I supported Dean, but I voted Kerry today!

[littlejoe]

Now that I've had a chance to take a good long look at Howard Dean, and had the unfortunatate opportunity to watch his campaign implode, I am willimg to admit that I made a mistake.

Today I officially switched allegiances and voted for John Kerry in the Missouri primary. I think he will make a fine president.

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. welcome aboard!

Plenty of room on the bandwagon, though space will be limited soon. :)

[democratreformed]

7. Space will be limited soon?

Does that mean I have to start rethinking the ADBB decision that I just recently made? Well..... okay then.

[THUNDER HANDS]

17. ADBB?

what does that mean?

[democratreformed]

21. Any Democrat But Bush - meaning no vote for a third party. n/t

[progressivebydesign]

2. Dean's campaign "imploded"?

Were you really ever a Dean supporter?

[littlejoe]

25. Yes, I supported him. But......

I am also a realist. If Dean cannot run a competent campaign, then there is pause for concern. I have never seen anyone reach such heights and then come crashing to earth before the first vote was cast. Kerry has displayed resilience, and the ability to connect to a broader range of people. Plus he's plkenty liberal for me.

[HFishbine]

3. Gotta admire dedication

That's the way we'll change this country -- move with the heard.

[BigDaddyLove]

8. Yep, right into the White House.

.

[KFC]

14. Memo: the candidate that gets the most votes wins.

In each state. So the "herd" obviously will support the winner, be it Kucinich, Dean, Kerry, Clark, or Edwards.

[joshcryer]

20. Actually, the herd is moved by the media...

...so support for the candidate can wane if too much bashing goes on.

[girl gone mad]

28. The blind leading the blind..

straight to the Oval Office.

[HFishbine]

38. More like

the bland leading the blind.

[jonnyblitz]

43. yeah i always feel good about following the crowd.

it sure is classy to check the polls first before choosing who to support.

[joshcryer]

4. There's an S word I want to use right now.

It's not nice... :(

[BigDaddyLove]

10. How about an 'E' word.......

Elect-ability.

[joshcryer]

13. I hope he does get elected if nominated.

It would really suck for him to lose.

[cindyw]

34. haha How about the "P" word.

Presidential

[joshcryer]

37. Ahh, yes, P is good.

But it doesn't stand for Presidential...

[Old and In the Way]

46. How about "Elitist" as in "everyone who doesn't vote for my candidate

is a dupe of the media"?

I know, I'm just one of those dummies who made an informed decision to back Kerry and I look forward to seeing Kerry become the next POTUS along with the rest of the fools who'll vote for him in November.

[elb77]

5. curious...

what is your reasoning for the switch?

[littlejoe]

29. I have a few reasons for the switch

Some of my reasons are legitimate, and a couple I'm not so proud to own up to.

My perception: Kerry had been in Washington so long, it took him awhile to realize he was a human being again and not a senator. I think we;re seeing the real John Kerry now, and he is reflecting favorably. This cannot be ignored, since it goes straight to the electability issue.

My perception: Kerry was so far down in the polls, people were calling him inept and a fool for continuing on. He continued, made some changes, came out swinging, and pulled an amazing comeback. This is the kind of quality I want displayed in my leader.

Kerry's war record: Cannot be debated

Dean's campaign implosion: His inability to fend off criticism and remain a front-runner showed me a lot. I didn't like what I saw. Now, his campaign has all but thrown the towl in. I don't like a quitter.

Stylistically: I hate to admit it, but looks are impotant. To me, Dean just didn't look or sound as presidential as Kerry.


These are a few of the reasons why I became a turncoat. But just remember, I want more than anything to oust Bush in November. If it means I must switch candidates, then so be it.

[elb77]

47. ok...

i know it's too late to change your mind, but just for some healthy debate...

what makes you think dean's campaign is throwing in the towel? that's not my perception at all.

and, yes, he has had to deal with a lot of criticism, but Kerry hasn't really had to go through that same test. i guess you're coming from the thought that he was getting it in the couple months leading up to Iowa. but I think really he was getting criticism for not jumpstarting his campaign...it took a LONG time to get off the ground. Not until Dean dropped really. Will he get the same criticism as a front-runner? And, if so (I haven't seen it yet), will he survive? That's not proven yet. You forget, in the beginning, Howard Dean was certainly the underdog and certainly was laughed at for even entertaining the idea of entering this race. He just rose first. Maybe this is all about timing and Dean peaked too soon. I don't know. It just hurts that, for some reason, people aren't seeing what I'm seeing with respect to Dean.

I guess your view of what makes someone "electable" is different from mine. I don't weigh military experience in the same way. I look for integrity and honesty and a bold personality with the guts to take a stand against all the Bush/corporate BS. I want a consistent record between what is said and what is done.

