I appreciate the efforts of Marye at Dead.net to make a little room here for politics. As I was saying earlier, to me the Grateful Dead culture that I have loved being a part of for many years has historically been interested in politics and the environment. The music and the Family is my passion; but being politically active is protection of my freedom of expression. Freedom ain't free. I love to be carefree but folks we have to always keep one eye on The Man!

I hear alot of negativity from Heads that choose to be complacent politically because "all politicians are crooked and nothings going to change anyway". But I feel complacency has made the world a worse place because we allowed the Bush Administration to slide into power. As Deadheads we were given a gift to make the world a better place. We spread joy.
None of the candidates for president this year are perfect; but we must pick the lesser of two evils. Nobody showed up to vote in 2004 and the world is a much sadder place because of that. Turn on your love light this year and just vote for who you feel is best.

Right now I feel Barack Obama is our best choice to make the world a better place. I often think about how I can help make the world a better place. I'm not pretending to know all the answers but I'm just doing my best. Last year I started an internet group "Deadheads for Obama" located at: DeadheadsForObama@groups.barackobama.com

I'm trying to show Barack that the Dead Community is interested in peace, logic, and compassion like he is. Who knows, our support might earn us a wink and nod in the future! Thanks again and may you have a safe and happy new year.

I am very pleased with last night’s results. I look forward to a time when I can not only stand to sit through a presidential speech, but I look forward to hearing some intellectually inspiring rhetoric. Now that I have had time to analyze what each candidate has to give, I feel kind of relieved.

Hillary - Although I like Hillary overall, I have not been able to get past her abysmal voting record over the last couple of years. I am happy that if the nomination follows suit, the Republican witch hunt will be headed off before it begins. I still feel like her experience as first lady is invaluable. Her experience with healthcare reform was doomed to failure due to the short time line and unsupportive Republican Congress at the time. She has a ton of international diplomatic experience. Besides I get the warm and fuzzys when I think about Bill being back in the White House.

Edwards – I like Edwards. He is the only candidate who has focused on the poor. As much as the media painted it the other way, I feel like he did an excellent job in the debates with Cheney in ’04.

Obama – I have loved Obama since his speech at the Democratic Convention. He is definitely the face of change. He is black with a very young family. He is not corrupted by decades in politics. I am very curious who he would choose as his running mate should he win. Hillary is from a Blue state (No gain in votes), Edwards would be good but I don’t know if he would go second fiddle this time around, but my choice would be either Richardson or Biden or possibly a third party person like Bloomberg or McCain if he switched over (although he will probably die of old age soon)

On a more serious note, a coleague at work wrote: " I was too young to vote for Jack Kennedy, but was for Bobby and was devastated when he was assassinated. When I heard Obama at the Democratic Convention, and have listened to him since then, I knew he was the right candidate at the right time. I’m pleased."

This lead me to the following thoughts: "Knock on wood, Obama is inspirational enough to meet the same fate as Bobby, John and MLK. I hope I am wrong about that.

Thankfully, I think we are in a different time now, although Bush and his cronies have tried their best to recreate the same tumultuous direction for our society. (I can’t help having an ominous feeling in my gut when I think of all the correlations – Vietnam – Iraq, Bush Crimes – Nixon Crimes, Assaults on our civil liberties, The speaking styles of MLK and Obama, the controlling of dissenting voices at the conventions [Free speech zones vs Miami Riots] The expiration of the assault weapons ban , etc, etc) I truly feel like the main reason there has not been civil disobedience this time around is the technology of today. People are able to express themselves and connect with other equally frustrated people enough through the internet that it is hard to let it bubble over in large gatherings where that is the only way to let your voice be heard.

Anyway, I feel like our country has been in a state of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome with the war, 9/11 and the last two presidential elections. That is part of the reason I get so outspoken some times. I want to get it all out there now so I can get beyond it in November."

Peace

A few years ago I was sitting with my son in a diner having breakfast somewhere in N California.

A dude from another table comes over. He is middle aged, pencil thin, black jeans, white shirt, bootlace tie

'Say you folks ain't from round here, what kind of accent is that?'

'We're from England'

Pause

'You got socialists over there doncha?'

'Yep'

'You one of them?'

'I suppose I am'

'Huh. Well you folks take care now'

'
Dude walks back to his table and just sits and stares continually and evilly at us. We pay the bill, run for the car and drive for the next 100 miles checking the mirrors regularly!

They all say what they think you want to hear!

Bob

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Spanish Jam

If I had to vote right now, he would be my MAN. I'm not quite ready for a female president, sorry ladies. I don't feel that foreign leaders would respect a female president. I'm done with the whole republican leadership. TIME FOR A CHANGE!!!