Kerry Supporters: Please get this Dean supporter fired up for Kerry!

[absyntheNsugar]

I'm a Californian. That means my primary vote really doesn't count.

To boot, I can't vote for my 1st choice (Clark) because he dropped out. I can't vote for my second (Dean) because HE dropped out. I like Kucinich, and consider him an American hero, but this primary is still contentous and thus I cannot vote my conscience.

So....out of Kerry v Edwards, I prefer Kerry because he is the more liberal of the two, and he at least apologized for his IWR vote. I hope to God someone takes him to task on it and asks him.

"If you were to vote now, knowing what you do, would you vote for IWR?"

And I hope he replies. "No...not at all."

But I digress....

Anyway, Could some Kerry supporters PLEASE get me fired up for him? Don't bash me for floating around....there are a lot of Dean and Clark supporters who would like to be fired up over someone. Please help us here....

[Kira]

1. Thanks for this thread

I feel the same way. I really want to be excited again like I was for Dean but it is difficult. I want someone to talk about renewable energy like Dean did. I want someone to talk about the outsourcing of jobs. And yes the Iraq war vote still bothers me. I am also wondering how we are going to fight Bush when Kerry voted for all of those things that Bush pushed. HELP PLEASE!

[madfloridian]

3. He is still on the primary ballots to push for a progressive agenda.

We can vote for Dean in tbe primaries to have a voice and maybe delegates. Why not support him on this.
QUOTE:
DEAN: I am no longer actively pursuing the presidency. We will, however, continue to build a new organization, using our enormous grassroots network, to continue the effort to transform the Democratic Party and to change our country. And I...

(APPLAUSE)

And speaking to all of you and all of the hundreds of thousands of people around America who are going to get this word, either by the establishment media...

(LAUGHTER)

... or the Internet, I have some things that I specifically want to ask of our supporters.

First, keep active in the primary. Sending delegates to the convention only continues to energize our party. Fight on in the caucuses. We are on the ballots. Use your network to send progressive delegates to the convention in Boston. We are not going away. We are staying together, unified -- all of us.

[DjTj]

5. Edwards on renewable energy:

I know this is not what this thread asked for, but I found this page on Edwards' site from April 2003, and I was surprised to find that he's had this in his platform so long:

By 2010, the biorefineries proposed by Edwards would:

Bring millions of gallons of biomass ethanol to market.
Reduce foreign oil consumption by millions of barrels.
Substantially cut smog, greenhouse gas emissions, and pollution caused by the burning of agricultural waste.
Create thousands of manufacturing jobs in rural America.
Provide profitable new uses for farmers' land and crop waste.


http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=80

[George_Bonanza]

22. Dean is the best on renewable energy?

Kerry is endorsed enthusiastically by the LCV, and is probably the best environmentalist in the Senate today. How's that?

[Exgeneral]

2. I'm left coast too

Washington State; but I know enough as a democrat to not want you to vote for Kerry. For the very real reasons you just enumerated. They spell DEFEAT. THAT is why, even as a Lawyer, Edwards has a better chance.

before Kerry, even Sharpton is a better choice at this stage.

[still_one]

9. I really disagree with you

I think either Kerry or Edwards have a good chance.

The most important thing right now is to get back into power. Then we can influence the direction...

[disenfranchised]

15. Californians have short memories.

Our career politician/Vietnam vet governor was ousted because he came across as stiff and aloof.

[absyntheNsugar]

20. No he was ousted because

1 - Arnold ran against him. Californians thought they were electing the Terminator, not some Austrian oaf who gropes women he doesn't know.

2 - Davis had no spine

3 - Davis went against the power companies (Duke, Reliant, Enron) and for the first time in his carreer, grew a spine. Apparently its mighty painful, because he lost his job.

4 - Davis ran the wrong kinds of ads. Arnold's were flashy, glossy and upbeat. Davis' were boring.

