Dean, Clark, Kucinich Supporters: What Kerry Has to Do For Your Support?

[Raya]

Hey Folk:

Kerry could misstep and falter. But, in a few weeks Kerry may also be the prohibitive front-runner and likely nominee.

There are so many attack threads on the board, I am wondering how anyone who believes them could rally behind Kerry even after he wins most of the States.

But then, I am thinking that only a few of these attacks are given or
taken seriously.

Question:

Is there some position Kerry could change or statement he could make that would allow you to give wholehearted support?

And, would this likely make it more difficult for him to win the General Election against Bush?

[sangha]

1. My guess, as a Kerry supporter

is No and No

Dem turnout is gonna be so big that the no-shows aren't going to make a difference this time.

[PVnRT]

77. Yet another group attack

on other candidates' supporters from sangha. Why am I not surprised here?

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. Only after the convention

and if Kerry is the one who emerges as the nominee, THEN I will get behind Kerry. There's nothing he could do or say at this point to convince me that he would be a better president than General Wesley K. Clark!

But I'm ABB all the way...

[Ilsa]

18. Vote_ Clark speaks for me on this as well.

ITA completely. I like Kerry and will be happy to vote for him if he wins the nom, but I'm solidly behind Clark during this process.

[NV1962]

47. Agreed - n/t

[krkaufman]

51. Ditto, with the caveat....

.... that I'll be in front of Bush, rather than behind Kerry.

[democratreformed]

52. This is my answer as well

IF Kerry wins the nomination, I will cry and be depressed (don't know how long), THEN, I will get to work to spread the Democratic message and gain support for OUR nominee. That's me.

[Clark Can WIN]

90. Same as VOTE CLARK

for me.

[Hoppin_Mad]

3. I suggest that he drops out ;-) -nt-

[MariaS]

6. Agreed

That is pretty much the only thing I can think of that Kerry might do to make me support him. I'll vote for him if he gets the Dem nod but then again I'd vote for a dead dog before I would vote for Chimpy.

[kaitykaity]

17. Same here.

My thoughts exactly.

[bitchkitty]

35. You took the words right out of my mouth!

[KittyWampus]

4. #1 Publically Apologise For Calling Clark A Republican Lobbyist

#2 Admit he was AWOL on Patriot Act, IWR and No Child Left Behind
#3 Apologise to his constituents for missing 60% of his votes
#4 Admit he got botox
#5 Admit he cared more about his own Presidentail Campaign then the Country's best interesets.

[Raya]

27. Compare Anything Kerry has said with Dean Attacks.

[Eloriel]

72. Huh?

I don't understand what you mean by that response. Care to clarify?

[Strelnikov_]

58. #6 Apologize For Stating That The General Is Dismissive Of Lieutenants

#7 Apologize for being the same old warmed over Democratic candidate that has brought the Democrat's to it's current nadir.

I'm sure he was something 15 years ago.

[MAlibdem]

68. Kerry was responding

To Clark's comments about there being many lieutenants and few (read: important, awesome, excellent) generals. Kerry responded by saying he didn't think generals usually were so dismissive of lieutenants because he knows that lieutenants do a lot of bleeding on the battlefield.

[Donna Zen]

99. Clark never said that

and Kerry and his surrogates continue to spread the lie. Dole should be the person reaping Kerry's scorn, but that wouldn't serve Kerry's divisive political goals; would it?

[pacifictiger]

5. He will get my vote if he is still the democratic frontrunner

August 1st.

[corporatewhore]

7. if he said that IWR was wrong NAFTA/WTO say that he would pull out of iraq

immeadiately Pull out of NAFTA/WTO give back the money from PNAC say it is wrong Promise single payer universal healthcare promote election reform and IRV Be more even handed towards Israel Palestine how much is his word worth compared to his record (even if he did all this it would prove that he has guts but he would give me the same impression as dean when he all of sudden plays liberal)

[MrSlayer]

8. All he can do is win the nomination.

If he wins that, he'll get my vote. There really isn't any other way.

[Piperay]

9. Get the nomination...

he gets that he will gets my support, I'm ABB.

[CabalBuster]

10. If he could change his vote for the IWR and the Patriot Act, & skulls & B

The problem I have with supporting Kerry is that he betrayed our country when he voted for Bush's IWR, the Patriot Act, No child Left Behind, etc. Nothing he does at this point is going to erase the damage that he has done to our interests. I have no confidence in him because his actions have shown him to be an opportunistic politician. His 19 years in Washington also speak volumes about who he has become. I do not want to vote for another Washington insider and top recipient of lobbying money.

His being part of the Skulls and Bones clandestine society also disqualifies him as I cannot trust his secret agenda.

