maybe because there really isn't a real Democrat party anymore. there isn't if you don't build it, which was dean's message. spend their time fighting amongst themselves rather than with a real enemy. bingo. that's the whole thing with this "there isn't a real Democratic party anymore" line. that in itself is fighting amongst ourselves rather than the real enemy. I wonder if we (and our press) have become so jaded and cynical that we could permit ourselves to be inspired more of the same. quite waiting for your prince. under dean's leadership, the dnc has pumped millions of dollars like never before into state parties for the purpose of precinct organizing. organize your precint today. the problem isn't mccarthy or dean, or even democrats who act lame or like republicans. the problem is us. we keep waiting on it to rain down from above.
• Welcome aboard 3.2.3! I agree with much of what you say, and this is my fourth time to try to say that and other things, but my wireless access tends to be pilfered by my neighbors. Who are probably Replicans ;) Anyway, IMO, organizing local liberals doesn't do much good without a true, national leadership. In my corner of the world, local factions trump national concerns at this point. That might change (I hope) if the liberals had some effective goals and leaders.
• Sad to say I had him confused with Joe McCarthy at first. Shows how much I know, I guess. I'll be reading Mark Kurlansky's "1968" soon, so hopefully I'll get me some learnin'. Between McCarthy's failed election, RFK, and Dr. King it was one hell of a year.
• I'm a tidge too young to know anything about him except that he really, really tried. And that he was one of the good guys, if any politician at the time (or ever) could be good.
• The Maple Tree The maple tree that night Without a wind or rain Let go its leaves Because its time had come. Brown veined, spotted, Like old hands, fluttering in blessing, They fell upon my head And shoulders, and then Down to the quiet at my feet. I stood, and stood Until the time was bare And here told no one But you that I was there. -- Eugene McCarthy
• I like it. Thank you Sir bees for posting that. And I'm to understand that Nixon won that election? Ugh.