5 - Cruz Bustamante split off, trying to distance himself from Davis.

6 - The recall was a perfect example of suckerpunch: a hit from nowhere when you are least expecting it.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. Read these comments from a Nevadan who saw him at a rally

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=331706

I especially loved this:

"...he's a president

I could tell before he walked in the joint -- this man's got what it takes, and the CROWD. I talked with several people afterwards, and none of us had any idea just how many people here felt this way. They were expecting a crowd of a thousand; they were turning people away at the door.

By coming here, he has REALLY helped to energize a sluggish state machine, and there's no doubt in my mind that in eight years, we'll all be sad to see Kerry leaving office."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=331706#331765

[SinkingInTheRain]

6. Sign up for Kucinich/Dean to defeat Kerry/Bush

It's time we take our country back!

[still_one]

12. There is a big difference between Kerry and Bush

Read the book Tour of Duty by Douglas Brinkley.

Look at how Kerry has voted on the environment.

He is not even close to Bush, sure he trusted Bush, that an international effort would be expended in Iraq, and that force would be a last resort. He was lied to like all of us.

I was against going into Iraq from the beginning because I felt like Wes Clark they were not an Immediate threat, and in addition they were contained, but Edwards also voted for that because he felt like Kerry, force would be a last resort, and we would work with the internation community. They/we were also lied to about no child left behind.

Both Kerry and Edwards voted against the big Pharms prescription drug plan, which I can tell you, the blue dogs voted for, even though it will cost seniors much more money in the long run.

Kucinich and Dean can help guide the party, but do not throw out the baby with the bath water after the primaries

[absyntheNsugar]

19. I'm surprised Naderites are still bringing up this lie

There is a world of difference between Kerry and Bush. There is a world of difference between Edwards and Bush. Kerry and Edwards are a world of improvement on Bush. Kerry is a liberal, and in some cases more liberal than Dean. Dean wasn't about left/right - he was about growing a spine. Same with Clark.

[still_one]

7. Hey I'm from California to

What do you mean your primary vote really doesn't count? The election is March 2...

[funky_bug]

8. I know exactly how you feel right now

and for what it's worth, my heart goes out to you. It's a struggle to re-energize. You feel disappointed, angry, let down, and confused... to name a few. It's not easy to regroup, but I applaud you for taking the first baby step.

I cannot honestly say that I'm as fired up for Kerry as I was for Clark, but I am getting there every day. A few things that did it for me...

The obvious - I went to his site and read. Good stuff. He's not Clark, and I won't say he's close, but his points are good reading, and I imagine you'll find several things you can agree with.

While you're there, find his Valentine's Day message to President Bush. THAT is what got me fired up! I actually changed my avatar for the first time immediately after watching it. I have no doubt he is organized enough to take on whatever Bush throws at him.

Read about his wife, Teresa. I am excited about Kerry, but I am VERY much enamoured of his better half. She's remarkably intelligent, and she had an incredible life time of service toward humanitarian efforts. (She worked for the UN, and speaks five languages, fights for the rights of women, and is very passionate about the Arts.)

But take your time, and ease into it. Don't let your hand be forced by anyone. After all, it's your mind, your country, and YOUR vote.

If nothing else, WATCH THAT VIDEO! IT ROCKS!

[absyntheNsugar]

13. Agree about his wife - and this is why insider is a good thing...

Unlike Hillary (who is a DINO) she is a bona fide Lefty.

The one big thing that could get me fired up for Kerry is what is turning so many DU'ers against him - and that is that he's an insider. Why is this a plus? you might ask...

Johnson was an insider - he got more done than many Dems before him. Heck, he got Civil Rights legislation through, and Kennedy couldn't even do that! Insiders are owed favors - expect them to cash in on them when it is most advantageous.