Democrats will lose a lot of votes if Kerry is nominated, be prepared for that. If the product is defective, there is no marketing and cosmetic wrapping that can do the trick to attract buyers. I will remain a Dean supporter to the end. If Dean is nominated this will be the first time I vote in my life. If Kerry is nominated, don't count on my vote.

[morgan2]

11. come out in support of instant runoff voting

[Turkw]

38. I wish they all would, this is the best way to change the DNC, The RNC

And bring more democracy to the country

[asthmaticeog]

12. I'd support him dropping out.

He's voted for almost everything I feel the Dem nominee needs to be campaigning against. Obviously if he gets the nom, he gets my vote in the GE, but there's nothing he can do to get my support in the primaries. I consider him seriously risky, if not downright poisonous. (For those of you keeping score at home, I'm a Kucinich man who could still maybe be convinced to go with Clark.)

[Maddy McCall]

13. Get the dem nomination

and then I am right there with him.

I think we ALL should become Kerry supporters the instant he gets the nomination.

Will be funny to see who will leave DU rather than support Kerry if he gets the nomination.

[Kanary]

54. Maybe I need to raise my hand on that "funny"

As a person who is dependent on the "safety net" for survival, any candidate who doesn't speak out to that does NOT have my suport.

You are sooo sure that we will all rally 'round. Tell me, WHY would I vote for someone who could very well vote against my own survival interests the moment he takes office?

I keep saying, it doesn't matter whether it's a Dem or REpub who kills me, I'm just as dead either way.

Maybe someday somebody will hear me.

Kanary

[youngred]

14. IWR

he needs to admit he was a mistake. And borrowing a few planks from Kucinich wouldn't hurt. particularly on gay rights.

but should he get the nom he will get my support. he's my #3 candidate anyway.

[thedudeingeorgia]

15. I will never support John Kerry

As a Clark supporter, I have never considered Kerry to be a threat to George W Bush, simply because he is going to get battered with the 'Northern Liberal' label, and it will stick. I mean, when you go around with Ted Kennedy, there is no side-stepping the question of how liberal Kerry is....

Also, what Dean is saying about Kerry is troubling to me. Over Kerry's four terms in the Senate, he is the leading special interest in the Senate. I've had enough of special interests in the White House. We need someone fresh.

On the military front, I think everyone needs to know the truth about Kerry's military record. Yes, he is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, but you can't mention the 'war-hero' status without bringing up what he did when he came back, and that was to support Hanoi Jane and her minions in protesting the war when other soldiers, Clark included, were in harm's way....

As for the November election, if Kerry gets the nomination, I will simply write-in Wesley Clark as President, simply because I feel that he is the best candidate for the job...

[Raya]

19. Only 35% view Kerry as "Liberal" 11% Conservative

Kerry is not easily tagged even though he has progressive
principles.

[NashVegas]

89. It's Not Yet Been Made An Issue

What do you think is going to happen when it is?

[thedudeingeorgia]

20. I will never vote for Kerry (continued)

...Furthermore, if Kerry is the nominee, Democrats can forget about any chances of retaking control of the Senate.

I'll admit that Bush is about to get bashed with a special investigator for the Iraq War Intelligence and hopefully his administration will be more cooperative with the 09/11 commission, but Kerry shouldn't count on these events to turn people's opinions, especially here in the South, where there are a slew of Democrats retiring from the Senate. If Kerry or Dean gets the nomination, don't be surprised if Republicans pick up a couple more seats in the Senate.

That is why the best possible ticket for the November election is Clark and Edwards (preferably with Clark at the top of the ticket, although I think Clark would be a good VP for Edwards)....

[welshTerrier2]

26. give me a break

to support Hanoi Jane and her minions in protesting the war when other soldiers, Clark included, were in harm's way....

first of all, what evidence do you have the mr. kerry in any way condoned jane fonda's actions in vietnam ??

secondly, am i to understand that your view is that it is not ok to protest a war while the troops are in harm's way ?? where i come from, we call that free speech ... do you think it's wrong for clark to speak out against what we're doing in Iraq ?? the last time i checked we do have troops there in harms way ...

go ahead, tell me why the protesting i did against the war in vietnam was unpatriotic ... some of us support our troops by speaking out against our government when their policy is wrong ... and some of us seem to feel we're obliged to show blind allegiance just because our troops are at risk ...

[Southsideirish]

29. Agree - would never vote for Kerry. Not in a million trillion years.

If he was the candidate I would go Green as I am so disgusted with the Kerry, his supporters and Democratic party for the way they have treated Howard Dean.

