Yesterday morning Tuesday was primaries kick-off for the November general elections here in my State of Wisconsin. I have lived in Milwaukee for the last -- oh, about 25 years and I admit it is here where I cast my first vote, in any kind of election. This will be the first time I write a thread here at Kos as well. There is a interesting reason that I write today because I walked (don`t own car) to the voting precinct in my area that is about 20 blocks away to cast my vote (Democrat of course). And no, that I do not own a car or that I walked that far is not the interesting reason I mention as using to write today.
At seventy-three years old and a member here at Kos for what seems like an eternity to me, this website has had a profound effect on me with respect to what it means to vote, and what it means to be a democrat at that. But before I type any thing further, let me tell you something and remove this rudeness from myself as it is very unlike me. Like I said, I am an old guy who waited his entire life to cast his first vote in any type of election. I am going to tell you why I did this, even if you disagree with me as to why I waited or neglected my right to vote this long.
I need to take you with me back to the days of my growing up childhood deep in the south in Texas. You know as well as I do that in those days there was no Faux News or its brigade of Glen Becks, Sarah Palins or Rushos, in fact there were none, because television was not even born yet. That is the era where I come from and chose to join this website -- out of fucking fear for the Demcratic party of today.
But you know what dudes and dudettes? Fucking politicians have been here since Judas sold his soul to the devil. In the community were I was growing up as a kid it was a poor neighborhood, where the poorest of the poor would always look down on me. To me and many of my friend (now deceased) one of the attractions that always drew me to the (politicians) was their tents, whether under those tents the politicians were talking primaries or general elections didn`t mean a fuck to us. What was important for me and my friends was to be there. When these large tarp tents went up in some large vacant lot, clear evidence that they were back. Then the usual large colorful VOTE! announcements were tacked on top of fences in the neighborhood without asking for permission from home owners.
I did not even give a fuck about that either. What grabbed my attention and what I looked for in those announcements was written clearly on them, so no one could miss the message:
"FREE BEER AND TAMALES FOR ALL WHO ATTEND THE RALLY!!".
Yes my friends, under those huge brown and tattered tarp tents politicians (fuck if I remember what party) would sell their rotten souls for a free beer and a tamale. I speak of those grown ups who went to those rallies, including me. Although I was not allowed inside the tents, I could easily slide under the tarp and sneak me a few tamales, and yeah, a couple swigs of beer. But what would ensue after all the beer and tamales had been consumed by those who went to hear the bullshit politicians, something always was heard from those same people. It was a saying or rhetoric that stayed with me forever, until today -- well I am trying to get over that for my own good and my party.
Stumbling out of those dark inner tents where the stench of sweat drove many outside, I remember the famous cry....
"NOW WHY THE FUCK DO I WANT TO VOTE!!!!!!! ?--
for anyone, because no matter who wins, I will end up being fucked, again!!!" I sincerely believe that there is real truism to that old poor men`s yell of my day. I continue to believe that even today.
For an old man, could I be wrong? I doubt it. I did not take time to research my claim, but perhaps you have read here at Kos where some have written that both Dems and Reps are the same, and one should chose his own poison at his own peril. I have chosen to vote Democrat for the first time in my life when I voted for Bill Clinton, and only because I had a crush for his wife. Being that he won the Presidency, I felt good that my vote had made a difference. And I have continued to follow my own conscience ever since. So for an old guy who is supposed to be an example for his very own, why do I feel this way?
Like I said, there is an interesting reason why I chose to put up my first thread here at Daily Kos. I hope you found that reason in my writing. I admit that I am a lousy
writer who always gets ahead of myself when trying to put thoughts into words. So if you are an old man like I am, let me know what you think. Perhaps you may inspire me to write again. I just hope my vote count this time around.
P.S. I was rude all along..Please forgive my foul language.