This will be my 13th presidential election (I'm old as dirt) and---

[candy]

I'm disgusted. It's the nastiest election I've ever lived through.

I don't want to hear one more word about Vietnam,swift boats or the National Guard.

I want to hear from both candidates what they are going to do for us,period.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Have you got a Kerry Kit?

There's a CD in it and several position papers from John Kerry. He talks about doing better for Senior Citizens and Medicare, encouraging development of alternative fuels, and fully funding programs like No Child Left Behind. How? By cutting the tax breaks to the rich and by making corporations pay taxes for a change. Those are some things he's for. You can hear him talk about them in speeches, but the media doesn't like to cover these points. Apparently they are 'boring' compared to the mudslinging.

[T Square]

17. Where can you get a Kerry Kit?

[yardwork]

24. Go to www.johnkerry.com

You don't even have to order anything. All of Kerry's positions are available right on the site.

You'll be impressed. Kerry has excellent plans.

[napi21]

2. I just want to sleep & wake up Nov 2nd in time to vote!

This campaign feels like it's been going on for YEARS! Hell, it has been! And look at some of the talk in the media & on these boards about 2008!!!!

[TexasSissy]

3. Yeah. I agree. Unfortunately, this year is a different kind of year

for the election. I think it's only going to go downfill from here. So brace yourself.

My mind is made up, so I can simply tune out when I get tired of it.

[BootinUp]

4. You confirmed my impression, after living through 7

But I have come to the realization, that it is not the candidates faults. Wes Clark said it well Thursday at Johns Hopkins University, As soon as people stop electing (awarding) the dirty politics, it will stop.

[calico1]

5. This will be my eigth election

and I agree. I have never seen anything like this.

[liberal N proud]

6. WoW! I have only been voting since Reagans first election

It is always good to hear from the pros!

[Cocoa]

7. I want to hear more about the National Guard

I want Bush to be held accountable, for once.

[cthrumatrix]

8. this is about corporations vs the people...and the people are fighting

back from the "mafia takeover" of our media and buyout of our govt.


that's the issue...

[Catt03]

9. Wow

I have been thru 7 and thought that was alot. Although I worked on elections before I could vote.

Disgusting isn't it? That the American electorate responds to tabloid journalism and demeaning character assasination in addition to their inability to read, count, or think. I guess that is the key to being elected in the US of A; keep them ignorant, racist, mean and immature.

If there ever was a mandate for education in this country, this election process of 2004 proves it. Of course, Bush has it right for his hierarchy of ruling; no abortion, keep them producing little pubs and don't educate them. It's a winner.

[nightperson]

22. I think that's the not-so-secret motto of Free Republic:

"no abortion, keep them producing little pubs and don't educate them."

[Bandit]

10. If you don't want to hear about their past/present integrity then

how would you know if they are telling you the truth about what they will do for you?

[candy]

11. We don't know if they are telling the truth about their past---

I've heard all I want to hear and believe what I believe,as everyone else does,and I want to hear about the next four years.

No matter how much stuff comes out about the past,some will believe one story,some another,so let's move on.

The election is less than 2 months away.

[Murky Waters]

12. Based on your years of experience

Since you have been through way more elections than I have, I am interested in what your "gut" tells you about who will ultimately win.

[candy]

19. My"gut" tells me Kerry will win in another real squeeker.

I have 5 middle aged children---two Democrats,two Republicans,and one I haven't a clue.

If the country is divided the way my family is we're in for an interesting fall.

By the way ,we avoid politics at family gatherings and talk about the Pats and the Red Sox. No arguments there.

[LittleClarkie]

27. This is my 6th

And the first one I've ever paid proper attention to.

Knowing Sen. Kerry's track record in elections, I bet a friend $5 that he will win, and that the final tally won't even be close.

My brother and sisters are voting:
Strong Bush -- religious right sister

Weak Bush -- Married to military sister, and her husband, who when asked who he was voting for, he said "Depends on the democrat." When told it was probably going to be Kerry, he said "Bush". Wonder if he's changed that since Feb when I asked him last.

Nader, after voting for Bush first time -- He's concerned about what Bush will do when he doesn't have voters to worry about.

And then there's me. Guess who.

And I know at least one Naderite from last election voting Kerry this time.

[Sporadicus]

13. My 13th Presidential Election Too

I regret being unable to vote against Nixon in '72 - missing the newly-enacted voting rights extended to 18-year-olds by a scant two months.

I too want to hear more about issues. On the other hand, if we can raise enough doubts about * by reviewing his sordid past, that can't hurt in dissuading Middle America from voting for him. I prefer a 'scorched earth' policy that slams *'s past as well as his lack of coherent policy for a second term.

[candy]

20. Not to argue here,but how could you have voted in 12 previous elections?

My first was 1956 and my last was 2000----That's 12.

[Sporadicus]

29. Don't Mind Me...I'm an Idiot

I was counting the 13 that have occurred since I've been alive - not those in which I was eligible to vote. It took several hours for that realization to dawn on me.

[candy]

36. You're not an idiot,you misunderstood the statement..

I'm human too. When I saw your post I assumed I was wrong,as usual, and checked my own figures again.

Have a good day!

[arwalden]

14. This Will Be The Seventh Presidential Election I've Voted In...

and you're CORRECT... it's very nasty!!!! (I'm as old as topsoil.)

I wonder if this is the new "baseline" standard and will all future nasty elections be measured by this one. Or has this election allowed us to sink to new depths that were never before imaginable? And now things will only get worse? Who knows?

-- Allen

[oasis]

15. The days just before the election will be monstrous. Rove will launch a

flurry of lies because of the short time left to respond.