[youngred]

32. How is that?

Dean didn't win votes because he hasn't convinced a majority of people that he's the best candidate. Dean was criticizing Kerry when he was recovering from Cancer. Dean has called fellow Dems, Republicans. Dean's implosion is his own fault...no one else's

[Gloria]

71. I may do the same, dudeingeorgia....I rejected Kerry even before

Clark entered the race. For quite awhile I thought he might be my candidate. When Clark entered I looked at him for 3 months before committing in December.

Now, I'm learning even more about Kerry and I can't warm to him now at all! The man seems to "put a finger to the wind" on so many things. I don't see leadership there at all. Gert Clark's enthusiasm seems more inspiring than what I've seen of Kerry's wife.

Wes Clark has touched me so deeply that it seems unfathomable to vote for Kerry.

[mermaid]

98. Liberal My Left Clavicle!!

I'd have picked another part of the anatomy, but that would have gotten my message deleted, and me a black mark on my report card.

Kerry is NOT liberal. If he was, he would have supported a transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. He wouldn't. In effect, he has slapped me, and my transgender brothers and sisters in the face, telling us we are not worthy of protection against discrimination in the workplace. Thus it is Kerry shall NEVER get my support, he has earned my CONTEMPT and enmity...in short, I hate his freaking guts!

If he were liberal, he'd support us. But he didn't, when given the chance to. and Ted Kennedy is another one who, when given the chance to support us, failed to...as did Barney Frank. All fromMASS, I might add. Mass liberal...my left clavicle!!

All this aside, living as I do, in Texas...my vote ain't gonna matter, TX is going Bush no matter what I do...but if Kerry gets the nomination, i'll vote for him, only because my contempt and dislike for Kerry is overshadowed by my complete HATRED of Bush.

but I want everyone to knkow, and for this to be crystal clear...in November, I am casting a ballot AGAINST BUSH...not FOR KERRY!!!!!

[fabius]

16. If Kerry wins the nomination, he has my support.

He only really did one thing I disagreed with strongly, the IWR vote.

He could improve his position on free trade too, but he's not going to do that just for me.

Kerry's energy policy is one of the best.

I will encourage other Deaniacs to support Kerry in the unlikely event that Dean doesn't come back :)

[eblack101]

21. Clone

Yes, he could model himself exclusively on Howard Dean; become sort of a Howard Dean clone, yet with a more diplomatic and smoother style (to match his smoother forehead)!

Seriously, he gave away the 2 most important perogatives a Senator can excercize to a Republican President who he knew to be a serial liar, and further, he did so without putting up a significant fight: 1/ declaring war(Iraq)and 2/defending the Constitution (Patriot Act 1 and 2).

Kerry is a hopeless compromiser who has finally caught on by picking up Dean's message. Well, good for him. Let him keep it up.

[WiseMen]

62. Not Fair. Kerry has been Preaching this Message since 1971. Dean Skiing.

[jpgpenn]

22. LOL, He had it, now it's gone!

Kerry was my second choice of candidate. that was until he started to show his true colors. His smear campaign started, he proved right there and then he would do and say anything for a vote. We do not need a Washington insider to continue the song and dance that has virtually destroyed our country. We need a talented, brillant outsider that has a great vision for a new America. That of course would be Gen. Wesley Clark!!!

[Raya]

23. Can you honestly compare Attacks on Kerry with anything Kerry has said.

Just do a tally of this board over the last 6 months

[Southsideirish]

30. What about the attacks that Dean has had? You have had nothing

compared to what that man has endured.

[youngred]

33. endured

are you kidding?

[Leilani]

78. I Was Always ABB

But I am now so disgusted at what has gone on during this campaign against Clark from every direction. He has tried to run a positive campaign, grassroots up, as an outsider.

I realize now the system will not allow a candidate to win, who is not entrenched in the power structure.

I supported McCain in 2000, when he was running on getting rid of special interests in D.C., & giving government back to the people. I didn't agree with him on many things, but I was fed up with the system. Well, we all know what happened to McCain: he got mugged in S.Carolina.

Clark has also been mugged, in a less dramatic fashion. Sort of death by a thousand cuts. Maybe I will get over my bitterness, but right now, I don't know if I will bother to vote, because it really doesn't make a difference.The system is too corrupt to bother.

[Scottie72]

24. Easy

Read Dk platform and adopt those policies then I will support Kerry. I agree with about 90 - 95 pecent of DK's positions on the issues. DK is going to go to Convention and I will support him until the convention.

Once the convention is over, then and only then I will support the Democratic Nominee.

[Raya]

25. What about the time needed to do grass-roots education and

political change in the electorate.

Don't you want to help create a united movement in the country?

[Seldona]

28. Win the nomination.

That is about it for me at this point.

Chimy has to go.

