Primary today: You have two hours to persuade me to support your candidate

[Bossy Monkey]

I'm leaning towards Edwards, but open to anybody. I could be enthusiastic about any of them except Lieberman.
Hint: Attacks on other candidates aren't likely to help your case.

By the way, this is SC.

[mopinko]

1. dean

he believes investing in mothers and babies. what better investment could the government make.

[mopinko]

2. i hope no one mentions electability

please talk about your candidates accomplishments and policies, ok?

[Nashyra]

10. Clark

I won't bore you with details because they can be found at www.Clark04.com what I will tell you is that I have met the man in person and heard his speeches, he is the most inclusive of all the candidates and the most passionate. He took the time with no cameras and handlers encouraging him to move on to talk to my 76 year old Calif resident father after a rally in New Hampshire. He was 5 when Korea started and my dad was in Korea fightning. General Clark knew of my dad's division and so much more and took the time to Thnak and talk to this veteran about Korea even though he knew that he was not a NH voter. The man is Real and Sincere Believable when he says he cares. My dad came away for the first time since coming home from Korea that his service was appreciated and needed, that's big to a veteran. On Tues nite we were holding polling signs at 7:30 p.m. close to closing and Clark showed up to talk to last minute voters, he was gracious enough to thank all the volunteers even volunteers from the other campaign and was passing out hot chocolate to everyone who was working and who were obviously very cold. This man cares. Read his platforms, that is what interested me, but the man himself proves he means what he says. And he is not beholden to ANY special interest. Hope to see you vote for Clark, but thank you for voting period. Participating in the process is the first step in getting our democracy back.

[corporatewhore]

3. Send a message to Dem Party big media NYTimes voteKucinich!!!!!!!

[mo_lurker]

4. Me Too

I am in Missouri, and I am a big underdog kind of guy. I know that my vote is probably wasted, because it looks like Kerry is going to blow everyone out.

I am looking for the most consistent, principled candidate. The one whose rhetoric now matches his voting record.

I'm leaning Kucinich.

Convince me, too

[joshcryer]

5. Vote your conscious, not logic.

Don't vote for someone who you think will win, vote for someone whose policies are your favored.

[Lefta Dissenter]

17. Not only that,

but voting for the candidate you believe in may get him a few delegates, even if he doesn't 'win the state.'

I'm SO sick of the media and the pollsters telling us how to vote! :( Don't get sucked into the 'bandwagon' effect.

[einniv]

26. I'd like to "me too" that.

Remember that 1) a long close race is good for our party, keeps us in the news and 2)voting your conscious can ,even if your candidate doesn't win, influence the platform of the candidate who does win. That is the way it usually works.

[mopinko]

31. yes, yes, yes

i am sick of the "it's over, give up" crowd.

[poskonig]

6. Edwards is a strong candidate.

If you like him and it feels right, go ahead and vote him.

Relevant factors for a switch to Kerry:

1) Kerry is kicking the crap out of Bush in the polls.

2) Kerry has foreign policy experience and is a decorated vet, and possible could win military states.

3) Kerry may be painted as a waffling patrician northeasterner.

4) Kerry can raise unlimited $$$$$$$ against SpaceShrub (other candidates sans Dean are limited by public financing)

5) Kerry is a loyal Democrat and solid on the issues.

[morgan2]

7. kucinich

kerry/dean/edwards/clark mainly differ in style. In all honesty it doesn't matter to much which one of them ends up winning and one of them is going to win. In my mind at least, the only thing meaningful to do, is to vote for Kucinich. Show the country that there is a strong support for the ideas he's talking about.

[Fleshdancer]

8. Your vote, your responsibility

If you're leaning towards Edwards, then vote Edwards.

[GumboYaYa]

9. Here is my pitch for Howard Dean:

We need Dean's voice in this race. Howard Dean has credibility on some important issues that most of the other candidates can not claim.

Dean opposed "No Child Left Behind" from the start. Dean knew it was an unfunded federal mandate that would hurt schools more than help them. Kerry, Edwards, Lieberman all voted for "No Child Left Behind." NCLB has turned into a colossal failure because it "is an unfunded federal mandate." Sounds familiar because Howard Dean had the foresight to call it just that when it was not popular to do so.

We all know about the invasion of Iraq. Dean opposed the war because he saw no evidence that Saddam possessed WMDs. Last week David Kay admitted that there was no evidence of WMDs. Sounds familiar because Howard Dean had the foresight to call it just that when it was not popular to do so.

If you want a candidate who will take positions on issues because he believes it is right for the American people and not because of the political expediency of the moment, Howard Dean is the candidate for you.

In addition to exhibiting excellent judgment and foresight on many issues important to Americans, Dean has delivered results in government. Children under 18 have healthcare in Vermont, one-third of seniors have a prescription drug benefit, every parent of a newborn is visited in the hospital and over 90% of those have follow-up visits at home. As a result of his focus on helping people and some far sighted programs, Dean has helped reduce child abuse in Vermont by over 40%. At the same time he was delivering results to Vermont families, Dean was delivering balanced budgets. These are but a few examples of way Howard Dean delivers results to the people he represents. I encourage you to visit www.denforamerica.com to see more details of Dean's actual record.

