Get over your reservations about Kerry and get with the program!

[trogdor]

You know who you are. The very purpose of this website is to get rid of Bush. Period. You might have supported one or another of the other nine Democratic candidates (I supported Howard Dean). You might even, for some misguided reason, support Ralph Nader. Get over it, for the good of the country.

Getting rid of Bush is the most important thing we stand for. Everything else fades into insignificance in comparison to the very important business of replacing Crawford TX's village idiot.

So Kerry might not be as far left as many of you would like. Get over it. So Kerry might support writing another check for Iraq until such time as he can do something about the situation as Commander In Chief. Got another suggestion? No? Get over it.

So Kerry isn't into going stark raving mad (as we all feel) in his advertising and in his stump speeches, launching blistering tirades at Bush. That's not his job. That's OUR JOB.

Kerry's not perfect. I already know that. You don't have to repeat it over and over and over again. That will NOT accomplish a damned thing. Unless you want to put up with Bush for a second term, one in which he will not be accountable (thanks to the 22nd Amendment) to anyone, not Congress, not the courts, not the angry mob assembling at the Mall, I strongly suggest, in the bluntest terms possible so that EVERYONE can understand the gravity of my suggestion, that we put away our relatively piddling differences between what we individually might consider our dream candidate and the one we nominated, and GET WITH THE PROGRAM. It we don't, we WILL regret it, I guarantee it.

[senseandsensibility]

1. Normally

I would be be very reluctant to agree with the advice you've given, but not now. After 3+ years of *, our democracy is at risk. We, as democrats, must put aside our natural desire to "go our own way", and come together. I agree that Kerry isn't perfect, and I don't think anyone on DU has suggested that he is. But he is practically infallible compared to the nutcase in the White House. We need to get some perspective here, and get it fast.

[Deja Q]

2. I concur. On the plus side,

Nader is now the Reform Party candidate (the party of idiot Ventura). You won't see many Greens flock to the Reform party. Except the dipshit ones who think Nader will say the same thing. :eyes:

[skjpm]

4. this is a forum for democrats, not Kerry supporters

The salvation of the party could lie, not in the presidency, but in regaining the Congress and building a base of state elected officials. We could survive four more years of Bush if we had the Congress and the states. ABB is not the only solution, and this is not an ABB site.

[Gildor Inglorion]

7. Excellent points, but...

retaking congress and rebuilding Democratic power bases in the states are long-term projects. The horrible danger is this: the federal courts will be packed with extreme right-wing fanatics for the next GENERATION if * serves another four years. He might actually get to appoint three or four members of the US Supreme Court. Even a hamstrung Democratic president could get political moderates appointed to the federal judiciary. I'd rather have John Kerry working with a Republican Senate than the Chimp having his judicial nominees rubber-stamped.

[Cascadian]

18. The Republican congress are no different than Bush.

These are vile neocons (most of them!) and I fear that Kerry would have to go Bush Lite in order for anything to get done. What will it take for Congress to swing back to Democrat control? These people are in lock step with the Bush administration. Bush can do no wrong in their own eyes.


John

[Nlighten1]

9. Exactly

The sole purpose of DU isn't "getting rid of Dumbya". Although it is a laudable goal it is laughable to think it is the only goal. This is a progressive website and it should encourage free thinking not conformity.

If people want conformity try FR.

[Cascadian]

19. Thank you!~

You echo my feelings. If we all had to fall in and be in lock-step then we are no different than the Republicans. If I have questions about Kerry than I will speak my mind with no reservations. Remember freedom of speech is still around for now anyway.

John

[OKNancy]

21. This IS an ABB site

Read the rules and the history of DU. This site was started to get rid of Bush.

[ezee]

3. ITS about time this was said. Well done! n/t

[Nlighten1]

5. Conform!

Laff.

[Cascadian]

22. Resistance is futile!

John

[Walt Starr]

6. Fugeddaboudit

Kerry's got my vote sewed up. He's the NotBush, so he's got my vote by default.

Come November 3, though, his feet are held to the fire, and a damn hot fire it's gotten to be after nearly four years of criminals adding fuel to it!

[Robbien]

8. I laugh when Bush numbers go down, but Kerry's do not go up

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!

The New Right DLC party is very unattractive.