[Lobo_13]

31. For starters

He could pull out of the race, denounce his dirty trick campaigning that is reminiscent of GWB in 2000, become a benedictine monk.

Then I'd start to have some modicum of respect for him.

At this point, every time he changes a position or tries to lift another message from Dean, he just looks worse and worse in my eyes. He's a cautious opportunist, a "me too" democrat.

He will not be getting my vote in November. Rove and Bush should thank him for being a low-down, scum-sucking dirtbag that couldn't inspire enough people to come out and vote for him.

[maddezmom]

34. easy

He wins the nomination, he's got my support. But until he wins, my guy is Wes, who may just kick his butt!!

[Tweed]

36. Drop Out or Win!

Clark is by the far the best candidate.

[knight_of_the_star]

37. Win the nomination

That's all I ask of him or anyone else that is running, although I would love it if Wes won.

[mlawson]

39. Convince me that he can beat bush....

And that will not be easy.

[Tim_in_HK]

45. Yep, me too . . .

And stop the surrogate attacks on Clark. And get more energy on the stump. And explain how he's gonna answer the the no vote on Iraq in '91, and yes in '03. And the cutting of CIA funding in '95. I understand his thinking (although I may disagree with it), but am wondering how this is a positive to the electorate?

[gate of the sun]

40. repeal the patriot act

promise to abolish Nafta and the WTO agreements. Promise to withdraw from Iraq asap express his sorrow for ever being apart of us going to war with Irag.I almost forgot universal health insurance or agree to at least begin the process whereby this would become a reality. Speak out against bush.Tell the truth about what's going on in our country.

[texasmom]

41. He'll have my wholehearted support

if he wins the nomination. I find him uninspiring and boring, and I fear that we won't be able to capture the middle-of-the-road voters with that combination. I also fear that they will be able to paint him too easily as a Mass Liberal, which plays very poorly in other places than the NE. They showed multiple shots of Ted Kennedy, speaking on behalf of Kerry, on the Capital Gang tonight in preparation for that attack.
I wholeheartedly supported Mondale and the Dukakis/Bentson ticket, so I promise Kerry can count on my support. I've dedicated the past three years of my life to getting Bush out of office.

[Dark Star]

42. To your questions:

no and no


However, I will definitely vote for him if he gets the nomination - we cannot live another 4 years with Bush.

[Tinoire]

43. Consistency would be a good start. I am beginning to wonder re Kerry

I used to like Kerry. Had him as my number 2 and did quite a bit here at DU to defend his war votes & level his playing field against Dean & Clark but he's losing me rapidly. I do not want a candidate who says one thing to audience A and then runs over to audience B to say the total opposite.

====

Kerry: I believe Ariel Sharon willing to make peace

By Shmuel Rosner in New Hampshire and Nathan Guttman, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters


"I believe Ariel Sharon is willing to make peace, I really believe it," leading Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry said to a crowd in Salem, New Hampshire on Monday, in his last public appearance ahead of Tuesday's Democratic primary.

<snip>

Kerry delivered the remarks on Sharon only hours after being quoted as saying that the government in Israel currently lacks someone who can provide the goods when it comes to negotiations with the Palestinians.

He was also quoted as saying that he believed the Palestinian Authority needed to be strengthened in order to overcome a power struggle with Hamas. Apparently the attributed quote was misinterpreted and did not accurately represent Kerry's stance. ((WTF?))

<snip>

Israeli officials who analyzed Kerry's comments on the Middle East said they were, at worst, a misunderstanding. They believe he meant that Israel does not have a partner for talks on the Palestinian side, since the Palestinians are unable to provide the goods.

Kerry's main rival, former front-runner Howard Dean, said at a campaign event in Manchester that the U.S. should increase resources for the Palestinian Authority in order to persuade the Palestinians to relinquish the right of return. The former Vermont governor specified that Israel should demonstrate flexibility in regard to final borders in order to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.

<snip>
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/387255.html

==

<snip>

As far as American Jews are concerned, the jury is still out on the Democratic Party's new star, John Kerry. An experienced politician with 18 years on the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee under his belt, he has a solid record of supporting Israel. American Jewish sources in Washington indicated that Kerry's comments in off-the-record talks recall the approach adopted by the Clinton administration: unqualified support for Israel, yet also insistence that a resolution to the conflict with the Palestinians depends upon Israeli concessions in the territories.

A few days after the Geneva Accord signing ceremony, Kerry praised the draft peace proposal, ignoring the reservations of the Sharon government. He has also proposed sending a special envoy to the Middle East - and one of the names he has mentioned in this connection is that of former Secretary of State James Baker.

In some American Jewish eyes, Baker is viewed has having been instrumental in determining foreign policy that brought U.S.-Israel relations to a low point.

