Dems Are Having A Good Convention - Now The Work Begins

 

The Democratic Party is having a great convention - full of joy and hope. And there's good reason for that. They have a very good candidate in Kamala Harris. Meanwhile the Republicans have nominated a terrible candidate - a convicted felon that is disliked by most Americans. And all the polls are trending toward the Democratic candidate. But now the tough part begins.

Being joyous or hopeful doesn't win campaigns. The polls don't win campaigns. And having a poor opponents doesn't insure a campaign win. Those are all good thing, but only one thing wins a campaign - VOTES!

While Trump's fans are a minority of the voting population, they will definitely vote in the coming election - and if too many good people stay home on Election Day, they will win. 

Getting out the vote is now the most important thing Democrats must do. We need a massive turnout. A turnout that insures a victory large enough that even Trump and his acolytes can't claim the election was stolen. We must give Kamala Harris a margin of victory that no one can doubt.

But it doesn't stop there. Just electing Kamala Harris isn't enough. We must also give her a Democratic Congress. If the Republicans win control of either house in Congress, then they will block anything Harris tries to do. None of the country's problems will be solved.

The country faces many problems, but those problems can be solved with a Democratic Congress and a Democrat in the White House. The only way to accomplish that is to vote - and then make sure your friends, family, and neighbors vote. We need a massive turnout on Election Day.

Election Day Thoughts On Race

Today, the United States is poised to take a giant leap forward in race relations. For the first time in my life, I may be able to believe that the American Dream really is a possibility for anyone born in America. Some of you younger readers may think I'm exaggerating, but I grew up in a different America and it really wasn't that long ago.

I was part of the post-war baby boom, and I grew up in Texas during segregation (and believe me, it was not the "good old days"). I still vividly remember separate drinking fountains labeled "whites" and "coloreds", as well as separate rest rooms and separate schools. I was a senior in high school when schools were desegrated.

I also remember a black gentleman who worked in the barber shop shining shoes. Everyone seemed to like him. They shook his hand when they saw him and talked to him as though he were a friend. But when it was time for lunch, we could go in the front door of the hamburger joint next door while he had to eat in the kitchen.

Even voting rights were unfairly denied, thanks to the poll tax and fradulent eligibility requirements. None of this ever made any sense to me, and to my father's credit, he never tried to convince me that it was right or decent. Thanks to Lyndon Baines Johnson, the laws were changed.

But even after the laws were changed, a lot of racism remained. Affirmitive action helped to even the playing field, and gradually over the last forty years things got a little better. But racism is still strong, and I must admit I never expected to see an African-American elected president in my lifetime.

I find it very exciting that we're now only hours away from choosing a new president, and Barack Obama is leading in the polls. I sincerely hope he is elected by a large margin. I believe he is by far the best candidate. But I also believe his election can help to promote even more racial healing in this country (and that is badly needed).

Forgive this old man for getting a little maudlin, but after growing up with racism and segregation I am awed by the possibility of what might be accomplished today. In just a few hours, we'll find out just how much progress has been made in this country. I just hope it's enough.