Daily Democrat: A positive discussion about John Kerry

[Skinner]

In an effort to provide for some enlightening discussion, rather than partisan flaming, the administrators have decided to post regular threads about the candidates for the Democratic nomination which are reserved for positive discussion only. These threads will be called the "Daily Democrat".

Currently, we intend to post two Daily Democrat discussion threads per day. If a particular thread becomes too long, then the moderators will open additional threads as necessary. These discussion threads will be allowed to stay open until the next two Daily Democrat threads are opened at some point the following day.

THE RULES

The rules for these Daily Democrat candidate threads are as follows. (For the purposes of these rules, the candidate who is the subject of the thread is referred to as the "Daily Democrat".)

1. You are welcome to post anything positive about the Daily Democrat. You can explain why you support that person. You can dispel myths about that candidate. You can discuss that person's positions on various issues. Whatever.

2. You are allowed to favorably compare the Daily Democrat to other candidates, provided that you are not unnecessarily inflammatory or antagonistic to the other candidates.

3. You may not post attacks of any kind against the Daily Democrat. Furthermore, you cannot post criticism and try to pass it off as a compliment ("I enthusiastically support candidate X because he ruined his state's economy!")

4. You may not discuss the supporters of any candidate (that goes for the the Daily Democrat, or any other candidate).

5. Undecided voters are encouraged to ask questions about the Daily Democrat in order to better inform their choice. Note that criticism disguised as a question will not be allowed.

6. You may not start another discussion thread for the purposes of responding to comments made in the "Daily Democrat" thread. Sorry -- you just have to suck it up and let the positive discussion continue uninterrupted.

7. I will not babysit the Daily Democrat thread, because I believe it will not be necessary. It is the responsibility of every member to know and follow the rules. Deliberate disruption of the Daily Democrat thread, or efforts by opponents to influence the Daily Democrat thread, will result in the banning of the individual(s) responsible.

8. I reserve the right to change the rules as necessary to make this work.

TIMING

We will discuss two Daily Democrats per day, and cycle through the list of presidential candidates in modified alphabetical order.

12/04 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/05 - Howard Dean ....... and ... Joe Lieberman
12/06 - John Edwards ...... and ... Carol Moseley Braun
12/07 - Dick Gephardt ..... and ... Al Sharpton
12/08 - John Kerry ........ and ... Wesley Clark
12/09 - Dennis Kucinich ... and ... Howard Dean
12/10 - Joe Lieberman ..... and ... John Edwards
12/11 - Carol Moseley Braun and ... Dick Gephardt
12/12 - Al Sharpton ....... and ... John Kerry
12/13 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/14 - Etc...

LET'S GET STARTED

Here's your chance for some positive discussion of John Kerry! Who wants to start it off?

[eileen_d]

1. There seem to be duplicate threads on Kerry

just wanted to point that out...

[Skinner]

2. Thanks.

:thumbsup:

[berner59]

3. Kerry is near perfect....

He has every perfect credential to be President - he's well spoken, well informed, has great ideas, war hero...has worked hard as a Senator and stuck to his principles...and I can not for the life of me understand why he isn't doing better!! (hope that's not too negative...) I truly wish for him to do well in NH...and maybe that will spark interest. I don't think this is over yet and I hope he keeps plugging away - I would think W fears Kerry the most...

[JohnKleeb]

4. Well today lol I can say

being its his birthday and I think he looks younger than his years, hes like my uncle's age but looks a good 5-10 years younger. On Kerry, he has a terrific resume and record. Oops forgot to say, I think he possibly is the best on veterans issues. Either way, should my candiate drop out, this is my candiate. I like Kerry.

[sandnsea]

5. The total package

Supporter of liberal social ideals in health care, education, and civil rights. Pragmatic in business supporting small business programs for years. Global conscience promoting international treaties, real economic programs for 3rd world countries, AIDS assistance, and cultural respect. Strong on real defense writing legislation to stop arms sales to 3rd world countries, stop money laundering by terrorist groups, stop weapons proliferation, and other similar steps. And, a candidate who has been consistent in his positions for 20 years and who tells the exact truth about his positions, whether we want to hear it or not.

[La_Serpiente]

6. John Kerry

took the motha' SOBs down at Iran/Contra and he can take down the same cronies again if he is the nominee. He is Ollie North's, Ellio Abrams, Negroponte's worst nightmare. The amalgamation of his life experiences more than qualifies him for the seat of the presidency. He would also know how to handle not just the pull out from Iraq - but other foreign problems as well since he has a strong background in foreign affairs.

