Kerry "won't participate"

[DistressedAmerican]

According to CNN Kerry has just announced he's not getting involved in any protest of the Ohio results despite the irregularities. Guess that's par for the course. That's one senator down. Any others out there? I doubt it!

[genius]

1. AWOL. is the nicest thing I can think of to say about him right now.

Oh. I thought of one other thing: President.

[Dhalgren]

2. I don't see how Kerry can even face

the millions of people who supported him, gave him money and voted for him. This isn't about overturning the election anymore, this is about fighting the disenfranchisement of millions of poor and African American citizens. I cannot believe that the Democratic Party is saying "fuck you" to the African American community. This is the goddamned base of the party and not one damned Democratic senator will stand up for them? Un-fucking-believable...

[DistressedAmerican]

3. Word!

[Zhade]

57. Damn fucking straight!

To think I wasted my vote on Kerry.

[c o f f e e]

113. Kerry Parody Letter- did you receive kerry's email?

B i g J o h n

Dear Stupid F *** American,

No American citizen should wake up the morning after the election and worry that they got some terrible disease from a candidate screwing them up the keester. No citizen should be denied at the polls, unless it is 2004 and the elite in the country have already picked bush. And, as the greatest, wealthiest and most corrupt nation on earth, our citizens should never be forced to vote for old, unaccountable and non transparent liars like myself, since I am controlled by partisan activists.

Tomorrow, members of the goose stepping new-speakers, we call Congress, will meet to certify the results of the fraudulent 2004 presidential election. I will not be taking part in a formal protest of the Ohio Electors because I am a pathetic liar with no moral center or sense for what is right or wrong.

Despite irregularities, questionable practices by some election officials and instances of lawful voters being denied the right to vote, our legal teams on the ground have been hard at work shuffling papers and trying their damdist to look busy while actually doing nothing. My political stooges do not want to change the outcome of the election. God must have ordained that Satan...errrr...Mr. bush become the next president, so I am satisfied if God is satisfied.

But, that does not mean we should abandon our commitment to me and my family. I still need your support to give my pathetic life meaning. We can work hand in hand to addres s those problems that happened in Ohio (wink-nod). We must act today to make sure they never happen again (wink-nod).

I urge you to join me in using this occasion to highlight our demand that Congress commit itself this year(or maybe next year, or the year after that at the latest) to reforming the electoral system. Just recently I was informed by a eighth-grade civics teacher that a Presidential election is a national federal election but we have different standards in different states for casting and counting votes. We need a national federal standard to solve the problems that occurred in the 2004 election. I will propose legislation to help achieve this by eliminating all names on the ballots except for the names of republican candidates. In the future we can all vote for the same candidate and feel confident our votes counted. Do you see the logic in this simple plan?

Florida 2000 was a wake up call but nobody did anything we just rolled over and went back to sleep . Will we now ignore what happened in 2004? Probably...why not?

There are nearly 3,000,000 of you receiving this email and 25 of you may actually read it. We accomplished so much together during the campaign and I know that this letter sounds like it was written by a political operative but my handlers told me that writing an email was the least I could do after I bailed out and let so many people hanging in the breeze. So I did my duty- ok almost finished. Here are some numbers to call if you want to scream at some minimum wage operators.

Speaker Dennis Hastert: 1-202-225-0600 or 1-800-SUU-EEEE
Leader Bill Frist: 1-202-224-3135 or 1-800-FUK-YUUU

I want every vote counted because Americans have to know that the votes they stood in line for, fought for, and strived so hard to cast in an election, are counted. As our old friend Joe Stalin once said, "it doesn't matter who you vote for it matters who counts the votes!". Old joe was right on! We must make sure there are no questions or doubts in future elections so voting for a single candidate should take care of any arguments. Please join with me in calling Speaker "oink-oink" Hastert and Leader Frist and telling them that you want action on election reform now, or maybe tomorrow or next week at the latest.

A recent report from Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan) reveals very troubling questions that have not yet been answered by Ohio election officials. Although I will do absolutely nothing I commend anyone who runs into that brick wall.

Congress must look like they are doing something, anything. That's why I will soon introduce meaningless legislation to reform our election system.

Please remember to let us know that you made your call when you're done. We're hoping to ensure House and Senate swine hear your demands for action on election reform in a meaningful way. Please take a moment and write us another check so we can continue to work for you.

Thank you,

Big John , he sure aint no JFK!

P.S. Thanks to all those who participated in the 2004 elections. Better luck next time.

[jswordy]

125. While I didn't ROFL the whole time reading your parody...

...I did indeed LOL during several sections of it.

But then there were sad parts, too. Like where you illustrate through parody that the Kerry of today is the exact Kerry we ran. The same man I worked my ass off to get elected.

I am beginning now to form the opinion that we deserved to lose.

[hughee99]

4. If Kerry won't even stand up for this

Why do so many people still think he would make a good president? Yes, I will agree that Kerry would be far better than *, but here's a situation where he has the opportunity to keep his campaign promise and make sure "all the votes count", and he doesn't want to get involved?!

For those Kerry '08 people, after seeing how Kerry handled the post-election process, do you still want this man to run again?

[Pachamama]

90. Answer - NO

Say Goodbye to 2008 John Kerry....you blew it....

