Which is more strong: your hatred of Bush, or your Admiration for Kerry?

[UpsideDownFlag]

I was thinking about the race today, and it occured to me that at that for a long time, i was ABB based strictly on 3+ years of loathing for Bush. When Kerry was nominated, this remained the same, i saw him as an avenue for my ABB ideals. However, now that i have seen what a strong candidate he is, i actually admire him and know that he will make an incredible president (much, much more so than just a token 'ABB candidate'- possibly even better than Clinton, and my admiration for him has just about exceeded my hatred for bush.

how about yourself?

[Mojambo]

1. My disdain for Bush slightly outweighs

my admiration for Kerry. Slightly.

[sandnsea]

2. It's equal

Which tells you how much I admire Kerry.

[pmbryant]

3. It has become roughly equal

Though earlier this year there is no way I could have said that.

Don't let anyone say Kerry isn't charismatic.

--Peter

[PleadTheFirst]

4. Time is the key for me.

I've been hating Bush for years. I hated his father before him. I hate his whole corrupt family, and everything they stand for.

My "ABB" vote quickly became a pro-Kerry vote the more I learned about the man, and I'm damned proud to be supporting him.

So in answer to your poll, the age of my loathing of * takes lead over my newfound admiration of JK.

[knowbody0]

5. hate attaches one to its object

i really believe that it somehow takes away my power.
however, i know i will enjoy his time on trial for war crimes and crimes against our constitution and take delight in his imprisonment.i have loved kerry since the 70's.

[Walt Starr]

6. Coming out of the primaries, it was my hatred for Bush

After the convention, my admiration for Kerry outweighed my hatred for Bush.

[MatrixEscape]

7. Other ...

I am dismayed that this campaign has devolved into a personality issue at all. Liking and hating should not be the major issue, but it seems to be and I feel that it is intentional.

The issues have been marginalized and the most trivial aspects of the contest are prominent, paraded, encouraged. Not my idea of how it should go.

I agree that hatred binds you to that which you hate. You even risk becoming it if you apply enough emotion to the object.

That's probably why actors run and win. Issues matter most, and emotions should not be the primary factor here.

This time around, I am STRONGLY in favor of getting Bush OUT. I feel that Kerry is a better choice, overall. But I do have empathy for those who feel that participating in voting right now is merely a vote for a media-run debacle that sidesteps, even ignores, what is most vital!

I hope that during the Kerry Adminstration, we can start to reverse the process of side-show trivialization and that we, the People, will begin to have a voice. Right now, we have NO voice to either side, IMHO.

[knowbody0]

10. other than that, how are you "feeling"?

we the people absolutely must remain vigilant and take part in this process of democracy. my fear is that apathy will return again. there will be a sense of separation and loss when this election is over. we must stay tuned.

[MatrixEscape]

16. Thank you!

That is the underlying point! The impetus will be there for what I like to call: Democracy Phase II. I think the Bush Administration has been good for us in only that sense. It has galvanized masses of people into awareness and action. The lie went too far.

Hopefully, DU will be a meeting place for ideas, minds, and groups who are clear on what Democracy REALLY looks like.

We can rest after the election, but don't dare go back to sleep! We need everyone! Can we then declare America a "no apathy zone" then? It is apathy, not Bush, that served to lay the groundwork for what we are so desperately trying to reverse now.

[Generator]

8. At this point it's a package deal

And it's not just Bush. My honest patriotic rage and dislike is FAR stronger for, let's see, Rice, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz and a far too many else to name(let's not forget Porter Goss AND Tenet)

Lousy Americans all. I want the history to be in the history books. I don't want to live it anymore.

When Kerry ousts these louts I will forever be grateful. I don't think if he were president for a hundred years he good do as much harm as these LOSERS(just another name for an idelogue with nothing left to lose) have already done in their still not even four years in power.

[A Brand New World]

9. I have despised bush from the moment I set eyes on him. I could

tell instantly that he is a loathsome human being. So my incentive initially was ABB but day by day, minute by minute my admiration for Kerry grows. So now I'd say admiration for Kerry is outdoing hatred for Bush. Also, as much as I liked Gore as a candidate (and I consider him President Gore) and I still do like him as a person, I think Kerry is a much better candidate. I've seen Kerry at 3 different rallies and he is a very charismatic person. It makes me furious when the talking heads say how unlikable he is and how he doesn't excite a crowd. Have they never gotten out of the studio to a rally? Do they have their heads up their asses? What is the deal?

[CAcyclist]

11. I really admire Kerry and I used to be ABB

I voted for Dean in the primaries and spent way too much money helping the campaign, but I have come to really admire Kerry - the way he stayed cool and calm and still dusted Bush in every debate, the way he's conducted his campaign no matter what slime is thrown at him, the way he loves his wife, and how well-rounded and hard-working his kids are...

I don't think I have ever taken a personal interest in any president or hopeful until Dean, but I now recognize that Kerry is the better candidate and will make a better president and when Bush impugns Kerry I feel like Bush is attacking me.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

12. I am very much pro-Kerry...

...but my disdain for the Neo-thugs is just overpowering.

[Zhade]

13. Man, I don't like Kerry that much (way too hawkish on foreign policy)...

...but even I'm to the point of saying THESE KINDS OF POLLS ARE POINTLESS. They're just divisive.

It'll be plenty divisive here once Kerry gets into office and progressives start holding his feet to the fire. Why bother with a poll like this now?