Although his campaign may not be ahead in the polls, his supporters believe in him to pull through - because we know he is a good person at heart and steadfast in his resolve. My recommendation for his campaign is to go all out - because there is nowhere to go but up.

So take some chances because you won't get another chance like this.

[eileen_d]

7. Kerry has great positions on veterans

I really appreciate the detailed attention he has paid to veterans' issues on his campaign web site:

A New Compact with America's Veterans
Provide Mandatory Funding of Veterans Health Care
Do Not Overstretch the Military
Make the Veterans Administration Responsive
Full Accounting for Missing POW/MIAs
Combating Homelessness
Supporting Members of the National Guard and Reservists
Protecting Family Members Who Lose a Loved One

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/veterans/

[JasonFromWaltham]

9. Respect

As a constituent I am proud to have him represent me and although I do not agree with some of his recent voting I have the utmost respect for him as person, politician, and democrat.

[sandnsea]

15. 26 million vets, family & friends

A letter from Bobby Hanafin, Veterans for Kerry
Disclaimer: I don't agree with everything in this letter, but think he makes some valid points as well.

As an Independent, who was recently a Republican who voted for Bush in 2000, I would vote for only TWO Democratic candidates, and I support only ONE - John Kerry.

If fact, as a member and volunteer Veterans for Kerry, and moderator of the Fighting for America's Veterans section of the official John Kerry Town Meeting, this retired Air Force Major can assure you that America's 26+million Veterans, their families and friends - a formidable voting bloc - WILL NOT vote for any Democratic candidate EXCEPT John Kerry or Wesley Clark, especially the likes of who they perceive as doves like Dennis Kucinich or Howard Dean.

Given Kerry's extensive record Fighting for America's Veterans, plus his EXPERIENCE with Foreign Affairs, not-to-mention his Wartime combat experience, HE is the only candidate who can BEAT Bush a somewhat POPULAR Wartime President. Unfortunately, as Ms. Ivins mentioned, General Clark lacks Kerry's experience, though he has the combat experience to make a fine Commander-In-Chief.

Most significantly, as combat Veterans, John Kerry and Wesley Clark are the only TWO Democratic candidates who have earned and will get the respect of our Troops NOW fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan as their Commander-In-Chief. A respect and trust not earned by other candidates nor their former Commander-In-Chief for his draft dodging during Vietnam.

In fact, John Kerry and Wesley Clark stand the best chance of capturing the military vote in addition to the Veterans vote which was one of the deciding factors against Al Gore in 2000. If the Democratic party can overcome the perception in the military that they tried to prevent the military absentee ballots in Florida.

For those Democrats who still tout that the Republicans stole the election in Florida in 2000, look at it this way. If Gore had gotten the Veteran vote plus military vote or those blocs had decided not to vote rather than vote for Bush in 2000, Gore would have won the election unconditionally and Florida wouldn't have been a question mark.

Kerry and Clark find themselves in a position to do just that IF one of them got the nomination. Veterans for Kerry and Veterans for Clark will ensure one of them gets it. My money is on John Kerry of course.

Howard Dean lacks neither the combat experience nor foreign policy experience of John Kerry or Wesley Clark. In fact, the Bush/Cheney campaign will use Dean's medical disqualification from Vietnam while he went skiing for a year against him, and they will do it effectively. Bush at least served in the Air National Guard during Vietnam.

Now is not the time to nominate someone who requires on the job training as our Commander-In-Chief or Bush will be assured a second term.

Ms. Ivins claims that liberals and Independents will determine who wins the primaries. She is partially right BUT tends to forget that the SWING VOTE is also made up of centrist semi-Conservatives who will not vote for a candidate who went skiing instead of serving during Vietnam, regardless of excuse, and requires on the job training as Commander-In-Chief, even if we can get them to vote Democrat.

It is this swing vote of moderate liberals, moderate conservatives fed up with the direction Bush is taking the Republican party, especially Veterans who have traditionally voted conservative, that will be the bottom line during the primaries and will decide who BEATS THE BUSH.

Lastly, many undecided Republicans who voted for Bush in 2000 are registering as Democrats in order to help determine who will run against Bush. Media experts and armchair political pundits who like to express polls to decide elections need to do a poll of America's 26+million Veterans, plus families and friends of Veterans, and they will see that what I say is TRUE.

Kerry is OUR MAN in 2004. He is one of US.