:grr:

[Dr Fate]

5. In his cowardly e-mail letter he said it was "up to you...."

...to call or e-mail Denny hassert or Frist. Passing the Buck to Republicans, John?

Screw that- how about YOU go on TV and demand accountability.

How bout you demanding a live, unedited interview and tell them and the rest of the country for us?

And I dont care if it would not change the results- YOU- John Kerry could give the issue the exposure it needs, but you are too fucking chicken.

[cidliz2004]

49. I don't think that he is chicken

I think that he thinks he is protecting his sorry ass bid for 08'.

HA...I sure as hell won't vote for him or give him the time of day

[Dr Fate]

77. Same difference. n/t

n/t

[Clarkie1]

96. Kerry is timid, amazingly so....I just realized that's what bugs me

about him. He's actually TIMID.

People change; he's not the fearless swift-boat captain of the democratic party.

[DistressedAmerican]

118. Weasel Words, Weasel Words, Weasel Words!

I am for the war, I am against the war! I am for a full investigation of the irregularitites, I am not going to participate in that investigation effort! Give me a break!

[calimary]

92. I got my email from him today (at this writing, pacific time, still 1/5).

Johnnie Come Lately Kerry. Nice of him to weigh in at the eleventh hour.

There are many who say the MSM would fry him in butter for it, self-serving, blah-blah-blah. Fuck it. The point is to TAKE A STAND. This is the man who promised again and again to fight for every vote. You call this a fight? I've seen a better fight from my cat against a roll of toilet paper. And I willingly switched my allegiance, and all my hard work and campaign donation money (such as it was) over to Kerry when Howard Dean was no longer an option. And I worked my tail off for him. And this is what he comes up with? THIS is how he fights for every vote? With a milquetoast position paper the DAY BEFORE? Uh - the election was more than TWO MONTHS AGO. He had ALL THAT TIME to make a difference, and a decent challenge with some teeth in it. He could have been a beacon of hope - if not for a Democrat back in the White House, then a symbol of the drive to have EVERY vote count, and EVERYONE who's able to vote - to get to vote. And to have it count. And NO shenanigans. And NO theft and dirty tricks. And accountability. And a paper trail. And where the hell has he been?!?!?!?

What a flaccid release. I, too, am OFF the Kerry bandwagon. If he wanted my vote in 2008, he should have put WAY more effort into this mop-up season than we've seen. He's been as effective a fighter as Mary Beth Cahill, our new Thanksgiving turkey.

I was correct the first time. Howard Dean. Period. Then. Now. Always.

[c o f f e e]

114. i wish kerry's email had these words

B i g J o h n



Dear Stupid F *** American,

No American citizen should wake up the morning after the election and worry that they got some terrible disease from a candidate screwing them up the keester. No citizen should be denied at the polls, unless it is 2004 and the elite in the country have already picked bush. And, as the greatest, wealthiest and most corrupt nation on earth, our citizens should never be forced to vote for old, unaccountable and non transparent liars like myself, since I am controlled by partisan activists.

Tomorrow, members of the goose stepping new-speakers, we call Congress, will meet to certify the results of the fraudulent 2004 presidential election. I will not be taking part in a formal protest of the Ohio Electors because I am a pathetic liar with no moral center or sense for what is right or wrong.

Despite irregularities, questionable practices by some election officials and instances of lawful voters being denied the right to vote, our legal teams on the ground have been hard at work shuffling papers and trying their damdist to look busy while actually doing nothing. My political stooges do not want to change the outcome of the election. God must have ordained that Satan...errrr...Mr. bush become the next president, so I am satisfied if God is satisfied.

But, that does not mean we should abandon our commitment to me and my family. I still need your support to give my pathetic life meaning. We can work hand in hand to addres s those problems that happened in Ohio (wink-nod). We must act today to make sure they never happen again (wink-nod).

I urge you to join me in using this occasion to highlight our demand that Congress commit itself this year(or maybe next year, or the year after that at the latest) to reforming the electoral system. Just recently I was informed by a eighth-grade civics teacher that a Presidential election is a national federal election but we have different standards in different states for casting and counting votes. We need a national federal standard to solve the problems that occurred in the 2004 election. I will propose legislation to help achieve this by eliminating all names on the ballots except for the names of republican candidates. In the future we can all vote for the same candidate and feel confident our votes counted. Do you see the logic in this simple plan?

Florida 2000 was a wake up call but nobody did anything we just rolled over and went back to sleep . Will we now ignore what happened in 2004? Probably...why not?

There are nearly 3,000,000 of you receiving this email and 25 of you may actually read it. We accomplished so much together during the campaign and I know that this letter sounds like it was written by a political operative but my handlers told me that writing an email was the least I could do after I bailed out and let so many people hanging in the breeze. So I did my duty- ok almost finished. Here are some numbers to call if you want to scream at some minimum wage operators.

Speaker Dennis Hastert: 1-202-225-0600 or 1-800-SUU-EEEE
Leader Bill Frist: 1-202-224-3135 or 1-800-FUK-YUUU

I want every vote counted because Americans have to know that the votes they stood in line for, fought for, and strived so hard to cast in an election, are counted. As our old friend Joe Stalin once said, "it doesn't matter who you vote for it matters who counts the votes!". Old joe was right on! We must make sure there are no questions or doubts in future elections so voting for a single candidate should take care of any arguments. Please join with me in calling Speaker "oink-oink" Hastert and Leader Frist and telling them that you want action on election reform now, or maybe tomorrow or next week at the latest.

