Who here has underestimated Mr. Kerry?

[silver state d]

I sure as hell have. Over and over i have sold the man short. Now i realize that the cagey SOB is the real damn deal. Kerry got game get used to it.

[jpgray]

1. Too soon to tell. I underestimated him for the primaries for sure (nt)

[arcos]

2. I did...

he has impressed me.

[Melodybe]

3. It took me a while but now I am singing his praises!

Go John Kerry, you are making me proud!

[rucky]

4. I can leave the driving to Kerry

he's got his shit together. i trust him.


this is a huge step from where I was just a couple weeks ago.

[silver state d]

6. no joke Ole' son

I was in free fall hopelessness 3 weeks ago and now i am not just getting behind the nominee. i am born again hardcore.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. I didn't.

This is the John Kerry I have always known and believed in as a fighter. I was just distressed that others didn't see it.

[jpgray]

7. I respected and admired him too, but I didn't expect him to turn it around

I was genuinely surprised.

[Melodybe]

8. Big kick for Kerry! We believe in you!

We've got the ball now, time to run with it.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. Oh I know..at the start of the campaign..the reason I began to lean

towards Dean after Graham dropped was because it just didn't appear like Kerry wanted it bad enough...maybe he had to reconcile that for himself...getting Mary Beth Cahill in there also didn't hurt.

[SoonerShankle]

9. don't you mean "misunderestimated"?

:7

[silver state d]

11. Acctuslly i didst

[denism]

10. Karl Rove underestimated Mr. Kerry

Picking up the 'liars, crooks' remark
and pushing it front and center
the very day his campaign was starting
its negative ads. Pure poetry.

[silver state d]

13. suckers have met thier match

har har har har har har har har

[newyawker99]

43. Hi denism!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[asthmaticeog]

12. Oh, BIG-time...

A couple of weeks ago, I was not just despondent, but seriously pissed that Kerry was the obvious nominee. I was seeing visions of a Mondale/Ferrarro type humiliation (and younger DUers who didn't have to live through that, lemme tell ya, it was NOT pretty). Boy, was I wrong. The way Kerry's come out swinging has impressed the shit out of me. If he gets Wes Clark to be his VP, I'll be eagerly counting the days until the election. And I'm cancelling that order of clothespins I thought I'd need for my nose before voting for him. GO KERRY!

[Lexingtonian]

15. I remember

one of those Dean-Clark-Kerry Fight Club days in December. Told a lot of folks then that he's damn hard, starts campaigns slow and finishes them in ass-kickings, and that he grows on ya. Plus, that he was focussed on the primary then- not putting his major effort into going up against Bush yet.

Them goddamn Massachusetts liberals, too friggin' intent on getting things to add up right in the end result.... :D

[Doomsayer13]

16. I have

I had given him up for dead - I always thought John Kerry was a stand up Senator who had no chance in hell of winning the primaries or the GE, but he's proven to be a surprisingly adept pol. He was maybe my 3rd choice out of the candidates, first being Clark then Dean, but I've been impressed with his performance as of late.

Go John Kerry! the Real Deal!

[Crunchy Frog]

17. The jury is still out for me

but so far I am liking what I'm seeing and am being pleasantly surprised. I need to see Kerry keep it up in a sustained fashion and see how he handles the real repuke shit when it hits the fan.

I am cautiously optimistic.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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

[silver state d]

19. huh????? Speaking the truth is the same as lying?

peace is war?

[Melodybe]

20. How can you say that, he is using Dean responses in his response to

the 900 Billion dollar joke. He is taking all of the things we have been bitching about for months and telling them to thousands every day, he is telling it the media and he is getting the job done. Change will come and this is the first step.

Come on we are getting a Democratic Unity dinner, the Clintons, Kerry, Dean, Kucinich, Sharpton, Graham, Liberman, Clark, Mosely-Braun, and Edwards. Kennedy and Daschle will be there too. What is wrong with you? This is about getting rid of the cretins next to the big red button. To not support Kerry now, is foolish.

