DU Approval Ratings: John Kerry

[Dave Sund]

Hillary Clinton Approve: 45% Disapprove: 50% No Opinion: 5%
Howard Dean Approve: 83% Disapprove: 13% No Opinion: 4%
Harry Reid Approve: 87% Disapprove: 13%

Do you approve or disapprove of the job John Kerry is doing as U.S. Senator, or do you have no opinion?

[imenja]

1. are you going to do Boxer too Dave?

that would be nice

[Dave Sund]

2. Sure thing

After this one's done. I imagine, though, that we won't have very many who disapprove of Boxer. :)

[cestpaspossible]

3. This is a fun series of polls, thanks nt

[New Dealer]

4. As senator I approve, but his presidential campaign sucked ass

[Gyre]

25. I'd agree with that.

[LSdemocrat]

63. I agree with that

He is just about the last person I'd vote for in a presidential primary.

[high density]

75. Yes

Fine senator, but please, no more campaigns for Prez.

[Deja Q]

78. I agree with all of the other responses to #4.

:-)

[BlueIris]

5. Marry me, Kerry (sorry, Teresa)!

I hate marriage, but I'd do it for you. You're one of the only people in the world left making any sense. ::kiss noise::

[Freedom_from_Chains]

6. After his speech on the Senate floor today

His stock seriously went up with me.

[demokatgurrl]

15. Text? Link? Please..... n/t

[Freedom_from_Chains]

19. Here is a link to the prepared speach text.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=764

I don't think the text of the record has come out yet, but the actual speach was better than this.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

39. Here is a link to the actual floor speach

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r109:18:./temp/~r109MPGS64::

[cestpaspossible]

91. Thomas links

are kinda funky; the ones that have 'temp' in them are just that, temporary... I think this one might work:

On this link:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/R?r109:FLD001:S04076

click on the 'NUCLEAR OPTION' link

[CanOfWhoopAss]

7. Too timid due to prep for next presidential run.

Theresa wants to be first lady more than Kerry wants to be President. Kind of like Nancy Reagan wanted it. I think he is still wishy washy and timid as if he won't take a stand if he thinks it is unpopular or risky to his political aspirations. I can't back him on another presidential run but he can be Senator as long as Mass. will have him.

[blm]

10. You don't know Kerry then, and certainly don't know Teresa.

Kerry was the first Senator to submit gay friendly legislation when noone wanted to talk about it.

Kerry's doggedness uncovered IranContra which most Dems wanted to ignore at the time.

Kerry's doggedness pursued BCCI for over 5 years, which brought the entire powerstructure in DC breathing down his neck, from GOP and Dem leaders, to the press corps, FBI and CIA.

Kerry advocated for gays to serve openly in the military.

Noone has taken on tougher or less popular issues in the Senate.

No lawmaker investigated and exposed more government corruption in modern history than John Kerry.

Timid, my ass.

And Teresa is Teresa. She cares nothing about TITLES.

[CanOfWhoopAss]

66. I could be wrong but what has he done lately?

He left Barbara Boxer to take on Condomsleazy Rice and to be the lone Senator to protest the Ohio electoral votes because he was "traveling". He conceded the election without a fight and he didn't fight harder during the recount. He let the not so swift vets bend him over. It was obvious that Edwards wanted to fight tooth and nail just like the repukes did in Washington when Gregoire won. Out of respect for Kerry leading the ticket he reluctantly went along with the concession. Kerry got out maneuvered and his campaign sucked. It's time he step asside. He had his chance.

[Mass]

73. Wrong on Rice...

For the rest, you are entitled to your opinions, but not to your facts. There is nothing obvious when it comes to Edwards (except if you have inside infos that we dont have).

He was asked not to be in the Senate on January 6th so that people focus on vote irregularities and NOT on the validity of the election.

And as somebody from MA, I feel strongly that you ask one of our elected senators to step aside. I want to see him continue to fight for us, as Senator if not as something else.

