A response from my first diary on DailyKos

[LittleClarkie]

Unlike some folks who moan that Kerry should be coughing up his leftover money for Dem candidates in 2005 or 2006, this guy was moaning that Kerry WAS coughing up money, and in his eyes currying favor.

He wanted John to give the money to a charity instead.

O-B-K-B.

Why can't these ABBers get it though their heads that normally you give to a candidate because you want him to win. And I would imagine, if you like a candidate, you wouldn't mind if he used the money to try and get elected the next time. Isn't that how it normally works when you're a supporter of someone?

I wonder how much money Dukakis or Mondale had left over, and what they did with it.

Does anyone remember this kind of discussion of leftover funds going on after ANY other election?

Btw, there are Kerrycrats over there in DailyKos. I know, because they give me 4's, :D.


http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2005/4/5/2149/59539/22#22

"I see you all like the system just fine. Good for you.

If you think this has anything to do with who it is that gets to keep the surplus donations and use them to further their own poltical fortunes then you would be wrong.

It used to be that we only had to worry about corporations, spcial interests and foreign governments influencing politicians with heavy donations that render the avaerage citizen effectively powerless. Now the politicians themselves are waist deep in the muck. Kerry or whomever is using this money--raised for some other purpose-- to gain leverage over other important political actors. This is Tom Delay's M.O. His PAC gives heavily to fellow Republicans who need his help the most and then he comes calling when he needs the favor back.

Candidates should not be able to re-donate money. (If they want to give it to a charity which has a non-political purpose I guess that is fine--imagine if Kerry had simply donated the excess to A Vietnam Vets organization). Office holders should not be able to run PACs which are just influence peddling organizations by another name."

[JI7]

1. this is why i ignore most of them

they don't really care other than to bash Kerry. that's what their intentions are so they are best left ignored. giving them attention is what they want.

[politicasista]

10. I am beginning to take your advice

:hi:

[WildEyedLiberal]

2. DKos isn't as lefty freepish as I had once thought

But there's still the lingering "bitter Deaniac" here and there who posts some senseless bitch like that. Oh well, overall, kossacks tend to be saner than the majority of DUers, or so it seems... not US, you understand, but the nutjobs in GD... but maybe that's just an illusion.

[LittleClarkie]

3. No actually I think you're right

I've seen some pretty good political analysis over there. And they properly appreciated Kerry's talk with Rice during her hearing for the most part, and more than one understood that the stories about Kerry's leftover money were designed to divide.

Even so, I'm convinced that if you posted a diary over there that simply read "Kerry" it would be a red flag for somebody, just as it is here, and rants would ensue, just from that one word.

But like I said, I get high marks over there for being positive, esp. when I was positive about Kerry and Dean. Dean apparently gets nailed too, mostly from folks who think he isn't moving fast enough. I swear, some Deaniacs just don't seem to understand how things work. It's like they want instant gratification. But then those are probably the "Dean or Greens." Some of them are starting to turn on him, poor guy. I'm willing to give him a honeymoon, myself.

This guy I posted about freaked me out mostly because he didn't even seem to care about our Congressional candidates and didn't seem to think it was a good thing they were getting money, whatever the motivation. I was going to answer, but then I decided I wasn't going to get anywhere, and I probably wasn't even dealing with a Dem, since he wasn't concerned with getting them elected in 2005 or 2006. This person reminds me of a Green or a Naderite, almost completely outside the system with no understanding of the system. Or perhaps another idologically pure wingnut.

Not that I'm the biggest political wiz either, but I understand SOME things. Geez, call the reality police.

[WildEyedLiberal]

6. You're probably right

About that dim bulb being a Green or something. That whole bitching about "politics as usual" and how the Dems are as bad as the Reps is usually a huge red flag.

Lefty freepers really are divorced from reality, aren't they?

[Withywindle]

4. I think they've calmed down some...

It seems like quite a few of the very worst Kerry-bashers have either faded away (or been banned in at least one case) or gotten over it to some extent--I think a lot of the worst of the worst was misplaced grief and rage over the election. Time will sort out the mere emotional-reactors from the true lefty-freeper champion grudge-holders, it seems to be happening already. The latter type will NEVER stop, they're like the mirror image of the frickin' Shit Boaters.

There are some strong Kerry supporters there ... who tend to be very thoughtful people and powerful writers too.

I like to read it. I'm too intimidated to get an account and post, but then I used to feel that a little bit here as well and we saw where that led. :D

[WildEyedLiberal]

5. My boyfriend got me reading Daily Kos

It does need more Kerrycrats, I admit... I am tempted to join, if only to be another stalwart supporter of our man.

[sandnsea]

8. I think so too

I'm even noticing less Kerry bashing around here the last couple of weeks. Of have I just been in the wrong threads?? I think they're finally getting it. He doesn't leave anybody behind, he keeps fighting and never stops.

[Pirate Smile]

9. If you join, you can at least recommend diaries for the Recommended list.

You can just reply to threads when the urge hits. You don't have to post any diaries if you don't want too.

:)

[sandnsea]

7. They all do this

They've been doing it for years. If Kerry can use that money to convince some people to vote right, then good for him. That's what we gave him the money for, to change the country.