My simple reason why I am voting for Kerry.

[Old and In the Way]

My 16 year old son.

I really could give a rat's ass about which candidate is more left or more right on issues. I could care whether he voted for this or that, how much money he has or doesn't have. I am not interested in how many points he's scored on some matrix of policy issues. That's not important to me.

Electibility is. I want the candidate that's getting the clear majority of Demcorats voting for him. Because they see a man that has the qualifications, experience, and attributes to be their President in 2004.

I will obviously vote for any of the Democratic nominees, but I have only one good reason why I'm want Kerry to win our nomination.

[kenny blankenship]

1. Kerry voted to send other people's sons to Iraq

and let 'em die.

Whatta guy!

[creativelcro]

2. I don't care, either way. I won't vote for Kerry, ever.

[CrazyHarry25]

9. That's why you need to pull for Edwards

He's the only guy with a chance to win.

[DrFunkenstein]

13. Edwards Impassioned Attack On IWR

Oh, wait...nevermind.

[EXE619K]

Yes, maybe he should have thought of that.

He said YES...when it mattered.

[CalebHayes]

5. So did Bush... So which do you choose?

[nomaco-10]

18. Why do you think the only option is bush* or Kerry?

There are other candidates running. Helloooooo!

[Old and In the Way]

6. Nope.

He voted to support the UN resolution with force, if necessary. It was necessary. Bush lied, he's responsible.

[Mile Hi]

24. You believe that

I read the IWR
It gave Bush the authority to attack Iraq.
If Kerry only thought it was for a "threat" he's dumber than a box of rocks

[vision]

26. Here is the text of the IWR

http://www.talkleft.com/archives/001152.html

It did not force Bush to do anything. It "supports" the President's efforts with the UN and than the President is given the final determination to go to war or not.

It was a blank check that all Bush had to do was endorse. Show me how this resolution "forced" Bush to do anything since going to war and when diplomacy was over was determined by Presidental determination.

[CrazyHarry25]

7. ...And then decided he was against the war

Great Man.

[corporatewhore]

8. andtheir ffathers (like mine)their mothers their daughters their brothers

their sisters their neices their nephews their aunts their uncles their cousisns lovers and friends

[Malva Zebrina]

12. the choice will be between Kerry and Bush

so now where are you? You will vote for Bush? you wil vote for the libertarian candidate and give away a vote that would work toward the defeat of Bush? I know it is not the ideal, but this is crucial. Bush for another four years will destroy this country. It is crucial. I made up my mind, although Kucinich was my choice and who I supported in our causcus here, that I would vote for anyone but Bush. Many many people here aree saying the same. I would have voted for Lieberman, actually, although I hate him, in order to get this insane maniac out.

[Malva Zebrina]

3. I am energized by the caucus

enormous turnout in Lincoln county. people are pissed! Work and volunteer to do whatever to get this idiot out of our house.

Send him back to the pig farm in Crawford. The stupid idiot deserves to be impeached and thrown out. Tell your kids to never ever consider another Bush for any office, anywhere--be it dogcatcher in a rural town in Maine or be it anything--never ever let another Bush lord it over us like this bastard has. Never ever allow another Bush to come near fifty feet of the White House! The entire family is evil and corrupt, contain genes that display pathological, mental illness and inability to adjust anywhere to any social situation, are prone to addictions, and are selfish, spoiled rich people who feel entitled to lord it all over the "little people" not to mention the lack of intelligence.

[creativelcro]

15. I'm energized by...

:D

[ronnykmarshall]

4. *Stands and claps*

Bravo! We may have different candidates, but I admire you're message and love for your son and his future.

[Old and In the Way]

11. Thanks ronnykmarshall!

We have 6 great Democrats in this race. We all have one over-riding point of agreement - stopping Bush.

The only point of disagreement should be the instrument of choice.

[ronnykmarshall]

14. You're welcome

and you may be "old" but you sure as hell aren't in the way!

[DrFunkenstein]

10. How About Paying For College?

Here's some options Kerry puts on the table:

A new "Service for College" initiative will call on young people both to help strengthen America's security and to address unmet needs. For every young person who gives two years of service, America will pay the cost for four years of their state's public college tuition. This will simultaneously strengthen our society, enhance our economy and advance our values by opening doors of higher education to those who respond to a higher sense of duty to make our country better.

My aim is nothing less than to make national service a way of life for each new generation of Americans. So I will set a goal within the next decade of enlisting five hundred thousand young people a year in Service for College - more than one out of seven young Americans working side by side, in many different ways, but with a common commitment to our best hopes and values.

For nearly ten years, young people have received assistance in paying for college in exchange for a commitment to serve as police officers after graduation. The Police Corps is an idea I've championed from the start; it has been one of the most innovative initiatives of the last decade. As President, I will expand it and it will continue to provide an even higher level of benefit for all four years of college. Whether the young people who are members of the Corps stay in police work or serve and then go on to other careers, they make our streets safer while they are in uniform - and, in a larger sense, whether in uniform or afterwards - they strengthen our rule of law and our shared understanding of rights and responsibilities.