The bottom line, says one seasoned political observer in Washington, is that Israel has nothing to fear from Kerry, Clark or other Democratic hopefuls. All of the candidates endorse their party's supportive stance toward Israel, and the candidates are surrounded by staff workers who are long-standing friends of Israel.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=386103&contrassID=1

===

I would also like Kerry to explain S&B a wee bit more than this:

John Kerry admits to Skull and Bones Membership on 'Meet The Press'

In this video you will hear Senator John Kerry admit, on American National television show Meet The Press, that he is a member of The Secret Society named 'Skull & Bones'.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/010104kerryadmits.html (loads slowly)
http://www.themedianews.com/video/kerry.wmv (a little faster)

[BattyDem]

48. I agree with you

And I'm afraid that the inconsistency is going hurt him ... and us ... down the road. I've also noticed that he frequently takes both sides of an issue.

Listen, I've never bashed anyone else's candidate and I'm not going to start now. (I did express my concerns about Clark a few months ago, but I asked his supporters to point me in the right direction so I could find out more about him. They did ... I'd be ok with him as the nominee.)

I'm telling you this because I want to mention what I experienced this weekend. I'm not trying to bait anyone, I'm not trying to bash anyone - I'm simply telling the truth about my experience, ok? :) (Can you tell that I really hate message board flame wars?)

Out of curiosity, I asked 20 friends and family members who they liked in the Dem primary (most of them were Dems, but there were a few ABB Republicans). Edwards was top choice (8), Dean was second (7), Clark was third (5). There was only a 3 vote difference between Edwards and Clark, so the votes were split pretty evenly among the three - I thought that was pretty cool. :) What surprised me was that no one chose Kerry ... and I live in a relatively progressive area of a blue state.

Then I asked them what they thought of Kerry. 11 people had no opinion of him one way of the other - they said as long as he doesn't turn out to be a crook, they'd vote for him if he got the nomination because anyone was better than Bush. But the 9 other people said things like "I don't trust him", "He's just another spoiled, rich guy who doesn't care about people like us" and "He double-talks." They also said if he is the nominee, they probably won't bother voting at all because it will just be "more of the same."

So 9 people said they would not vote for him and the other 11 said they would vote for him as long as nothing bad came out about him. Well, we all know the Rove machine - every skeleton in the nominee's closet is going to be dragged out and displayed on the front lawn. The odds are that something bad is going to come out, no matter who the nominee is.

Now my little weekend poll is hardly scientific, but the remarks about Kerry concern me. Out of 20 people, there are no "strong" Kerry supporters, he is no one's first choice and none of them would ever donate money to his campaign. How can that not be a problem in the long run? :(


edited for clarity

[Tinoire]

60. It's funny you say that

I was just asking a Clark-supporting DU friend who she thought was the best candidate the majority could rally around and we agreed the answer was Edwards. She is not so sure he could beat Bush but I think ANY of the Dems up there could beat Bush. I think Kucinich would beat him the most soundly because he addresses issues that touch all Americans but any of them could. Bush is so burnt toast!

Kerry is the most domestically liberal after Lieberman but I've goteen to the point where abortion and Gay rights are no longer litmus-type issues for me.

I'd vote for Kerry (at least right now) but he's gone from no 2 to a reluctant pull on the lever.

[LWolf]

44. First of all,

I will not support Kerry until after the convention, should he win it. I'm not working hard to attack him, either. He's ok. But he's not my choice, so I'm not going to support him in the primary.

Any democrat who wins the nomination, should it not be my first choice, must do these things to win my whole-hearted support:

1. Refrain from negative campaigning against other democrats. Right now.

2A. AGREE TO ABOLISH THE STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY "MOVEMENT," ANY FORM OF HIGH-STAKES TESTING, AND SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION BY EMPOWERING THE FRONT LINES; THE TEACHERS AND THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE. NO MORE TOP DOWN EDUCRATS DECIDING POLICY FOR ME.

2B: NO UNFUNDED OR PARTIALLY FUNDED MANDATES FOR PUBLIC ED.

3. Oppose pre-emptive war in no uncertain terms.

4. Universal health care

5. Clean, renewable energy.

6. Not take corporate donations or advise.

And if he's smart, he'll take on Dennis Kucinich as his primary policy advisor!

[windansea]

46. sorry you lost me with this line

"But then, I am thinking that only a few of these attacks are given or taken seriously."

[wabeewoman]

49. Not unless he wins the democratic

nomination and then I'll hold my nose and vote for him. He has done nothing but lay down for bush and I'm really tired of hearing about how he was a war hero. I think people want to know what he will do now and he isn't very clear about that. I think the irony is that the news media has defined him as the democratic winner because he is the most 'electable' but I believe Dean, Clark and Edwards have a better chance against bush. You never hear that Rove really wants to run again Kerry but then you wouldn't would you??