[oasis]

31. Another veteran for Kerry, right here.

:thumbsup:

[Zomby Woof]

8. I watched him on CSPAN two days ago

I forget what a resource that channel is, beyond its usual monitoring of Congress. It gave me a chance to see Kerry as a campaigner, rather than some remote figure filtered through the edited clips and commentaries on the evening news. The coverage was live and continuous, so after watching him interact and press the flesh (which made me inordinately hungry for chili, which was being served), I watched his speech, and thought it hit all the right notes: The economy, health care, Iraq, and labor were given their due.

I respect his career in the Senate, and his service in Vietnam. My favorite part of his platform concerns small businesses and providing more help for Main Street, one of our party's natural constituencies.

[sandnsea]

11. Small Business Committee

He's been on that committee since 1995 and has generated alot of the legislation that has helped small business over the last few years. That could be huge in next year's election, small business has traditionally gone Republican.

[Zomby Woof]

21. small businesses used to be our domain

But over time, the GOP appealed to them by playing on their disdain for taxes (which can be prohibitive, depending on the state), and in some cases, the "values" card, being that many small businesses are in rural and suburban "swing" territory, where values-issues affect voting habits. Many small businesses need to understand how they are voting against their interests when they vote Republican. These same businesses would be hurt by a WalMart or Home Depot going up in their town, and yet when they vote for the Repubs, they are voting for WalMart and Home Depot too.

It's high time for us to reclaim them for the Democrats, and I think Kerry is well-qualified to help!

[WilliamPitt]

10. John Kerry

John Kerry on Abortion

No criminalization of a woman's right to choose. (Jun 7)
Voted NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
Voted NO on disallowing overseas military abortions. (May 1999)

John Kerry on Budget & Economy

Bush policy kept economy afloat in recession-keep some of it. (Sep 25)
No excuse for special tax cuts for the rich. (Jun 17)
Voted NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts. (Apr 2000)
Voted NO on 1998 GOP budget. (May 1997)
Voted NO on Balanced-budget constitutional amendment. (Mar 1997)

John Kerry on Civil Rights

Include a sunset provision in the Patriot Act. (Jun 17)
Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
Voted NO on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
Voted NO on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
Voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995)
Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all. (Aug 2000)

John Kerry on Corporations

Democratize the process of corporate boards. (Sep 25)
Voted NO on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)

John Kerry on Crime

Voted YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program. (May 1999)
Voted NO on limiting death penalty appeals. (Apr 1996)
Voted NO on limiting product liability punitive damage awards. (Mar 1996)
Voted YES on restricting class-action lawsuits. (Dec 1995)
Voted YES on repealing federal speed limits. (Jun 1995)
Voted NO on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms. (May 1994)
Voted NO on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals. (May 1994)
More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
Require DNA testing for all federal executions. (Mar 2001)

John Kerry on Drugs (snicker)

Voted NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses. (Nov 1999)
Voted NO on spending international development funds on drug control. (Jul 1996)

John Kerry on Education

Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
Voted NO on Educational Savings Accounts. (Mar 2000)
Voted NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
Voted NO on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
Voted NO on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
Voted NO on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)
Voted NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994)
Voted YES on national education standards. (Feb 1994)
Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice. (Aug 2000)
Three R’s: $35B for Reinvestment,Reinvention,Responsibility. (Jan 2001)

John Kerry on Energy & Oil

ANWR won't provide any oil for 20 years. (Sep 25)
Invent our way out of oil dependency-don't drill our way out. (Sep 25)
Invest in advancing secure forms of energy instead of oil. (Jun 17)
Led effort to try to raise fuel efficiency standards. (May 3)
Create new energy sources to end Mideast dependency. (May 2002)
Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 10)
Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 19)
Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
Voted NO on replacing CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
Voted NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. (Apr 2000)
Voted YES on keeping CAFE fuel efficiency standards. (Sep 1999)
Voted NO on defunding renewable and solar energy. (Jun 1999)
Voted NO on approving a nuclear waste repository. (Apr 1997)
Voted NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline. (Aug 1994)
Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases. (Aug 2000)

John Kerry on Environment

Safeguard the environment and grow the economy. (Jun 17)
Voted NO on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
Voted NO on more funding for forest roads and fish habitat. (Sep 1999)
Voted NO on transportation demo projects. (Mar 1998)
Voted YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests. (Sep 1997)
Voted YES on terminating desert protection in California. (Oct 1994)
Voted YES on requiring EPA risk assessments. (May 1994)
Reduce liability for hazardous waste cleanup. (May 2001)

