Well, I will say THIS for John Kerry

[Kolesar]

At least he is acting like he is "in the game" and "trying to move the ball down the field" to use a football metaphor. He has hung on to the email list he collected in the presidential campaign and is pressing some issues. Of late it is health care for children.

To win, you have to act like you want to win, and John Kerry is keeping an "opposition party" platform together, rather like the out-of-power party in a parliamentary system does. He is running for President, and I don't see anybody else doing the same.

As bush* careens into the gutter of history, at least there is an alternative view to follow.

[ray of light]

1. I dont' think we should rely on ourselves to start making people care!

I mean, I talked to people last weekend who knew NOTHING about the bankruptcy, nothing about social security, and didn't watch the liar and thief in action. It's up to us to make people SEE these people fighting FOR them instead of assuming they're all just "politicians". That's one reason why I like the democracy cell project too, because it's US relating to our neighbors the same concerns and the way to get past this terrible regime. Check it out... http://www.democracycellproject.net

[TK421]

2. I still say he's the top contender....

Who else do we have, really?

[Kolesar]

3. For some reason, Al Gore is considered to be "damaged goods"

So you are right, nobody else is playing. Then again, it is quite early. We had about nine candidates by the time the 2004 primaries got rolling, if you count Senator Graham , who stepped out early.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. Al Gore is no longer "damaged goods"

Now that we have had time to reflect, Al Gore fought a good fight. The American public is a heck of a lot more sophisticated now than it was then about media bias. If you think about the how Al Gore was slammed about inconsequential inanities as compared to Bush and what we now know about both men - Al Gore would have won in a cakewalk with todays sensibilities. Al really was robbed by the media and the Supreme Court and so was the American Public. History will view very harshly the actions and motivations of the American Supreme Court.

Al did fight! That is the biggest diffference between him and Kerry. I don't care what Kerry does now - he didn't stand and fight when it meant something. I have more respect for Edwards, who I understand did want to stay in it.

[Kolesar]

9. Having lost the popular vote, JK would have a tough time fighting for Ohio

Unlike, Al Gore, who won, JK had a deficit of 3,000,000 votes at that time. He had a weak hand to play. I don't fault him for folding (Kerry).

[FreedomAngel82]

15. He basically still is

He isn't in the public quite as much as Kerry is who is in the Senate. Gore did some speeches here and there and I'll always think he was a great VP and brilliant person. If he does run again and if he does make it as the nominee it would be great too. How do you know Kerry didn't fight and isn't fighting? We don't know what goes on behind the scenes so don't be so quick to judge. And Kerry is fighting as well everyday in the Senate.

[ginnyinWI]

27. I'm sure there is a lot we don't know

Kerry likes to fly under the radar sometimes, when it's the best strategy. He wasn't born into politics yesterday. I trust him to know what he's doing.

[ray of light]

26. He fought under ground, under the surface.

Just because he wasn't out making a clown of himself for CNN and MSGOP and FAUX to turn into a three ring circus doesn't mean that he wasnt fighting for his life behind the scenes.


After all, did it make any difference to Gore that he was made to look foolish and bitter? Did it make a difference to Howard Dean?

So I think it's time you look beneath the surface to see HOW what someone does things BEHIND the scenes can accomplish just as much as someone in the center ring.

Take a look at D.U. Who runs D.U.? Hmmm...Hey, I have no idea. Some people with a great idea, some TERRIFIC techies, and some really awesome moderators. But just because they're not standing here for the freepers to spit upon, and the media to vilify and lie about, doesn't mean that they haven't performed their job to the BEST that is humanly possible.

FOr the sake of the progressive movement, take your clubs off Kerry and instead point them at the TRUE abusers: Blackwell, Bush, Corportate media.

[Dr Ron]

10. It's not that he is damaged goods

Gore had two related problems. First, he virtually disapeared from public view after losing (or having the election stolen). Secondly, he didn't have the Senate to operate from. It is easier for Kerry having the Senate seat, but Gore was also well positioned to be an oposition leader if he had chosen to speak out in public frequently.

[mtnsnake]

8. We're in real big trouble, eh. n/t

[FreedomAngel82]

14. Me too

He's done a lot for people. I am sad he didn't publicially do more for the election fraud but didn't he sign a petition with Hillary Clinton and Barbara Boxer and John Conyers' as well? And Kerry is a prosecutor and any good prosecutor knows if you don't have the hard evidance that would prove it in court then there's no reason why you should risk your reputation and destroy your career. I've been watching him closely and have been pretty pleased. :) I hope he does run again.

[NAO]

4. "don't see anyone else running"...except of course Frist

[YvonneCa]

5. John Kerry IS my President ! n/t

[BlueIris]

21. Mine, too.

Still love him.

[vince3]

6. He ought to stay in the game.

He won the 2004 presidential election.

[zulchzulu]

11. Watching Kerry's WI victory speech today...

I'm in the process of a documentary about the Kerry race in 2004 and was digitizing a bunch of video and really like the speech he gave in Madison after winning Wisconsin.

All of what he said was true. That was February, 2004.

