Let's not allow Kerry the indignity of being "another Mondale"

[WI_DEM]

Walter Mondale didn't deserve it and neither did George McGovern. They ran noble campaigns and came up far short against incumbent presidents who, at that time, were very popular.

John Kerry has served his country his entire adult life. Many people believe this is an election we should have won. If it was an honest election I'm sure we would have. Kerry and John Edwards ran an honorable campaign and a principled one. How anybody who watched the three debates this year between Bush and Kerry could come away thinking that we are in good hands is crazy. Kerry was articulate, intelligent and presidential.

It seems that losing presidential candidates are often treated like the eccentric uncle you want to keep under wraps--as if they brought great shame to the party for simply not winning. McGovern, Carter for a few years after 1980, Mondale, Dukakis-even Gore to a certain extent. But they all served us well even in their losing efforts. They served us honorably and they all have years of experience and should be listened to and respected.

Like George McGovern, John Kerry will be going back to the US Senate, so he still has a voice in national affairs and he shouldn't hesitate to raise it. He is the titular head of the Democratic party. That used to mean something in the past. For instance, Adlai Stevenson went down to two noble defeats to Dwight Eisenhower without being the object of ridicule that came to future losing nominees, and continued to be a sought after voice in national and international affairs. John Kerry, should assert the fact that as the last Democratic nominee and a man who received about 57 million votes--the second highest total votes in the history of presidential elections-- 48% of the vote against a sitting president with all the power of the incumbency behind him as well as the media in his hip pocket, he is the titular head of the party and should not shrink from that responsibility and should continue to speak out boldly and demand the respect that comes with his position.

[David Dunham]

1. I fully agree. Kerry tried his best. The right-wing media killed him.

[KittyWampus]

4. IMO, Paperless E-Voting Did The Deed. The Media Just Made It Easy

[Chicago Democrat]

2. Kerry or Edwards should run the SENATE!! wtf WHO Is REID!???

TOO OLD TOO CONSERVATIVE


WTF!!


NO WAY NO!!!

[WI_DEM]

5. Actually that is a very good idea

[Birthmark]

3. Stevenson didn't quit while the votes were being counted...

...and there was likely fraud - and after vowing "No concession, no surrender." I think Sen. Kerry lost a good deal of credibility with many of us. Actually, he conceded it.

[walldude]

8. Don't be so sure Kerry is done yet

there are rumblings all over the place that they publicly conceded while they are privately trying to come up with irrefutable evidence that the vote was rigged. At first I was pissed as hell at Kerry. Then after cooling off I had lunch with a few friends and we talked about Kerry's history. One of the things he was villified for in the campaign was coming back from Vietnam, and taking a stand against the war. He stood up for what he believed in, against the government, against the odds and probably against his better judgement if he was considering a run for office. Look at it this way, when he made that fight so many years ago he had a hell of alot more to lose than he does now. He's in a position where he has absolutly nothing to lose anymore, he's rich beyond belief, he's been in politics over 20 years, he could easily retire without batting an eyelash. I spent awhile trying to put myself in his shoes. What would I do if I were him knowing what I know about Bush? Then I thought about it and I imagine that he knows even more evil shit about Bush than we do. Knowing that the future of the entire fucking world is at stake here, and I had nothing to lose, and I had the backing of a total fireball of a wife, I would do whatever was in my power to nail that motherfucker to the wall. Pardon my french.

[Birthmark]

11. I have to accept what Kerry said.

If what you are saying is true, believe me, I'll be delighted to reverse my opinion. Right now, Kerry is in my doghouse. I hope to hell he gets out, but I'm not letting him out simply because he's a good guy.

I truly believe that the future of representative government in the US was at stake in this election. If we don't stop it now, we probably won't stop it all...without tremendous social and political upheaval.

[LittleClarkie]

12. I have to accept what Kerry said too

He said he still has our back. He said he'll still fight for us. But he has to pick his battles.

I don't need a martyr. I need someone who still has political teeth. I have no desire to see my candidate "Gored."

So many people don't give Kerry the benefit of the doubt. Why is it, even when he's right alot of the time, people assume he's playing politics.

That's what the freepers said about him when he "told the truth to power," that he only did it for political gain. Oh yeah, I can just see where he's been reaping that reward ever since.:eyes:

I'm not going to be one of those people. I'm not a fair weather supporter.

Why is it that people like Bush Sr. and Dole survive without being made into clowns by public opinion, and our guys never seem to escape that fate.

Well, it's not going to happen to Kerry. Not coming from me, anyway. I'm going to start emailing Dem senators, and suggest Kerry for Minority Leader. Right now.

[Birthmark]

13. In truth,

I was a fair weather supporter. The weather has changed in the vicinity of the Senator and I find the climate disagreeable now. We all have our preferences. If the weather improves, by my admittedly arbitrary standards, perhaps I shall return. In the meantime, I fancy somewhere sunny. :)

[LittleClarkie]

14. Your right, and privlege, of course

I was in that position early in the summer. I'm not there now.

I'm also up to the D's, at least with the webforms. :D I will work on the email addresses from home. I don't want responses coming to work.

I think I will stop at Durbin for the night and pick up with the E's tomorrow.

Kerry for Minority Leader!

[Birthmark]

15. Good luck.

:)

[smbolisnch]

6. Excellent post.....

I couldn't agree more. I would hate to see Kerry disappear into history. He is still in a position to make a difference and I hope he realizes just how many people in this country and all over the world support him...and Edwards too!

[Riverman]

7. Nice Democrats = Losers

Arnold was right in saying - "Why should I deal with losers?" I do not lie Arnold as a political leader, and did not vote for him. But, if Democrats are going to be "nice" they will finish last every time. Republicans are not nice and count on swaying otherwise democratic voters (working people) by knowing that democratic leaders will be "nice." Tom Daschale - what a nice guy! He tried soooo hard, he actually even thought about standing up to Bush over the war vote - but he wanted to be a team player. Result - he is sent packing back to the corn field. My first time walking precints was for McGovern. I thought he had the moral high ground - opposed to the war. Well Nixon's henchmen said "Oh, yeah, smart boy, we'll show you a moral high ground and made sure McGovern was sent packing back to the same corn field as Daschale.

Kerry simply does not have the courage to speak truth to power. When the going got tough (challenge Diebold in Ohio) he went skiing!

Fuck Him and the Nice Democrats!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

9. I agree

Kerry fought the good fight. Bush ran the old southern strategy only substituting the word "faggot" for "nigger".

It's going to be a tough 4 years, maybe 2 if we're lucky. The last thing we need to do is get caught up with in fighting. We may all disagree on what strategy to adopt next. For a while it may be a fair thing to argue this subject amongst ourselves. But the last thing we need to do is blame the each other for our loss.

[reality based]

10. John Kerry Has Earned It

I was disappointed with Kerry's position on the Congressional Iraq votes and was supporting first Dean and then General Clark. But I have been very impressed with Kerry during this campaign. He is presidential. I have confidence in the old swift boat commander. We should fall in behind him if he chooses to lead us against the coming attack on American values.

[GRLMGC]

16. Well shit

He didn't lose THAT badly. It's not like Bush won in a landslide. We were sooooo close. Mondale and McGovern never had a chance. Kerry did.

[LittleClarkie]

17. As I said elsewhere

55,867,227 is more than any Dem has ever gotten. 4,867,330 more than Gore. He's earned SOMETHING, I reckon.