[CanOfWhoopAss]

76. I never said he should not be Senator

He can remain in that capacity as long as Mass. will have him. I just don't think he should run for President again. I was for Kerry before Iowa. Not because I knew who he was but because I thought he could win. He did win but he was to passive to fight for the victory and he let Ohio get away. He won Florida too in my opinion but they were better at fixing the election than the first time around. No supporting facts just stating the obvious based on exit polls that were good enough to determine moral values but not good enough to reflect who won.

[blm]

82. Kerry should SHUT UP after being one of the best lawmakers EVER?

Kerry should step aside after being one of the best, most progressive candidates EVER?

I think you are severely deficient in your knowledge of recent history and the true state of the campaign.

The GOP controls most of this nation's broadcast media. Legitimate news sources told the truth about the SwiftLiars, but most people only heard the constant stream of lies that the broadcast media allowed for months, giving the SwiftLiars as much airtime as they could.

Kerry was a successful prosecutor for YEARS before he held office. He won because he always made sure to have a preponderance of the evidence to make his case. Edwards would never take a case without having the evidence to win, either.

It's easy to SAY there was a fight to be made on Nov. 4, but another thing to make that fight without the evidnce in hand, especially with a hostile broadcast media and a national vote-padding that gave the public perception that Bush had a 3 million vote lead in the popular vote.

The debates were the only time Kerry had control and he won DECISIVELY. He won so decisively that even a hostile media couldn't spin it into a win for Bush. Could any other candidate have done that all three times? With a media looking for even the smallest reason to declare Bush the winner?

Take the blinders off, stop believing media spin, learn about the serious events of the last 40 years and you will understand the value in a lawmaker like Kerry.

You are welcome to provide the name of just ONE lawmaker who equals Kerry's efforts in investigating and exposing government corruption, his practical efforts to end 3 wars, AND to bring equity to the everyday world of the gay man and woman.

[seito]

11. Are you watching the same guy I am?

I would call it anything but wishy washy and timid.


http://www.johnkerry.com/action/valuesvideo/

[CanOfWhoopAss]

67. Check post #66

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1737627&mesg_id=1739836&page=

[demokatgurrl]

17. I disagree about Teresa- I think she'd rather do almost

anything more than be "first lady". What strong, intelligent, tough, independent-minded woman would want that dead-end "job"?

[FreedomAngel82]

21. With her

I am reminded of Elanor Roosevelt. Wants to do her own things.

[CanOfWhoopAss]

68. She seemed more distraught about the theft than Kerry did

... and she even stated the theft for what it was a stolen election fixed by christo-facist neocons.

Hillary Clinton took the job and I'm sure Teresa wouldn't be the smiling submissive goof ball that Laura "Homicidal" Bush is.

Kerry will be President when the Buffalo Bills win the Superbowl.

[saracat]

26. Have you watched the news lately? Timid? You are kidding right ?

He is the only one in our party who is a solid liberal, popular or not. And the ONLY one speaking out everytime when it counts! He really is the Shadow President! Kerry in 2008.He has earned it!

[Chicago Democrat]

65. I agree. I'll take him over Hillary ANY DAY OF THE WEEK

Kerry 08

[CanOfWhoopAss]

69. He's the Buffalo Bills of Politics

I can't support a losing cause again. He can't win the BIG ONE.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1737627&mesg_id=1739836&page=

[Mass]

74. So dont!!

but get informed.

[blm]

92. If he couldn't why did BushInc need to work overtime lying and cheating

throughout the general to retain power?

[Catamount]

62. Actually no! She said last year that she was only along for the ride

and was campaigning for John because he asked her to do so.
Of course this was done on the msm, so it could be wrong.
It seemed to me that she was very reluctant about the job.
She could have been worried about their safety, after the 'accidental' plane crash of her former husband.
:)

[Nikki Stone 1]

8. I am a huge fan of John Kerry in general

I can't say I like the religion in the workplace bill with that nutbag Santorum, but otherwise, I like the job he is doing. I'd vote for the man again in a heartbeat.

