Why did a Republican just greet me with glee?

[Bertha Venation]

All the GOPers on this floor have stopped by to gloat today that Kerry's going to be the nominee. They all seem thrilled that that's who their god will be up against in November.

Why? I've obviously missed something; what is it?

[chiburb]

1. Because THEY hate Bush too?

Or they're just deluded Repubs?

[aquart]

2. They think it actually matters who the Democrat is.

But all that matters is he's running against Bush.

[RandomKoolzip]

3. I think they see Kerry, like a lot of DUers do,

as a kind of a weak candidate.

[lancdem]

8. It's never a good idea to underestimate your opponent

I really hope the WH underestimates Kerry and the anti-Bush anger in this country. If so, they'll be in for a very rude awakening.

[Bertha Venation]

13. But I've heard similar things about Dean & Edwards all thru this process.

First they craved Dean because they thought he was too liberal. The other day one of 'em told me Edwards would be weakest against *. Now it's Kerry.

:shrug:

[RandomKoolzip]

23. I think he's a pretty good candidate....

I also think that the race won't be as close as in 2000. Kerry's gonna win, I'm pretty sure of it. If he picks a strong veep like Clark or Graham, then he'll definitely get a lock on the GE.

But there are those among us (DU) who actively HATE the man, and those among us (the whole US) who see him as Dukakis II. I think that Dukakis II is what a lot of repugs see when they look at Kerry.

[buff2]

14. LOL!

The only one who is weak is bu$h.

[lancdem]

4. They can gloat all they want

Bush is in for the fight of his life. A lot of GOPers are in denial about how much trouble Bush is in.

[NNN0LHI]

5. It is known in some circles as "whistling past the graveyard" n/t

[Monte Carlo]

7. I've never heard that one.

Could you explain that one? Inquiring minds would like to know.

[redqueen]

16. As in

You're afraid of death / dead people, so you pretend to be lighthearted and try to psyche yourself out of being scared as you walk so close by a reminder of your own coming demise or the rotting remains of the departed just a few steps away.

[Monte Carlo]

18. Thanks.

I'll try to remember that one. The GOP does that reflexively. They are great sabre-rattlers.

[Zhade]

68. Here's a good (off-topic) trivia question:

Where did the phrase "dead ringer" come from?

And for bonus points, "graveyard shift". Hint: they are directly related.

[HuskerDem]

71. OOooo! oooo! <raising hand> I think I know that one

A "dead ringer" was a bell rigged to the inside of the coffin of the newly buried? In case they were buried alive?

The graveyard shift refered to attendants who watched over the graves, gaurding against robbery and listening for the bells?


?????????????????????

[Zhade]

72. You got it! Good work.

You nailed it.

[WoodrowFan]

22. it means

it means to do something in order to keep your courage up.

[grannylib]

24. Hard to say; couple of theories: 1) whistling to show nonchalance or

bravado when walking past a cemetery (not afraid of spooks!)
2) May be some twist on the old stage superstition of NOT whistling on stage, since it was rumored that the tinkers who made the nails for Christ's cross were whistling as they worked.
I have googled this one a couple of times and not found much...

[ibegurpard]

20. Actually, that is exactly how I would classify your response.

eom

[unfrigginreal]

32. You, you Republican, you...

we're adding you to the list!!!

:D :D :D :D

[NewYorkerfromMass]

51. and yours to his

to be endlessly circular about it. :crazy:

[Monte Carlo]

6. He could just be trying to rattle you.

Whether or not he is happy about Kerry being the nominee, saying it gloatingly to someone might fill them with extra doubt. They could just as easily say that about any of the candidates.

Don't take it at face value.

[buff2]

9. It's all a show......a front

You don't think they would reveal their real feelings of fear,do you? Remember,they wanted Dean as our nominee.They are scared of Kerry....it's quite obvious. :evilgrin:

[The Magistrate]

10. Because, Ma'am

They are not very good at this sort of thing....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[sadiesworld]

11. They are in a political timewarp.

[priller]

12. It's just more mass delusion

It doesn't matter who the Dem nominee is, they would say the same thing. Remember the National Review magazine cover on Dean: "Please Nominate This Man"?

And it doesn't really matter what they think. Just look at the Bush campaign. They know they can't run on their record. So they've already started the "culture wars" with the gay marriage thing, and next they will try to stick a big "L" on Kerry's forehead to tarnish him with the "Liberal" label. If Kerry has any sense at all (and he does), he'll wear the label proudly and show how his voting record has helped regular people, as opposed to the few at the top.