A recent report from Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan) reveals very troubling questions that have not yet been answered by Ohio election officials. Although I will do absolutely nothing I commend anyone who runs into that brick wall.

Congress must look like they are doing something, anything. That's why I will soon introduce meaningless legislation to reform our election system.

Please remember to let us know that you made your call when you're done. We're hoping to ensure House and Senate swine hear your demands for action on election reform in a meaningful way. Please take a moment and write us another check so we can continue to work for you.

Thank you,

Big John , he sure aint no JFK!

P.S. Thanks to all those who participated in the 2004 elections. Better luck next time.

[LittleClarkie]

135. It wasn't cowardly to tell us where he stood

He could have just left it silent. I didn't expect yesterday's email. I quite enjoyed flooding Hassert and Frist's voicemail boxes until they were stuffed full.

As for 2008, too soon. We shall see who agrees.

He could have given it exposure alright. All negative. Nope sorry. Still on Back Watch.

[DistressedAmerican]

140. It was cowardly to stand there in the first place

It was cowardly to send an e-mail and hit the road so he wouldn't even have to be around for the debate and vote on the Ohio delegates. Most importantly it is cowardly to say that he backed his supporters and the investigation throughout without taking any real action to support the process.

Its the "He voted for it before he voted against it" phenom all over again. He loves to have his cake and eat it too. He wants to claim he did everything possible to ensure the votes were counted without being tainted with the ugliness himself. A little from column A, a little from column B.

I think he should return one of those much talked about medals of bravery for this one. Where is the bravery now? Fine in the face of bullets, weak in the face of ballots.

[Demit]

6. Well look, think about it. As soon as he joined in, MSM would make it

all about him. They'd get all snarky and launch into all kinds of rehashing of the campaign, and freewheeling speculation about his motives, and in general do all the changing-of-the-subject bullshit they have down to a fine art.

Do we want this to be about spotlighting election irregularities or not? We say we do.

Maybe Kerry HAS done some work behind the scenes. We don't know. Tomorrow we'll have a better idea. But the fact that others have stepped up to the plate--including our grassroots work--is something he encouraged from the start and I think he viewed it as a tactic that would give the whole thing more traction than just his high profile. It has worked. Let's wait and see what happens tomorrow.

[Dr Fate]

12. I'm tired of fear of the media as a constant excuse for DEMS not fighting.

We need to stop being scared that the media will be "mean to us" for speaking out. The media lies about DEMS and smears us even when we play along- so why not FIGHT????

Boo fucking hoo- "I cant fight for you b/c Judy Woodruff & chris Matthews will hurt my feelings"- not good enough.

We need to start exposing these Whores in clown make-up and stop being scared of them.

[shance]

42. Great point Dr. Fate. At some point you need to tell Judy on the air

to GO TO HELL.

[Dr Fate]

76. Not me, but Kerry, Hillary, Edwards, Kennedy...

...a household name- so it will get noticed.

[calimary]

94. Damn F-ing Straight. What the heck difference should THAT make?

Who the heck cares what Judy Woodruff and Chris Matthews and Wolf Blitzer and Tim Russert and the rest of 'em think? How about showing some guts and forging ahead, anyway? He was up to it, alright. He turned the damned boat around into the line of fire on the river, didn't he? What's his excuse now? How could this be any worse? Besides, what did he have to lose at this point, anyway?

Isn't there such a thing as taking a stand? Or are we just gonna cave again the way we've become accustomed to doing? Feh on him. "Fight for every vote" - 'eh?

Absolutely "we need to start exposing these Whores in clown make-up and stop being scared of them." Forge ahead ANYWAY. Make THEM irrelevant, for a change.

[LittleClarkie]

141. If you want real results, you need more than just a frunge on your side

Do you want real results. Or did you want a grandstand from Kerry that would have made you feel all warm and fuzzy but that wouldn't have accomplished diddly poop. "He fought for us the way Gore fought for us. Aww, I feel so much better now."

Great. But Gore didn't get anywhere did he.

It's not about Kerry saying "Wah, the pundits will hate me." He knows the pundits already don't like him. Big news.

We need more than just a few of us saying that that reform is needed. That means not letting the media turn public opinion against us. It's all part of the greater war. To say it's all about the media being "mean to us" is both unfair and missing the point.

[DistressedAmerican]

144. Frankely I do not think with or without him

the effort was never going to accomplish diddly poop. However, we know the outcome without his support. Arguing that he did the right thing in the face of the dismal results baffles me. At least we can speculate that things may have been better with him than without him. You've got the hard facts of what happened to deal with.

He is a spineless weasel who wanted to cover his political ass. I have NO respect for that. It is the career politicians that perpetuate this nightmare. Might I suggest to the people of Mass. that they consider a Senatorial change?

[Malva Zebrina]

43. too godamm bad

if a millionaire with a millionaire wife, cannot stand up for principles, or for the millions who worked hard and leaves them flailing in the wind just so he can continue the ego driven job of being a respected Senator from Massachusetts, he is not worth a nickle. He has lost his soul. And has nothing at all to worry about, eh?

While we, all of us, are worried to death, over loss of jobs, over loss of SS payments, over loss of our country.

