Okay, I've pulled this stuff out

[sandnsea]

This was in the introductory thread. If you were there and not here, it's because I figured you had more to say about John Kerry than what was in that thread. I haven't found the other one. Alterations & additions please.

FOREVER FREE
I'm Will and I'm an 18 yr. old first-year college student at the University of California, Santa Barbara.. I can say, without hesitation, that Senator Kerry truly inspired me a sense of hope and optimism and instilled in me a true sense of love and respect for my country. John Kerry is one of the best presidents we might never have the privledge of having. A lesser man would have been crushed under the weight of the vicious attacks and burden of last year's presidential campaign. However, the Senator has proven time and time again that he emerges from trials and tribulations stronger and more determined. He refuses to be defeates and always manages to continue to fight the good fight. Just like the John Kerry of yesterday changed the shape of American politics for decades through his courageous anti-war stand, the John Kerry of today will help make America's future brighter and stronger.

SIYAHAMBA
I admire John Kerry for his wisdom, his courage, his long-time support for causes such as voting against the DOMA and voting for the Permanent Partners Immigration Act, and for supporting other causes that don't affect me directly but are important to millions of other people who otherwise don't have a voice.

SEITO
I absolutely love John Kerry. He is a man of compassion, courage and wisdom.

GLOBALVILLAGE

Spent many hours working for John and John, and am not giving up hope for '08.
Kerry bracelet on my wrist, Kerry sticker on my car. Still sleep in one of my three Kerry/Edwards campaign t-shirts as long as I don't have "company".
FIRESPIRIT

My first choice in the primary was actually John Edwards, and I still think he's a great guy, but after I learned more about him, I fell in love with John Kerry and haven't quite recovered from it yet.... no, actually haven't recovered at all, and have only worsened if anything.

FOREVERDEM
I have been a democrat all my life but never really gave politics a serious thought until I discovered John Kerry. I can honestly say he restored my faith. I have never felt a connection with a politician like the one I feel with him. I also think he's incredibly hot.

WHOMETENSE
As for John Kerry - well, I have been half in love with him since 1971 or so, have met him personally several times, including in a friend's living room when he was running for lt. governor, and once came face to face with him on Beacon Hill on a beautiful spring day. John Kerry is a truly good man who stands up for what he believes, and I have been a fierce defender since the second he announced his run.

HANS DELBROOK
I've been a major fan of JK since the early 90's due to his work w/ the Vietnam POW/MIA committee. I admired him for taking on such a thankless, politically "dangerous" job and doing it so superbly. The closure that work brought to a lot of veterans touched a member of my family very personally. I also love his intelligence, humor, grace and style. And that he loves strong women!

J17
i love kerry for being himself and never pandering with empty statements. he knows who he is and he has an interest in other people and cultures and listens to everyone and loves to learn.

ROX63
I guess I really wasn't all that politically engaged until the 2000 presidential election. And I was positively obsessed with getting rid of Bush by the time the 2004 campaign came around. I originally was a Dean supporter in the primaries, because he seemed to speak to the anger and absolute contempt I had towards Bush. But I was never a real Deaniac, because I had a feeling his campaign was going to go down in flames. As the good ship Dean sank, I flirted with Edwards, but settled on Kerry. There were some bumper stickers around at that time that said "Dated Dean, Married Kerry". That was me.

FEDUPINBUSHCOUNTRY
So what brought me to John Kerry. Well, we had 10 candidates out there so I decided to do my research, I did do it on everyone but Lieberman, I didn't like him in 2000 and I still don't like him. I saw Dean on C-Span (I am a C-Spanaholic), but for some reason after I did research on him, I just didn't think he was coming off as who he really was. I love Kucinich but in my heart I knew he could never win. So as I went down the listI got to John Kerry, and bam, it was like my inner self came out. From religion (I am a Catholic) to his views of the world from his anti-war stance (I do get why he voted for the IWR, it was for the Inspectors to get in there and stay, nothing else), to his upbringing and his staying to his true values. The only thing I disagree on is Guns, I don't believe in them, but I do understand where he is coming from as a hunter. He brought back the fightI had in me that I had in the 60's and that went to sleep for to many years. He would have been a GREAT President and how I wish that was the way it turned out.

[whometense]

1. Could you remove

the "half in love" part of what I said?