[diamondsoul]

42. "If Kerry has any sense at all (and he does)..."

Except on Sunday that very label was pinned on him and he fought it. Where's that sense again?

I'll support and defend him IF he's the nominee, but he isn't today and so I'll enter my opinions and criticism as I always have. Kindly don't discount the votes of myself and many others who have yet to have our opinions noted in this race.

[BringEmOn]

48. Yes, he ran from the liberal label

just like the cowardly dems did in 1994 when Newt made "liberal" a dirty word.

[BeyondGeography]

15. Tell 'em you're also relieved to hear Cheney's staying

on the ticket.

Very relieved, even though you know it'll cost us Wyoming again.

[TreasonousBastard]

17. Just breaking your chops...

the true believers on their side think Shrub is untouchable and Kerry's a liberal lightweight. I'm sure they have been told this on the radio and in their wingnut email.

Not to worry, most of the country does NOT listen to oxypigboy or get emails from the RNC.

[fameless]

19. Fear

People fear what they cannot do (win in 2004)

[Nashyra]

25. I'm sorry but

is this an indirect way to take a swipe at Kerry? After all the Kerry bashing here it just reads to me as a passive swipe at the nominee. Apologies if that is not the case and if it is than it is probably time to get on board like our candidates who are ABB asked.

[salin]

27. i think it is the opposite

in reference to the freeper coworkers response to kerry's lock on the nomination.

[fameless]

65. Correct.

Not a swipe at Kerry at all, it was in reference to the coworkers.

[FireHeart]

21. I've had that too. But they explained.

They gloat because they know Kerry cannot beat Dubya. The only one who had a bats chance in hell was Clark. They know their One and Only God will be re-selected in a landslide--and there's not a damn thing we can do to stop it.

Well, that's what they said at any rate. :shrug:

[sadiesworld]

28. I agree that Clark was the strongest candidate...

but I believe there is a groundswell that will vote Bush out knowing there is a reasonable alternative. And Kerry IS a reasonable alternative. Also, the VP slot is still open!

[FireHeart]

45. I hope that Kerry will try...

to get Clark to agree to a VP slot. But Clark was a General and even with his level of integrity and honesty, it would be difficult to accept "second chair" in something like this.

But...who knows. My admiration of Clark would increase enormously if he would accept this--if that were possible. :) I really liked him, my wife and daughter did, too.

I'm tired.

[Evil_Dewers]

38. Kerry cannot beat Dubya

Anybody can beat anybody. Clinton beat George the first. And the lousy records under both Bush presidents are eerily similar (Iraq wars, recessions, deficits). Add to that the 3 million people who lost jobs who won't be voting for Dubya. Dubya lost the last election by 550,000 votes. He won't be winning Ohio this time. They have lost 100,000 more jobs than Bush won the state by in 2000.

Like father, like son
One term and you're done.

[FireHeart]

44. There is always hope.

We can but hope. The chortling continues, unabated. We shall see what we shall see. I just wish I had some confidence in what is to come...

*sigh*

[northernsoul]

26. they're trying to put a brave face on it

They could never do anything so sporting as to simply say "looks like it's going to be a spirited campaign" or something like that, so their default reaction to gloat and act smug (and then act outraged any time something doesn't go their way) - it's the standard GOPanderthal knee-jerk reaction.

Don't let the mouthbreathers psyche you out.

[KaraokeKarlton]

29. Because while Democrats were in such a hurry to nominate a war hero

They didn't stop to think about the consequences of nominating a war hero from a war we never should have been in who also turned around and became a protestor who called US soldiers rapists, murderers and war criminals. They didn't stop to think that John Kerry tends to avoid taking a real stand on anything. He straddles the fence so much that it's hard for even him to know what his position is on things. On top of that, he has all the charisma and personality of Bob Dole, painfully and tediously boring. His votes over the past will be so easy for the GOP to use against him and Bush can simply cite all of Kerry's votes that indicate he was in total agreement with Bush on the war, the Patriot Act and No Child Left Behind. Kerry is a terrible, terrible nominee because he's incredibly weak and vulnerable to attacks from every angle. It's really sad that Democrats didn't put enough thought into their votes to recognize Kerry's numerous weaknesses. I'm already preparing myself for another 4 years of Bush because that's exactly what I foresee happening. :shrug:

[molly]

33. Sour grapes - sour grapes - sour grapes - sour grapes

etc, etc, etc........:shrug:

[ibegurpard]

37. Too bad you're so blinded by hero-worship that you can't see

the very REAL concerns being expressed through the anger and bitterness.

