I spoke with Harry Reid last night...

in my dreams.

Last night I had my first dream with a politician in it and I woke up weeping.

I dreamed I was on the steps of the Capitol building and rushing down halls with a purpose. I needed to speak with someone and now. There were uniformed guards all around and I was afraid they were going to tackle me or pull their weapons to stop me. My heart was pounding, my palms were sweaty, and my mouth was dry, but I forged ahead. Corridor after corridor in a labrynth, seeming to turn back on themselves. I've never been in DC, let alone the buildings of the Capitol complex, but my feet seemed to be taking me to where I needed to go with some confidence.

Finally, a guard stepped in front of me and I explained that I needed to speak to someone with some authority and urgently. He nodded his head in the direction of an open door to a brightly lit room at the end of the short dark corridor. I looked at him hesitantly and he again nodded his permission and understanding in his eyes. He told me that I would need to hurry since the work of this session was almost done.

My feet flew down that hallway. As I approached the door, I had the surreal impression of entering the side door of a theatre while a performance was underway. Curved rows of seats with faces pointed forward to the front of the room. Backs of well coiffed heads in high backed gleaming mahogany seats.

I extended my arms to grasp the door jam one either sided and looked into the bright light of the room, and stopped to catch my breath. As my eyes adjusted to the light, faces started turning toward me with the blank gazes of people who look but do not see, who listen but do not really hear what is being said. Eyes without comprehension underscored with practiced smiles. They turned in slow motion unison to acknowledge the minor distraction of my presence.

Loretta Sanchez, Feinstein, Kennedy, Hillary, Hoyer, and several recognizable others were among those in my range of vision--faces all backlit with the glow of the chamber's light and refined as if by the soft focus of a camera lens. The last face turning toward me was that of Harry Reid. He met my gaze after a moment and asked for my name. Scalding tears streamed down my face as I began to weep.

"I'm Skidmore," I choked out the words. "I'm Skidmore, and I need to talk to you."

"Yes," Mr. Reid nodded. "I know who you are, and we were talking about you just the other day."

"There is so much wrong and we need something to change quickly."

He nodded, and I saw his eyes well up and tears course down his cheeks. He uttered no other words and we just stood there for an instant weeping together in silence.

Then the faces, one by one, turned slowly back toward the center of the room. Harry Reid's was the last to turn. I stood in the doorway, still sobbing from the depths of my soul, realizing that the heads would not turn my direction again, blinded by the lights in front, and not wanting to turn to face the darkness behind.

I woke up then. My pillow was wet with tears. My heart was aching. And my body still feels sick from the anxiety this dream triggered.

We have to make them brave. We have to show them we will stand by them as they stand up to Bush. We have to show them we will not be pacified. We will not become them. We have to shame them and show them that we know the score and it's time to change the tune.

Light means awareness in a dream, which is a good thing.

Thank you for sharing that.

I had the first dream I've ever had about politics within the last two weeks. Now I can't rememeber who I talked to, but I remember how clear the dreeam was and how I felt a sense of urgency to talk to the politician.

It seems the sense of urgency was inspired by the Iraq supplemental vote. Day and night I've felt betrayed over the Dems not voting their conscience and voting to play the political game. Whoever I talked to in my dream, it was about that subject. This is not a game. When we have a game with winners and losers --- no one really wins. The stakes just keep getting higher.

Someone must start voting their conscience. That is the strength, the courage of conviction that the American people want to see.

recently at the state house. Standing in the corridor begging the leaders of my Democratic Party caucus and to please reconsider and re-allocate funds to help uninsured cancer patients.

They went inside the caucus room for their meeting. I sat outside and prayed they would help all the suffering people I know.

They came back out and most of them wouldn't even look at me. You can get what they decided.

They didn't cry, they don't feel pain anymore. They've told themselves the "can't really do anything about it" even though they now control the levers of power.

They've conditioned themselves so long to live in a world of failure they no longer know how to lead, even when they're in power and have the ability to make change. They can't, they don't know how and they don't care anymore who suffers because of it.

Then, what you have said about the politicians rings so very true.

"They've conditioned themselves so long to live in a world of failure they no longer know how to lead, even when they're in power and have the ability to make change. They can't, they don't know how and they don't care anymore who suffers because of it."

That about sums it up. :cry:

However, it ain't just the politicians. I've repeatedly asked DUers to write, call, beg, plead to have the Medicaid cuts overturned. Nope, nobody has time.

I"ve talked with many clergy, and get much the same response. So, I'm composing a long letter, as I leave them. Don't expect much to come of it, either, because I'm speaking in a vacuum. But, if they all know that others are getting the same letter, then maybe....

Again, I thank you. I wish I had others here in support of me. It changes the equation.

That dream is a mind blower. If only Reid and the others had the courage of their convictions consistently instead of sporadically.

P.S. I dreamed about Danny DeVito last night (not sexual) but it's trivial by comparison.

and a beaver ate a sandwich.

Your dream told you what most of us already know- politicians are whores. No one can be elected to national office without sucking Big Dick (whether that dick is Oil, Pharm, Agri, Ed, Auto, Steel, or Military-Industry). Democratic politicians play to gays, blacks, and unions; Republicans play to small business owners, the middle class, and retirees. In the end, all We the People get is a lick and a promise, and it's business as usual in the halls of the mighty.

The difference between Democratic and Republican politicians is the difference between your second and third toes. They are right beside each other, and they point in the same direction. Don't let anyone tell you differently.



The Pagan Preacher
Speaking truth to power for 44 years.

but you are saying that Harry Reid was the person who "recognized you?"

I would see Harry Reid as a "ghostly spirit drifing by who neither knew or cared to know who I was."

He doesn't even remember his own Senators names...and so I know he wouldn't remember mine.

You have a kindly feeling about Reid? I'm asking because I'm being serious and not snarky. I've not seen anything from Reid that I would trust myself with him when "chips were down." But, thanks for your post...have been there.