[Gothmog]

9. John Kerry would have been a great president

He is still doing a great job in the Senate.

[bunkerbuster1]

12. Yes, and the silver lining to this Presidential loss

compared to the other Democratic presidential candidates in my memory that didn't win, in the past, is that THIS ONE is around to stick it to the reThug who beat him.

Dukakis, Mondale, and Carter couldn't. But dammit, this one can, and he sure as hell is.

Give 'em hell, big John!

[Dave Sund]

13. Not to mention Gore

Who not only disappeared after being defeated by the Supreme Court, but failed to run in an election that he would have almost certainly won.

[bunkerbuster1]

16. Funny how I forgot Gore!

how could I?

Anyway, add him to the list, of course. Kerry had a gig to go back to come January 2005 and I'm glad he's out there working for us.

(golly, I sound like a smitten fanboy, don't I? but dammit, that's how I genuinely feel--I think he really does care, and wants to make a difference. And whether America likes it or not he will. Hope they're listening.)

[wildflower]

51. I had to admire...

how he not only had the guts and sense of duty to attend the presidential inauguration, but stood with dignity and grace through it all, even when they showed his face up on the screen and Republicans booed.

-wildflower

[Sparkly]

87. No question

He's got more courage, dignity and intelligence in his little finger than the Chimp could ever dream of having (and that probably goes for most of the Chimp's supporters, too).

[elshiva]

14. I love him!

:toast:

[saltpoint]

18. Strongly approve.

Give me an adult, pro-science problem-solver like Kerry over a corporate puppet halfwit like Bush any day.

[Gimley13]

20. I think everything he does as Senator is now shadowed by his failure at...

president

[Patchuli]

23. That is

if one believes that it was John Kerry's "failure" that lost him the White House (and us our redemption). I believe that it had a lot more to do with cheap partisan tricks, booby-trapped computerized data bases and voter disenfranchisement than with John Kerry's 'failings' as a candidate.

[ginnyinWI]

28. got that right!

He would have won decisively in a fair election. Everything pointed to it. He won all three debates handily! The pre-election polls favored him. The newspaper endorsements. Rallies of 25,000, while * only had 4,000. And then the exit polls: he was winning until 9 p.m. And Chimpy knew he was losing. Mysteriously, between 9 and 11 pm everything flipped.

I think he knows he won. Teresa has talked about it. But nothing can be proven (yet). For people who disagree with his conceding, I ask them: who knows more about the facts of the situation, them or Kerry?

He still has the power to do a lot of good by fighting on in the Senate, and for that we should all be thankful. We have a handful of good, solid Dems working for the American people, and Kerry's one of them.
To those of us who have been following him closely since the election, he is our shadow president, and we've enjoyed watching him be the ever-present thorn in the side of the GOP!

[LittleClarkie]

71. Even with some failings in the campaign

I can't help thinking he's make a wonderful president. Why must it be such a popularity contest.

[Patchuli]

72. I'm sure he would have put the brakes on

the insanity! The tax cuts for the overly-rich would have been reversed, and none of these horrible bills to destoy natural lands would be going. We sure the hell wouldn't see the blatant attempts to change the rules going down so easy.

Too bad the GOP will have to go down hard this time. Hmmmm...just like 1974? No WORSE this time. That party is rotten with disease!

[ebayfool]

31. He's not shadowed by failure, he's showing excellent courage & ...

fortitude by jumping back at them. A 'failure' would have slunk away to avoid the glare of all the backseat drivers telling him what he should have done differently. It takes courage to get back in the ring after the last election cycle & everything that he went through w/it (cancer, etc). There is no failure in trying, only in not making any attempt to try. All of our candidates were & are winners in that respect. I sure wish people would give all of them some credit for that, not many could take the scrutiny & bullshit that comes w/a campaign. They all rate in my book. Kerry & Dean especially, they've taken alot of abuse & have just kept on fighting the unholy thugs in power. They don't have to do it, they have enough $$$ to lay back & let someone else take on the load. But, there they are - stickin' it to 'em, every day, every way they can! I love 'em for it, I don't point a pious finger at any of them & cry 'failure'.

