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Election 2008: The Crucible

Submitted by captsfufp on Mon, 06/09/2008 - 5:28pm

The elections this year haven't even come close to REALLY starting yet, but I think this campaign year of 2008 has made a difference, and its effects will ripple into the immediate future.

Maybe I'm just being melodramatic, but I think this year serves as a crucible for the future of the Democratic Party. I think there are candidates who lost in the primary who are just beginning to make their influence felt, and who will use their experience to run for other posts and seek out other leadership positions in our party and state. Their names are only just beginning to be known, and their ideas are just beginning to be heard.

For volunteers and campaign staff, I think this year has been, for some, the best of times, and for others, the worst of times. And I think that has affected the course of their future dealings. For some, they will reevaluate the candidates they tend to support and the policy/political stances they take, and their future efforts will reveal this. For some, they will learn from what has happened, and when they make their own future runs for political office, the scars and the victories of 2008 will be a part of their background, embedded deep.

This reminds me of the vets of the 21st century (Iraq and Afghanistan) and their political awakening. Although we've already seen some small examples, I think the next 25 years will be filled with candidates and elected officials who are veterans of our current, ongoing wars. Those combat experiences were a crucible for them and their lives...a time when they went from being a regular Jane or Joe to a time when their eyes opened to the consequences of the actions of our elected officials and made them realize what must be done to protect and defend others. They are now just beginning to get involved in campaigns, public service, and envisioning future runs for office.

2008. A year to be remembered. Not quite as powerful as 1968, but still, with some comparisons to be made in how it will affect our political future on the local, state, and, yes, even national level for years to come.

Again, maybe I've just being melodramatic, but I know, b/c of this year, I'll never be the same again. And it's caused me much political and personal self-reflection. And that's healthy for any party...and any individual.

The future will be interesting...

Comments

That's how I felt today meeting

Submitted by James on Mon, 06/09/2008 - 5:44pm.

the Governors of Arizona and Kansas. This is a seriously deep bench we have and you're right about one thing:

And it's caused me much political and personal self-reflection. And that's healthy for any party...and any individual.

For me, it's been more personal, if you can believe that.

I've spent a lot of time with my 92 year old father-in-law recently. Looking at the world through his eyes has been an amazing gift. He's a staunch Libertarian who has jumped squarely on the Obama bandwagon because he sees our nation as psychologically and morally damaged. He has a whole list of candidates, from Obama all the way down to local sheriffs in his home state, where he's focused on supporting people of the highest integrity, honor, and decency.

Forgot to add ... frontpaged

Submitted by James on Mon, 06/09/2008 - 5:44pm.

Some good thoughts here.

We don't know yet if 2008 will have the political impact of 1968

Submitted by Linda on Mon, 06/09/2008 - 6:28pm.

We've not yet been through the conventions or general elections, and we don't have the perspective of 40 years looking back.

I think in many ways 2008 may have even more impact. In 1968, if I remember (I was 8, so I might not remember everything!) there wasn't much technology available to individuals like you and me. Our news came from the paper, the radio, and increasingly, from the teevee. This here interweb thing changes it all. Now we're not just watching history, we're making it. I'm not talking about this blog site (though it's pretty cool!) I'm talking more about those of us who are on social networking sites set up by candidates and/or the Democratic party. What a phenomenal tool!

Like I said, we won't know until 40 years down the road if this year and this cycle has the same impact as 1968. We'll see.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

Yeah...

Submitted by captsfufp on Mon, 06/09/2008 - 11:30pm.

I mean, I don't mean to imply the, for lack of a better word, "negativity" of 1968 to this year...but I think it's safe to say from that era of "pain" (the many deaths that year, both of individuals and in the war) we got many of today's (and recent yesterday's) political leaders, both elected and in the party.

Maybe I'm just taking my personal experiences and projecting it on everyone, but this political year is staying with me. And I think others too. I really feel, years from now, I'll say, "You know, it wasn't until 2008 that I really seemed to realize X and began looking at things Y." I've really opened my eyes to news things about my approach to politics and where I'm really coming from...

I think a lot of people are feeling that same thing.

Submitted by Linda on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 6:27am.

I've been involved in politics - Democratic politics - since I was 8 years old. If I weren't involved, I'd feel as if I were missing a limb. But this year feels different. It reminds me of when I was hiking with a bunch of friends near Niagara Falls. We couldn't see the Falls, but the ground actually trembles with the promise of what you will see just around the next bend, or the next.

That's how I feel about this year.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors