Election 2004 Season Looking UP!!

[bj_liberal22]

My personal observations about the Election 2004 season is that all things are looking up and positive.

I'll be honest with you, John Kerry was not my first pick for the nomination. I actually voted for Kucinich, but thought Clark had the most electability - so I thought people would be more interested in him. However I did feel that Clark was more right leaning then the party needs.

I'm in Tennessee, and I honestly did not think that Kerry's strength would continue down here - hence why I voted for Kucinich out of principle, knowing he'd not win. But to my surprise, Kerry does have national appeal beyond what I imagined - and looking back on it I would not have regretted voting for Kerry.

Kerry, in my opinion, is the best balance between electability without being too right wing. He's a true liberal. A liberal's liberal. His record is clear: he has a military record, but is clearly a guy who thinks war truly is the last resort. He was one of only 14 senators to vote against the Defense of Marriage act. You know, that was the bill Clinton signed (and something I HIGHLY disagreed with being a gay man myself)?? He voted against Gulf War I. Kerry won in 1985 without using PAC money; and has since learned how Washington politics work.

In short - we have a real liberal with some real experience on our hands. Kerry is idealistic, but not unrealistic. He knows what it takes to get in office - hence why he's taken money from corporations. You have to play dirty sometimes to beat the dirtier side... Its just a fact. That's reality. And it isn't like Kerry was in bed with Enron, which Bush clearly was.

So I'm very happy with Kerry...

The fact that polls show him leading this early are also encouragement. Now that doesn't guarantee anything, but it does give us good footing as Democrats.

To add icing onto the cake, this political season is giving us an opportunity to capture the Senate seat in Colorado now that it is open..

All things put together, I HONESTLY FEEL THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR FOR DEMS AND THE LIBERAL POPULATION OF THIS NATION. People are finally seeing Bush for what he is - its only taken a few years. Luckily it is this year, and not the next!

...what do you guys feel?!

[madaboutharry]

1. Well,

I have always admired optimism!

[UrbScotty]

2. I, too, am optimistic, but realistic.

I think we can do well if we just work at it and show America exactly who Bush and Kerry are.

[bj_liberal22]

4. that's the spirit

Optimism is the spirit its going to take! And at this point, I am very impressed with Kerry and the unification going on. There are quite a few anti-Kerry sentiments on this board, but I see mostly optimism and unity happening virtually everywhere else.

People just want to get rid of Bush, no matter what.

Unfortunately, it takes more then optimism still. It takes donating to Kerry (I donated $25 myself). It takes being active - sparking debate around the office or on campus if you are at college.

I hope to take that a step further this fall. If my plans work out, I should be able to graduate by the end of summer (first week of August) from college. If that happens, I'm going to dedicate August-November for Kerry. I'm right at 4 hours from the Ohio border @ Cincinnati, and will probably travel up there and get involved in some Kerry volunteer organizations. More if possible... I think Ohio is CRUCIAL to this election and would not mind at all to spend time knocking on doors or meeting whoever I need to meet to get people involved in voting for Kerry.

[sadiesworld]

3. Clark is NOT right leaning...

His support of equal rights is unequivocal, his tax proposals are VERY progressive and his environmental plans breathtaking. Of course, I support Kerry at this juncture and believe he will be a fine president, but I hate to see these Clark mis-characterizations persist. I think earlier someone referred to it as "blinded by the stars" or some such.

[bj_liberal22]

5. maybe that's true

I don't know... But I'm not about to bash Clark. I think he is an honorable, decent, interesting man. You aren't going to get me bashing any of the Democratic candidates - I think each had their points to make.

Clark would have had my unequivocal, total dedication had he gotten the nomination. I liked his tax proposals and I liked his stances on many issues. The one thing I didn't like is that he didn't have a record behind him - so I questioned whether what he was saying was what he really believed. AGAIN, that is not necessarily relevant, as everyone is open to changing opinion. I know some very strong liberals today that voted for Reagan in the 80's. They weren't happy that they did, either. But they did.

One of the worst things you can do to a candidate is make them so principled that they aren't allowed to change opinions. Being open to change is a good thing. Of course I wouldn't expect someone to waffle and go from being a liberal to adopting a right wing nazi policy like George W. Bush. ;)

SPEAKING ON THE TAX ISSUE - Kerry needs to go on the offense and offer up a tactful strong opposition argument before Bush is allowed to keep screaming taxes.

One of the best themes I can imagine is Kerry beginning a tax debate with the phrase "unfair taxes." Could you imagine him on TV and advertisements repeatedly stating "Bush has unleased unfair taxes upon the American people." We have to play hard.

Kerry has already adopted Clark's tax ideas I think. He's talking about making income under $50,000 totally tax exempt. That is a revolutionary idea he needs to push hard.. I think if it becomes our offensive argument right now, Bush can't come back and steal the debate from us. And we have to find a catchy phrase, something like "Bush and his unfair tax schemes."

[Crachet2004]

6. I feel pretty good about it too.

I think we have a chance for an historic blowout! Kerry was not my first choice either, but he DOES grow on you in a hurry, once you find out more about him.

How can they beat that video of him patrolling in the jungle in Vietnam? Wait till they go national with that!

And with outsourcing, the price of fuel, taxcuts for the rich/deficits, etc... how can we lose?

And I simply don't believe the polls, as to this race being a 'deadheat'. Kerry, and even Edwards were really far ahead last week against Bush, but now it's a deadheat? Nah!

I think it's shaping up to be a blowout.