John Kerry on Families & Children

Fund Head Start to leave no child behind. (Sep 4)
Voted YES on restricting violent videos to minors. (May 1999)
Give parents tools to balance work and family. (Aug 2000)

John Kerry on Foreign Policy

Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe. (May 2002)
Voted YES on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons. (Sep 2000)
Voted NO on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions. (Jul 1998)
Voted NO on limiting NATO expansion to only Poland, Hungary & Czech. (Apr 1998)
Voted YES on $17.9 billion to IMF. (Mar 1998)
Voted NO on Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba. (Mar 1996)
Voted YES on ending Vietnam embargo. (Jan 1994)
Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence. (Aug 2000)
Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine. (Apr 2001)

John Kerry on Free Trade

Dean's trade policy is protectionist. (Sep 25)
FTAA needs more labor and environmental standards. (Sep 4)
Fix NAFTA-canceling it would be disastrous. (Sep 4)
Capitalism and democracy go hand in hand. (May 3)
Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001)
Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China. (Sep 2000)
Voted YES on expanding trade to the third world. (May 2000)
Voted YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority. (Nov 1997)
Voted YES on fast track trading authority. (Nov 1997)
Voted YES on imposing trade sanctions on Japan for closed market. (May 1995)
Build a rule-based global trading system. (Aug 2000)

John Kerry on Government Reform

Flag and patriotism belong to all Americans. (Jun 17)
Voted YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
Voted NO on allow signatures for voter registration instead of photo IDs. (Feb 2002)
Voted YES on McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on limiting funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. (Aug 1999)
Voted YES on cloture of 1998 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. (Feb 1998)
Voted YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on Approving the presidential line-item veto. (Mar 1996)
Voted NO on banning more types of Congressional gifts. (Jul 1995)
Voluntary public financing for all general elections. (Aug 2000)

John Kerry on Gun Control

Voted YES on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
Voted NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999)
Voted NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
Voted NO on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. (Jul 1998)
Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology. (Aug 2000)

John Kerry on Health Care

Cover more citizens with health plan like Congress gets. (May 3)
Lack of accessible health care is a disgrace. (May 2002)
Voted YES on allowing importation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)
Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999)
Voted YES on increasing funds for Medicare prescriptions. (Mar 1999)
Voted YES on increasing tobacco restrictions. (Jun 1998)
Voted NO on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
Voted YES on Medicare means-testing. (Jun 1997)
Voted YES on medical savings acounts. (Apr 1996)
Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care. (Aug 2000)

John Kerry on Homeland Security

No new generation of nuclear weapons. (Sep 4)
Automatic citizenship to immigrants who serves in army. (Sep 4)
Voted YES on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on allowing another round of military base closures. (May 1999)
Voted NO on cutting nuclear weapons below START levels. (May 1999)
Voted YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP. (Mar 1999)
Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%. (Feb 1999)
Voted NO on deploying missile defense as soon as possible. (Sep 1998)
Voted NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training. (Jun 1998)
Voted NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on banning chemical weapons. (Apr 1997)
Voted NO on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty. (Jun 1996)
Voted NO on 1996 Defense Appropriations. (Sep 1995)

John Kerry on Immigration

Amnesty to anyone here over 5 or 6 years. (Sep 4)
Voted NO on allowing more foreign workers into the U.S. for farm work. (Jul 1998)
Voted NO on visas for skilled workers. (May 1998)
Voted NO on limit welfare for immigrants. (Jun 1997)

John Kerry on Infrastructure

Voted YES on Internet sales tax moratorium. (Oct 1998)
Voted YES on telecomm deregulation. (Feb 1996)
Chief information officer to digitize federal government. (Aug 2000)
Promote internet via Congressional Internet Caucus. (Jan 2001)

John Kerry on Jobs

Trade grows jobs. (Sep 25)
Jump start jobs at home via energy independence. (Sep 4)
Voted NO on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001)
Voted NO on killing an increase in the minimum wage. (Nov 1999)
Voted NO on allowing workers to choose between overtime & comp-time. (May 1997)
Voted NO on replacing farm price supports. (Feb 1996)