It was strictly for the eyes of fellow Kerrycrats, and would diminish the impact of my arguments if people can say, well, she's just blinded by love.

[sandnsea]

3. Yes, but

I think it's adorable and shows that he's had loyal followers for decades. Makes a nice mix of comments, not strictly wonk, ya know? But whatever you decide.

[sandnsea]

7. How about this?

I pulled it from two of your posts.

I’ve met him personally several times, including in a friend's living room when he was running for Lt. Governor, and once came face to face with him on Beacon Hill on a beautiful spring day. First, I noticed that he is enormously better-looking in person than in pictures. There are good pictures of him, but most of them don't do him justice. Second, he radiates (could it be CHARISMA??? No, I guess not, because I keep hearing he has none.) And third, and most important, he could so easily have pretended he didn't see me and kept walking. But he didn't. His smile was sweet and really kind of shy, like he appreciated that I recognized him. So every time some idiot talked about how stuck-up and aloof he is, I'd remember that moment and know it just wasn't true. John Kerry is a truly good man who stands up for what he believes, and I have been a fierce defender since the second he announced his run.

[whometense]

8. Thanks!

I like that a lot better. Mind you, I stand by my first comment. It's just that I don't want anything to detract from the main point - how wonderful he is. :-)

[WildEyedLiberal]

2. I've been interested in politics since I was seven years old

So it's been an obession for some time. I saw my mother's respect and adoration of the Kennedy brothers, and hoped that one day I'd find a politician I could genuinely respect like that. Along comes John Kerry. When I did my research on him, it was as though something inside of me ignited. I knew then that he was the one I'd be waiting for - the almost impossible politician with unimpeachable integrity, honor, and ideals. His personal courage and his honesty really resonated with me, far more than any dry academic discussion of issues ever could. I believe with all my heart that he is the most principled man in politics today. I will support him with every fiber of my being as long as he is out there, continuing his lifelong fight for what is good and right.

[JohnKleeb]

4. Ok

Should I call myself a high school student or a community college student btw, I only have a month left of school and I am officially enroled at NVCC.

I am 17 years old, and a HS student right now but next fall will be a college student. John Kerry inspires me the same way John Kennedy did him, a connection, sure I am not from Massachuetts, dont have blue blood, nor do I plan to be in the Navy, but Kerry and I are both traditional liberals who believe in doing what is best for the people of tis country by helping them out, I also really admire his heroism not only as a soldier in Vietnam but coming home to protest how wrong the war was. Then he does all kinds of things after like put mobsters in jail, protect women, and go after corporate crooks. He also does a hell of a job in the senate too with things like the Iran-Contra uncovery, BCCI, etc. He also was one of the first senators to support gay rights. He has one of the best records in the senate as well. Kerry even after the defeat in November has been fighting back and strongly, against Bolton, against Rice, etc, and for getting kids health care, he's an admirable guy, and I hope he can be president someday but if not he would be one of the most admirable senators of modern times to me.

[TayTay]

5. I was thinking of this thread

It speaks to what people felt upon going to a live meeting. It speaks to emotional response, not cool headed logic.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=23214&mesg_id=23214

[sandnsea]

6. Thanks Tay Tay

I couldn't remember what prompted the thread that had all the good stuff in it! I'll start pulling the quotes out. Here's what I have for a statement, so far. Which may be the totally wrong direction, but I'm pissed:

Wow Markos, you’ve just proven what an idiot you are. I hope the folks over at NPI don’t get wind of this piece of blather, they may realize that you’re nothing but another partisan hack with no real insight into what moves Americans at all.

Let’s look at your first charge, that the only thing John Kerry had going for him was that he was “electable”. It is stunning to me that after all this time, you just don’t get all that word entailed. It means that the man went around the state of Iowa, laying out his qualifications and vision, and ending with “Don’t send them a message, send them a President”. And the people said YES, this man is already a President!! The campaign came up with the strategy, Kerry executed it, and blew everybody else out of the water. Not a great campaigner? Ha.

Why? Because he had taken on the establishment in D.C. while Howard Dean was playing kissy face with it. Because he had Clark’s sterling military record as well as a history of fighting for Democratic values in foreign policy and military affairs. Because he had been in the trenches fighting for gay rights, women’s rights, children, education, the environment, health care, minority business opportunities and more; while Edwards was making himself rich. Kerry actually IS what these people blabbered about. Not a campaign slogan, but The Real Deal.