Having said all of that, the main reason to vote for Dean is the fact that he is in politics to help people. There is not one whiff of political corruption in his entire career. You may not agree with every position Dean takes on an issue, but you can be assured that he is taking that position because he honestly believes it is the best position for the people he represents.

Thank you for the opportunity to try to change your vote. I hope you will seriously consider Governor Dean.

[mastein]

11. have you checked candidate web sites

That will help, and will give you the current snapshot they want you to see, but I hope DU will fill in the background on the candidates.

[Democrats unite]

12. Why do people come here and make this challenage?

If you do not know who you are going to vote for by now...
Or is this just an attention getting thread?

It really scrares me what some people think of their vote.

[Bossy Monkey]

22. That would be: to see if anybody can persuade me otherwise

Sometimes the obvious answer is the correct one.

[Meritaten1]

13. Vote for Clark

1). Don't vote in the primary until you go to http://www.clark04.com and check out his extensive and detailed liberal positions on issues. The material there is too comprehensive to repeat here.

2). Clark appeals to voters across the political spectrum, so he can attract swing voters that will be necessary to win the general election.

3). He's disclosed all his records.

4). He has extensive military/national defense/foreign policy experience.

5). He has economic experience (Rhodes Scholar, taught economics at West Point, White House fellow with OMB)-- unlike *, he actually knows about budgets and macroeconomic policy.

6). He comes from a working class Southern background (all big pluses if Democrats want to carry the South this year).

7). His character and integrity make him difficult for the GOPers to attack (not that the GOP and the media aren't trying, the smears lodged against him during the primary season have been unreal). But they won't be able to maintain smears successfully and the election will be over if * ever faces Clark in a debate.

8). His campaign has momentum and enthusiastic supporters, and his fundraising has reflected this situation.

9). He's brilliant and disciplined- e.g. speaks four languages fluently, graduated first in his class from West Point, swims a mile every day. These are qualities that would help make him a really extraordinary president.

[Lefta Dissenter]

19. and just yesterday announced the endorsements of

55 US Ambassadors and Diplomats. They've worked with him all over the world, and they've been witness to how well-respected he is by other world leaders. Wes Clark is our one chance to earn back the respect of other nations, and work our way back towards a world in which we can create partnerships and coalitions, rather than creating enemies and adversaries.

[rucky]

14. If you'd be happy with any of the likely winners....

Vote for Kucinich. He deserves a good showing, and it will help the progressive issues in the party carry more weight in the long run.

:)

[mrgorth]

15. Dean

If Bush runs against someone who voted for the war, the patriot act and No Child's Behind left, we're screwed.

[Iverson]

16. Cast a vote for civilization.

That means no wars of aggression.
That means no appeasement of wars of aggression.
That means no voting for it and then equivocating afterward in order to be all things to all people.
That means no endorsing invasions without cause, followed by mealymouthed technocratic objections.

If your conscience leads you here, then your choices are pretty much narrowed down to two, Kucinich and Sharpton.

Of those two, Kucinich was in Congress to raise a principled voice against.

That's my recommendation: a vote for the minimums of civilization.

[John_H]

18. Three supreme court justices. A Stripped bare constitution.

The selling of your country to comorate interests and the far right. War.

My conscience only allows me to vote for the guy who can beat Chimp the easiest.

[windansea]

20. convince me you are cool enough

to vote for Clark

[Bossy Monkey]

23. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

Thanks, I needed that. I'm the least cool person on the board, I promise. Oh well, guess Clark loses another vote. Good job!

Edited to murder the all-caps in the subject line in accordance with rules

[maxr4clark]

21. Clark

If a man can be judged by the character of his children, vote for Clark. I met Wes Clark Jr. a few weeks ago; he was everything I would wish to be if my father were running for President, intelligent, informed, well-spoken, and passionate about helping those who have less in this country.

Clark is the right man for the situation we are in today. He can get American foreign policy off the disastrous track it is on, and keep the military from sucking all the money out of the government's ability to provide healthcare, social services, and help to the economy. He will also hold Bush accountable for what he has done in office, without making it personal or a partisan issue. He will bring us closer together as a nation. He will bring respect back to the process of government, by running an open, honest government that gets the economy back in order and convinces the rest of the world that the United States is not the most dangerous threat to the planet.

[bullimiami]

24. dean and why...

first some of the others.

Edwards. Good guy. smart and honest. i think he would do a good job. maybe lacking a little experience. i give him a little of a pass on the senate failures because he is a newcomer but still it weakens him for me a little.

kerry. im sorry kerry folk but for 3 years he has been a bush enabler. the senate dems have a sad record of standing up for principals against the right wing takeover and now suddenly he is this super tough guy? whar?? i think he is decent but im wary of him jumping in front of the band and pretending he has always been the drum major.

clark. so he was a general. i dont know much else about him and neither does anyone else. he doesnt have much of a liberal record or a record of any kind and no experience except military.

dennis. good guy great principals. never would he have a chance with the right wingers in congress . he would never be able to get anything done it would be nonstop fighting. i think he does good right where he is.
maybe we can wrest the country back from the right wing first before we try to fix everything. sorry guys he is not a realist.

