Methinks the Democrats may stay a minority party in the U.S. for a long, long time to come.

And I'm not so sure that's a good thing.

I agree on both counts, Dean. As a cantankerous independent who votes for (more often) Repubicans and (sometimes) Dems, I'd like to see a far more viable Democratic Party. For instance, despite the way he abased himself before big-money Hollywood donors when added to the Gore ticket in '00, I would have listened very carefully to Joe Lieberman had his presidential candidacy advanced in '04. (Total fantasy here, I suppose) if he had gained the nomination, I might well have voted for him. Reason? Dems will hate this: he has a moral center, and was strong on terrorism.

I note that when those who advocate banning ownership of firearms are queried about who should protect individuals from violent crime, they often say "the police" should.

First of all, the police is NOT legally required to protect individuals (and, in fact, can't be sued for negligence to do so by law).

Secondly, let's examine this notion that the police should protect everyone. This would require a massive police presence, at every corner, block, subway station, store, apartment building and etc.

In essence, in order to make this idea work, we have to turn our society into a veritable police state.

I personally do not wish to live in that kind of a society. I am happy with a system where the police maintains the general sense of law and order, investigates crimes, apprehends criminals and thus serves a deterrent function.

Individuals are responsible for their own personal safety, including owning and bearing of firearms for such a purpose.

There is no man I wanted more to be President than Senator Joe Lieberman and I fully intended to go to my first caucus for him. Why? Let me use your words - "He has a moral center, and was strong on terrorism." I'm a Democrat and that's PRECISELY why I wanted him and not GWB President! Hell, Dubya was terrified of a Lieberman-led ticket!
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That said, I think San Francisco should be allowed to secede from the Union. Seems as if they want to go to the far, far left - even farther than I want to go. Firearms, used responsibily, serve to deter crime. Firearms used irresponsibily should land you in court...

I am now and have been over the last 32 years an independent liberal (note the small "l"). I lived the first 20 of those 32 years in Canada and have lived in the US for the the last 12 (I am also a dual citizen).

In those thirty years I have slowly learned that both sides of the political spectrum in the US are to some degree loose with the truth. But what I have also learned is that the left lies the most, and more importantly they lie about the core principles they preach.

From January 1993 to January 1995, the Dems controlled both house of Congress and failed to enact any significant liberal legislation, particularly a National Health Care system.

They let the blood-sucking vampires of the health care lobby lie with impunity during the debate over heath care reform.

While they operated as a one-party state they did not place minorities in positions of repect and power (not withstanding Ron Brown - the party bagman).

The Democrats lack of core values has lead me to reject them as an alternative when in the voting booth.

Until the Democrats achieve real change in the way the party operates they will continue loose elections and my vote.

In the mean time I will vote Republican if the candidate is a centrist or third party if they are not.

People,

I was born and raised in San Fracisco. It was a wonderful place to live............50 years ago.

Now housing is sky-high, traffic is a nightmare and an army of homeless with political friends has turned Market st., City Hall and Golden Gate park into a cesspool and drug den.

Everyone hates each other for acts supposedly perpetuated by one's ancestors on one another.

"Blame Whitey" is the major religion along with "Hatred of Heterosexual Men".
Work for the city? Sex change benefits are part of your health package.
Just who is going to pay for this?
Businesses have fled the city due to it's anti-business attitude, Bechtel is leaving (has left?) soon. They have a hotel tax for tourists that helps a bit but with many tourists avoiding SF because of how disgusting it's become that will shrink.
Downtown used to have the Emporium, White House, City of Paris, FAO Schwartz,Eddie Bauer, Planet Hollywood now dried up and gone.

SF? Great place to visit but not a great place to live.

I moved overseas and don't miss it a bit.

Claw

I am so angry at the democrats! When will they learn? Gun control is the issue that has cost them so dearly over the last 20 years. They are so out of touch that the republicans have been able to damage much of the worthwhile legislation the dem.'s of the past fought so hard to pass. Someday they will realize that 1). People will vote single issue when it comes to gun control and give us . . . BUSH! 2). The south will never elect a president from the norteast - southerners don't trust northerners and are tired of their condescending attitude. 3). H Clinton is not electable!!! 4). It was gun control that shot down Gore and it was being from Mass. that shot down Kerry. The Dem.'s don't deserve office due to their idiotic insistence on continuing to force an issue on the american public they clearly don't want - represent, don't dictate! Clearly the residents of SF are as far left-leaning as you can get, but they are being sold a bill of goods that has been proven false already. What's worse, however, is this is just one more example of the left cutting off its nose to spite its face. Moderates and those undecided will feel a fear in their gut because of this and it will be that much harder to get candidates elected that can help bring the US back to reality.