[Lydia Leftcoast]

50. Be confirmed as the nominee at the convention

Till then I'm with DK.

[waldenx]

53. 1. Resign as Senator

2. Return all the lobbyist money he has ever collected.
3. Apologize to the families of the dead American soldiers he sent to die.
4. Apologize and vow to repeal the entire Patriot Act, Dept of Homeland security, fast track trade authority, all the tax cuts, no child left behind.
5. vow to withdrawl all forces from Iraq immediately.
6. come clean about skull and bones.
7. promise to try Bush et al for war crimes.

If he doesn't do all of these at a MINIMUM, then I will never vote for him.

[Corgigal]

55. Confess that he voted

for a blank check on the Iraq's war because he thought it was popular at the time and he wanted to run for President. That it was in his self interest and not anyone else's. Then I would be amazed and refreshed in his honesty.

I really don't want blood on my hands and voting for Kerry makes me feel that the dead coming home from Iraq is something I voted for.
I never did. Funny how no one thinks this is important anymore. However the two guys that I know that just came home from Iraq, one being forced to go back in March, think it is.

[jkg4peace]

86. I'm with you

I cannot forgive Kerry for that vote. Especially after all he went through in Vietnam. I do not buy it that he did not know Bush's intentions. It seems clear it was mainly a lack of political will.

I have this vision that if Kerry is it and beats Bush, they will do the secret Skull and Bones handshake as they pass each other in the hall...

[newyawker99]

88. Hi jkg4peace!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Momof1]

56. At every speech start talking about OVERTIME

And really get the press's attention on to this crap, so there could be a chance to save it. This is the most evil crap that * is trying to do, and I have not heard one candidate talk about what is going on.

[greendog]

57. Apologize....

...for the "cheap labor" trade scams!

[KaraokeKarlton]

59. I'd dislike him less if he quit making robocalls to Dean supporters

at 4am and 5am claiming to be from the Dean campaign. He could also stop having his phone bankers make slurs against Dean's wife for being Jewish. That would be a good start. I just heard he's cheating again in yet another state. Dirty bastard. If he keeps this up I will have no choice but to prefer Bush over Kerry. At least Bush is honest about being a miserable prick. If I have to get screwed over I'd rather have it be done to my face and not behind my back. Kerry is filth.

[mikehiggins]

61. He would have to change his entire lifestory but

if he wins the primary I'm behind him 100%

ABB baby, ABB!

[frustrated_lefty]

63. I want to hear a full throated apology for IWR

and I want to hear fire in the belly enthusiasm. I want a man who will stand up! A man with passion and direction! If Kerry begins to display those attributes and admits he basically screwed the pooch on IWR, yeah, I'd look at him. As of late, he just has m looking through Science and Nature magazine classifieds for jobs someplace else.

[frustrated_lefty]

65. Ya know,

I try to give Kerry a break. Reading through this thread reminds me of every thing I hate about him. It doesn't matter, there is NOTHING he could do to make me vote for him. He's just that bad.

[maxr4clark]

64. Same thing as any other Democrat--

convince me he can beat Bush.

I don't believe Kerry will beat Bush because of who he is, not because of his positions. He is a Vietnam veteran, yes, however he is also a Vietnam War protester. No matter how much I respect him for that, it does not convince me for one minute that he has his priorities right for keeping this country safe from terrorists; and I think a lot of independents agree with me. Nor does it convince me that he can stop the money flooding into the occupation of Iraq.

Only one candidate has convinced me that he has the right view of foreign policy and the character and judgement to get us through this bad situation in the Middle East with a better outlook four years from now, and that is Wes Clark. I have looked VERY HARD at Clark, and I see nothing but a man of impeccable character and the best resume for the job of President. He will get my vote on Feb 7, and if he gets the nomination, again in November.

If he doesn't get the nomination, I'll vote for the Democrat on the ticket. But I'll be very surprised if any Democratic nominee other than Clark would win.

[w4rma]

66. His record and stance on guns makes it hard for me to successfully promote

him among many folks that I know.

IMHO, he needs to address this.

Also, he needs to talk more openly about how he will address the unemployment rate coupled with stagnating salaries and the exporting of America's middle class jobs.

Bush's overtime destruction bill is a winning fight for Kerry, if he'll just tackle it.

Fight to change opinions of folks (on stances other than guns which are not a priority this election for most folks). Instead of following the polls try to examine our situation and predict the situation of America on election day and explain his policies based on that situation, not today's situation.

[MMT]

67. I don't want to vote for a status-quo candidate

or another Clinton who will tell us how he feels our pain at the same time he's hurting us more.