John Kerry on Principles & Values

Favorite song: Bruce Springsteen, "No Surrender.". (Sep 9)
Need a president who won't write laws only for contributors. (Sep 9)
Contest between common sense values and extreme ideologues. (Jun 7)
I'm talking about things that matter to people. (May 3)
It is time for this country to ask again, why not? (May 3)
Religious affiliation: Catholic. (Nov 2000)
Supports Hyde Park Declaration of "Third Way" centrism. (Aug 2000)
Member of Democratic Leadership Council. (Nov 2000)
New Democrat: "Third Way" instead of left-right debate. (Nov 2000)
Member of the Senate New Democrat Coalition. (Jan 2001)

John Kerry on Social Security

Guarantee Social Security soundness, even if unpopular. (Sep 25)
Don't threaten Social Security on Wall Street trading block. (May 2002)
Voted NO on Social Security Lockbox & limiting national debt. (Apr 1999)
Voted NO on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees. (May 1998)
Voted NO on allowing personal retirement accounts. (Apr 1998)
Voted NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes. (May 1996)
Create Retirement Savings Accounts. (Aug 2000)

John Kerry on Tax Reform

10% bracket in Bush tax cuts was Democrats' idea. (Sep 25)
Bush tax cuts reach 32 million in middle class. (Sep 25)
We're tired of being trickled on--Middle class tax cuts now. (Jun 7)
Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 23)
Voted NO on cutting taxes by $1.35 trillion over 11 years. (May 2001)
Voted YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001)
Voted YES on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
Voted NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty'. (Jul 2000)
Voted NO on across-the-board spending cut. (Oct 1999)
Voted NO on $792B tax cuts. (Jul 1999)
Voted NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes. (Apr 1998)
Voted NO on FY99 tax cuts. (Apr 1998)

John Kerry on War & Peace

Maybe on $87B for Iraq-repeal Bush tax cut to pay it, if yes. (Sep 25)
De-Americanize Iraq: the exit strategy is victory. (Sep 9)
Vote for war was needed to push Saddam on inspectors. (Sep 9)
$87B for Iraq only when internationalization is addressed. (Sep 9)
Don't miss 3rd opportunity in Iraq to bring in UN. (Sep 4)
Don't send more US troops to Iraq-share power & share burden. (Sep 4)
Against a misapplied blanket pre-emptive doctrine. (Jun 17)
Intelligence information should not be manipulated. (Jun 17)
Disarm Saddam, but war should be a last resort. (May 3)
Preferred diplomacy, but supported invading Iraq. (May 3)
Vietnam didn't threaten US; US war crimes did. (Apr 1971)
Vietnam war was criminal hypocrisy and tore apart US. (Apr 1971)
Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
Voted NO on allowing all necessary forces and other means in Kosovo. (May 1999)
Voted YES on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo. (Mar 1999)
Voted NO on ending the Bosnian arms embargo. (Jul 1995)
Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001)

John Kerry on Welfare & Poverty

Voted YES on welfare block grants. (Aug 1996)
Voted YES on eliminating block grants for food stamps. (Jul 1996)
Voted NO on allowing state welfare waivers. (Jul 1996)
Voted YES on welfare overhaul. (Sep 1995)
Finish welfare reform by moving able recipients into jobs. (Aug 2000)

http://www.issues2002.org/John_Kerry.htm

[La_Serpiente]

14. wow

thanks :-)

[sandnsea]

16. Can I lift your work???

And post it over in the Kerry forum? I know it's public domain, but you did compile it. Please do come join in the forum Will, I think you'll enjoy it.

[curse10]

37. I'm gonna steal it too!

:-)

It's a nice handy list to have.

[mzmolly]

41. It's from issues2004... see the link Pitt provided...

It's probably a copyright violation at that ;)

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

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

[pistoff democrat]

27. Huzzah!

Facts trump Faux...just a great list of why I'll feel more than fine voting for him if he is our nominee.

Thanks for the compilation.

[retread]

39. More proof that John Kerry would be one of our greatest presidents.

*

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

54. You just rarely see all that he has done in his career in public service

posted here. This is an excellent resource, Will. Thanks.

[quinnox]

12. Kerry is a much better choice than Dean

Kerry is better than Dean on the environment, on gun control, on foreign policy experience, on traditional liberal ideals.

Kerry would make a wonderful commander-in-chief.

[oasis]

45. The perception that Bill Clinton was not respected by the miltary brass

will carry over to any Democrat who has passed up an opportunity to serve. This will be a problem for candidates attempting to become Commander in chief.

[Octafish]

49. Most of those who haven't served in the Armed Forces understand that...

... Clinton said it was one of his life's great regrets, after he learned the hard way. Even a President can't expect to be respected by the people who may have to die for their country if never having to accept that responsibility oneself.

