Talking with the guy who does the Green table at Farmers Market

[zulchzulu]

I've been doing a Kerry table with a friend of mine since June 2003 at the Farmers Market in Madison. John Nichols (Nation and Cap Times writer) has seen the whole thing and we've had great discussions all through the times leading up to here. He signed his book "to the man who has done the most to get rid of Dick". I don't agree, but he appreciates people who get spunky about politics. I hope to do a documentary about that and other Kerry episodes over the past months. It's been a weekly event that I will greatly miss after the election.

The transition with many in all the different camps has been an amazing and humbling experience. People who I used to share shouting matches with that supported either Dennis or Howard are now the best of friends and loyal soldiers ready to oust the common enemy, the Chimp.

One person who had originally been for Nader and then moved to the Cobb camp has been particularly interesting. We've had in-your-face arguments about how voting for Nader is voting for Bush...until he decided that Nader was an idiot. He has decided to go with the Green strategy to vote for Kerry in the states that matter and vote Green in sates where it's not an issue. I respect that.

What has been wonderful to see is how he has gained a new respect for Kerry since the debates. He is a fan...he knows it's between Bush and Kerry realistically in this election. But he and I nearly came to tears with the fact that if Kerry gets in, progressives will have an ear that hears them. He mentioned that if Kerry gets in, "we will be in good hands".

He's not a Kerry convert (yet), but he is certainly respectful and thinks Kerry will make a fine president.

Maybe he's really "undecided". :->

[tedoll78]

1. Imagine the Supreme Court being "in good hands"..

for the next twenty years. A Kerry-Clinton court. Sweet!

[baldguy]

2. Have you tried a smack 'upside his head?

There are only two candidates who have any chance of getting into the White House - Bush and Kerry.

Now, given that the country is exactly evenly divided between liberal and conservative voters,
And given that all of the conservative voters will go for Bush,

What happens when the liberal vote is split between Kerry and Nader?

That's right - Bush wins.

Therefore ANY liberal voters that do not support Kerry are allowing Bush to win.

[zulchzulu]

3. There were times we almost got into a fist fight

Not any more.

I'm more convinced that if you maturely talk to someone who is considering either Bush or Nader but are somewhat undecided, you can convince them to vote for Kerry or at least get them to see what is exactly at risk.

What made the guy at the Green table respect me was when some Bush/Cheney people showed up near his table and starting handing out stickers to people...I showed up next to them and handed out both homemade Enron/Halliburton Avery labels as well as Kerry/Edwards labels and took them to the streets. He saw my passion for Kerry and coupled with his utter hatred for Bush actually said "right on!" to me as I countered the Chimpsters.

If an Undecided/Thrid Party person sees your passion for Kerry and you can back it up rightfully that Kerry is pretty progressive as well as will have an open ear to progressive issues, you can almost expect them to at least consider the notion.

It did help that I also had a beautiful woman helping me, but yunno...

[cheshire]

4. Has he seen going up river?