No, he will continue to flip flop , and yes he DID flip flop, like a freshly caught cod on the deck.

Nothing to lose here.

Thanks a lot Mr. Kerry. Have a good night's sleep.

[cidliz2004]

50. Many of us swallowed our gut instincts and supported John

Kerry. We thought that he wasn't a good choice, but we put that aside and some worked their asses off for this guy, I don't expect John Kerry to do anything but to work his ass off for his supporters. Of course he didn't do that, he folded and went home and is licking his wounds (pride) Many of us won't be fooled or sucked in again. Kerry is toast

[roguevalley]

67. as long as that argument is used against his participation in our

struggle, they win. Kerry has a DUTY to finish this. He asked us to help. We have. We did so believing he would stand up and go to the end with us. He didn't. Enough of the rationalizations and the read between the lines. He's made it clear. We are on our own. Praise the real heroes here, the Congressmen and women and Mr. Conyers. Kerry doesn't deserve anymore protection over his actions.

[zann725]

99. I don't think the other Senators will 'step up' now. Since he

said he's not going to be involved. I was feeling so hopeful, and now am not. How disappointing.

[Eloriel]

132. How long will the excuse making go on?

It's beyond sad and sorry now and bordering on sick. It's not just you, but it IS you too.

DUers have been making excuses (along with the wishin' and hopin') for these sorry excuses for Democratic elected officials for over 4 years now.

How long will it go on? What does it take to wake you up?

[LittleClarkie]

136. Dead puppies on a hybatchi

That's about it.

Democratic Party Back Watch. It's a good thing.

[Caution]

7. Ever occur to anyone that for the process to have legitimacy in the eyes

of average voters, Kerry must stay out of it? Notice the tone and tenor of his e-mail? Pretty clearly telling people to continue fighting? Gimme an f'n break. It is this type of reactionary crap that makes thos e attempting to expose fraud where it occurs look like crackpots.

And frankly, anyone who thinks anyone ambitious enough to run for President in the first place wouldn't attempt to run down all avenues to win is a moron. If Kerry's people who have invested thousands of hours and millions of dollars into his campaign do not believe that his getting involved could get him into the White House then I'm inclined to believe them.

[DistressedAmerican]

8. I could not care less if he gets into the Whitehouse

He should stand for a full and open investigation of the irregularities regardless of the turnout of the counts. Failure to do so is a direct "flip-flop" from his promise to get them all counted. He has been useless in this fight from that moment forward. He is protecting his future electability because he fears looking like a sore loser. It sells us all out. I knew he would suck and I was right!

[ebayfool]

104. Okay, did you 'bother' to go thru the link & watch the video?

If you had, you would have heard him speak on that very same "full and open investigation of the irregularities". The biggest "flip-flop" I've seen is coming from people on this forum. First they're for him, then they're against him. Christ, there needs to be an emotional age test to post in here!.

"I knew he would suck and I was right!"

[DistressedAmerican]

106. He can speak all he f'ing wants.

That is just covering his ass with folks like you that think that words ARE action. He has had his chance to prove what he stands for by hitting the road, rallying the troops, raising money to help the investigation, in short by putting his ass where his mouth is. He has paid lip service to the issue from day one. I for one am sick of his statements. I believe in action.

As to the emotional age test, are you the one to administer it Captain Emoticon?

[ebayfool]

115. Gotcha, uh-huh, Captain Judge of all that's right!

"As to the emotional age test, are you the one to administer it Captain Emoticon?"
-------------
Sure, just bend over! After seeing your website it was obvious that you would only respond to 'graphics' - sorry I couldn't put in more crayola colors to make it easier for you tolerate!
--------
"I believe in action."

From your own website:
"I have been for the most part on the sidelines watching the issue move forward, unreported by the major outlets. Nearly a month later, I am ready to take an official editorial stand. While I have been reluctant in the past to fully get on board with efforts to force recounts of several close states ..."

Yeah, we get it. Man of action. Impressive. Bashing Kerry is just covering your ass with folks like you that think that words ARE action, oops ... sorry, overblown web pages = action?

More 'graphics' for your limited emotional limits -

[DistressedAmerican]

116. Bother to take some time to look at the site

and you will see that I have been out in the streets:
In New Hampshire for the lead-up to the primaries,
In NYC for the RNC:
http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/RNC.htm

at the state capital for recount rallies:
http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/albanyrally.htm

organizing, doing media interviews and working. The website and graphics are one part of the effort.

What exactly is your problem with making graphics. Have a bad experience with a political cartoonist growing up? They are productive, they circulate, get seen, stimulate thought. Oh, maybe it is the last part you have issues with.

Taking some time to evaluate the validity of the irregularities before running out the door shouting involved thinking through the issue, and doing the research to back up my claims. I wanted to be knowledgeable and certain before trying to make the case. If you recall, it took that much time for Conyers to send his letter to Blackwell (also posted in the site). If that is inaction in your book I can't help you.

Again, what have YOU done to further things along? Sit at you computer flaming those of us that are working? I am sick of people who have done nothing criticizing those who have. Sounds like AWOL soldiers sending troops to the front lines. Show some efforts of your own and we can compare some notes.

Limited Limits?

[DistressedAmerican]

143. Still waiting...(n/t)

I assume at this point that your day long silence means that you HAVEN'T been doing anything. I suggest you take some time out of flaming those of who are and get out there yourself. Otherwise, I'd say you've earned yourself the "loser Award".