[Spider Jerusalem]

21. Dirty SOB?

Hm. You're rather naive. Would you prefer that Kerry take the high road and not do anything to counter or effectively stifle the well-oiled Republican attack machine?

I submit to you that politics is as near to war as it is possible to get without shedding blood. Kerry is showing himself to be a firm and decisive strategic and tactical thinker, ready to give no quarter, take no prisoners, and march on a road of bones. And I say "Huzzah!"

We need a fighter, not, as you would apparently prefer, some high-minded idealist who is too civilised to bloody his knuckles. Sorry, but I think you'll find yourself in the minority here.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

26. What tactics? This post is out of left field!

What is there to get over? How does this relate to Nixon?

[Lexingtonian]

28. dude, we're a political party

If you're looking for a religion, check over there ==========>

1. Jesus Christ, if He walked the Earth, would not get elected President. (Probably wouldn't serve if elected, either.)

2. Politics is not much concerned with arrangements between groups of people who are both good and nice. It is what groups of people engage in when things are bad and they see each other's grotesque flaws all too clearly.

3. Other than play things smartly so that the outcome is right, I really have no idea what real morality John Kerry can be taken to have violated in any serious way. There are many faux moralities, you'll have to be more specific if you want to grade him according to one of them. In American politics the candidates are subjected, usually, to a broad range of temperate and fair criticism. Then they are subjected to rabid, demagogical, deeply unfair criticism- which reveals what resources they have to deal with the world when it isn't fair to them. Kerry does well when he is attacked unfairly- exactly how objectionable that is as a trait is up to you. For him it's a matter of survival.

4. I really don't know how you can be consistent in this point of view. My impression (from several threads read in which you comment) is that you're grabbing excuses out of your #$% and that the reasons you can't bear him are some kind of ingrained resentment based in your own life or an Inner Conservative.

[Sugarbleus]

22. Yep, add me to the doubting thomas crowd...

I'm not sure about some of his ideas but right now, he beats the HELL outta the freaks in DC now.

I love that he had enough "stuff" to say what he did.........and NOT take it back like some mommas boy.

I'm ecstatic! I even wrote a letter to one of those rw "religious" coalitions, that sends money/support to the repugs, telling them off!

Bush's new theme song should be: 'Drop kick me jesus through the goal posts of life'...............LOL

GO KERRY!! :headbang:

[fujiyama]

23. I sort of did...

I was mainly worried he would make himself look very defensive based on all the BS charges the RW smear machine would come up with.

I was also sort of worried he'd bring up Vietnam all the time (while I respect his service greatly, I didn't think he'd win on that alone).

I always had the confidence he could play dirty, if it came down to it, but fortunately, he's come out swinging early on...and he's been absolutely unaplogetic. Good stuff!

[TreasonousBastard]

24. Never had much of a probelm...

with his record or policies, but was a bit apprehensive about how hard he'd fight. Well, he's not about to be pushed around, and that's one hell of a good start.

[AmyStrange]

25. I did

if Kerry refuses to apologize all the way until the elections, I will proudly vote for him and defend it to my dying days,






Serial Killer Cafe...
and searchable missing person news archives:

http://NEWS.OneMissingPerson.org /
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SK-Cafe /




For the best "unofficial" DU Slang Dictionary in the world:
http://DUG.SeattleActivist.org /

Dave (AmyStrange.com) Ayotte
Please, regularly check the One Missing Person (is one person too many) searchable website for the latest (and archived) missing person news stories:

http://NEWS.OneMissingPerson.org /




Serious Serial Killer discussion:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SK-Cafe /

[ludwigb]

27. I definitely did

His persona is withstanding right-wing smears far better than I'd imagined.

And coming from behind to take the nomination has made him look like a winner.

