[Dialogue] How could this happen

[WTW0BL@aol.com]

Several months ago I proposed an alternative to voting in the up coming 
primaries and that was to focus on the 2008 elections and not worry about what is 
going to happen in this election.  The point was not to discourage people from 
voting but to beging developing a movement (machine) with the purpose of 
restoring justice in a world of innocent suffering.  At that time I could not see 
much point in trying to repair all the damages caused by the actions of the 
present US government.  Before any serious change would occur, the hearts of 10's 
of millions of Americans would have to change and that change due mostly to 
being so ashamed of our individualistic behavior in the world.

We will never bring lasting change by being against anything.  Thus the 
ignorance of the ABB (anybody but Bush) movement has been strongly squashed and 
rightly so.  100's of millions of dollars were wasted only to create a monster 
with lots of "political capital" to spend because God has given mandate to move 
America in the direction it was headed.  When the Democrats failed to 
challenge the election of 2001, they ceased being the party of the people.  The 
disgrace of the primaries was the ridicule and collapse of Howard Dean's popular 
movement.  That conspiracy involved both the DLC and the "media" portraying him 
as a loser.  Kerry was the worst alternative that emerged for lots of reasons 
we all know too well.

But people of integrity who represent the true values of family, honesty, 
compassion can and do get elected.  Sen. Russ Feingold is one of this humans that 
got re-elected despite vicious mudslinging attacks by well financed 
opponents.  His campaign was one of the most inspiring and hopeful that I have ever 
seen.  Even Republicans (at least many in our church men's group) admitted they 
voted for him because of his quality as a senator.  I would encourage you to 
read his speech made in Congress last week.  This is a person I can truly say I 
am proud to have voted for.

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/20680/

I am convinced there is a large majority of Americans who believe in the 
values of love and charity to one another no matter what form or demographics they 
show up in.  These are the people who voted both for and against the present 
regime; who are waiting for a credible, honest, concerned world citizen with 
values that Jesus demonstrated (I avoid the use of the word "Christian" because 
it currently is in ruin by the radical right wing fundamentalists and is not 
inclusive of non-Christians).

By the way, I do vote Republican when the person truly represents a healthy 
America.  And they are out there -- believe me.

Jim Baumbach