[molly]

40. These "very real concerns" have been going on here

since I've been posting - over 2 years - for whatever "cause" is popular with the people concerned. Some are just dissenters - happy to aggravate.

[Evil_Dewers]

55. Too bad you're so blinded by hero-worship

As a recovered Deaniac, I can attest that Deaniacs never engaged in hero worship of the good Doc.





BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

[ibegurpard]

57. For what it's worth

My distaste for Kerry predated my supporting Dean by quite some time.

[KaraokeKarlton]

41. denial - denial - denial

You can call it sour grapes all you want molly, but there is nothing that I said in that post that isn't true. Kerry is a position straddler. Kerry voted for all those things. Kerry is duller than a popcorn fart, just like Bob Dole was. Kerry did return from Vietnam to protest and insult American soldiers. If you are too blind to even acknowledge that these are all issues that hurt Kerry then all I can do is feel very sorry for you come November when the Democrats lose yet again due to endorsing perceived image over issues and substance.

[molly]

49. We could have a little bet????

[sangh0]

56. molly, the mesage of Kerry's defeat is brought to us by

the people who predicted Dean's inevitable victory and the people who support Bush*.

IOW, don't sweat it

[Evil_Dewers]

60. Kerry did return from Vietnam to protest and insult American soldiers.

Of course he did. He called himself a baby killer in a congressional hearing. At least that's what Newsmax and Rush and Sean Hannity told me.

Meanwhile, el Shrubo protested the war in Vietnam by going AWOL from the National Guard.

[Bertha Venation]

39. Good God.

I sure as hell didn't start this thread so I could get a dose of such gloom and doom. Jesus Christ. Sorry I asked.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

46. "protestor who called US soldiers rapists, murderers and war criminals"

Guess everybody forgot Lieutenant William Calley and the Mai Lai massacres.

[KaraokeKarlton]

47. Average American voters will be offended by what Kerry said

Perhaps that's what Kerry supporters keep missing the point of. Add to that how Kerry has voted against national defense initiatives almost 40 times in his political career. Statements he has made in the past don't coincide with a candidate who is "strong" on defense.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

53. "voted against defense initiatives" Is a repub line

He has voted FOR many initiatives that actually DID make a difference as well. YOu are welcome to distort his record, it simply will make you look silly.

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

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

[oasis]

61. "she" bears a longtime grudge against Kerry. Not being Dean is

Kerry's worst offense.

[KaraokeKarlton]

70. That's ridiculous

I've spelled out numerous times why I don't like Kerry and it's about his positions on issues that are important to me and my family. I also am disgusted by the way he has conducted himself during his campaign. I would dislike Kerry even if Dean had never entered the race. And it has nothing to do with Iraq, either, so don't even bother with that line.

[KaraokeKarlton]

67. You can stop implying that I'm a Republican anytime now

It's against the rules. I am a Registered Independent as I've often informed people on here. Also, the last time I checked I wasn't sporting a penis, so you can refer to me as MS Karlton, thank you very much. Thirdly, I never called anyone a war criminal, so kindly stop putting words in my mouth. I also never even said "flip flop", I said that Kerry is an "issue straddler", which is basically the act of trying so hard not to offend anyone that his positions on important issues are unclear. Anyone watching who is honest with themselves have noticed this about Kerry.

And finally about Kerry being "weak on defense"...although all I said was that it will be easy for the GOP to attack him in that way, I do think he's weak on defense too. Take Iraq for example...the first time it was right to go in and Kerry voted against it. This time it was wrong and Kerry voted for it. He's got defense ass-backwards in my opinion, and despite the fact that you don't want to believe it, it's not just Republicans who think so.

[KaraokeKarlton]

66. Well, if you're smart, you will worry about the impression I get

Because I am a swing voter and Kerry is going to need an awful lot of people like me to stand any chance of beating Bush. If you think Kerry can win with the votes he has now then you're seriously deluding yourself. But hey, go ahead and ignore issues that will be a cause for concern to all the general election voters. It'll be Kerry's political funeral if you do. :shrug:

[Diogenes2]

52. Right On!

Kerry has never "insulted" American soldiers-- even in his original statements back in '71 he made careful distinctions between the perpetrators of atrocities & the ordinary American soldier. The list of atrocities Kerry enumerates are not even his own phrases-- they are more or less direct quotations from the testimony of OTHER Vietnam vets' self-descriptions of their own experiences.

