upper body strength

If Kerry had won, I promised myself that I would criticize the Democrats and be ruthless about it-- but when he and the Dems were trounced, I found myself temporarily tongue tied. Everyone has offered their their two cents about how the Dems have to remake themselves with new slogans and new ideas (as if the two were comparable): Dems for human rights, Dems for community, and that, Dems for activism, Dems for common sense. Dems for justice and Dems for the poor...

It's my turn now.

I have one thing I've been holding back on since my precinct caucuses in Minneapolis. I'ven moved three times since then so don't try to track me down...

I think Dems should stand up for Upper Body Strength at least in the Upper Mid-West.

The flabby upper arms of my fellow precinct voters was blowin' the the cold Northwestern winds! I kid you not. While Minneapolis Dems are working out on their triceps -- they might consider being a little less smug, a little more angry. They might even well try to notice what goes on around them.

I was quietly disgusted by the scene -- I could tell that everyone was really into consensus and process and their little book of rules. There were some young voters there -- really young, first timers, we could have energized the eighteen year olds, but no, no, we hereby move to abolish violence and non-native plants from our neighborhood. Hear! Hear! No one commented on the massive turnout, no one mentioned the energy in the room. It dissipated after a while. I have had more fun in doctor's waiting rooms than I did that day.

Why were they so damned calm? People in this country are hurting and hurting bad! And conservatives have mined that vein of outrage -- why can't we?