[DFLforever]

69. First, tell us he was wrong to vote for IWR

- for the Bush tax cut 2
- for NCLB
- the Patriot Act,



Or, if he cannot admit he was wrong, then tell me, despite his support for the Bush administration and its policies, what he would do differently and and why he would make a better president than GWB.

[Eloriel]

74. yes -- he doesn't even deserve my ATTENTION

let alone my vote until he renounces his IWR vote and apologizes to Americans, Iraqis and the world.

[MercutioATC]

70. Nothing. His supporters ruined any chance of that happening.

He gets my vote in the GE if he's the nominee. Nothing else.

[Edge]

73. Well, he voted for the No Child, Patriot Act...

IWR...tax cuts...Agreed with Bush on those topics, so nothing he can do will sway me. I need a person who won't back Bush.

We'll see if I decide to change my mind come November, if he gets the nom. It's not looking very good right now.

[mdmc]

75. legalize it

:kick:

[PVnRT]

76. Be named the nominee at the convention

Then I can guarentee my vote.

[For PaisAn]

79. It would help some people

if for starters he'd be honest; bluntly, clearly honest. For me there's nothing he could do or say. I'll vote for him if he gets the Democratic nomination. At that point he's better than Bush, which isn't saying much.

[Sensitivity]

80. Guess if he keeps winning he will have proven himself. Give it a month

[Ediacara]

81. "George Bush lied to me, and I voted for war based on those lies"

When he says that I'll run around covered in John Kerry stickers from head to foot.

[x-g.o.p.er]

82. Hasn't he already said that?

I mean, not exactly, but at least said it without saying it?

[Abigail147]

100. Brett Hume seemed disgusted that Dean was going to stay in primaries

so long. Dean should keep in as long as we can because once they start eyeballing the rest of the gang with any scrutiny, they will be going back to their original choice. You ever take a test and erase your first choice and inevitably be kicking yourself for changing?

The Fox boys soft-shoed around Kerry with just a few shots about the botox and being divorced. However, the Rockefeller interview had Chris Wallace diminishing Rockefeller with the old you voted for it and Bush was misled too. Kristol (one of the architects of the neoconservative movement that has brought us to this pass) smiles condescendingly through out. You can already see how they are going to play the intelligence wrap and pin it on someone else. They were fooled too. And so were you. Well we weren't. Now why the heck is that?

Kerry is not the safe choice. They will destroy him--just not now. Kerry can easily be pinned with the flip flop--just not now. His Wall Street and telecommunication contributors will be looked at and he is the largest recipient of PAC funds in the Senate. Special interest and corporate welfare. You are questioning Bush's credibility?

The whispering campaign will revisit his health history, his romantic history. And why aren't those two small children out there with this aging Lothario? Just not now. Ted Kennedy is great, but his association does not play well in other areas.

Then turning to the corporate media and the good old boy candidate, isn't that John Edwards a cutie pie? And he relates so well. He connects with the people (like Dean and Clark and Kucinich perhaps?). The good old boys think they can substitute their man interchangeably with the more authentic candidates, and but this brings us to his experience --less than one term in the Senate and most of that spent campaigning.

Of course Gephardt, Liberman, and Sharpton have already played their part in the game. They all attacked Howard Dean to bring him down. Does anyone remember Kerry assuring Eric Alterman things were going to change rapidly in a few weeks. I guess that was after the boys did their work.

Gun control, fiscal responsibility, experience -- Look at Dean realistically now without the corporate network coloring book. Dean is the one.

[REP]

83. Win the Nomination

I don't dislike him; I just like another candidate better. If he is the nominee, he has my support.

[Josh]

84. Win the nomination -

he'll have my absolute full-throated support, but not before then, I'm afraid. That said, I've never attacked candidates, and I would advise those who sometimes do NOT to attack Kerry - because if he IS the Democratic nominee, we don't need to be giving the Karl Rove team any more ammunition than they already have.

[copithorne]

85. I'll vote for the nominee against Bush

I'll vote for Kerry if he wins the nomination.

I'm voting for Clark in the primary for plenty of reasons. The main one is that Kerry will lose to George Bush and Wesley Clark will beat George Bush.

What would it take for me to enthusiastically support Kerry in the General Election -- something for me to devote my energy and money and life to his campaign?

Repudiate his IWR vote and the war. To me, he looks like the biggest ass trying to defend that stupidity at the same time that the rationale for Saddam's threat is officially disproven. I have still not heard him criticize the war -- just the way it was fought.

Also, he could have Wes be the VP. I don't think it would be easy for Wes to take that role, but I think he would in service to his country.