[Cascadian]

20. Some people need to get a clue.

The election is not Kerry's to win but Bush's to lose. The DLC is a joke and must be removed from any facet of power from Washington, D.C. to all state and local governments. It's time to bring back the party of FDR, Truman, and Bobby Kennedy.


John

[Tinoire]

10. Relatively piddling differences?

You make me laugh. War and occupation are "relatively piddling differences" to you? NAFTA, globalization, FTAA, WTO are "relatively piddling differences"?

Stop thinking the problem is with the "man". The problem is with the program and it matters not one whit who's heading it if the program doesn't change.

Posts like this one do nothing to drum up support for Kerry.

[Tina H]

11. To me it depends on one's voting district

Some districts are pretty inflexible in their voting patterns. Even at this early point it is safe to say that there are districts Bush will certainly win and districts that Kerry will certainly win.

If you happen to live in one of those districts, I see no problem with voting for a third party candidate, especially if that would help send a message to newly-elected President Kerry to be more progressive in his political decision-making.

[KharmaTrain]

12. Baseball Analogy

Heard this on the radio recently...

Think that the elections will be held a week after the end of the World Series. Now look at the standings in the newspaper. Except for the diehards, who really knows the record of your team? All most fans know right now is the team is doing good or bad and will tune in now and then to see how they're doing.

Things change in the fall...the pennant race starts to heat up and the best match-ups are played out. People start paying real attention and even then, not until the start of the World Series or even several games in.

Consider where we are in the baseball season. As a pollster put it, right now many people are looking at Bunnypants and asking if he's done a good job or not, and if he's worth putting up with for another 4 years. To those who think he does...about 35% or 40%, go directly to Nov. 2. For the other 10-15%, they won't really start looking at Kerry until convention time.

Just remember how many wrote him off last January. Relax, kids...right now the evil empire is making lots of messes that we should be able to let them drown in by November. Our job is just to hand 'em rope and then show those who seek, the truth and alternatives. But that's when we get into the later innings.

Let's go get a hot dog.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. What's with the inflated self-importance of DU?

:puffpiece:

The effect of discussions here at DU on who is elected, or how they are perceived nationally, is nominal or non-existent. I see no problem with discussing (this is a discussion board, non?) John Kerry's warts, perceived or otherwise.

Moreover, I see the ability to discuss the flaws(subjective) in our leaders as a main differentiating principle between Dems and Pugs. If "getting with the program" means ignoring issues and policies that will impact the direction that this country is going to take, count me out.





Ed:sp

[Castilleja]

14. Now really, THAT needed to be said!

Seriously, Rummy, Thanks! There is nothing you can say here about John Kerry, that republicans are not likely to come up with themselves. You should take pride in your ability to think critically about things and voice your differences of opinion rather than close your eyes and just get in line. I am sick of hearing this here, everyone is virtually forced to vote for him, so please get off it already.

[LWolf]

23. Thank you.

:thumbsup:

:toast:

[Ernesto]

15. Remember all the whining about Clinton being too conservative?

Compare his tenure to the crooks now in power..... Kerry has got to speak to the middle or the pResident will continue to reside in what has become the "Lie house"....... chimp just topped $200,000,000.00 folks. I suggest that all of you throw down what $$$$$ you can so JK will have a chance in the battle ground states..... A dollar for JK is a dollar against the thing from Crawford. Put you $$$ where your mouth is, please.

[struggle4progress]

16. Let folks blow off steam.

I agree getting rid of Bush is a top priority.

But lots of us who have always been loyal Democrats still sometimes want to kick and scream about one thing or another: that may include the fact that (gasp!) the Democratic Party isn't quite perfect yet.

[Cascadian]

17. By golly you are so right!

I have been misled for so long now since Kerry took the lead. Now I am beginning to see the light. Kerry was right to support the Patriot Act. Kerry was right to support the authorization to invade Iraq. Kerry is correct to keep our troops in Iraq so many more can die even with UN and Nato help. And I have mentioned how I think Kerry was correct in supporting Sharon's decision to keep settlements in occupied territory? I also think I must concur with the fact that Kerry backs to keep our glorious leaders from immunity from the international courts. For we our much better than every other country in the world anyway.

Yes. All of us must conform in lockstep with the DLC and the Democratic Party to the mediocre. We cannot ruffle the feathers of the status quo after all! That would be VERY un-American to ask questions, right?

:eyes:




John