[Cha]

10. It's "occured" to me..especially after

what the gestapo press did in 2000. It would seem Kerry is learning from that bit of American history.

However, I don't know what the shit is going on.

[Dhalgren]

11. Fuck Kerry "getting into the White house"!

He's already said publicly , on several occasions, that he lost the election - that ship has sailed. This is about the suppression of citizen's votes - regardless of who they may or may not have voted for. The Democratic Party (and, yes, Mr. Kerry, too) has got to stand up for the disenfranchised voters right now, or it is over. That particular well will be dry...

[sendero]

15. Crap on a stick..

.... no amount of us sending letters and emails and making phone calls is going to do JACK SHIT about this. What about that do you not get?

This story is a non-story because someone BIG has to get in front of the camera and make the case. Have you noticed that you can't get a TV news crew out to your house with a phone call?

Stop making excuses for Kerry. He is a FUCKING FRAUD and I'm sick of hearing the "behind the scenes" horsepuckey. It is bullshit and you know it or should know it.

This is not about getting Kerry into the white house, I agree, he missed that boat weeks ago. This is about turning over some rocks and making some slimy bugs run, and sending a few of them to jail. Right now, there is no consequence for fiddling with the vote. It should be a CAPITAL OFFENSE.

Some of us have taken the foot out of our backsides - you should try it. Drinking the Dem cool-aid is no better than drinking the Repug.

[Q]

27. Well...it won't have ANY legitimacy if nothing happens...

Kerry has already conceded and conceded. He could make it clear that he was fighting for election reform and not for the presidency.

The 'tone' you hear is a dying Democratic party.

[IndianaGreen]

33. Hey bud, WE ARE THE AVERAGE VOTERS!!!!!!!

Kerry can just forget about 2008. Not only he is a LOSER, he is also a QUITTER!

[cidliz2004]

48. Oh really!

Keep drinking the Kerry Koolaide. A leader leads so that others may follow. I don't know about you but the greatest leaders didn't lead on hands and knees.

[Pachamama]

91. It "occurred" to me, but then my instincts told me that is not the case...

I was up until the moment I read that letter a committed loyal supporter of John Kerry...I was convinced that tommorrow he would fight for democracy...

Not anymore...I'm sick to my stomach... :puke:

[ecstatic]

103. Quit making excuses for Kerry

You'll only end up disappointed. It seems that Kerry is not the type of individual that one can be loyal to and rally behind. He'll make you look like an idiot each and every time.

[bowens43]

109. This about Kerry getting into the white house.

this is about free and fair elections, it'sa about the future of our Republic and it is far more important then Kerry's ambitions.

[calimary]

127. Point well taken except for one thing: Kerry's people also told him

that the swifties would blow over in a few days and not to worry about it. So he did what they recommended and got his ass whupped and didn't come out fighting again until it was too late and the wound had been allowed to fester, untreated, and fatal infection had set in.

[DistressedAmerican]

128. A few days is one thing.

He sat on it for a month!. That is well beyond the limit where that made ANY sense. Lots of other people told him that. He made his choice of counsel to follow.

[matt819]

9. Unless he's got a trick up his sleeve. . .

he just lost the election for 2008.

[mtnsnake]

13. I thought Kerry was unelectable when he got the primary and I

think he's unlikeable now.

He's a big turn-off to me.

[DistressedAmerican]

14. Me too!

I went to New Hampster to argue the case on the ground. It was cold but, ineffective. Wes was our only chance, in my ever so humble opinion!

[propagandafreegal]

16. If I were in Mass I would vote Kerry out and a grassroots guy IN! nm

[Generator]

17. CNN best friend of Bush

Oh how ironic. They use it against him JUST as DU'ers are doing.

Did they mention this part:


But, that does not mean we should abandon our commitment to addressing those problems that happened in Ohio. We must act today to make sure they never happen again.

I urge you to join me in using this occasion to highlight our demand that Congress commit itself this year to reforming the electoral system. A Presidential election is a national federal election but we have different standards in different states for casting and counting votes. We need a national federal standard to solve the problems that occurred in the 2004 election. I will propose legislation to help achieve this.

Florida 2000 was a wake up call. But the Republicans who control Congress ignored it. Will they now ignore what happened in 2004?

***

Sure they will. As long as the people do. Go out in the fucking streets. Stop pretending that Democracy is one man. Stop blaming one man-even George Bush-I never thought I could understand how the Third Reich happened. I have to come to understand between apathy, the propaganda-and man's worst instinct to attack his own-those Germans weren't really that different than me.

Oh by the way-THIS IS PROPAGANDA from CNN to get you to stop fighting. That is it's purpose. To make you believe that Kerry has given up and so should you. Wake up people. CNN is garbage-but useful to see what "they" fear.

And what have YOU done to protest this election? Blamed Kerry for not being your savior?

[robbedvoter]

30. Nice try. Almost every DU-er did more for clean elections than Kerry did

and he's been in the Senate since forever. We do not get our news from CNN - I read the e-mail itself - and it's the same maddening equivocation that he did on the IWR.