Also, Kerry is the only one running who's record shows him actually preparing for the job of President. Even Dean and Clark didn't spend their lives preparing for the job. Dean jumped in because someone needed to do the job, and Clark was drafted in and did so for duty to country. Kerry has spent every day since high school preparing for this job - and that is not a bad thing! He has gone through every scenario and has his work down pat.

Look at it this way - what would our country be like if Joe Kennedy Jr. didn't die in WWII and had been elected President....

[oasis]

31. Would anyone who believes that Hillary is a DINO be receptive to Kerry?

[absyntheNsugar]

32. Of course - Kerry has a much more progressive record than Hilary

And he was never a Goldwater Girl - he fought against Vietnam from the trenches.

[oasis]

34. That was a pretty good job of selling Kerry.....by you. :-)

:-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. please forgive me for cutting and pasting from a prior post of mine

All in all, I believe he is the most well rounded experientially. From my prior post which was a combination advocacy/ defense post to another poster:

must say I have never considered Kerry's votes on IWR or the Patriot Act purely political. Some people feel that way, I don't.

Re: The Patriot Act, it filled gaps that FISA left open and if you recall FISA warrants had been issued against one of the 9/11 suspects and a federal judge had rejected them in the past. The act itself is wrong and there are many problems with it but that is exactly why provisions were written in for the act to sunset.

Re: IWR - Kerry's position changed on IWR after a closed door meeting as did many senators and congresspeople including one of my own. There is an LBN thread detailing more info about OSP and how these agenst were pressured to accept evidence that was debunked and give it credence. IF these agents had previously testified credibly before Kerry (and odds are they did given he served on the Intelligence Committee for 18 years and some were senior agents) then it is entirely conceivable that he had to weigh their previous credibility against conflicting information and their current statements. He called it wrong. To people who expect him to explain more, it was a closed door meeting and he would be committing a federal crime to explain himself further.

To my knowledge, the only other times he gave his vote for military action were Bosnia and Somalia in his entire career. He did NOT vote for Gulf war 1.

Kerry's position on gay marriage is identical to Dean's. He supports civil unions and has MANY strong statements on the record rejecting bigotry against gay people.

For being an opportunist, he has a history of ferreting out government corruption. He almost ruined his career when investigating BCCI as a close friend of Carter's (Clark Clifford) became implicated. Clifford, it turns out had NOT committed a crime but he was persona non grata with high level Dems for Clifford even being referenced in the investigation

He only backed off from that investigation after Clinton ordered it dropped and there was no where else to go.

The two convicted felons in George Bush's administration, Elliot Abrahams and Otto Reich were convicted based on Kerry's investigative work which was then used by the special prosecutor in Iran Contra and Senator Inouye at the hearings to to indict them. It was HIS work that got those hearings accomplished and George Bush Sr's pardons that undermined further convictions as well as Bill Clinton's lack of political will to follow through.

His environmental record is better than most in the senate.

He pushed HARD for Kyoto (dropped unilaterally by the Bush admin) which would have resulted in less manufacturing jobs being shipped abroad since there in now no incentive for other countries to pass anti-pollution laws.


He has enforced (and written) tough banking laws onshore and offshore, which laws if not abandoned by the Bush admin would have made it far easier to trace laundered money in drugs, terrorism AND corporate crime...hardly the act of a corporate apologist.


And finally, I am 45 years old and for nearly ALL of my adult life John Kerry has been on the side of the issue with his votes that I value most...be it labor rights, women's rights, clean air, clean water, or darn near any other issue.

I further feel that his extensive knowledge of security matters and his long standing relatinship with the senate and congress will lead to greater cooperation to clean up the mess from this administration.

His plan on Iraq is not all that far apart from Dean..he is NOT for expanding the mission but for turning it over to the UN.

John Kerry is NOT at the mercy of oil companies.

He favors alternative energy sources.

I could go on but you probably won't read all of this anyway.