[CWebster]

29. Yeah right

"... So I guess I'll never get paid to be a political pundit. I didn't count on the media and the Democratic party establishment ganging up on Howard Dean, and I underestimated Kerry's "anybody but Bush" electability appeal with Democratic primary voters understandably desperate to beat Bush...

... John Kerry's compromise on contra aid many years ago and his more recent vote for the Iraq war should give anyone pause who thinks that evicting Bush from the White House will fix the country's ills. Kerry's tortured explanation of his vote for the war, that he was lied to by the Administration (well duh!), ought to make one think twice about jumping on his bandwagon.

Simply put, Senator Kerry can't have it both ways. He can't, on the one hand, tout his foreign policy expertise, political savvy and experience, and on the other hand be so callow as to claim to have been deceived by the Bush gang into voting for the war. He's either alarmingly, unforgivably naïve after so many years in Washington, or, more likely, he voted for the war in a crass political calculation that it would help him look tough as he prepared his presidential bid. Either answer is extremely troubling for those looking for a savior from Bush's reign of error...

... If Kerry is elected, he will constantly be trying to protect his right flank, as he will be faced by congressional Republican pit bulls that will relentlessly attack him as soft on defense and weak on terrorism. Given his history, and that of other recent Democratic presidents, expect him to bend their way.



http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0311-11.htm

[Lexingtonian]

31. who cares?

You're right, there is a choice to be made.

One is to be very consistent, righteous, unceasingly critical, and impractical. And thus be full of recriminations and easily lose.

The other is to be semi-consistent, insist on general benign intent, and to dwell on what is practical. And thus be optimistic and potentially/probably win.

I'd sat the first is what the people without true inner confidence in themselves or the Cause will commit themselves to- an inability to let go of selfassertion and get down to work.

The country tends to elect the second kind.

You have nothing to lose but your mental chains.

[CWebster]

34. Give me a break

I am weary of your argument that suggests any criticism or open-eyed consciousness would smack of "purity". The entire mindless notion offends me to the bone. it is just more of that mindless pep rally teen spirit that drives sentiment like "If you are not with us, blah blah blah. Didn't buy it then and I don't by it now. Never was a big one for bandwagons, and you're going to just have to live with that thorn in your side.

[belle]

38. But no one's going to be able to "fix it," see.

Not alone, and not in four years. I think of it more as staunching the wound. Yeah, the fast track vote is disturbing. Fast track/global economics *plus* fascist direct attempts to destroy the Constitution is the alternative. And people do change. I am at least confident that the man is intelligent and sane and capable of understanding the bills he's signing, which in itself would be an enormous improvement.

[in_cog_ni_to]

30. I'm very PROUD of him

for standing up for TRUTH. I dont know if "underestimated" would be the word for me. I just didn't like the man. I still don't like his votes on the IWR and the Patriot Act, BUT if he continues to speak the truth about the republican lying crooks, he will redeem himself with me. The lying crooks are the ones behind the IWR and the Patriot Act so......if he continues to make the repukes whine and cry, he'll be OK, in my book. Keep 'em on the defense! I LIKE it!

[Guaranteed]

32. I think somewhere along the line he realized

what real leadership is (SOMEONE must have shown him a thing or two). And, yes, I'm proud of him. Let's hope he keeps this up. :)

[BootinUp]

33. Alas, its true

He's obviously very intelligent and has put together a great team and he knows how to deal with repukes too.

[kodi]

35. i have. i did not expect him to have a good campaign organization

he has, in part thanks to ex-gov jean shaheen, who btw gave a great keynote speech at the 2000 dem convention.

she would make a great vp choice....please, please, please senator kerry pick her!

shaheen and her husband saved kerry's butt in new hampshire and when the dust settles she will be recognized as kerry's king maker.

good show jean, i would vote for her in a second....probably over kerry as well.

[THUNDER HANDS]

36. nope

Kerry is traveling at exactly the pace I thought he would. He'll be unstoppable by September and not even the 911 memorials will save Bush this time.

