Just saw "Going up River" The long war of John Kerry.

[illini]

It really changed my perception of John Kerry. I have up until now been in the anybody but * crowd. Before tonight, the Democratic party could have nominated a warm bucket of spit I would have voted it over *. That isn't to say I didn't like Kerry or think him unqualified for the job. I simply never saw * as the legitimate President, and he fulfilled all of my worst expectations of him. Now, I am extremely proud to say John Kerry is my candidate. I came away from the film with the real knowledge that Sen. Kerry has always had a sense of purpose and meaning. He seems to be one of those people who always needs to be doing something. He also seems to be a person who want to do good while doing something. I can honestly say that when I step into that voting booth on Nov 2nd I will be voting for John Kerry and not just against *.

[Mojambo]

1. I had a similar experience

It's weird that you mention that he seems to be someone who always needs to be doing something. That is exactly what I took away from it as well.

This is a man of extreme energy and purpose. Much, much more than I realized. I wrote to a friend that what John Kerry was accomplishing at the age of 27 makes me feel impossibly small and impotent.

He is what Presidents are made of. And I say that as a person who has policy differences with him on more than one or two issues.

[ochazuke]

3. Question about your Avatar

Is that "Tory Southwick"?

[Mojambo]

5. It's David Cross

Who is Tory Southwick?

[ochazuke]

12. Dead ringer

Tory Southwick was a guy on Kansas City television in the 1960s who did kid's shows.

[ochazuke]

2. The more you know, the more you like

What a massive shock we are all in for. Either:

a) We go from worst president ever to best since Roosevelt

or

b) We pass up this great man and sink into despotism.

This gives me an idea for a political cartoon:

The scene is South Vietnam with Kerry leaning over the side of his swift boat to rescue his buddy. Only it's not Rassman, it's Lady Liberty. And the river is littered with words listing the failures and shortcomings of the * administration (like "Iraq"). (No caption needed, but if * wins, Lady Liberty says "No thanks, I'd rather die.)

[WildEyedLiberal]

8. That would be BRILLIANT

You should draw that, or commission someone to draw it. That would be perfect... it should be done before the election, with Lt. Kerry's hand stretching out as far as he can, just shy of Liberty's... and so the question of whether he actually saves Liberty is up to the reader - and the election - to determine. Oh wow, you really ought to have that done here soon. And if you could fit Bush & Co. in on the banks firing his AK-47 at Kerry's boat, all the better.

[deadparrot]

4. Whichever way this thing goes....

Kerry is a good man. Period.

It's something the BFEE will never be.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. Carville made some comment about this in an interview, earlier in

the campaign season. He said, that simply as a MAN, on a MAN to MAN level, Kerry completely outclasses the shrub, shrub not even in the same league or planet and couldn't HOPE to compete.

[nonconformist]

6. I felt the same after I watched

All I could think while watching that film is "this man was BORN to be President". Especially in our current world - he's perfect. Funny how things work out that way.

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. It made me a true believer in John Kerry

He wants this badly. He has too, considering what they have tried too do to him, and still he persists! The man has courage under fire! I have great respect for William Jefferson Clinton and Albert Gore will always have a special place in my heart.....but John Forbes Kerry...this man is extraordinary!

[Eric J in MN]

10. Pre-order from amazon.com and lend it to people.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000646MMA/qid=1097815724/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/102-8385685-2188151?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846

[Zen Democrat]

11. Going Upriver reminded me of things long forgotten.

And it made me so proud that we have John Kerry at this time, because with the quagmire in Iraq, the war on terror, and a divided country, John Kerry is exactly the right man at the right time. Now it's up to us.

[Maccagirl]

13. If the American electorate passes on this man

I simply don't know what I'll do, Not only will we miss out on his talent, but the other talent (i.e. Clark and Dean) he can bring with him. I don;t even want to think about it. I saw the film and was extremely moved by it.

[sandnsea]

14. A few more things

When he was prosecutor, he started one of the first sexual victim's units in the country. He reorganized that office and made it a point to find and hire women and minorities. He's continued to fight for women and minorities in ways that matter. Small business loans and empowerment districts, YouthBuild, domestic violence laws, sexual assault laws.

When he was Lt. Gov, he spearheaded an investigation into acid rain which eventually became the Acid Rain legislation. And was involved in the first Earth Day, helped coordinate an event in Boston. And rewrote the Oceans & Fisherie Act. And stopped the drilling in ANWR.

In his first term in the Senate, he was one of the first, if not the first, to introduce anti-discrimination legislation for gays. And has stood by them consistently ever since. Yes gay marriage is a tough deal, but his heart is in the right place and I hope gays know that.

Not only did he fight to stop the Vietnam War, he didn't forget the Vietnam Vet. There's a story about a vet visiting him about Agent Orange. He asked for ten minutes. He and a few others told their stories. The vet says Kerry did what he knew he would do, cry, then say "What do I do"? And we've got Agent Orange legislation, PTSD legislation, Vet Outreach Centers, POW/MIA investigations, Vietnam normalization.

That's why I'm for John Kerry and have been since last summer. Kerry doesn't quit, he doesn't forget, he's committed beyond anything I've ever seen. His committment to things we care about is deep and real and he will not stop until things are right. He does care about environmental, human rights and labor rights legislation in global trade and I think he's the only chance we've got to get that right. And I think that is really the most important issue facing us. If we don't get our relations with the rest of the world right, we're screwed. And I don't see anybody else who can do that for us and the people around the world too. I think he's going to blow people away as President and take us to places we haven't dreamed about since we were 10 years old watching Bobby.