It's critical, for our nation to be truly united in the coming decades, to have a President that's the complete package — the "Real Deal" as the Kerry campaign puts it. Without everyone working together — on national defense, energy policy, economic policy, social policy — this country will be using its soldiers for crowd-control.

Kerry, a Liberal Democrat, will have everyone using their talents and time to build a better nation and lead the world to better things. That's called duty and it's what a commander-in-chief does.

[oasis]

50. The Bush adminisrtation can be hit with endless scandals but Chimpy can

weather the storm as long as he wears the mantle of "the protector" during these dangerous times.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

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

[blm]

13. Kerry can take down the BFEE if given the opportunity to make that case.

John Kerry assembled a team to confront Bush on the issues Rove wants to take to the American people in 2004. National security and the fear of terrorism. No doubt, the last thing Rove needs are experts in those areas speaking out during the general election against Bush and for the Democratic opponent.

Gary Hart, knows more about national security and antiterrorism measures than any national figure. He is the author of the Hart-Rudman report which was delivered to Bush in Jan. 2001 after a 2 1/2 year study commissioned by Clinton. The report wasn't dealt with at all prior to 9-11.

Rand Beers, former National Security Official, knows the inner workings of the Bush team's post 9-11 efforts, of which he observed mostly inertia and incompetence.

Max Cleland, 9-11 commission, knows the Bush team is trying to pull a fast one on the American people by covering up crucial information of dealings that led to 9-11. Has been speaking out to groups across the country, and swinging the AWOLSTICK as a bonus.

Gen. William Perry, Clinton's expert on nuclear arms proliferation and N. Korea, knows Bush's failures on the serious Korea issue and his incompetence in dealing with its threat.

Joe Wilson, the man who knows TOO much. Exposed Cheney's office as the source for cooked intelligence reports on Iraq. Also alerted public to treasonous acts by White House in exposing his wife, an undercover CIA agent. Many in intel community aligning with Wilson and his wife against the WH.

The media is loathe to give these men the airtime at this point because they are too damaging to Bush on his perceived strengths. They can afford to ignore them and the substance of their case against Bush because they are selling the American people the "process" of the primary horserace as entertainment. If Kerry were the nominee, the media would have no choice but to feature his spokespeople on the various issues.

Kerry assembled a team to TAKE BUSH DOWN.

Plus, we'll have Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the EPA or Dept. of Interior.

The BEST team to hit the ground running on ALL the most crucial issues facing the nation and the world in 2005.

[DeepModem Mom]

17. I thought Kerry was very strong in the NH debate --

and someone posted a report yesterday that his wife is handing out "Asses of Evil" buttons. What a woman he married!

[Blaukraut]

18. Will Pitt's post says it all

Kerry is a true liberal who has stood up for our cause many times over his career. I thank him for that. While I'm proud to have him as my senator, I will be even prouder to call him our president :-)

[Zomby Woof]

23. and WHERE have you been?

:hi: LONG time no see!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

19. He will be the greatest president of our lifetime

and that may even be a conservative estimate.

[RBHam]

20. Maybe it takes a skull and boner to beat one.

Maybe John Kerry has the same kind of "insider" clout that Bush has, Maybe, because of some kind of weird fraternal honour thing, the GOP attack machine will not be allowed to go after Kerry the way they went after Clinton. Thus, they'd have to debate the issues.

Hmmm...

Maybe, John Kerry, if he is a man of honour, and if he is a man of his word, will go after the truth behind 9-11? Finally expose the cesspool of the BFEE?

Dreamin'?

I do that often.

[blm]

42. Think about it, RB...most of what YOU know now

about the BFEE comes directly or indirectly from Kerry's investigations into BCCI, IranContra and CIA drugrunning.

I think Kerry is leading the good intel guys against the Bush loyalists. This will be a historic battle that will change the intel community for the next century when Kerry wins.

[Tela Zasloff]

22. KERRY BEST ONE TO BEAT BUSH

KERRY BEST ONE TO BEAT BUSH

Democrats, Democrats, think...think. In the next few months, we have to choose a presidential candidate who will stop the radical rightwing revolution in our country that is ripping our democracy apart at the seams. Our task is just that large, and we need a very large man to lead the way.