[Stuckinthebush]

30. Hell, they would do that no matter who the nominee is...

It is part macho-sports in your face crap, and part parroting Limbaugh and Fox News. They probably have not analyzed the differences between the candidates enough to make an educated opinion, they are just psyching themselves up and trying to put you down.

F*** 'em. Next time one comes around, play their little game and say, "Do you really think that the internationally renowned idiot sitting in the White House can beat a bona-fide war hero with many years of experience in governance and diplomacy? I'd like what you are smoking, man...it must be good stuff!"

Then turn around, and laugh as you walk away.

[CWebster]

31. Depends- who is willing to whore more to the corporate media

No problem at all to convince so many that Dean was unelectible because of his temperment - "too angry", as if the entire premise of ABB wasn't built on anger. No problem getting the folks to swear that Kerry is the most electible even though he was at the bottom of the list of everything that makes a candidate electible.

Consensus can shift depending on who is doing the manufacturing. How else has Bush survived this long without being in the good graces of those who cater to the politicians who further the proper corporate agenda?

How will that stranglehold ever be broken?

[Evil_Dewers]

34. freeper denial

Bush can't run on his record because it really sucks (he combines the worst qualities of Hoover and Nixon), so get ready for $100 million in attacks ads claiming Kerry is a Taxachusetts librul extremist.

It shouldn't matter whom the Dems are running, since Bush has been so horrible that anybody should beat him.

Of course, it doesn't help matters that the dead enders here at DU who supported someone other than Kerry continue to attack Kerry daily and call the Kerry supporters names.

I'm not naming any names, BTW. At unFreeRepublican.com, long time posters who criticize Bush even a little bit have been purged, which tells me that RimJob is getting some big money from the RNC.

Oh, I'm not claiming I want DU to purge the Kerry attackers, however, it would really be nice if the Kerry criticisms were based on actual facts, and not Botox allegations or "he looks French."

[charlie]

35. Glee...

Y'know, there's a dark perverse part of me that would like nothing better than to see them get everything they're asking for, 4 more years of Dubya hell, followed with 8 years of Jeb. Or better yet, have the Democrats get Raptured away and let them live in a Republican paradise with no pesky traitors to slow the jihad neocon supply-siders. That'll learn them, the idiots...

[mrgorth]

36. You'd only have to talk to them for a little

to realize that they think shrub would kill all our guys. Ask them to come up with a good dem and they say "Zell Miller". They literally can't understand an american not liking Bush.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

43. They are greeting you with glee because they have already heard

exactly HOW the Bushies will attack Kerry. They already heard Bush's comedy routine about flip-flopping and they think it's in the bag and will resonate. What they have NOT heard yet is what Kerry will do to Bush.

The next several months, Bush will benefit from attacking Kerry's record and praying that it sticks and nobody notices his own.

If Kerry is left standing after the body blows that Bush would have and COULD have thrown at any of our nominees, then that is BAD BAD NEWS for Republicans.

So...let them laugh...success is the best revenge.

[spooky3]

50. Repugs were never known for their IQs. :-) That alone may explain it.

[w4rma]

59. I think you've nailed it pretty accurately, nothingshocksmeanymore. (n/t)

[AlabamaYankee]

54. They bought into the "Massachusetts Liberal" meme

For some reason the Republicans are convinced that Kerry will fold like Dukaukis when the magic words of power "Massachusetts Liberal" are hurled at him. Personally I think they're in for a rude surprise.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

62. Yes. That's it exactly

and remember: One man's rude surprise is another's pleaseant one! :)

[info being]

63. Kerry is the weakest candidate, that's why

[Piperay]

64. They are delusional and

in deep denial, anyway I hope that is all it is. :shrug:

[Zynx]

69. Let me tell you about them.

I know some Republicans who have always been trying to convince me that Bush will win no matter what. I said "not so fast" to them all of 2002 and all of 2003. Even with Bush very vulnerable, they are still doing it. They are trying to create inevitability around Bush still and that's what this is about.

Go Kerry!