[Generator]

63. Ah hah-point number 2- elitism

That's right. You did more than Kerry and so did all the DU'ers. I guess you should try running for President too. And you were also smarter than Kerry and I and millions of Americans that actually were for the IWR. But we don't get to point that out-because we were wrong but you were morally superior in your distrust of Bush. If you want to find a way to lure voters that wouldn't vote for Kerry-how about not displaying your absolute purity, superiour knoweldge of all things over us commoners.

I had no idea about BBV until I came on DU. BBV was just founded last year. How much should we have known? The one thing that pisses me off is the voter supression of miniority voters-THAT they should have been doing something about.

Was Dean working on that? Kuchinich? Clark? Clinton? I don't think so.

AH-but you as a DU'er are probably more qualifed and certainly pure enough and poor enough to pass the Left's purity test to be President.

Damn that Kerry.

[IndianaGreen]

85. robbedvoter is smarter than Kerry, she knows IWR was a WAR resolution

and not some fuzzy pledge of support conditioned on Bush going to the UN. Kerry was the only US Senator to say IWR was not a war resolution.

Now we see the spineless shit that he truly is!

[DistressedAmerican]

87. You're the jackass that asked what we did!

We did plenty. Many of us are still working. Again, I ask what the hell did YOU do?

[DistressedAmerican]

107. Hello? Generator? What have YOU done? Still Waiting!

Fill me in buddy. What were your feats of valor in the defense of democracy? Help me out!

[EGisJUICE]

101. well

Generator Said: "That's right. You did more than Kerry and so did all the DU'ers. I guess you should try running for President too. And you were also smarter than Kerry and I and millions of Americans that actually were for the IWR. But we don't get to point that out-because we were wrong but you were morally superior in your distrust of Bush. If you want to find a way to lure voters that wouldn't vote for Kerry-how about not displaying your absolute purity, superiour knoweldge of all things over us commoners."

Do you think (m)any people here or in America for that matter have the MILLIONS that it takes to run for President of our Plutocracy? The Republicans and Democrats spent nearly 2 BILLION combined on the Presidental race.

Morraly superior = disagree with.

If you want to lure those people that can't tolertate that you have an opinion different then you, that call having different views and beliefs then you, "absolute purity, superior knowledge of all things over us commoners." then you need to command them and lead them around by the nose.

Calling those that disagree with you intolerant or claiming they are talking down to you like they are inelectually superior and accusing them of engaging in conspiracy theories,seems to be the best way of ignoring things and playing victim while excusing the actions (or lack of) in others.

If you want to be a commoner, go ahead, I'm not common, I'm me. If you can't see that people who think they are somebody and don't want to be labeled "commoners" aren't claiming superiority then you do what you need to do to live with youself.

[Q]

35. "We" must act today?

After he said he wouldn't participate? That doesn't make much sense.

Besides that...it's his FRIGGIN JOB to protect and defend the Constitution. One would think that investigating election fraud and civil rights abuses would be part of that job.

[Leilani]

37. That's silly!

I got the email myself from Kerry. I don't need CNN to tell me what to think.

This is all about Kerry...it's what good for him, & screw the voters.

He wants to remain "politically viable" for 2008...he doesn't want to soil his hands with this messy business.

He could have shown up tomorrow & made a plea for election reform, certified paper trails, & pointed out the suppression tactics used in minority communities.

He didn't need to "challenge the results," but could have used the public platform to make this issue mainstream.

Don't you think that's the least he could have done?

Finally, the grass roots did so much work to make Kerry viable in this election....the money, the work, hours spent, etc. So don't get mad at the people who ALMOST pulled this one out.

[DistressedAmerican]

44. Please check out my website for a few of the things I have

been doing.
http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/main.htm

I worked my ass off and still am. Don't give me that what have you done nonsense. What have YOU done?

[Crunchy Frog]

82. Gee, maybe it would have helped

if he had done that back in 2001, when we actually had a majority in the Senate and the election fraud was far more clear cut and obvious, and the nation not consumed with other crises. Especially since he probably already knew that he would be running for president in '04. It's really a little late in the game now.

If he had taken a leadership role on the issue then, like he should have, we might not be dealing with this mess today.

Democrats failing to act as leaders is what's killing our party.

[Adelante]

119. "if he had done that back in 2001"

Thank you, yes :yourock:

Tell it, sister!

"Democrats failing to act as leaders is what's killing our party."

[ecstatic]

111. speaking out of both sides of his mouth

I'm not going to bother to contest, BUT that does not mean we should abandon our commitment to addressing those problems that happened in Ohio. We must act today to make sure they never happen again.

:shrug:

[Tom Rinaldo]

18. I have a translation of Kerry's letter

Posted it on one other thread so sorry if it's a dupe to you:

"We lost, get over it, but don't get over the
importance of every vote counting. Although in this
case all the votes weren't counted, in this case it
doesn't really matter, but in some other case it would
matter, and it matters that we say it matters. But
don't say that it mattered in this case.

There were some troubling irregularities and
disturbing questions remain unanswered, but we know
that the answers to those unanswered questions would
have no effect on this election. The Republicans
really should do the right thing this time to clean
things up, although they should have done the right
thing last time to clean things up also, but since
they won both last time and this time, give them a
call and ask for their help, since they are now in
charge.