[kerrygoddess]

13. I'm looking forward to your documentary!

That was a great speech!

Keep us posted on your documentary.

[zulchzulu]

25. I hope to have it all done by Fall 2005

I'd like it to be a tool for grassroots and other issues in time for the 2006 elections...that's my goal anyway.

:toast:

[FreedomAngel82]

16. Cool on your documentary

Will this be available online to download? As a Kerry fan I would love to have that.

[Toots]

12. We could do worse

I respect the man immensely. Is there someone better for the job? Maybe but they haven't yet come forward and wooed the people. If any of the same people who ran against Kerry in the Primaries tried I am quite certain Kerry would once again win out. He has been proved correct on every single thing he said and I would imagine he is more prepared for the Swift LIARS. Who would the Republicans put against him I wonder?

[minnesotaDFLer]

17. neither are effective

they've both had their chance. Give someone else a turn.

[wisteria]

18. I like John Kerry!

I like what he has been doing and even though he is technically a Mass.senator, I am happy he is out there pushing for and speaking about the issues I am concerned about. I believe him to be an honest and trustworthy person and I feel comfortable in my trust in him. I can not say the same for this current administration! Ruthless and underhanded comes to mind.

[Dr Fate]

19. I appreciate all of Kerry's contiuned contacts with his base as well.

He's staying visible- and fighting hard for many core-DEM issues.

What I dont appreciate at all, is his silence concerning the new UK Iraq Lies Memo. I wish he and other DEMs would speak up- one way or the other. If it is of no concern, say so- but dont pretend the base is not asking about it.

If Kerry could step outside of the "safe" issues every now and then, I'd be more inclined to back him.

He's on my short list as it is, due to lack of visible players, as you suggest.

[carpetbagger]

20. Yawn.

He sends emails. That's different than keeping the platform together. I think if any credit should be dished out for that, it should go to Reid, Boxer, Durbin, Schweitzer, Dean, Byrd, and probably a half-dozen other folks.

If Kerry were serious about wanting another chance at the presidency, he's going to have to show that he can keep up his peak performance for longer than a month at a time.

[Dr Fate]

22. Kerry is doing better than Dean, actually.

I like his e-mails and his ads. I've been on his list since going to one of his functions WAYYYY back in the primaries.

I WORKED for the DNC and also contributed directly to them, and I never get Dean E-mails. The only reason I know what he is up to is by reading DU.

[Mass]

23. They should be credited as well

but so should Kerry.

I have my own beef with Byrd, who has been voting against our interests in a few votes this year though (Bankruptcy Act, Johnson's filibuster, ...). It is probably time for him to retire. As for Dean, I think he is doing OK, but it is difficult to know. Read and Durbin are doing great, but it is their job to be on the forefront. As for Boxer, I like what she does, but her communication is all about what SHE did, as if it was all about her.

[ClarkUSA]

24. Can we please focus on 2006? This talk about 2008 is premature.

I am so glad that MANY Democrats are working to advance the ball down the field.

[politicasista]

28. Amen

:thumbsup:

[Kolesar]

30. I am not talking about 2008

I am not talking about 2006, either. I am talking about John Kerry. It's a message board and I will post whatever I want to. If you don't like it, there are a thousand other threads you can post to. Thank you very much.

[ClarkUSA]

36. Sure sounds like it to me.

"He is running for President, and I don't see anybody else doing the same."

But go right ahead.

:eyes:

[eridani]

29. I'd really like it if he said again what he said on the campaign trail

Namely, no permanent bases in Iraq.

[ProgressiveDepot.com]

31. Does he share that list with the DNC?

Saw a speaker recently talking about the problems with the Democrats, and she mentioned that Kerry built this massive e-mail list due to his campaign, but it's only his list and not shared with the DNC to help the party as a whole. Anyone know anything about this?

[Mass]

32. Even if he wants, he cant

any more than Democracy For America or other PACs. Privacy laws.

[ProgressiveDepot.com]

33. Is that true?

I thought the DNC and Dem candidates had more leeway to share info, although I suppose they do need to tell the people on the list before they do so. Perhaps Kerry could use one of his e-mails to encourage his list members to be on the DNC list as well. I am fanatical about the Dems doing a better job of having a large-scale database of supporters and not reinventing the wheel each time.

[Mass]

34. You are right that the Dems need to do a better job

at that and your idea of an email doing that is good (I am not sure whether his previous email raising funds for the DNC including a registration on the database of the DNC).

But when you register on a blog or a site, they have to tell you that they will not share your name or that they will share your list.

It is clear that the Democrats did a lousy job in the past building their email list, but we can hope that Dean will reuse wisely what was a success of his primary campaign.

[cestpaspossible]

35. It's true that I don't what my email address shared.

When I give my email address or phone number to some organization, I'd prefer that they doen't turn around and give it out to other organization. If I want to be on someone's email list, I'll sign up to be on their email list. I'm damn glad Dean and Kerry have not shared their lists with the DNC because it's the right thing to do, and the fact that they could legally not respect my privacy in this way is just a point in their favor if you ask me.