Teenagers thirteen to seventeen are too old for child care and too young for many summer jobs. Parents don't want to leave them alone all summer but too many families don't have any alternative. I propose Summers of Service that will involve teenagers in the work of their communities. Supervised by AmeriCorps volunteers, they can visit nursing homes, clean up local areas, or teach seniors computer skills - and, in turn, they will earn a grant to apply to their college education.

There are those in the Greatest Generation who are doing that today. And now the generation of the 1960's is entering their 60's. Today's Americans are living longer and staying healthier into their retirement; we need their experience and their energy - and in return, they will earn money that they can apply to an education grant for a grandchild or other any child they choose.

They have already done so much for their country. Here is what they can now do for their communities: older Americans can serve as positive role models for our children, signposts of stability in our classrooms, and the world's most patient tutors. When they are part of schools, students behave better. When older Americans spend time tutoring, children learn more and learn faster. And older Americans have the credibility and compassion to help their infirm or disabled peers in ways that no one else can.. Our older Americans are retired, not tired - and America cannot afford to waste their wisdom and vitality.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2003_0519.html

[nomaco-10]

16. It's always interesting to hear people's.....

reason for choosing a candidate. When I read "I have a sixteen year old son", I did a double take, if I had a sixteen year old son I'd be outraged and doing everything in my power to get someone like Dean, Kucinich or Clark elected and I'd be doubly outraged by any candidate that voted for IWR. I've seen the pictures of the soldiers, they look like babies, some of them don't even look sixteen. Kerry has already said we need 40,000 more troops in Iraq and he will not unequivocally rule out the draft and since not very many other countries other than Cameroon and the Fiji Islands are willing to offer up their young ones to the alter of bush*, think they'll give them to Kerry? Where will they come from? I'd be busting my ass for another candidate and getting my passport up to date if I had a sixteen year old son living in this country.
The damned electability issue has ruined this party. How can you be electable if people won't vote for you because they're scared your unelectable? Great BeJeebus, it's an oxy moron and a scare tactic spawned to keep us all in line. I didn't fall for it, but unfortunately a great many others did. To quote one dem candidate, "you have the power" the only thing is, you can't be afraid to exercise it, especially in the voting booth.

[pezcore64]

17. I feel your pain...

You want to know my reason for voting for Dean?

My UNBORN child.

[anti-NAFTA]

19. How about protecting American jobs?

You don't care about that? (not that you have much of a choice on this issue though).

[progressivebydesign]

20. I respect your opinon.. but "electability" is a myth.

I think you have valid reasons for choosing Kerry. The myth of electability will come back to bite us Democrats on the butt someday. I cannot be predicted. Vote with your heart.. if your heart says, "Kerry", great. I refuse to try and second guess the electorate. I only know what is important to me, and that I will be ABB in November. Primaries? Any one of our candidates could be Bush is we work hard enough.

[oasis]

21. Electability = wise choice.

[ShimokitaJer]

22. Electability = choice which requires no thought

Electability = largely dependent on media portrayal
Electability = encourages entrenched political interestes rather than progress
Electability = choice which relies on being told what decision to make rather than making a decision for yourself
Electability = choice made out of fear of the alternative rather than actual enthusiasm for a candidate

[Mile Hi]

23. Trust me

Kerry will keep us in Iraq and may even do more along the same lines.

[Leilani]

25. If I had a 16 year old son

I'd support Gen Clark, the person who has the best chance of fixing the mess in Iraq, so your son, & other peoples sons & daughters do not find themselves fighting an unnecessary war.

Also, Clark has said there will be NO draft. As a career person, he realizes the military needs to be made up of volunteers, if it is to function best.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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

[oasis]

28. Your charcaterization of fellow DUers is desperately lacking in civility

and sensitivity. If I were you I would consider an apology.

[sandnsea]

I have an 18 year old son

There is no one else I trust with his life.

I especially don't trust General Clark who didn't protest Vietnam, supported Reagan's proxy wars and testified about the danger of Saddam and now lies about it.

And if he can't even get Democrats interested in him, how in the world is he supposed to beat Bush.

JK All The Way!!!

[DU GrovelBot]

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[bigtree]

30. Votes already cast do matter.

[Sly Kal]

31. I have a 23 year old friend

He is on his way to Iraq because of the votes of Kerry, Edwards, Lieberman and others. Does that not matter?

Kerry seems the least electable of all the candidates to me. What issues will he be able to run with?

[Casablanca]

32. "I could care whether he voted for this or that" ...

You _should_ care about that. Do you really have to be told why you should?

[zoeyfong]

33. If you don't care about the issues, then what does it matter who wins?

[HoosierClarkie]

34. That is exactly why I am NOT voting for Kerry.

My children deserve a President that will stand up even if it is not popular.

This is one voter who is not fooled by him.