But I appreciate your candor. It's good to have an idea about what has been going on nationally.

[Eloriel]

49. Hah! There IS no "real Kerry" -- or if there ever was

he died after he testified to Congress against the Vietnam war.

That's why Kerry has to rev up those ole Vietnam War vibes so often -- that's the last time he's ever been "real."

Kerry is a chameleon. What you're seeing is just his better (ever so slightly) and more practiced version of pandering.

Ptooeey.

And I've got another clue for you: just wait. Kerry's war record most certainly CAN be debated, and it has been. A lot of people won't like what the Rove machine makes sure surfaces about Kerry's war record. It will make Bush look good by comparison.

Kerry's absolutely not more electable against Bush. An awful lot of people have drunk the KoolAid on that one, but they're going to be bitterly disappointed. We all are.

[sandnsea]

6. Well Thank You!!!

I'm lovin' my Missouri Democrats!!!

(My family has been in St. Louis for 100 years!)

[TheDonkey]

9. Good for you, JK is going to make an incredible president.

[IronLionZion]

11. Indeed, I supported Dean until he went negative

man, I loved it when he attacked Bush and put forth his vision for changing America. But I hated it when he attacked Kerry and Edwards. It's sounds like sour grapes. But I really hope that whoever wins will fight for the regular people.

[girl gone mad]

42. Kerry went negative on Dean..

a long time ago. So why do you make excuses for Kerry but not for Dean?

[grisvador]

48. But he has been negative from the beginning just

at *, I disliked it too when he attacked JK & JE & DG. HD from the start was about our expression of anger at *.

[emulatorloo]

12. Glad you got out to vote!

I'll be looking for you vote tonite on TV.

Kerry is gonna make a great President!

:toast:

[Uzybone]

15. Good for you

prepare to be called a moron or a sheep by the bitter faction, but I think you have made the right decision. Good choice!

[lastknowngood]

16. vote your conscience and deal with the

outcome.

[Straight Shooter]

18. Oh, well, if you're going to abandon the cause, go all the way

What about Clark? What about Kucinich? Especially Kucinich!

So much for the cause of the little people. No wonder politics turns people off.

[corporatewhore]

19. if you voted for kerry for his issues ....

then good for you if you didnt than thats Bahhhhhhd

[NewYorkerfromMass]

22. If Bush is an issue

then he did fine.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

23. I love your sig...

[Duder]

24. I made the better choice for president...

...and voted for Howard Dean in the Missouri primary.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dookus]

27. yes...

because everybody knows ONLY Dean can beat Bush (despite the fact he can't even win a Democratic primary)

[cindyw]

33. Will he be thanking you in November?

:eyes:

[demnan]

30. You are entitled to your opinion and your vote

but I fear that you, like many others, were manipulated by the media and negative tactics from the other campaigns to switch your vote.

When I look at the issues, the records and strategies of each of the candidates I think Dean is the best choice and plan to vote for him in the Virginia primary.

Here are my main reasons:

1. Dean was against the war vocally before anybody except Kucinich.

2. Dean has implemented health care in Vermont and as a Doctor he knows that we desperately need health care in this country and will work to do it.

3. Dean has organized enthusiastic people who were not previously in the party, therefore has the best chance of winning against Bush.

4. Dean takes responsibility for his actions, if he makes a mistake he admits it, and I like that.

5. Dean has spoken repeatedly about balancing the budget and was correct in his assessment of Bush's tax cuts.

[Dookus]

31. as to point 3

so did John Anderson, Ross Perot, Jerry Brown and a few others.

How can he possibly have the best chance to defeat Bush if he can't win a Democratic primary?

[oasis]

32. You didn't get the memo: Soylent green is people, ABB is Sheeple. ;-)

;-)

[isbister]

35. There weren't any

media people brainwashing you, were there?

[cosmicdot]

36. that's a big transformation from just about a month ago

when it was believed that Kerry hadn't voiced strong enough opposition to Bush's policies; that he's a fence sitter; and, that he doesn't have an effective way of connecting with people.


Sounds like he connected with your vote today.

[littlejoe]

39. Kerry has connected with my vote, and I don't choose lightly.

I am not always right. I do not always back a winner. I do admit when I made a mistake, and I believe that backing Dean was a mistake.

[RetroLounge]

40. And did you ever really DO anything with your support?

No attack. honest questions.

Did you work for the campaign?
Did you write letters?
Did you make phone calls?
Did you write to the papers in support?
Did you email media when they were unfair?
anything?

and what made you change your mind?

[littlejoe]

41. I did two of those things. Does that count?

[RetroLounge]

45. Of course it does.

and I appreciate it. Thanks.

Like I said, it wasn't an attack.

There was just a whole wave of "I used to support Dean..." threads and some of them are B.S. IMHO.

[mitchum]

44. Good for you, Little Joe!