"There is no reason why good cannot triumph as often as evil. The triumph of anything is a matter of organization. If there are such things as angels, I hope that they are organized along the lines of the Mafia." Kurt Vonnegut

[absyntheNsugar]

18. Hey! I did read all of that...

You forget the title of my post - I'm imploring to be fired up for Kerry. In my mind's study there's a poster with Kerry on it...and big white letters that read "I WANT TO BELIEVE"

The closed door meeting explanation makes sense to me - and I would 100% understand his voting for IWR and forgive him if he just came out and said he would not do so today. That's all I ask - no divulging of national security.

And the whole Skull and Bones conspiracy crap - is just that, crap. I was a Phi Sigma Kappa and so was John Sununu. I would never hire him to be my janitor, let alone make secret deals with him.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

25. This Is Brilliant

I am forwarding it to several undecided/lukewarm folks I know.

Thanks T!

DTH

[jonnyblitz]

29. thanks NSMA. I read it all. I appreciate you posting it

and I will bookmark this thread to come back to. After I regroup and catch my breath I will be lookin to support Kerry vocally. I placed an intra library hold on his book "A Call to Service" and will read it and do other research. Rather than focus on all things I ,as a lefty and/or "purist", might find wrong with him I want to be able to contrast him with Bush. I figure if I can support a centrist like Dean why can't I support Kerry also. :hi:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. Thanks JohnnyB

I don't discredit the "lefty" argument entirely myself.

The other night a friend and I had a conversation on how the left lost ground. We dealt with issues concerning wages, labor rights and poverty.

To some I may appear to have changed or altered my own beliefs in the matter and to them I say, I haven't.
I just went through a very expensive, mood altering recall in California where Democrats were viewed to be as evil as Republicans and Gray Davis wasn't liberal enough for the left in spite of the fact that he gave more seats to minorities than prior governors, extended rights for state employees LWS's including gay SO's, protected more land through conservancies, provided more healthcare benefits to the poor and indigents through major hospitals than the 4 administrations prior to him and was pushed to sign legislation that even THE LIBERAL wing of the Democratic party in California was forced to back off on now that it is their own asses on the line not his.

I don't look for a savior in my leaders. I look to someone who gives more than short shrift to what I want for myself and my community. It's not always a perfect match and sometimes our agendas vary, but with all the programs that now have to suffer and won't be funded if Arnold's bond initiatives don't pass and the mandate that will be to cut programs for the needy further, I would simply caution people to be careful for what they ask for. There is a valid parellel between this experience and the presidential election this year.

Life is a negotiation.

[jonnyblitz]

36. yup

I could nitpick and find every little wrong thing and use it for an excuse to be "anti", but, in the end, what in fuck am I gonna do? vote for Bush? I agree with you on the "savior" comment. Politicians and politicians and I get kinda creeped out when people seem to "worship" them or expect superhuman feats from them.

You have no idea the grief I am gonna get for this but I dont care. Reading your posts for the past few weeks, especially these most recent ones have been helpful for me. And I just completely lost my train of thought , I know I had something else to say..oh well ..anyways thanks for your lengthy response to my response. I do appreciate your time. more later. :hi:

[bigwillq]

11. Same here, my energy is not with Kerry (or Edwards) for that matter

right now. Maybe, it's too soon but I think all of us Dean fans who are struggling right now, just remember his vision. We can still play a major part in this election even with Dean out of the race. Continue to do the same things you did for Dean when applicable. Kerry or the other candidates are not Dean but we can still get the shrub the hell out of office with our efforts. Peace and luck.

[still_one]

14. I hope you heard Dean speak today

You are definitely a force that can move this party. The most important thing is to regain control from the Republicans, then work for the issues that are important to you, with at least an administration who will listen. I truely believe things have been learned that will make the Democrats stronger, but that is only if we win in 2004. If we do not win, we will not gain power for decades, because the repugs will control the executive, legistlative, and judical branch, with the judical branch transending elections for many years

[bigwillq]

16. I heard the doctor speak

Great speech, imo. He went out with class and dignity. I'm glad he told people not to vote third party and that he would support the nominee. Makes sense or all his hard work would go for nothing. I cried during the speech, yes I let my emotions get the best of me, but I know now that together isn't a sad day but a happy day-the beginning of the next phase of "our" fight.