And remember, irregularities are a part of life.
That's why people use Ex-Lax. If it weren't for
irregularities discount stores would have nothing to
sell, so really irregularities are not overly
alarming, just a teensy bit alarming, so don't rock
the boat about this past election but it is OK to
write a letter about it. But remember, certain words
are just too divisive to use in mixed company, and
it's not only Democrats who live in America. We have
to be considerate of our Republican neighbors. Words
like lies, liberal, and fraud, those are all fighting
words. People fight over words like that and it would
be better if we could be more civil. Less combative
words are readily available.

I chose to acknowledge voting "irregularities", and I
am standing up to say that I wish they would stop.
Please join with me in opposing voting irregularities,
in a limited context anyway. We all understand that a
certain amount of irregularities will always be
inevitable. Much more study is needed to ensure that
American voters are not subjected to an excessive
amount of such irregularities, or, in other words,
more irregularities than they are willing to accept.
The bottom line is all votes should be counted and the
overwhelming majority of those votes should be counted
accurately. And it would greatly help to be confident
that that was truly the case, which we can't be
confident of now. Still, I am confident that I lost
this election. But don't worry, I have your back. "

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tom Rinaldo]

20. Why don't you try spelling out the implications of your comment?

I don't want to be accused of jumping to conclusions.

[robbedvoter]

25. Say what? Are you accusing Tom of being a freeper?

[Tom Rinaldo]

29. Well since it seems you have gone silent

I guess I am left concluding your post was a pretty cowardly drive by. You have a star, go ahead, do an advanced search for some of my my ohter posts. Or is that too much work? It is easier to slur someone than to reason with them. By the way I post under my real name. What nationality is "Generator", and is that your first or last name?

[Generator]

60. Uh no

I was so shocked by that "translation" that was the nicest thing I could say.

I think it's mockery and derision-which are the hallmarks of the Republican types I hate so much.

It looked to me like something that would come from Free Republic thought it was much nicer than they would ever do.

I get real tired of the purity contest that the Left has. Kerry failed. He voted for the Iraq war. He didn't spend the last two months being called names and losing every shred of public crediblity by fighting publicly for whatever may or may not be there in terms of hard proof to fight election fraud. It takes time.

Dean would have won. Clark would have won.

Whatever the fuck. You are never going to be happy unless you can eat your own.

I still have respect for Al Gore. And he didn't stand up either,now did he? I guess it was old school then, and he should have. How could any of us really known the horror that would come with Bush?

I have little to none for Clinton- and I do for Kerry. Most of you are idea what it is to run a presidential campaign. You are very good at kicking those that are down, however.
You don't know John Kerry or what he knows and neither do I.

Some here are jealous that he's a millonaire. Do you think he's in public service for the money? Oh and his wife is a millionaire. And so is Edwards. So he failed another fucking Left purity contest-you much be POOR to be honorable.

I think that mocking letter was horrible.

And Kerry may turn out to be a louse-by doing nothing about it in the future. But your and everyone's immediate pissing all over the one man that can-not tomorrow-but in the future bring light to the travesty that was the election of 2004 pisses me off.

You guys are naive and ridiculous that thinking him standing up tomorrow would help the cause. It would be the worst thing for it-I initally thought he should do it-dammit-if him not who? But this isn't a movie-the hero isn't going to stand up and save Democracy-Bush hauled off in chains.

If Kerry does nothing, goes ho hum, nothing changes, I'm not voting for him or probably any Dem in 2008. But today was not the day and that letter he sent was not worthy of disdain.

[Tom Rinaldo]

72. I can understand an angry response to what I wrote

I was feeling angry when I wrote it. I know others do not all see this the same as I do. I resented the implication that my thinking had Free Republic content or inspiration, but I accept the explanation you give for your comment. I did wait for a while before commenting on your "silence" because again, I do realize that strong feelings are involved for both of us. I wasn't willing to just let your comment stand there unchallenged however, again because of the seeming implications.

I didn't back Kerry in the Primaries but I actively backed him for the General Election. I traveled to Scranton PA and spent Saturday through Election Day volunteering for him and Edwards who I also did not initially back. I said nothing negative in public about either man from as soon as our ticket was established until today. I generally do not believe in eating our own but the stakes are very high right now and Kerry is not running for any office where he needs my active support. My criticism is specific to what I feel is a tendency I feel too many Democrats show to be overly cautious. I allowed myself the luxury of voicing it relatively undiluted. I have no problem with the fact that you are upset with the content of what I wrote and said so. I even agree with some of what you just said, but obviously not all of it.

[Missy Vixen]

97. John Kerry isn't worthy to carry Al Gore's notes to

the lectern before his next electrifying speech.

I saw Al Gore speak in May in Tacoma, WA, to a packed ballroom. He apologized, AGAIN, for "not fighting hard enough" during the 36 days of hell the Republicans put him and his family through in 2000. He did everything he possibly could. He explained that he believed that Bush would act in an "honorable manner," and was horrified to discover that he had made a terrible mistake. He is, and was, man enough to apologize. I think he has learned some bitter lessons from his mistakes. To quote the man, "defeat might serve as well as victory to shape the soul and let the glory out."

>I still have respect for Al Gore. And he didn't stand up either,now did he? I guess it was old school then, and he should have. How could any of us really known the horror that would come with Bush?<

Al Gore fought as long as he possibly could. He responded to what happened by hitting the road and speaking to Democrats everywhere about how desperately important this election was, and that we wouldn't get a do-over.