Finally, if you, and DC Democrats for that matter, are so delusional as to continue to base last year’s campaign on the distortions propagated by the media; then we are in serious trouble. Bobby Kennedy Jr said it all (same tactics regardless of candidat). One of the leading distortions was that John Kerry had no real support in order to convince swing voters that we were all just a bunch of irrational, sour grapes, Bush haters. If you don’t get that Markos, you don’t get anything and have absolutely no business strategizing to “fight the battles of the 21st century”. And if the other folks at NPI don’t get it, they don’t have any business pretending to be political strategists either.

[JI7]

9. I love Kerry

because he is so snuggly and cuddly.

[WildEyedLiberal]

11. Hahahha amen nt

[fedupinBushcountry]

10. I Wish

I had saved some of the Kerry blog posts, many were very inspirational, and showed why John Kerry was their man.

[rox63]

12. An addition to mine

I've been a Kerry voter since he ran for Lt Governor in 1982. I'll be a Kerry voter as long as he keeps running in elections.

[TayTay]

13. So have I! And I have always liked the tall guy.

I have always deeply respected John Kerry. He has been an excellent Senator. I have found him to be a forceful advocate for Democratic programs and an incredibly knowledgeable man about an enormous range of issues. (I am amazed at how deep and wide his knowledge is. Just amazed. That is one smart cookie. Or as we might say in Boston, guy knows his shit.)

I was very proud of Kerry, as a Masshole, for the race he ran last year. I thought he did a good job. So good, in fact, that I would have no problem backing him if he decides to run again.

[elshiva]

14. Will add:

I am a proud Derryiac. I love Kerry and Dean. They are brothers to me and heroes to the queer people, my people. God bless them.

Thanks TayTay!

[politicasista]

15. This is from the archives, but I told this story to whome and Tay Tay once

This was my first time voting, and paying attention to an election. I was ABB until the DNC then became a supporter full time. I didn't care who won, I just wanted * out. Dean was cool because of his antiwar stance. The general (Clark) was ok. Edwards was (and still is) cool too, but I didn't know who John Kerry was until the DNC. I know this might sound silly but me and my parents voted for Kerry in the primaries cause he was the frontrunner. There wasn't much advertising here in TN (cause we were not a battleground state), but I was glad to support the most qualified person to defeat *

I then started research and reading the Kerry/Edwards blog almost everyday. During the campaign, one thing I was somewhat uncomfortable with was lots of criticism that Kerry and his campaign received was not reaching out to minorities for staff work. Some complained that he just didn't have any personality and that he wasn't comfortable working with minorities period. I was glad he interviewed with Urban magazines/radio. Although he did that towards the end, some blacks felt that it was too little, too late (around August-September).

Sometimes I get disillusioned off and on because I feel like if we just kept our mouths shut, Kerry would be in the WH. But no, my people believed the lies of the media and the vicious, mean-spiritied Rovian talking points against Kerry. It makes me sad cause I feel like I am the only minority (besides JI7 maybe) that would still support Kerry. To make the long story short, I am an intelligent, educated person. My issues are education, jobs, healthcare, economy, affirmative action, environment and so on. This is why I supported Kerry.

[foreverdem]

16. I have lots more to say

I have learned more about John Kerry after the election than I knew before, and I have this forum to thank for that. You guys are really amazing. I don't post all that much, but I do read what everyone here posts.

Before the election, I knew where he stood on the issues, and thought he was an extremely intelligent, and incredibly attractive man, but there was also a sensitivity that I sensed about him. An ability to connect with people, more than I've ever seen with another presidential candidate or politician that I have ever seen. Even Bill Clinton. I was a Clinton supporter, but sensed a phoniness about him (sorry for Clinton lovers, I did like the guy, but he didn't always seem sincere to me). I didn't feel that way about Kerry, if he said something, I believed it. I never saw him as being aloof or cold. I saw him as a man in power doing the best he could to find out what was important to us, the struggles we faced in our everyday lives and seeking out a way to fix that, to make our lives better, and to let us know that we are not wrong for wanting a better life and country than what we have.

[sandnsea]

17. Update

We're mulling over two separate courses of action. Will decide soon. Have not forgotten this, so's you guys know.

[Firespirit]

18. Additions.

I'm a graduate student in computer science. My "pet" political issues are election reform, the environment, and labor rights.