Democrats not backing Sen. Kerry in the primary are 'helping Bush*'

[Padraig18]

Please vote.

Thanks! :hi:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. I agreed strongly

In protest at the ridiculousness of this poll.

[BL_Zebub]

4. If the poll is ridiculous, then all of the "Worship Kerry or Die" threads

are doubly so.

[edzontar]

20. And we only see about 50 of those threads per day

JEEZ

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

33. They certainly are

[Padraig18]

5. Why is it 'ridiculous'?

:shrug:

[Padraig18]

27. *crickets chirping* n/t

[efhmc]

11. Also agree.

[Padraig18]

14. Again, why is it 'ridiculous'?

:shrug:

[Padraig18]

28. *crickets chirping* n/t

[Frodo]

2. No. Haven't you noticed the amount of press he's getting?

As long as there are real primaries going on the press HAS to cover them. If Kerry has it all boxed up already he loses coverage (annd fundraising ability) for the next few months. He wouldn't be ahead in the polls now if he weren't on the news every night. I think Edwards staying "in" when he is clearly "out of it" now is intentional.

And fund raising is critical here. Kerry is going to be in worse shape than Dole was is things don't brighten up.

[mhr]

3. I Will Vote My Choice: Dennis Kucinich!

Always Remember:

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

Thomas Jefferson
Founding Father Of The United States of America

[angryinoville]

8. Me too...

DK all the way

[jonnyblitz]

6. in the primary? NO

In the GE (if he is the nominee) perhaps... :hi:

[Padraig18]

7. An EMMINENTLY sensible reply!

:hi:

[Khephra]

9. Ah yes, the Hive Mind speaks

We must be happy with the party no matter what. We must anoint the front runner with a grin on our face.

Screw that.

I'm ABB and will vote for either Kerry or Edwards in a heartbeat, but don't expect us "others" to be happy about it. They better pay attention to the base this time, or there will be Hell to pay.

[IrateCitizen]

21. Screw the "base" -- they'd better start looking at the real problems

As a member of this supposed "base", I could care less about being catered to by the candidate. What I DO get pissed about, however, is the continual glossing-over of real problems in favor of nothing more than nibbling around the edges.

It's like a doctor giving you two aspirin to treat a fucking brain tumor. It might numb your pain for a short period of time, but it does nothing to address the reality of the brain tumor, let alone begin to even treat it.

Someone else posted a thread about Freeper discussions regarding Dennis Kucinich. I'm not one to tout Freepers as paragons of virtue, by far -- but it's telling that there are people on the other side who are pissed off and at least recognize that he's the only person who's willing to stare these real problems right in the eye. It's telling of how many stories you hear about conservatives who, after having been told DK's positions, they reply that he's the kind of guy they could vote for.

Dammit, we get so caught up in this "us vs. them" dichotomy that we don't realize that what we're really perpetuating is "us vs. us". While we may find the views of some on the reactionary right wing to be abhorrent, at the heart of the matter they really just want the same things in life that we do -- physical security, economic security, a sense of meaning and belonging. They don't care about "wonkspeak" policy ideas. They just want someone who is willing to listen to their concerns and speak the truth to them in proposing solutions -- and making them feel valued in the process. It's like Paul Wellstone said: "Politics is about the importance of people's lives."

That's why politicians like Bernie Sanders and Dennis Kucinich are so successful on a level at which their message is not distorted and overwhelmed by the buzz of the media machine. But sadly, when you reach the national level, you have the media telling people what they should think, and completely marginalizing those who are willing and able to listen to people's concerns and craft real solutions.

[mgc1961]

25. Well said...

...The husband of a work associate is Republican with a captiol R. He hates Kerry, but likes Kucinich (thanks in no small part to me).

The issues of Kucinich are universal, like health care. It's important to all citizens not just a left or right issue. That's the vision we need. A vision of, by, and for the people.

An inclusive vision will make this country great, not exclusion.

[redqueen]

30. "inclusive vision will make this country great, not exclusion"

Damn straight - which is why they shut Kucinich out!

We have to work around the media to get the word about him out -- he would win in a landslide, but the dem party machine is only interested in maintaining the status quo.

[Khephra]

26. I don't want to be "catered" too

But I'd sure like an alternative to another 4 years of war, and so far I'm not seeing any alternative being offered by either Kerry or Edwards.