The only failure I see are the people that vote for the 'failure' in the White House!

[Gimley13]

88. You dont understand what i said, all the way

I htink the corporate media and the repubs are mostly to blame but he was continually giving them things he should have seen as cannon fodder, things that he should not have said, that were to complicated or to seemingly contradictive for the average dumbass to understand things like he still would have voted for the war knowing there were no WMDS and saying there should be MORE troops sent to Iraq and stuff like that

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

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

[CWebster]

34. Really? Did he vote for Negroponte?

Howza about the shadow of Iran-Contra?

For what, blm, for what?

[blm]

37. The poster said Kerry is a failure. Your attempt to make a vote

for Negroponte into an example of failure is pretty bogus, since the senators were obviously voting for a known quantity with Negroponte that they felt they could more easily monitor his work whereas with another Bush choice they could not.

Funny that YOU would bring up IranContra since you believe Dean is your perfect Democrat, yet it was Dean who supported a corrupt administration on the Contras while John Kerry worked to expose it.

Why, CWebster, why?

[CWebster]

42. No, I don't think Dean is perfect

Ask those who think he is--they might disagree with you. I make no excuses or apologies for him and presently I believe he is sliding to a place where the only way he will raise funds is on his coat tails.

[Zynx]

22. Senate yes, candidate hell no.

But I vote yes because the question is about the Senate.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

24. I approve.

:kick: :dem:

[imenja]

27. I must say I'm surprised by these results

Four months ago it would have been very different.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

29. I think it's because

Kerry has done alot over the past few months to help the Democratic Party. He has been on the right side of every issue and bill that has come up and he's voted against almost all of Bush's poor cabinet picks (Gonzalez, Rice, etc.)

[imenja]

30. I know

I wish I believed it was sincere. I guess I hold too much of a grudge.

[CWebster]

32. His campaign was ABB

and that is a sad commentary on his campaign.

[Dawgs]

35. "His campaign was ABB"... are you speaking for yourself or everyone,

because you certainly aren't speaking for me. Looks like we have another bitter Dean/Clark supporter.

[CWebster]

36. Well, I was here

and the sentiment for throwing support behind Kerry was "I would vote for a ham sandwich over Bush". Now you can rub your revisionist Alladin's lamp all you want, but no amount of wishing is going to change that fundamental truth: Kerry ran a weak, compromised campaign against the worst criminal pResidency we ever had. It shoulda been a cakewalk. What does that tell you?

[seaglass]

38. Well I was here too and I'd say the ham sandwich people

were pretty much the same ones who would type "poop" in every thread that had even the slightest criticism of Dean. So if you want to make your judgment based on people who behaved like imbeciles, go for it.

DU does not represent the country.

[CWebster]

43. Well yeah, it doesn't represent the Country

that voted for Bush.

[blm]

40. DU's not on the ground in Iowa. The media was lying and YOU believed them.

Admit it. You believed the media spin that had Kerry's campaign dead for months, had Dean's numbers in the stratosphere, toyed with Clark, ignored Edwards and Kucinich, etc.....


The media PLAYED this country throughout the primary and the general. Too bad so many of you fell for it. The residual bitterness, though, is exactly what they count on to keep the left divided.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

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

[Mass]

44. The same than for the 41 other Dems that voted for him

including Boxer, Kennedy, and Byrd. I am not happy with that, but he is not alone to have made that choice.

As for the rest, you are entitled to your opinion, as anybody else. But other may not agree with you and it is also their right.

