Kerry: "more liberal than Ted Kennedy" ?

[Mairead]

Not according to the conservative Orlando Report:

That said, there are plenty of votes to suggest that Kerry is more of a moderate and is willing to break from liberal orthodoxy, including his support for Gramm-Rudman-Hollings in the mid-1980s for deficit reduction, his vote for welfare reform and his votes for NAFTA and other free trade agreements. Given these votes the assertion that he's more liberal than Ted Kennedy does not withstand scrutiny. Kerry was a founding member of the moderate Democratic Leadership Council. (emphasis added)

This fits with my perception of today's Kerry. The 'more liberal than' was perhaps true years ago, but it's no longer so (imo).

[Monte Carlo]

1. Well then, why the change?

If he's been a liberals-liberal for years, why did he change?

[BL_Zebub]

4. Because he's a corporatist PNAC sellout

Maybe it's Skull n Bones, maybe marrying a Republican did it to his mind? The reasons why aren't important, but his voting record under the Bush regime - not to mention his funding by FAUX, defense of Clear Channel, and endorsement of Ariel Sharon's Berlin Wall make it abundantly clear that his days as a liberal are as much behind him as my days as an Angel are.

[Monte Carlo]

5. That's cute, but not helpful.

Why would he do any of that? I think the reasons are very important when we consider tossing aside one of the best Democrats we've had.

[cosmicdot]

8. overestimation of the Reagan Revolution ?

which Bill Clinton helped to navigage the transition from ... and, a time when we see modification of positions ... moving toward the Republicans (doesn't the GOP accuse Clinton of usurping their agenda?) ... and, now, find themselves over there instead of over here ... with the need to look consistent ... ?

just conjecturing here ...

there was a time when politicians, being the mostly male group they historically have been) didn't even know how to deal with the subject of abortion (just a sample issue) in the '80s ... recall that mean question by Bernard Shaw to Dukakis? ... unfair question, but it was a lesson ... finally, someone shwed them the way on how to address the subject without fear of losing power (actually increased support -- that lesson needs to resonate to our politicians ... support increased ... elections won ... for We the People ...


As they gained confidence on that sample topic, they moved away from the Republicans position ... (tho' I've been loathing the use of "left" and "right" as labels these days) ... I'll say, moved toward 'the left'; and, positive results occurred.

Once the Reagan thing reached a pinnacle with Newt's Contract 'on'
America, and we saw Newt fall down, which brought on a new obstruction via the impeachment hearings ...

(Golly, Al Gore cast a couple of historical tie-breakers ... wow ... that's when I thought the tide had changed; and, I think it had ... we're currently on GOP detour -- and, a dangerous one at that)

... Bill Clinton laid the foundation for an increasingly progressive, people first, reforming the infrastructure for 21st century sustainability ... sequence of presidencies from 2000 on beginning with Al Gore ...

... a few things got in the way ... i.e., a penis and a stolen election ... and, those we ('they') 'coalition-ed' with to 'win' in 2000; abandoned us at maybe one of the most crucial dates in American history 11/7/2000 (11/7 happens to be the month-day I met my SO ... in 1982).

or maybe ...

... underestimating We the People, and our ability to rise to the occasion, above the dumbed-down society we have been thought to have all succumbed to ...


I hope that the combination of the needs which will surface if not 'fixed' ("the times" in which we'll be living), plus the increasingly strengthening of our voice and message, it will pull our candidates once in office toward progress.

At some point, corporations and the damage they are doing to our social fabric must be dealt with. The longer they wait, the greater the risks. This is the gating issue imo.

:shrug:

[Name removed]

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[BL_Zebub]

13. Mary Magdelan??

No, she was an ex hooker who had the hots for JC back in the day. Mary Matalin is the Bush operative married to the DLC operative Carville.

And the next time you call me "Beelzebush", you're dragon food!

[Name removed]

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[Bombtrack]

3. Kerry has a higher lifetime ADA rating than Kennedy

look it up. Kerry has a 92, Kennedy has a 90.

And yes, the opposition being able to say that WILL hurt him

[Crachet2004]

6. So what's wrong with being a liberal?

I want a liberal president...no more like Clinton who signed Naftaa and gutted welfare. With a Democratic majority in both Houses, he also blew the best chance we had for national healthcare. I don't call that leadership.

Liberal? Hell yes I want a liberal! People like Joe Lieberman need to be in the other party.

[revcarol]

10. Liberal like pro-NAFTA,WTO,free trade with China, pro-Patriot Act,

pro-IWR? THAT kind of liberal?

[Crachet2004]

11. He said he would renegotiate the trade treaties, with an eye to 'fair' ...

trade, which I will believe when I see it. He had better do it too!

As to Patriot, the war, etc... The Congress was lied to! Simple as that. Bush lied. That one's easy. If we win, that whole mythology will be allowed to die.

Hopefully, we will get a chance to see what kind of liberal John Kerry is!

Like I say. I would really like to have one!

[corporatewhore]

9. as i said he is a liberal ...a NEOliberal

[welshTerrier2]

12. Kerry also voted for

the IWR and the Patriot Act ...

pretty tough to paint him as a liberal with votes like that ...

[BL_Zebub]

14. Exactly Kerry's a "liberal" like I'm the..

..first chair harp player in God's symphony orchestra. O8)

[Hippo_Tron]

15. So you define liberal by Patriot Act vote...

Then by your definition Russ Feingold is the only liberal US Senator. Russ is a great guy but there are pleanty of people who voted for the Patriot Act who are also very liberal.

[welshTerrier2]

16. No, that's not how i define liberals !!

in fact I don't define liberals at all ... the Patriot Act vote is one of the tests that Kucinich used yesterday in the debate when asked whether Kerry is a liberal ...

what i really think is that I agree with Kerry that labels are stupid ...

the point I was raising, that you unnecessarily took objection to, was that Kerry will have an easier time "shaking off" the liberal label in the general election by showing he voted for the IWR and the Patriot Act ...

your apparent inference that I was attacking Kerry was inconsistent with the intent of my post ...