Mark my words, IC. You've known me a long time. A hell of a long time. All we're being offered is how we're going to be screwed as a country, not a way out of being screwed. As long as we have the two major frontrunners still convinced of the war on terror, well, we're screwed.

[JVS]

10. No.

[emulatorloo]

12. In the primary, no

In the GE, if he is the nom, yes

edit add qualifier

[DancingBear]

13. No - it's the primary, for goodness sakes

Back your candidate with everything you have, and work to make him the nominee.

However, here's the caveat:

Sometime, fairly soon (like after 3/2?), folks who are not backing the delegate leader (assuming there is one, and he has a big, big lead) will have to begin to realize that it's 55-7 with 3 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the opposition has the ball, you're out of time outs, and the fans are leaving the stadium.

It's not that time yet, but it's getting pretty damn close.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

15. However, as a former resident of a May primary state

I say that one of the best times to register opposition is AFTER the frontrunner has the nomination sewed up.

Then you can give your favorite candidate more delegates to influence the convention with without harming the nominee.

[DancingBear]

18. Very true

Thanks for bringing it up - I'd very much like to see several candidates with delegates in Boston.

[Gringo]

16. I plan to vote for Dennis on Mar. 9

But that is not a vote against Kerry. If anything, it's a vote to try and send a message to Kerry of which direction he needs to go to keep us on board. I'll be just fine with voting tfor Kerry in Nov. - I basically like the guy, but people should support the guy they like until the nominee is picked!

[DuctapeFatwa]

17. When the majority of the voters in any country would rather spend a dollar

to kill somebody else's children than a dime to buy medical treatment for their own, whether the policy is articulated in pretty words by a telegenic ectomorph or stuttered out by a mental defective is the least of your problems.

[redqueen]

31. Ay-freaking-men!

:yourock:

[JPZenger]

19. Friendly Competition is Great

As long as it is not negative against each other, the competition between Edwards and Kerry is essential. It encourages large amounts of free media attention and attention by the voters.

There is a great photo on the www.cnn.com homepage today of Edwards and Kerry together. They sure look like running mates.

[Padraig18]

24. I agree.

The free air time is ALL anti-Bush, and it doesn't cost a dime. :)

[NoPasaran]

22. Strongly disagree

Democrats who don't back the nominee (presumably Kerry) in November are helping Bush*.

Until the convention, we're free to back the candidate of our choice.

[Anwen]

23. Strongly disagree.

:)

[Tinoire]

29. Only in the mind of Kerry supporters who refuse to see that

their porcelain hero has feet of clay.

WEll I'm not backing Kerry. Not in the Primary and not in the general either.

Like Kerry, maybe I'll just enable Bush a little so that we can get on to bigger and better things "later". Some Kerry supporters helped me understand that in their muddled defense of why Kerry should be excused for not having any principles. If it's good for the candidate goose, then it's good for the voter gander.



To wit:


If Kerry voted against Iraq, he would not likely win the election

So he voted for the War resolution, so he could defeat Bush, go after the real enemy, OBL, and then make a real Mideast peace and we can get out of Iraq.

Otherwise, Bush wins and we're in Iraq and then seven other countries for decades.

Figure it out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=405680&mesg_id=405770&page=

[PROGRESSIVE1]

32. Vote for who you want now but after the convention it's ABB!

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:



:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:



Kerry 04'

[Padraig18]

34. kick

[mzmolly]

35. "Vote your HEART in the primary, and your HEAD in the General Election.

~Molly Ivins

So the answer for me is "I STRONGLY DISAGREE!"

:hi:

[Padraig18]

36. Evening-shift kick

[Uzybone]

37. Strongly disagree

and yes this is a very stupid poll.

[Padraig18]

38. Ah, well....

Some times it's neccessary to state the obvious, just because a few truly dense people are so damned oblivious, now isn't it?

:hi:

[corporatewhore]

39. Da Comrade lets begin the Purges!!!!!!!!

[Padraig18]

40. LOL!

Glad to know someone else shares that feeling!

:hi:

[blondeatlast]

41. You MUST vote your conscience in the primary...

I'll vote for a pickle if it has a D by its name in November. But I voted Kucinich in the AZ primary.

Your primary vote is a voice on the stage and a plank in the platform (remember those???).