This reminds me of the time in 1968 that I went to a Robert Kennedy campaign appearance in Newport, Oregon -- and forgot I was wearing a button for the rival candidate Senator Eugene McCarthy. A fellow came up to me and pointed out that he was for Bobby Kennedy because he really thought that Robert Kennedy was the only one who could win and be the president. The fellow was a friend of Kennedy's named Whittaker (I think.) He was a mountain climber, and also climbed the Oregon mountain with Bobby that was named for his assassinated brother, John F. Kennedy. --- We had a very nice talk that afternoon. Yes, even with all the differing positions and in-your-face stridency then, those were, generally, more civil times in many ways.

I do recall telling Mr. Whittaker that I was for Sen. Eugene McCarthy because McCarthy was there for us when we needed him-- as an anti-war candidate. McCarthy had come out against the Viet Nam war and directly challenged Pres. Lyndon Johnson for the Democrats nominee---a big factor, I thought then, in precipitating Lyndon Johnson's deciding not to run for another term as president.


As history attests, Robert Kennedy lost the Oregon primary to Eugene McCarthy. A week later, after winning the California primary, Robert Kennedy was killed by Sirhan Sirhan. That left only Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey, a good man, but not a winner, to run against Tricky Dickie Nixon...

It was a time when liberal was not a bad word at all---in any sense. It meant having a sense of justice--socially and also compassionately. The words "bleeding heart" had not been coined yet as a prefix for the word liberal. Personally, I'm happy to be pointed out as a liberal --- no matter how the language is mutilated by the right wing.

Just some thoughts tonight as generated by this thread and a wonderful harvest moon to watch as I compose this.

Art Thieme