[Hekate]

87. Win the nomination. Until then, I'm working for Dean.

After the winner gets sworn into office next January, he'll be fair game for criticism from me for not being ideologically perfect -- but not before. This country has far too much at stake for those of us who despise and fear Bush to spend any of our energy badmouthing any of the candidates.

Isn't it strange that governors, not senators, are the candidates who get elected president, yet when people talk about electability they gravitate away from the gov. and for the sens. in this election. The last person to be elected president while still a senator was JFK, over 40 years ago. I'm just saying....

[Foehammer]

91. give wholehearted support? Never

Vote for him yes.

Get other people to vote for him maybe.

...watch the election returns as he looses to Chimpy no.

[NoPasaran]

92. Win the nomination

That will do it for me.

[Missy Vixen]

93. I'm sorry if you won't like this

I will support Dean till the nomination.

If I must, I will vote ABB.

At this point, there is nothing you or any other Kerry supporter can do or say to change my mind. I am getting pretty tired of the constant references to "snotty Dean supporters," etcetera. At the same time, there is no other candidate besides Dean that we will give hundreds of dollars of contributions to, stand outside in a pouring rain, waiting for an hour and a half to see him for just a few moments, on and on and on. We believe in him and in his message. I can't say the same for the others.

It seems that you all will get what you want, but don't expect your guy to get my wholehearted support. It's just not there. I don't anticipate that it will be.

Julie

[goodhue]

94. obtain nomination at convention

[mermaid]

95. Kerry Will NOT Get My Support!!

If Kerry gets the nomination, I am enough ABB to hold my nose and vote for him,because my dislike of Kerry is overshadowed by my HATRED of bush! But that will be a vote AGAINST BUSH...not a vote FOR KERRY. And I want that to be crystal-clear!

Kerry alienated me when he refused to support a transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act! As a transgender person, I view this as a slap in my face, telling me Kerry believes I am not worthy of protection against discrimination in the workplace. Hence, Kerry is not worthy of MY support, and he shall never recieve it...unless he changes his mind about ENDA.

[Terwilliger]

96. I'll probably have to give Kerry my support

there's little he could say that would get me all "rah rah"...aint gonna happen

[KathCO]

97. If Kerry made an issue, in the media, of dem candidates marginalization

If Kerry make an issue, in public, to the media, of how the media marginalizes some dem candidates and how they exclude some. If Kerry showed enough respect for my candidate by helping him have a chance, then maybe I could consider supporting Kerry some.

[Donna Zen]

101. What can Kerry do to get my vote?

Simple:

1) He can vote against the "Patriot Act"

2) He can vote against NCLB

3) He can vote against the current Omnibus Spending Bill

4) He can vote against the medicare reform package

5) He can stand up with the Black Caucus and oppose coup 2000

Note: I went to see Kerry before the IWR with my friend, a Purple Heart veteran. My friend asked Kerry a question and was rewarded with a snide and barked answer. The follow up reaped even more hostility from Kerry. I don't think there is anything that Kerry can do to win that man's vote.

[WiseMen]

102. Sadly, I think Dean is seriouis about destroying Kerry

"But then, I am thinking that only a few of these attacks are given or
taken seriously."

[CWebster]

105. Just like Kerry was serious about destroying Dean?

How dare you suggest how dare he?

All along Kerry has been posturing that this nomination was his due, and he still postures as if he is entitled to it without challenge.

[IrateCitizen]

103. It's quite simple -- he has to win the nomination

I'm a supporter of Dennis Kucinich -- and have no plans to shift my support during the primary season. Why? Not because I harbor a visceral dislike for any of the other candidates (well, except for Joe Lieberman) -- but because I believe that Dennis's vision for America (and the world) is badly needed.

If John Kerry wins the nomination, then I will gladly support him. For every bit of progressive populism that he adopts into his campaign, I will be supporting him even more enthusiastically.

But until the time of the convention, so long as Dennis is running, the only obligation I have is to my own conscience, and what I as a Democratic voter believe to be in the best interest of the country and the party.

Why is there this sudden pressure to switch candidates after only one primary and one caucus? Why not ask people why they WOULD flip-flop, abandoning their principles in favor of polls and media hype?

[Hep]

104. Go back in time, buy a spine.

thanks for asking.

[mtlipsc]

106. I'd like to, but I couldn't face myself in the mirror in the morning

I've already thought about this. My plan is to get 100 new voters registered. (I'm a notary in Vermont.) That will be my propitiation for the sin of not voting for Kerry if he is the Democratic party candidate.

I cannot stomach rewarding Kerry for his record. If Kerry is the best candidate we can come up with, as inflamed as we are, I don't want to be a Democrat any more.

[CWebster]

107. Endorse Dean. nt