[bullimiami]

17. i will still vote for dean

he is still on the ballots and can take his delegates to the convention.

[bigwillq]

21. That's what I like to hear

Welcome to DU!!

[curse10]

23. Why I'm excited about Kerry

this is just me, and I'm weird, so take it for what it's worth:

his death penalty stance. I'm crazy anti-death penalty. This is a huge plus for me.

His higher education plan kicks some major ass. More pell grants. Less loans! Woo hoo! More tax credits! (This is good for the girl in grad school that will end up with over 100,000 in loans)

He's got a freakin' solid record on women's issues. We won't get a single anti-abortion judge on SCOTUS.

Kerry will take Bushie to the cleaners in the debate. I know everyone says he isn't exciting, but I disagree. Listen to what he's saying, get past the deep, soothing voice, and he's got issues, issues, issues, and good ones, at that.

He was the first candidate to talk about Corporate responsibility during the primary season. And he actually has a plan to remedy the problem.

And most importantly- Kerry can beat Bush. I know he can.

[DrFunkenstein]

24. Here's 3 Big Reasons

John Kerry can radically change the course of the 21st century. Think about that. Here is a man with a real sense of vision - not dreams or hopes (we all have them), but an ability to see with great scope and depth AND the ability to create real action. Kerry knows that you have to keep your eyes on the prize in the face of powerful opposition and invariable setbacks, and keep a sense of short and long-term goals.

If one thing can be said of Kerry, he is a driven man. He has a qualities befitting his career as a prosecutor - hard-nosed and tireless. Time and again, he has proven himself willing to take on the thankless jobs that make real change actually occur. And his voluntary refusal to take PAC money his entire career as Senator has left him with the rare clean nose in Washington. He is not beholden to any special interests, and you can't be if you are actually going to do something as President.

Kerry has the talent and character to be one of those once-in-a-generation Presidents like Roosevelt and Kennedy. Kerry is one of the only people in recent history that could actually stand his ground with the Founding Fathers. His standards are Jefferson and Hamilton, not CNN and FoxNews.

Here are three major visions for America, any one of which would radically change the landscape of our democracy:

1. Energy Independence - From baby-steps to moon steps. Many candidates have "moonshot" energy plans, but most range from pie-in-the-sky to empty campaign slogans. With a LIFETIME (18 years!) rating of 96.5% from the League of Conservation Voters, and a presence at EVERY major environmental conference, Kerry's experiences at the forefront have led him to create a DETAILED plan to actually transform the fundamental nature of U.S. energy, leaving fossil fuels the way of whale oil lamps.

It starts off small, and he is clear that we must be honest about how slowly things will start and the upfront costs of investment (always a crowd pleaser), but that we will work our way through car, home, and business efficiencies while reversing the $1.8 BILLION lavished on Big Oil pork vs. the $24 MILLION ($0.024 billion) on alternatives.

Kerry would make a push for clean, domestic renewables a hallmark - not an afterthought - of his Presidency. This would open up a vast, untapped motherlode of jobs in design, engineering, production, maintenence, etc. Kerry would reconcile business and environment at long last, paving the way for what Time called "The Green Century."

Learn more from this speech:

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2002_0122.html

2. PASSABLE, Damn-Near-Universal Health Coverage - Kerry's plan is incredible on many levels, but it has two things going for it that make it much more likely to pass Congress. 1. It is simple and catchy - Let all Americans opt into Congressional coverage. Period -end of story. 2. It makes cost control its primary focus - Congress will have its feet to the fire when Americans realize how cost-effective the plan is. And I'll throw in reason #3 - it will cover all children (aw, shucks).