[CWebster]

46. In Kerry's case it is especially a betrayal

Since we have heard time and time again what a hero he was/is for exposing Iran-Contra.

What is the point of in getting in an uproar over the present state of affairs since EVERY TIME it is justified, excused and apologized for--After all they can't be "obstructionists", right? So what is the point and what is their purpose?

[Mass]

47. If that makes you happy, fine with me!

I dont like this particular vote (and it does not make any difference for me who casted the vote, though I was surprised to see Kerry do it), but am still proud to have him as my Senator and there are few Senators I would like better than him.

[blm]

48. They have Negroponte pegged and know what to look out for with him.

Better in this case to deal with a devil you know inside and out than with an unknown quantity. They have a better chance of monitoring and interpreting his actions as a known quantity.

[CWebster]

49. lol

oh man...that is desperately sad.

[blm]

52. Laugh all you want. I have a solid track record when it comes to

comprehending the larger picture. I know who to trust. I certainly couldn't be sucked in by a GOP controlled media like some people.

[blm]

50. There was NO truth in the media's primary storylines that they pushed down

the country's throats.

YOU want to claim the media was being honest when they claimed Kerry's campaign was dead for months, and that Dean was far and away the best organized and had unbeatable poll numbers. The fact is that back in Nov. 2003, the real reports from Democrats in Iowa was that Kerry's numbers were being under-reported in the media, that he had much more support on the ground but the media was ignoring it.

Why? To fuck with the Dem primary. To heighten the suspicion, disappointment and bitterness amongst the hyped ones supporters. To make their preferred storyline of an unstable, whacked out, ultra-liberal against a stoic, determined commander-in-chief come true.

All of the above, probably. The media controlled the storyline of the primary all the way up to the actual day of voting in Iowa.

My sympathies to those who were fooled into believing a GOP controlled media.

[Dawgs]

54. I just don't understand the ABB crowd.

If nobody really wanted Kerry then how did he win the primaries? His campaign for the Democratic primaries was either better than the others, or it was the media's fault.

CWebster, please explain why Kerry was able to win in the primaries over Dean/Clark/Edwards/Kucinich/etc.

[CWebster]

55. Beats me

How did Bush win?

[Dawgs]

59. So, you only have an opinion on Kerry losing to Bush.

Which canidate did you support in the primaries, and why aren't you attacking them for not beating Kerry?

[lojasmo]

57. Wasn't he the "electable" one?

I know I had that meme shoved down my throat by dozens of local party operatives.

[janx]

58. Ask the people in Iowa and New Hampshire. n/t

[Dawgs]

60. So it's there fault we got Kerry as a candidate.

Not that he ran a good campaign. That's priceless.

[janx]

70. You assume I had an ulterior motive in saying what I did.

I did not. Ask the people in Iowa and New Hampshire. We could learn a lot from this.

[Dave Sund]

61. That really isn't the point....

The point is Kerry's campaign during the general election was terrible. It was, in essence, ABB. Kerry lacked a clear message, and when he attacked Bush, it wasn't with both barrels.

[blm]

90. That was the media portrayal. Amazing what they choose to edit out

of Kerry's daily speeches, rallies, press releases. You would never know he spoke almost every day about the environment and alternative energy as being an integral part of national security. Or how to better cover ALL Americans with a doable, solid healthcare plan. Or the importance of closing corporate loopholes, especially for those companies outsourcing their workforce. Or that Bush's plan was a Robber=baron economy. Bush's incompetence allowed Bin Laden and most of Al Qaeda to go free at Tora Bora. Bush's strategy was encouraging more to join the terrorists. Or that Rumsfeld should be fired.

Hey.....let's book the Swift Liars for another hour of airtime, and....did you know that Bin Laden's tape was an endorsement of John Kerry?

[paineinthearse]

45. Harry Reid Approve: 87% Disapprove: 13%

Is there / has there been a seperate poll for how Reid is doing as LEADER?