[UpsideDownFlag]

17. C'mon, now, this is hardly devisive. it's an honest question-

which do you consider the more powerful emotion? if you wanna see devisive, i can show you some threads from the gungeon.

[Touchdown]

14. I don't hate Bush.

So given the choices, I admire Kerry, and I say that without a doubt. I'm frustrated with his positions, angry at his willfull ignorance, pissed off at his policy actions, and very disappointed in half of the country supporting this nimrod, but I don't hate him.

[shelley806]

15. HATRED FOR BUSH, CHENEY, THE WHOLE CRIMINAL LOT

Sorry, I have never despised any president, even Nixon. I have actually felt guilty and ahocked at my anger at these liars and the media that supports them and their war. I am Christian. But Christ hated liars. Bush is no Christian.

[Bucky]

18. Did you mean "don't hate Bush but strongly DISagree w/his policies"?

That's how I feel. I don't hate; it's not in me to hate anyone I've not been married to. I hate his policies, I loath what he's done to innocents in Iraq and Florida, and I am sometimes overwhelmed at the thought of what it will take to clean up all the messes that he's made around the world and in the environment. But I don't hate the man.

I admire Kerry a whole lot, altho he can be somewhat annoying too. Most "richers" are pompous, but he is a true patriot and has demonstrably better policies than the monkey.

[neverforget]

19. having put up with 4 years of crimes, lies and secrecy, I hate Bush

more but only because I haven't known Kerry for as long. I really like Kerry and I do admire him, it's just that Bush is so FUCKING EVIL!

[Skittles]

20. I'm a Democrat in Texas

I've had far more time to loathe that incompetent piece of garbage Bush than I've had to admire Senator Kerry.

[MIMIC]

21. It's hard to outweight hatred for Bush

If my pure antipathy for that man could take human form, it would be so scary that you would convulse and die from the sight of it.

[Skittles]

22. the man just absolutely f***ing makes me sick

I hear you MIMIC - and howdy to you and welcome to the DU! :hi:

[Sugarbleus]

23. I Loathe the Bush Cartel.........

They are the representatives of the New American Fascism. I cannot tolerate this trend, expressed by the "New Conservatives".

I respect and appreciate Sen Kerry. I think, under the circumstances, Kerry is the man of the hour...he is the only one strong enough to move against these maniacs in power. I am firmly behind him with my vote and support.

Still, the issue remains. Bushco is the death of America--it's about getting that bunch of imperialists OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT; I'd vote for a squirrel if I thought it could overthrow this administration.

This is a very unusual political time..historically speaking. For me, it's not simply about repubs vs Dems...it's SOOOOOO much more. Our way of life, our democracy, our safty and well being is at RISK. If this were not so, we'd see politics as usual without all the hubbub.

[Buck Rabbit]

24. I like Kerry, but I loathe *.

Haven't hated a President since Nixon. I despised some of Reagan's policies but I didnt hate the man in fact I'm grateful for Reagan's best legacy, Ron Jr.

[mhr]

25. I Like Kerry, I ABSOLUTELY DESPISE BUSH!

eom

[Renew Deal]

26. I like Kerry a lot, but Bush is really bad.

I picked hatred.

[Miami Liberal]

27. Cuban woman from Miami here

and I absolutely HATE Bush and everything he stands for. This election is making me crazy!! I live among hardcore repuglicans who think that being a democrat means being communist. I have been a democrat since I was 18 and have turned my parents and brother to my side. I was anyone but Bush but have grown to respect and admire Kerry. I'm so glad I found this message board, I've been lurking for about a week.
:yourock:



:dem:

[LibDemAlways]

28. I've been waiting four long years to

vote the chimp's sorry ass out of the office he stole. I hate everything's he's done to screw up this country and the horrific destruction and death he unleashed on Iraq and Afghanistan. He's a complete waste of DNA, and I look forward to voting against him.

[phish420]

29. I WAS just Anti-Bush...but...

over the past couple of months, I have heard in Kerry's voice and seen in his eyes an honesty I've never seen before. I really feel like he is going to stun us with more truth than we can andle when he gets in. I think he is the kind of guy that if the gov't really has been hiding UFO's and aliens all this time, HE'LL TELL US! LOL! I really think that is the kind of person he is...and I DO NOT trust politicians as a rule....but I don't know...maybe I'm wrong, but I really felt something when I saw him in Orlando last week...something I never felt when seeing a politician live (and I've seen a few - not tons, but quite a few)....I felt a sense of honesty...I didn't feel like I was being spun...because what he said added up with my own research...simple things like the fact in 2000 the average CEO made 40 times what his regular employees made per year. TODAY, that same CEO makes 500 times what those same employees make. The CEO and big wig wages keep going up, but the guy doing all the work is getting paid less. I've known this to be true, but never had a stat to back it up. Kerry gave it to me. Universal health care - just makes sense. I really feel like he wants to do this, not just talk about it. War on terror - know your enemy - and it isnt Saddam....I mean it boggles my mind why anyone supports *. Kerry IS the real deal and I now support him as much or more than I detest *.

[obiwan]

30. Like most, I was "ABB" until the first debate...

... When I saw the light bulb go on over Kerry's head. For the first time I think he got that it's the future of the country. An epiphany, perhaps?

Or maybe W's pathetic performance gave the bloodlust to JFK.

In any case, he believes now, and I'm 100% behind him.