Kerry is a BEAST, and will not go down easily.

[belle]

37. I think I did.

Anyway, I'm getting warmer and warmer toward him. Go Kerry! I'll be sending some money later in the week.

[mitchum]

39. I never did for a single second...

I've been wanting him in the mix since 92

[NoPasaran]

40. I guess I did

I don't regret supporting Dean, but Kerry sure demolished us and I hope he'll do the same to Busholini. Most of my wounds have scabbed over and I am looking forward to November and even more to January 20.

[Bread and Circus]

41. I did. He proved me wrong. I really like him. Damn!

[Bread and Circus]

42. I did. He proved me wrong. I really like him. Damn!

[ArkDem]

50. We heard ya the first time

:evilgrin:

[eissa]

44. Me

I've always been an admirer of Kerry and he was my first choice prior to Dean early last year. But I was disappointed in his campaign (appeared rather disorganized, angry at the sense of entitlement that seemed to elude him early on), as well as his debate appearances. I really believed he was out of it and was truly shocked at his comeback. Promise not to "misunderestimate" him again :-)

[dolstein]

45. How can anyone underestimate Kerry? He hasn't done anything yet.

Ok, his comeback in Iowa was somewhat impressive, although not nearly as impressive, in my opinion, as John Edwards' performance in that state. Edwards wasn't nearly as well known or as well funded as Kerry.

But seriously, how much did Kerry's skills as a candidate contribute to his success after Iowa? He got a huge bounce in the polls after his win in Iowa, and the primary right after that was in New Hampshire, where Kerry had the best organization (courtesy of Jeanne Shaheen) and the kind of name recognition that comes from being the next door senator.

The fact is, the Democratic nomination contest was effectively over after New Hampshire. Dean had self-destructed, which meant that Kerry never had a challenger who could match his spending dollar for dollar. Clark and Edwards split the anti-Kerry vote in Southern states like Virginia and Tennessee.

If you look at the exit polls, people voted for Kerry largely because he was seen as electable. And he was seen as electable largely because he kept winning primaries.

Now I'm not saying that Kerry's a lousy candidate. True, he hasn't really impressed me on the stump, and his lengthy voting record, patrician demeanor and rather contemptuous relationship with the beltway press corps makes him incredibly vulnerable. But setting that all aside, the simple fact is that Kerry really hasn't been tested. Let's see how well he withstands the Republican onslaught of negative ads. Let's see where he is in the polls one month from now. Than I can tell you whether or not I have underestimated him.

[sangh0]

47. Untrue

1) Kerry has forced Bush* to answer about being AWOL

2) Kerry has forced Bush* to start campaigning earlier than Bush* originally planned.

3) Kerry forced Bush* to back off his appointee for the position heading an office for manufacturing because of Kerry's criticism that the nominee had outsourced jobs.

And he doesn't even have the nomination yet

[BootinUp]

51. relationship with the press corps

Which candidate had a better one?

[w4rma]

46. I did. Big time. (n/t)

[ArkDem]

48. I'd never realized what an exciting and charismatic

he could be. Republicans who vote mainly on national security will be crossing over in droves. He will also get ALL the votes of people worried about the economy and our image abroad.

[PATRICK]

49. Thanks to lousy political reporting

As usual the media shared its blindness with us liberally. Kerry personally always seemed as potent as he appears now and consistently. His campaign went oddly dark out of the spotlights and that turned out a plus during his shakeup. It was a natural, unplanned bait and switch that has body slammed the GOP and surprised most of us, including some Kerry supporters I would guess.

The whole primary accomplished most of the main things wished for(or dreamt of). I still think he has not always said the right thing politically, but the days when those missteps could overwhelm his pluses are over- I hope, since the intramurals are over.

Being behind the real thing (without asterisks) is a hurricane of fresh air at our own backs.