I'm disappointed in Obama but I'm glad I live in MA and get to vote for Kerry

[Jeffersons Ghost]

I just heard him speak on limiting Green-House Gasses. And I was impressed with his sincerity and passion.

With all the programs for disabled vets (like me) up here, it's obvious that he really cares about veterans. In AL, where I used to live, we didn't have near as many support mechanisms.

I'll be honored to vote and campaign for him the next time he runs for office. It's nice to have a senator that remembers why he's in DC.

[LisaM]

1. I've said it before and I've said it again

John Kerry could easily have been the finest president this country has ever known. The fact that he didn't win a resounding victory maybe points to the fact that the US simply didn't deserve him. I don't know how else to explain it.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

4. commanding a swift boat was no small task...

Narrow rivers with dense foliage on both sides is bad enough; but often the task was bringing CIA spooks all the way into Cambodia. In a war we needed an ex-warrior dedicated to peace.

[pinboy3niner]

22. It takes a helluva lot of courage to volunteer for that

I led an Infantry rifle platoon in VN, dropped off in the jungle for 30 days at a time. But I'd never have volunteered for a swiftboat, because those guys were sitting ducks--and to make matters worse, the enemy could always hear them coming!

I'm also a partially-disabled vet, and I appreciate all that Kerry has done not only for vets, but for the troops and their families.

When Slimeball Corsi and the other swiftboat cretins began their smear campaign, I hit the roof--and then I hit the road as a KerryTraveler.

Kerry's VN crew backed him, and I knew those combat vets never would have stood by him if it was true that he needlessly and selfishly risked their lives to compile a war hero record and unearned Purple Hearts. I was also fed up with seeing the same already-refuted falsehoods continue to be repeated on cable news. So I drove from CA to Battleground OH to volunteer for the final two months of the campaign. (Got to meet one of the "Hunt Dogs" there when a bus of vols from MA rolled in. I souvenired him my "Vets for Kerry" dogtags, and he souvenired me an MA Dem convention brochure with his photo on the front--as a delegate.)

I don't get fanatical about candidates, but I think Kerry would have made a very good President--and possibly even a great one.

:patriot: :kick:

[politicasista]

23. Interesting

Not a politician fanatic or hero worshiper, but wish that my uncle could understand what a decent person the senator is and what he could have, and has to offer to the Obama Presidency.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

24. he is my hero

[politicasista]

26. That is a good thing

:hi:

[politicasista]

5. Unfortunately, a lot of Obama's staunch supporters did not want him to win

Obama himself wished the opposite. He is the one now saddled with the mess of the last eight years. :(

IMO, they were more against Bush and proud the second time around to be FOR Obama. People like Rue McClanahan (R.I.P.), Jamie Lee Curtis, peace activist Joan Baez, rappers Common and Jay Z, just to name a few said it themselves. Some just chose to sit it out and not vote because Kerry was not with them on a certain issue.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

(Hat tip to the DU Barack Obama Group) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rue_McClanahan#Later_life


Interesting Rue hated Kerry, but loved/admired Obama.

[LisaM]

8. The level of support for the candidates at our 2004 vs 2008 caucuses was hugely disparate

Many of the 2008 batch just wanted a glam can. And they wouldn't discuss issues and they also didn't want to spend any time hammering out the precinct platform, which we were supposed to do (we did in 2000 and 2004). Very short attention span, personality vs. issue oriented, didn't seem to be a bunch of deep thinkers, and will probably sit out the 2010 mid-terms.

[politicasista]

9. Wow. Did not know that

It wasn't fair to list celebs (cause their endorsements do not matter and middle America usually has a dislike for Hollywood), but you are right about the personality vs. issue oriented comparison.


Hopefully Obama and Democrats can convince the youth vote, and first timers from 08 to stay involved, though can see that last sentence possibly happening.

[ohtransplant]

7. Agreed. I believe the country missed out on something special.

Before 2004 I was never a particular fan but as he progressed through the primaries I learned more and more about him, his family, his policies and his life I became more and more impressed. I wondered why I never knew about these things as he'd been a senator for so long. I was truly surprised.

I may not agree with Senator on every issue but I'd have been proud to have him as my president.

If you have a case of hero worship, at least you picked a true hero. There are so few these days...

K&R

[Jeffersons Ghost]

2. a kick for Kerry

:kick:

[RKP5637]

3. I've always liked Kerry too! n/t

[Jeffersons Ghost]

6. I'm embarrassed to admit it but my admiration degrades into hero worship

[RKP5637]

17. I wish my senators here were just 5% of the person Senator Kerry is...

:banghead: :banghead:

[politicasista]

19. Same here.

Though the Senator is not perfect, Obama is not either, but MA could always have Alexander or Corker. :puke:

[DesertFlower]

10. i'm still amazed that kerry did not win

the election in 2004. he was great during the debates and bush looked like a jerk.

[frazzled]

11. I like Kerry

But I will never forgive him for voting for the Iraq War Resolution when he was my senator. I was also pretty involved in MA politics at the local and state level, and people were always grousing about how poor his constituent services were. (I can attest to that.) They said "If you want something done go to Teddy. Teddy's the go-to guy."

That said, I like John Kerry. But I can assure you there would be as much dissatisfaction with him as there is with Obama on this board. You know why? He isn't perfect.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

12. no one's perfect but you should be a disabled vet and move to AL

Teddy is dead. How are we going to get rid of the neocon that replaced him?

[politicasista]

15. Run a perfect, liberal, progressive that passes the litmus test

Good question.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

20. it's like a neocon curse! everywhere I go they follow me...

I'd move to another state but we can't afford to lose more seats in the senate!

[politicasista]

21. Bingo n/t

[frazzled]

16. I can certainly imagine that ...

I'm not dissing John Kerry, and especially not his support for veterans. I was just trying to point out that no politician is a savior. But even in their imperfection, they do make a tremendous difference. I was lucky to have lived in Minnesota and had Paul Wellstone as my senator (we won't mention the other one). Then we moved to Massachusetts and were blessed to have Ted Kennedy and John Kerry as our senators. We now live in Illinois, where I was lucky enough to have Barack Obama and the excellent Dick Durbin as my senators. I can't even imagine what it would be like to live in Alabama.

I'm glad you're in MA.

As for how to get rid of the neocon that replaced Teddy? I wish you guys luck with that. We've got enough trouble here in Illinois trying to fend off Mark Kirk (R) from getting Obama's old seat.

[politicasista]

18. That is true

Have heard people complaining about Kerry's constituent services being not as strong as Uncle Ted's. Hopefully, his staff can step it up (with two of them now holding elective offices in MA now), especially since the DLC snakes in the Senate are trying to undercut him. He needs some strong spokespeople and a reminder (this also goes for Strip Down Brown's opponent too) not to take the black vote granted. Uncle Ted and The Kennedys were very popular with the AA community) and encourage them and the youth to stay involved.

So far, it looks like he is taking care of the vets, which is a good sign. :)

[LisaM]

13. Yes, on this board, there would be

It didn't go all out for Kerry in 2004.

I'm not trying to use this thread to dog Obama or to say he's wrong on all the issues, but if Kerry had been elected in 2004, I don't see BP getting those deep drilling permits, or the 2005 energy bill passing.

[politicasista]

14. delete n/t

not appropriate. :)

[jillan]

25. He's such a good guy on so many levels. And he would've been a great President.

[rockymountaindem]

27. Yep, he's great

It will always be a regret of mine that I was just days to young to vote for him to be President.