Oh yes, by last summer many of us were attracted to those candidates who most loudly expressed our anger at Bush, at his outrageous seizures of power, beginning with the Florida election, and at his arrogant, wrongheaded conduct of the war on Iraq. But there’s been a shift lately among us, from anger to fear—fear that Bush will win in 2004—and that fear instructs us that we need more than the satisfaction of venting our anger. We must find the candidate who is most qualified to stop this madness, by taking a principled and powerful stand against it. That has to be John Kerry.

We need a leader of his caliber, who can best paint the big picture, who talks to us, as he has already started to, about what this creeping radical assault on our liberties will mean to our lives. About special interests’ corrupting influence on our rights, including our voting rights, and on our environment and natural resources; about the betrayal of seniors on the Medicare vote; about the stonewalling of the 9/11 investigation; about Patriot Act II, the shrinking of our civil liberties, the stifling of dissent and the courage of dissenters, particularly war protestors; about the hate talk against Liberals and Progressives and the federal government itself, from media uglies like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter and from the radical Right members of Congress and the Administration, like DeLay and Cheney and Ashcroft; and about how this hate has polarized us and created a civil war climate that threatens our whole democracy.

Kerry addresses these dangers from the heart, because he has spent his life as both a fighter/protestor and a builder of new, Progressive directions at the national level. No other candidate comes close to him on these two qualities. Look at what he envisions for the first hundred days of a Kerry administration: a National Education Trust Fund; a new National Service; affordable health care; end of influence peddling from special interests; repeal of Bush’s assault on the environment; making the U.S. energy independent; rewarding companies that create jobs, not phony corporate profit; creating a middle class economy, not a privileged class economy; cutting the deficit in half in four years; rejoining the community of nations.

John Kerry is our strongest and wisest defender and offers us a way out of the long nightmare. We have to get behind him to beat Bush.

Tela Zasloff
Williamstown, MA

Tela Zasloff is the author of A Rescuer’s Story: Pastor Pierre-Charles Toureille in Vichy France (The University of Wisconsin Press, October 2003). Her earlier books are Saigon Dreaming, Recollections of Indochina Days (St. Martin’s Press, 1990) and Restoring Vision, An Ethical Perspective on Doctors Curing Blindness Around the World (University Press of America, 1996).

[blm]

28. WOW!!!! I've read some of your work.

THANKYOU!!!!

I am so humbled that you are posting here and agree with you 100% on Kerry.

[JohnKleeb]

30. thats neat you met one of your fave writers

BTW I dont support Kerry but he has the right stuff on many good issues, disappointed in IWR but Ive learned goods overweigh the bads and I am willing to take the path of Ted Kennedy, a stauch critic of the war who can support a middle ground guy like Kerry on the issue of war.

[flpoljunkie]

32. Persuasive, outstanding, piece, Tela.

I hope that you will post this in as many places as possible. It is eloquent and deserves reading by every Democrat who plans to vote in the primaries.

[sandnsea]

34. A way out of the nightmare

That's exactly what I see with John Kerry. And not just the Bush nightmare, but the whole way things have been operating for too many years. He has the courage to stand up for what he believes, even when it comes to our national security, which most people understand we have to face. But he'll do it in a way that will really create freedom around the world, not fear and intimidation.

Great piece! Thank you so much for posting! I'll be looking for your books.

[newyawker99]

38. Hi Tela Zasloff!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Schmendrick54]

24. He can become a great President.

If elected, I think John Kerry will make a great President for a lot of the reasons mentioned above. He is a man of integrity, a positive vision, and a great record of service, as highlighted by Will Pitts post. He has some wonderful folks on his team (as listed by blm). I am especially impressed by Rand Beers and Joseph Wilson).

When I say he CAN become a great President, I mean that I think his chances of winning against Bush are good. One big factor in that is the fact that he has opted out of matching funds. If Kerry manages to bounce back and get in position to win the nomination, I plan to donate as much as I can to be sure that he can get his message out after the Dem convention and before the Repub convention (when the genral election funding limits kick in.

(Of course, I would do the same for anyone else, if they have not already hit the $46 Million limit.)

Regards,
Schmendrick

[proud patriot]

25. I really like Kerry's plan to get us off our addiction to oil

I think this issue should be a priority for the Country .

[TakebackAmerica]

26. Well.

Kerry is by far the the best cadidate on the environment.

[ACK]

29. Look at his record

Look at the man's total voting record. One of the best left leaning Dems out there.

[Skwmom]

33. I have a lot of respect for John Kerry.

I think he has fought the good fight for many years. He's smart, articulate, and has served his country well.

