Toughen up!

I'm a huge Sinatra-phile so I friend gave me "Mr. S," a memoir by his valet from the Rat Pack days. It's nothing but 200 pages of salacious stories but is a fun read.

Anyway, I'm up to the point where Joe Kennedy enters Sinatra's life, mainly to get a connection with Johnny Roselli, who was Giancanno's guy in LA. Basically, it all revolves around the WV Primary.

Who knows where the truth actually lies in this story, but it may me realize something. JFK would not have complained about some insults being spouted on a message board during a primary battle.

He would have hired some guys from Chicago to beat the shit out the poster. (I kid; I kid).

My point is, this is a Democratic Primary. And in historical terms, it's one of the gentlest Democratic Primaries ever.

"Oooh . . Liberman said something mean about Dean."

"Oh no . . .Sharpton insulted all the frontrunners."

"Meanie . . Dean criticized a vote."

"Clutch the pearls . . . Kerry said Dean was inexperienced."

In the 50s, LBJ would have convinced the everyone in Texas that Dean and Kerry were lovers. In the 60s, Joe Kennedy would have had Dean locked in a crate in New Jersey for six months. And in the 70s, Humprhey would have called every union boss in America and told them that if they backed Dean, he would feed their balls to a Doberman.

The Democratic Party may have often been the party of the underdog, but it has always been the Party of the streetfighters. Mostly figuratively, but sometimes literally. It's what we are. Embrace it. Practice it.

And don't whine.

and we do see an equivalent to the old days in the TV coverage.

Yesterday, my local news ran a story about Iraq. They played the administration's propaganda for 10 minutes, and then used Dean -- and only Dean's -- foreign policy speech as the Democratic retort.

The whole thing was framed like Dean is the nominee. And it's the mafia locking guys in a crate. But it's like locking your brain in a crate, and beating the shit out of it until it goes out an thinks voting for Dean in the primary is the right thing to do. And who do you think the media is working for today?

It's working for Wall St.

Boss.

:)
dp

In the 50s, LBJ would have convinced the everyone in Texas that Dean and Kerry were lovers. In the 60s, Joe Kennedy would have had Dean locked in a crate in New Jersey for six months. And in the 70s, Humprhey would have called every union boss in America and told them that if they backed Dean, he would feed their balls to a Doberman.

This is some good stuff. FUNNY, but true.

The Democratic Party may have often been the party of the underdog, but it has always been the Party of the streetfighters. Mostly figuratively, but sometimes literally. It's what we are. Embrace it. Practice it.

I unfortunatley think that's more what we WERE. Our party is no longer working class streetfighters. It feels like our party is more of an umbrella organization for groups like GLBT, pro-choice, environmental, and so on, than a party of working class people, concerned with helping out the little guy economically.

I love Sinatra too. In fact I just got the Rat Pack Christmas album as a sort of a joke to play for my Mom.

It's concert from the Kennedy era with Dean, Sammy and Frank.

Be prepared to cringe at Dean's jokes at Sammy's expense though.

"Smile, Sammy, so we can see you."
"I'd like to thank the NAACP for this award."
"How come he wears leotards while we have to wear pants."

I could not agree more. This is politics, and you're correct, this one has been a gentle ride so far.

Remember what was done to Claude Pepper? Now that is dirty politics!

But the absolute worst are the I'm-Taking-My-Toys-And-Leaving threads.

If you want to go, go. No need to be a drama queen over it. There is no law that says participating on, or even reading DU, is mandatory.

:thumbsup: