This is my first ever diary on DailyKos, although I have been a regular reader for several years. Here's how I became a Kossack, and why I'm breaking ranks with the General.
I woke up one Sunday morning in 2003, turned on Meet The Press, and heard a brilliant, eloquent General speak about the war. My first thought: "This guy ought to be President." My second thought: "Who is this guy?" I did some research, read Clark's Seton Hall commencement address, and that was IT. After years of lackluster enthusiasm for politics and politicians, I became a committed Clarkie. I discovered blogs (Daily Kos, TPM, and Greenwald). I wrote letters pleading with Clark to enter the 2004 race. Once he did, I spent endless hours writing letters and emails, making calls to voters, and working hard to help his campaign. I never lost enthusiasm for Clark as a potential president, but I was deeply disappointed in his 2004 campaign, which was beset with rookie mistakes.
After 2004, I continued to follow Clark's evolution as a Democratic statesman, and as an eloquent voice speaking against the war with Iraq and the sabre rattling towards Iran. As the 2008 candidate campaigns started (earlier than anyone would have thought possible), I took a look at the declared candidates, but saw no one who inspired me the way Clark had. So I waited, hoping he would throw his hat into the ring. Meanwhile, I tried to keep an open mind towards the other (declared) candidates, but I never wavered in who was my first choice.
When it seemed that Clark would not enter, that he had waited too long or lacked the fire needed for another run, I decided to give each declared candidate a look, to see if I could enthusiastically support anyone in the field. (I knew I could support any Democratic nominee, but I was looking for inspiration and enthusiasm, not just ho-hum support.)
Just as I started going through this exercise, Clark shocked me by endorsing Senator Clinton. At first, I was really disappointed. Obviously, if he endorsed Clinton, he himself would not run. Not only was I disappointed that he had chosen not to run, I was also disappointed that he would choose to endorse anyone so early. But then, as I thought about it, I felt that -- for Clark and for Clinton -- it was an inspired endorsement. I thought -- "Wow -- he must have some kind of understanding with her regarding the V.P. Clark's military creds are exactly what Hillary needs to bolster a major area in which she is vulnerable -- the military "commander in chief" role. With Clark at her shoulder, who would question her military savvy or diplomatic vision? And Clark would not take a back seat to Bill in foreign policy or domestic security. Clinton/Clark would be a really strong ticket for the Democrats!"
So, because Clark had endorsed Hillary, I decided to really examine how I felt about Hillary and whether I could follow Clark in supporting her in the primaries.
I have mixed feelings about Hillary. Like her, I am a woman, a (former) lawyer, a mother and a wife. I remember crying with joy when Geraldine Ferraro was picked as Mondale's V.P -- and feeling angry at the stupidity of the arguments that were used to defeat the Equal Rights Amendment just a few states away from ratification. I don't know that I ever really believed I would see a woman president in my lifetime, but I hoped my daughter would. I have always been amused at the visceral reaction Hillary engenders in many. I think Hillary is smart, tough, competent, and savvy. I think she would be a decent president, and -- at least until the past few weeks -- she has run a textbook campaign. So I would love to be inspired to vote for our first woman president. I can understand why Clark has endorsed her, and I would happily vote for a Clinton/Clark ticket in the general election.
But I am breaking ranks with the General. I will not support Hillary in the primaries.
At this moment in history, our country needs inspired leadership. Competence alone is not enough. Being on the "right" side of the issues is not enough. Experience alone is not enough. Being a woman is not enough. Being tough and savvy is not enough.
We need inspiration. We need fearless leadership. We need a candidate who posits a vision that can inspire new generations, facing a challenging world.
Before I can support any candidate, I want to know: What vision of America does that candidate most manifest? Unlike his father, who lacked "that vision thing," George W. Bush's vision of America is clear --and devastating. G.W.B. envisions an America beset by enemies and dependent for security on military dominance and fear . After 9-11, belief in that vision (by both Democrats and Republicans) led us into a disastrous war, a dismantling of our civil rights and liberties, and a reallocation of wealth away from the middle class and towards a corporate oligarchy -- all in the name of "America the Strong".
Who will give us "America the Beautiful" again? Which of our candidates speaks to that which is best in us, that which is most democratic and most free? Which candidate will have the most courage in tackling the very real issues that burden real people facing difficult life choices? We shouldn't accept cynicism and apathy towards a government that is corrupt and a system that is broken. My support in the primaries will go to the candidate that most inspires me to trust that the vision they have of America is one that will make us beautiful again. A passion for the environment. A passion for civil rights and liberties. A passion for justice. And the ability to inspire others to follow -- to make "America the Beautiful" a reality.
I will not support Hillary in the primaries -- despite her competence, her toughness, or her experience -- because she has failed miserably at defining what vision SHE holds for America other than the vision of an America with its first woman president. I know her positions. I support many of them, but they seem taken from an old playbook. Just as it is said of the military that they are always preparing for the last war rather than the next, Hillary seems to be a candidate who may have suited us in the past, but who does not serve us in 2008.
We cannot and should not go back to an old playbook -- regardless of whether it worked well in the 1990s. We need someone who hasn't decided that the way to survive the system is to become its best player. We need someone who knows the system, knows how to play it, but who has learned that playing within a broken system will not fix America's problems.
So, Kossacks. here's my challenge. I am still undecided, although I am more open to some candidates than others. I want to hear from you about which Democratic candidate inspires you, and why. I don't want links to positions or polls (I can read those myself). I don't want to hear about who is most "electable" or who polls best against the Republican candidates. I want to know who inspires you, and why. (I'm even open to hearing from Hillary supporters as to why she inspires them.) I'll be listening to the candidates tonight in the debate, and reading your comments. At some point in the next few weeks, I hope to make a decision as to who I will vote for in the primaries. Thanks for reading my first diary.