Perhaps the most impressive idea is taking catastrophic cases out of the insurance pool, lowering premiums up to 10% in one shot. Kerry will also emphasize upfront preventative care (Teresa is big on this!) before expensive procedures become necessary. He'll cut out prescription price-skimming by corporate middlemen, and cut bureaucratic waste by up to 50% through upfront technology purchases and digital record-keeping (reducing medical errors up to 88%!). He'll also provide targeted tax credits so small businesses can afford Congressional coverage.

Learn more here:

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2003_0516.html

3. The "Porkchop" Commission. Kerry has an amazing plan for eliminating tremendous amounts of government pork projects by creating a rigorous bi-partisan commission (ostensibly tied to the GAO) to recognize wasteful and redundant programs. That commission will then bring their findings to Congress for a straight up-and-down, yes-or-no vote. No amendments, no shenanigans from special interests.

Every member of Congress will be put into a high-profile spotlight and forced to vote for or against a wasteful, pork-laden government. Beyond the bi-partisan commission, he will also create a Presidential line-item veto to eliminate wasteful spending in another up-and-down vote.

In addition, Kerry will refuse government contracts to corporations that use off-shore tax shelters, accounting fraud, and other corporate "excesses." And he will finally give the SEC and the Accounting Oversight Board some real teeth to take on corporate crooks.

He'll cut the Federal government’s administrative costs by five percent; cut the number of political appointees and ban providing bonuses for political appointees; cut fraud and abuse in government programs – fraud and abuse is estimated to cost $12 billion in Medicare alone and end rules that prevent the Federal government from having the same purchasing authority as the private sector.

Finally, he'll balance 1/2 of the national debt in 4 years while maintaining tax breaks for the middle class.

Learn more here:

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2003_0828.html

[aldian159]

26. How ironic

Those were the three biggest reasons I signed on with camp Kerry in September. Great post, Dr.

[mikehiggins]

27. Of course you can vote your conscience

The media has decided you choices come down to Kerry or Edwards. It is unlikely that either of them will win against Bush in November.

You might as well vote for Clark, if he's still on your ballot like he is here in Florida. Then, at least, you can always say that nobody can blame you for what happens. You voted for the guy who coulda won.

[mdmc]

28. This works for this Dean - Kucinich supporter

He has spent a lifetime working for progressive issues when the democratic party was strong and chipping away conservative gains when the republican party held power.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

33. Kerry is commited to being the President who ends the false choice between

jobs and the environment. That's the message we need from 'the bully pulpit' and by itself should be reason enough to get fired up for Kerry!

[yellowdawgdem]

35. Kerry v Kucinich

I'm in a similar situation, am from California and trying to decide whether to vote for Kucinich or Kerry in the primary. I'd like to see Kucinich get as many votes as possible, to show support for his staying in the race all the way. On the other hand, I prefer Kerry to Edwards because he is much more liberal, has greater experience overall, and can be trusted on environmental issues, etc. I think he will select some excellent judges, and I just think he is being underestimated on the DU board. In the 2000 election, George Bush leaned toward the center to get elected. Then went back to the right afterwards. I think Kerry is using a similar strategy, knowing how liberals and liberal thinking are spun by the rightwing press. If elected, I think he will be more to the left than he seems at this point.
I am still deciding between Kerry and Kucinich, but leaning more toward Kerry.

[KittyWampus]

37. Clark Supporter Here. I Personally Don't Like Kerry But Will Stand Up

for his 15 year overall voting record and his solid qualifications to be President.

Will I gloss over his short comings?

No.

But he is so much more qualified and READY to be President and Lead this Country in ways Edwards can NEVER be.

Do you want a President who is dependant on Advisors?

Far as I can tell, Edwards main "qualification" is he is good at manipulating people.

But that doesn't translate into beating Bush and getting an agenda passed through Congress.