Some Republicans Defect to Kerry's Camp

[Killarney]

Rank this story a 5!
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/campaign_crossovers_dc
Some Republicans Defect to Kerry's Camp

Ohio resident Bob Stewart says of President Bush (news - web sites): "He's been a world-class polarizer. I don't know if I can stomach four more years with him as president. He misled us into the war in Iraq (news - web sites) and has mismanaged everything since."

A raging Democrat? No, Stewart is a Republican, one of an unknown number of such voters who plan to back John Kerry (news - web sites), out of despair over the war in Iraq and disappointment over budget deficits and social policies.

more...

[radfringe]

1. saw some of his compadres

at the Kerry-Edwards rally in Scranton

about 10 of them in a group with t-shirts "Another Republican for Kerry

[Catt03]

3. Question on Scranton rally

I read that here were over 30,000 people at the rally but cannot find the link.

Can you provide one or give me some info if you were there.

Also over 20,000 in Harrisburg. Why is this not being reported? That's a lot of people!

[radfringe]

4. Kerry, Edwards warm up crowd of 15,000 in Scranton

local paper:
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5kerryajul31,0,4623220.story?coll=all-newslocal-hed

meanwhile -- my recount of the rally
http://radicalfringe.freeservers.com/

photos: there are a couple of "crowd" photos, feel free to count the people... :evilgrin:

http://radicalfringe.freeservers.com/photo.html

[Catt03]

6. Thanks

[TreasonousBastard]

14. Nice reports, and a question about Scranton.

ast time I was there was maybe 10 years ago, and what I remember most Lwas that there were enormous numbers of tent revivals and fundagelical churches. Seemed like huge signs every 50 feet.

The locals didn't seem too take kindly to strangers, either, when I stopped for gas or food.

Real Bush country, labor issues or not.

So, are my impressions from that time faulty? Has the place changed much?

[radfringe]

16. fundies and such are still around

I've been living here for about 7 years (originally from Massachusetts) - I've found the people generally friendly, and this area is pretty much Democratic

Yes there are pockets where you can hear the theme song (dueling banjos) from the movie "deliverance" playing in the background

[TreasonousBastard]

17. Interesting...

it may have been my mood that weekend. Everything seemed so wierd then.

I was heading out Rte 6 to the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania on a whim and felt like I was in a time warp. The whole ride felt like the 50's. No strip malls, condo developments or any other evidence of modern exuburbia. Scranton looked like all those tired mill towns in upstate NY.

From Scranton to Williamsport or some such place I didn't see one McDonalds or chain motel. Actually, for a hundred miles or so there wasn't much in the way of food or places to stay at all. And no traffic. Those spectacular cliffs by the Susquehanna River were empty of tourists and hikers, and even the Canyon park was pretty well empty. This on a Memorial Day weekend.

On some of the back roads, people saw my New York plates and pointed them out to their familes.

Yeah, a couple of times I started thinking about "Deliverance." But it wasn't the banjo playing that I worried about.

Very, very strange weekend.

But incredibly beautiful scenery. I should try that ride again.

[Mortos]

2. My Republican brother

is going to vote for Kerry. He has been a registered Republican for nearly 30 years. He is switching his party affilliation after this election. He is also a new member of DU and is going to write a piece about why he no longer fits into the Republican party.

After seeing Kerry's convention speach, he said, "I was going to vote for Kerry as a protest to Bush, after seeing him speak, I can honestly say I am voting for him and not just against Bush".

[Bandit]

7. Winston Churchill said: "America will always do the right thing, but only

after they try everything else first." America is starting to realize what the "Right Thing" really is. Tell your brother thanks for loving his country and wanting to do what's right.

[Norbert]

9. Can't wait to read your brothers piece.

.

[Old and In the Way]

11. Thanks for sharing!

I think many Republicans are beginning to rethink their political identity. If Gore and the Democrats had done the things the Republicans have in the past 3 years, I'd be outta this Party.

I really think that the culmination of 3-1/2 years of complete Republican control of our government will do these glutunous bastards in. f911, the Kerry-Edwards ticket, the really great unified convention will have a momentous effect on the political landscape come November. True, they can count on a solid 35% of RW nutjobs and religious conservatives to support them no matter what, but the rest of the electorate may well have decided that Kerry offers a much more compelling vision of America for them.

The debates, investigations, and the Republican convention are still to come.....I think it is totally within the realm of possibility that Bush Republicanism will be reputiated by the largest defeat ever seen by a sitting pResident. Bush could well end up with less than 40% of the popular vote.

[wicket]

5. This made my day

Thank-you! :D

[Ready4Change]

8. I'm one of these.

I'll repeat my thanks for letting me hang around here.

I'm a registered Republican and am voting for whoever isn't Bush. Bush's administration has violated many things I see as being bedrocks of Republican ideals. (Fiscal responsibility, a strong military used only when necessary.)

While I was just going to vote for Kerry because he's the best chance for beating Bush, I've actually liked a lot of what he's said during the primaries, and during this convention. So I'm thinking he could be pretty good in his own right.

[yardwork]

10. It's more than letting you hang around - you add to the site!

This would be a dull place if everyone agreed about everything.

When Republicans and Democrats have a chance to talk freely and exchange ideas, it often turns out that we are not as different as the media would like to pretend.

A lot of the divisiveness comes from the extreme politicians and the talking heads who don't believe a word they say, just spin for entertainment value.

Real people are a lot more sensible, calm, and willing to listen than many of our leaders would make it appear.

[Spangle]

15. Love Having you

The media and the political partys make being IN a political party the same as cheering for a sports team.

But the reality is, on the very basics, people from both sides agree on real issues. And I don't think the top dogs want us to realize that. Take out the "cheering for your team" and "defending your team" out of the discussions... Real talk happens. Instead of talking, people are defending the actions of their party. Or afraid the OTHER party is going to get credit for something getting done.

We the people might band together and FORCE the changes we believe in. And that includes government responsiblity and NOT being allowed to vote their own pay raises, lobbyests, etc. Tee Hee...

[opihimoimoi]

12. The trickle has begun to erode the Pub Dike, soon a torrent of Pubs

will come to realize Bus is a LOOOZER of Mega Proportions and Kerry is the best choice for a better America.

[bandy]

13. My hubby (repug)

begin to see the lite when I went and changed to dem after 2000 deception. He will not change parties but he will not be voting for *.