DEAN. is my choice. smart and experienced. careful with OPM other peoples money. Vermont is a shining example of how to manage correctly. they have money and services still now while much of the country is in crisis. why? because dean is an excellent manager, conservative with budgets, concerned with people ((WE are the dean special inerest group)), and he remembers we have to not only govern for today but for the future. He cannot be bought or controlled by special interests and will speak his mind and he is honest and frank to a fault.

andy
miami

[redqueen]

25. Kucinich

If you like the frontrunners all about the same, and want to send your party leaders a message about which direction you want the party to move, and you want that direction to be to the LEFT, then I say vote for Kucinich.

Also, he's the best candidate - hands down. :)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

27. I would vote for Kerry for the following reasons

He has the LONGEST liberal record of ANY in the field which includes the following ( please don't let reports of his being ineffectual fool you)

He introduced the FIRST bill ever to ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation.

He uncovered more government corruption than anyone in the halls of congress with BCCI (for which he was damn near alienated by his own party) and Iran Contra.
Since Elliot Abrahams, Otto Reich, John Negroponte are back in goverment, I am sure he would love a second opportunity to convict them.

He plans to only roll back the tax cuts for the higher levels...Democrats need to get working class people back on our side.

His healthcare plan is to make the same care he gets through congrss available.

His expertise legally would probably vet the best Supreme Court justices (possibly as many as three this next term)

His being a veteran doesn't hurt either.

[einniv]

28. One interesting aspect of a John Kerry nomination would be

that he can "bring up" or remind people of the subject of Iran/Contra, and all the evil shit that many of Bush's current administration were involved in in the past. He can do this naturally as part of giving people his "resume`" without it seeming "staged" or an overt attack.

[Bossy Monkey]

29. Supporters of other candidates should read this to see how it's done

Mind you, I'm not sure I'm switching to Kerry, but you've done a fine job in very few words of making the case. Needless to say (I hope) if Kerry gets the nod, I will be thrilled to cast my vote for him in November.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

33. I can much more support a candidate whose liberal record is

right there than one with new found liberalism and anger whose record only includes a couple liberal items.

I have tried to communicate this without going negative until last weekend when I got sucked in by the attacks against him which I regret.

[mdmc]

30. Who can win your state, or town?

Don't ask us! I'm from NY, so I'll tell you to vote for DK or Dean, or anyone that plays well up in NY. At the end of the day, however, NY will vote Democratic! We are up here trying to figure out who can win Ohio and PA.
Can Edwards or Clark win any state down South in the general? If he can, then he should be the candidate, if he can't then vote for someone else.

Peace! Can't go wrong with a peace candidate.

[DjTj]

32. Edwards...

I'm close to your deadline, so I'll just ask you to read this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/04/01/19_edwards.html

Thanks for your time.

[maxr4clark]

37. That third picture is Sean Cassidy, not John Edwards n/t

[bigtree]

34. Kerry - This man loves

I can sense it. And I believe he cares deeply about his country. That love is reflected in his family who is close at hand and working hard for his campaign.

Snip from his web site: http://www.johnkerry.com/about/

"His wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry is the chairman of The Howard Heinz Endowment and the Heinz Family Philanthropies. The New York Times has called her “one of the nation’s leading philanthropists”. Named by Utne magazine as one of 100 American visionaries, she is recognized as one of our premier environmental leaders. And she has been a long-time and tireless educator and advocate on behalf of women’s health and economic security.

In 1984, after winning election as Lieutenant Governor in 1982, Kerry ran and was elected to serve in the United States Senate, running and winning a successful PAC-free Senate race and defeating a Republican opponent buoyed by Ronald Reagan's reelection coattails. Like his predecessor, the irreplaceable Paul Tsongas, Kerry came to the Senate with a reputation for independence -- and reinforced it by making tough choices on difficult issues: breaking with many in his own Party to support Gramm-Rudman Deficit Reduction; taking on corporate welfare and government waste; pushing for campaign finance reform; holding Oliver North accountable and exposing the fraud and abuse at the heart of the BCCI scandal; working with John McCain in the search for the truth about Vietnam veterans declared POW/MIA; and insisting on accountability, investment, and excellence in public education."


John Kerry has shown through his service in the military, in his state, and in the Congress that he is committed to standing up for what he believes in. This would include his IWR vote.

In a long speech that he gave on the Senate floor before the vote, Sen. Kerry outlined all of the concerns and fears that we express here in our debate. John told the president in that speech that if he didn't live up to the restraint implied in the resolution, he would come after him and hold him accountable. I believe him.


Go get him John!

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

35. Vote Dennis Kucinich

We're all ABB anyway, and SC is most likely to go to the GOP. Vote for the heart of the party so we have progressive delegates at the convention.

When are you *ever* going to get a chance to vote for someone like DK ever again?

[Terry_M]

36. Dean is a Long Term Solution

because he proposes to change the party.