[Dr Fate]

16. Kerry has to neutralize Bush/media's attacks on us.

Kerry did not start this crap- Bush was the one lying about people's records, not Kerry.

These outrageous attacks on Kerry are being neutralized-and it needed to happen if anyone is ever going to listen to us on the issues.

[unfrigginreal]

18. Republicans can only win by running smear campaigns

and until we learn to bury them with healthy doses of their own medicine that will never change. Look at what trying to run positive campaigns got us thusfar, a seat on the outside looking in. I'm old as dirt too but I'm more angry than disgusted and hope that we start giving as good as we're getting from the pukes.

[charlyvi]

21. I cast my first vote for McGovern

Lived in Chicago during the 68 convention, but I've never heard so many bare-assed lied coming out of Repubs mouths. This definitely isn't Everett Dirkson's party anymore.

[marigold20]

28. Me too!

We lived in Montana at the time. I just missed voting in 1968.

[yardwork]

23. Hey, it's my eleventh, and I'm not as old as dirt!

Them's fighting words!

Also, I disagree that this is the nastiest campaign I've seen. Bush is the worst president, no question. But 1968 was a worse year, imo.

What makes it look so nasty this time is that Bush himself is so nasty. I think that Kerry has done a good job keeping things positive. In fact, Kerry's getting hammered on the right and the left for being too polite.

But then, I live in North Carolina. You haven't seen dirty until you've lived through a Jesse Helms campaign. Rove is a lightweight compared to Jesse's operatives.

[candy]

25. I agree,1968 was sheer madness.

My last child was born in 1968 and Time did a full memorial edition of that awful year in 1993. I gave it to him to save as a memento of his birth year.

[bobbieinok]

33. I have a box full of flyers and clippings labeled '1968'

McCarthy 'wins' NH; LBJ drops out; MLK murdered in April; Bobby murdered the nite he wins the CA primary; the dem convention in Chicago and the police riot; the end of the 'Prague Spring' as Russian tanks roll into the city; ...

we move half way across the country and get pregnant and my brother is sent to Vietnam

[candy]

37. Be sure to hold on to all of that stuff----

It was one of the most interesting years in my memory.

[devinsgram]

26. Seen that many too and you are right

not only is this the worst,the voters are getting mean too! Doesn't say much for civilized society, does it. Animals treat their opponents better.

[baltodemvet]

30. Older than dirt here

This is my 15th presidential and the 14th in which I've actively campaigned.

The choice seems pretty clear to me: The one guy is a snot-nose loser from from Texas who got us into a sorry situation in Iraq and racked up a fat debt for my grandkids while sucking up to his fat-cat friends. The other guy is going to help us get out of that mess.

[GOPAgainstGW]

31. Great Post-Problem is Reps AND Dems are Afraid to Talk Real Issues!!

That is what's really going on here!

------------------------------
Beltway and Texas Republicans
Against Bush-Cheney ’04, Inc.
------------------------------
"Insider’s News”, Vol 1 - Kerry-Edwards Campaign Doing Well
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x748458
“Insider’s News” Vol 1.1 - Great Anti-Bush Sites
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x756409

[ItsMyParty]

32. My first was the one with Goldwater in it............god I don't even

remember anything about it; just that a boss made me read "A Choice Not an Echo". I've been very active in politics from the mid-60's on and I have to tell you that I can change on a dime with this election as to who is going to win because I've never seen media whoring this bad and I was stunned at the amount of whoring in 2000. This is beyond blatant. I know that those debates will be a total bomb, loss, catastrophy for Kerry because the meida will TELL the American people so; then take a poll a day later and announce that all Dems can stay home because the glorious leader pulled 37 points ahead over night!!! That's why I just can't even get a sense of this thing. I sometimes think it's going to come down to what political machine runs key states--Dem or Repub. I think we long ago left democracy behind.

[bobbieinok]

34. 1st election I remember was 1948; 1st I could vote in was 64

[Tracer]

35. This will be my 10th.

And I'm already tuning out.

I've heard it all, I've seen it all. My mind has long ago been made up.

I just read an article by Gore Vidal in "The Nation" regarding electioneering ... and dammit, he stole all my ideas!

The gist:

Ñ Restrict campaigning to 6 weeks before the election.
Ñ NO CAMPAIGN ADS
Ñ Weekly debates on TV
Ñ FREE 1 hour per week on the networks for each candidate to speak their views.

These campaigns drag on so long that if even a junkie like myself gets fed up, what does this say for people who barely pay attention?

[GoldenOldie]

38. My 12th but I remember as a child

The Truman- Dewey campaign. It was really vicious and I well remeber living in Neward, NJ and walking by the local taverns, it was an every day occurance to have the bar doors thrown open and have two or three bodies come flying out with fists a swinging. Or the Newark paddy wagons lining up to collect the arrested fighters. I also remember Dewey supporters haul the dimes out of their pockets to prove to the Truman supporters that... Truman had a pact with Stalin and the little stamped "S" on the dime was to prove to Stalin that Truman if elected would uphold his deal with Stalin, the "Communist." It wasn't until years later when I began working in the banking systems that I discovered the "S" imprinted on the dime meant that this dime was minted in San Francisco thus the "S".

This is far dirtier than that era and is by far the nastiest and most corrupt that I have seen in my lifetime.

George Bush could care less and he has clearly stated "we will all be dead," mentality. I maybe dead but hopefully my children and grandchildren will around and have to clean up the mess that this administration has created. We elders must do what we can to make that mess a little smaller and a little easier for them to bear.

[grasswire]

39. don't you remember what John Kennedy said?

You said:

"I want to hear from both candidates what they are going to do for us,period."


Kennedy said:

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."

Dammit.