[Dave Sund]

53. That was a poll for leader

I suspect if I had asked how he was doing as Senator, the numbers would have been lower, just because of his positions on the issues.

[robbedvoter]

56. Vote on election fraud? None. iraq? medicare? media conglomerates?

Not only was he absent from voting on that important bill, but lied in Florida about voting against medicare reform.
So, pretty much, on all issues I personally care about, he royally screwed me.
Did I mention that had he and Edwards voted on the Omnibus bill, they may have blocked it?

[Mass]

64. He was there for the filibuster vote on Medicare

There was NO chance to block it after that so he left to continue the campaign, but he is recorded as not supporting the bill in the roll call in the Senate. His presence would have changed nothing in the vote, they did not get 40 votes to block it, how were they going to get 50 people to vote against it.

[Bryn]

77. I'd Vote for Kerry Again

if he ran again. Look at Bush as the President, he's an embarrasment! Kerry would have been very Presidental and thoughtful of American people. I have never believed he lost. How could he have lost since Dade County (Miami/Homestead/Coral Gables/Hialeah, etc.), Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale, Cooper City, Pompano Beach, etc.) and Palm Beach County (Palm Beach, Boca Raton, etc.)..ALL VOTED FOR KERRY!! These areas are very LARGE and very BLUE. Even in Tallahassee, North/West part, Capital of Florida .. VOTED FOR KERRY. How the hell did Bush win Florida?? South Florida people still drive around with Kerry/Edwards bumpers on their cars.

Kerry is doing a very good job as a Senator. He's gaining more/more experience that he'd be much better person to run for President for 2008.

[CatholicEdHead]

79. Don't forget the Kucinich poll later on

[fedupinBushcountry]

80. The question is :

Do you approve or disapprove of the job John Kerry is doing as U.S. Senator, or do you have no opinion?

Anyone answering with DISAPPROVE are as bad as the SBLiars,spreading falsehoods that you know nothing about, your man didn't win (in the primary) so keep up the hate. How sad.

For those who don't have an opinion, then start paying attention, he has been fighting everyday for us the PEOPLE.

When is the hate going to stop here. How do you expect any Dem to win, when you won't be happy until you get your way 100% of the time. You sort of sound like the other side either its our way or noway.

How sad.IMO

[Dave Sund]

83. I disagree

They're free to disapprove for whatever reason. I would strongly disagree with them, but I don't think any of them are calling him a DINO or anything like that. The nature of these polls is such that we're always going to have a minority of around 10-15% who disapproves of the job a person is doing. These people are likely going to disapprove of what any Democrat is doing, because they don't think they're fighting hard enough. I disagree with them, but they have the right to say it. If these threads were simply a lovefest for Kerry, Dean, Reid, etc., there wouldn't be much of a point to 'em.

[fedupinBushcountry]

84. Nothing to do with a lovefest

The question was not how you liked the person it was how is he doing at his JOB? If for example you put this question up at work about a person who you know some people did NOT LIKE, would they answer on the JOB part of the question or solely just because they have a GRUDGE against that person ?

So to me IMO their is not much point to these polls at all.

[x_y_no]

81. I think he's a fine Senator

I hope he has the good sense to stick with what he does well, rather than shooting for the presidency again.

[PresidentObama]

85. He's a fine Senator, and will make a even BETTER President...

John Kerry's list of accomplishments in the Senate is incredible. Any one who doesn't think John Kerry's on there side obviously hasn't seen his Senate record. He's a fine Senator, and in 2008 he'll make a fine President :)

[wisteria]

86. Got to agree! When your right ,your right!

My vote would go to John Kerry in 2008.

[Gimley13]

89. my vote will go to whoever the dems run, most likely but

as in 2004, i wont support John Kerry wholeheartedly if he runs, and i wouldnt support anybody that tried to be "bush-lite" in so many areas wholeheartedly.