[mitchum]

35. He is truly the best man

An intelligent, honorable man with a solid liberal record. It will be nothing less than a goddamn shame if he is not our nominee.

[curse10]

36. He's a great guy!

I met him last night and he was really funny and having a good time.

He took the time to stay after his speech and talk to everyone and shake their hands, took a few pictures. It was a lovely affair and only affirmed my support. :-)

[Philostopher]

40. Okay -- Kerry's in my top three, and has been

(though I admit not my number one, at this point), and I certainly won't have a problem voting for him -- and at least donating to his campaign, if not pounding the pavement -- if he ends up on top after the mud wrestling match the Dem primarie are turning into.

John Kerry was massively cheated when the only thing that made it through from the Rolling Stone interview was the few words surrounding his (deserving, in my opinion) expletive. I've been reading them all -- and I must say there's some excellent work done by RS on these interviews, so thanks are due to Jann Wenner for interviewing everybody and giving them opportunities to be thoughtful and forthright, and to exist beyond the world of the sound bite. I would encourage all DUers to at least go to the library and read all the interviews; they're much better journalism, for being in a pop culture publication, than most of what you can get from the American Pravda, these days.

Kerry's criticisms of Bush -- and his reasoning for his vote on the IWR -- are more detailed (and damning) than a simple 'didn't know he'd f*ck it up that badly' and I'm glad. I suspected there was more to it, having read the interviews with Kucinich and Sharpton so far, but I'm not surprised that a press corps that trips over its own tongue to avoid saying the Little Emperor has no clothes would make every attempt to belittle and smear any of the Dems.

He's still not my number one, but I do feel considerably better about that one issue than I did before I read the article. I hope he keeps it up -- of all of the candidates, he has a unique perspective and legitimacy for criticizing Bu$h and defining himself. I hope he'll keep it up. I don't wish any of the candidates ill. But, then, they're all better than what we have now.

[sandnsea]

44. Since before the vote, actually

He took on Bush before the vote and cautioned about the way to handle Iraq. As early as Jan 2003, he saw Bush was going off track and warned again. He was way ahead of the game on this, taking Bush on alot more strongly than Dean was even. It's just that he knew the WMD risk and had to make the tough choice to get inspectors in Iraq. In addition, someone with Kerry's stature internationally just can't pop off at the mouth the way a nobody from Vermont can and that's what Dean was back in March. He got away with talking trash because of it and people ate it up; instead of recognizing statesmanship which is what we need right now.

There's a bunch of important statements, speeches, articles by Kerry in this link.

http://www.cfr.org/campaign2004/bio_kerry.php

[Raya]

51. Wish Kerry had come out more earlier. Seems a good guy.

[JI7]

43. environment, civil rights, many things

he has always fought for the right side. he likes to discuss policy and does a good job of it like bill clinton and unlike gwbush. that's why clinton got his advice on many foreign policy issues. he has a near perfect record on protecting the environment and on civil rights. a long time record i'm proud to support.

[IronLionZion]

48. undecided but I can really respect Kerry

He's an intelligent, well-spoken gentleman and is a dedicated champion of the progressive way. The people in his state love the guy so he must be doing something right to be elected to 4 or so terms in the Senate.

I forgave him for IWR, because at the time he felt it was right, but has since changed his views. Hindsight is 20/20 and Monday morning quarterbacks need to lay off. He is a very inspirational and empowering speaker and reminds me of another man with the same initials but with a thicker Boston accent.(JFK)

I know why his campaign is not solidly in the lead, but I'll save that for another thread. (hint: it starts with "D" and ends with "ean")

He could still win the nomination and I would be proud to vote for him.

[goodhue]

52. MTBE

I was really pleased Kerry talked about MTBE at the debate the other night. He really has great positions on the environment. We are all going to being hearing more and more about MTBE contaminated ground water in the years to come. The problem is huge and not yet widely understood. The oil companies responsible for the mess hope to be shielded from liability by the energy bill. Thankfully the bill did not yet pass but they will try again in January.

[Ramsey]

53. Your valient effort

Skinner,

I have nothing specific to say about Kerry except that he is a wonderful person, an eloquent orator, a great public servant and would be a great president. He standS head and shoulders above Bush or anyone in his "smart" administration in intellect, ideas and leadership skills.

When on earth will the pointless infighting end??? I am sick to death of it. It literally makes me ill some days to see the vitriol heaped from one Democrat upon another. I hope this season of nausea will be over soon.