My quarrel isn't with Al Gore. My quarrel is with a man who would send an e-mail to his supporters so devoid of any willingness or responsibility to honor his promises, then commanding those same supporters to beg for mercy from those who he knows have no intention of listening to any of us.

Julie

[marcologico]

98. You nailed it Generator!

These guys are snakes and if it wasn't Dean it would be Nader or Keyes or who the hell cares. And when Kerry eventually takes office and starts cleaning up Bush's mess these will be the guys crying loudest about Kerry taking away their SUVs (which won't be happening) or some other lame talking point right on cue.

[LittleClarkie]

142. I was proud of that letter

He told us exactly where he stood: what he would, and what he would not be doing. None of it was a big surprise for me. Rather than the secret code that some liked to use, I took his words at face value. And at face value, he said he would work for election reform, not to flip the election. He apparently sees his own path for doing so, one that didn't go through Jan. 6th.

I still find him an honorable man. I expect to see him do some things in the 109th Congress. A fired-up Kerry is generally a wonder to behold. But I'm not blind. If I don't see diddley out of him for the next 2 - 3 years, I might not support him if he decides to run.

But, by the same token, if I do see action from him, I will support it. I get the feeling that for some, it won't matter what he tries to do, he will be merely "running for 2008." That's self-defeating. I would hope that most here would support any positive steps made by our party, whether you like the particular Democrat taking that step or not.

That letter was just another in a long line of Kerry bashing posts. Childish, short-sighted tantrums. Hopefully they will subside soon. They are becoming increasingly tiresome.

Long story short (too late) I'm with you Generator.

[Leilani]

40. That's an outrage!

To accuse Tom Rinaldo, one of the CLASSIEST DUers, of being a Freeper, is just insane.

[marcologico]

46. oh bullshit, he wasn't accusing anybody of that, get over yourselves

message thoughtfully withheld.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Crunchy Frog]

84. If that's the case

then why did his post get deleted?

[robbedvoter]

24. Ha!ha! That was perfect decoding!

[DistressedAmerican]

45. Thanks

Funny

I haven't seen the letter text in full yet. Does anyone have it?

However, I hasten to mention I didn't need CNN to do my thinking for me either I just saw it there first (in reply to a previous message really). Thanks again.

[Tom Rinaldo]

70. No Prob. Link below. Actually I am cool with part of what he said

I strongly feel however that now, before Congress meets tomorrow, was not a good time to say "our legal teams on the ground have found no evidence that would change the outcome of the election." He has a right to say that of course, it probably is literally true, but with more questions raised than answered to date, in my opinion it sends the wrong message to other Senators. If Kerry's people on the ground find no evidence that proves the election in Ohio should be overturned, why should any other Senator balk? Why not just accept those electors from Ohio? Kerry obviously has. If he doesn't now was the time to say so. Everyone present in the Senate tomorrow will cast a clear vote, but Kerry won't be there. I have to assume Kerry would have voted to accept Ohio's electors. I do not assume he expects us to keep guessing where he stands.

Why reject Ohio's electors without categorical proof of fraud? The answer is simple. With so much smoke in the air someone must go looking for a fire. There has been more stonewalling so far than investigation. Kerry's people on the ground do not have answers for all the "irregularities" Conyers has compiled. Their true scope can't be measured without investigating, but already it appears that laws have been broken and constitutional guarantees seem to have been undermined. That is enough grounds for Congress to invoke their right to investigate the legality of those electors.

Here is a link to Kerry's letter but I bet you have seen it by now.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1470879

[Rockerdem]

95. Youre right -- this is Kerry's last second message to other Senators

"Cut your balls off in public, dude, but dont expect any backup from me."

Unless there was a private deal made the promised him something significant for the liberal cause, this is the last straw. Jeez, the least he could have done is given his supporters a 4 or 5 day advance notice. This last second stuff was SOOOOOO contrived.

Black paperclips tomorrow.

[hansolsen]

61. LOL -- I'm falling over, dropped the mouse and spilled the coffee. N/T

[CTLawGuy]

78. and

remember "I voted for the irregularities before I voted against them" :eyes:

[incapsulated]

79. Tom...

It's brilliant. :thumbsup:

:)

[zann725]

100. Good translation!

Unfortunately, my interpretation on his email as well.

I can't believe I've hung on so long, and believed so much in someone so disappointing. I believe he wrote that email to: 1) give us something to do so that we wouldn't feel so hopeless when NO Senator (at his request) stands up tomorrow; and 2) let us know that some investigation at SOME point in the future is recommended.

Unfortunately most of us will be grievously harmed by 4 more years in this Fascist regime, both economically and personally. To be placated with the prospect of ONLY an "investigation" at some point in the future by the same people who brought us: the "911 Report," the "Warren Commission Report," etc. is devastating indeed.

[DistressedAmerican]

108. Having now read it myself

and knowing what he has NOT done for the cause, that's about how I read it as well.

[robbedvoter]

21. I wish Kerry read these new rules:

Home » blogs » Oliver Willis's blog
Rules 2005

Submitted by Oliver Willis on Sun, 01/02/2005 - 10:58pm.
1. Quit only trying to "expose" the right's machine. Its good for those of us who are activists to understand how all of this works, but as a practical matter the best defense is a vicious offense. Exposing the noise machine is good, replicating it is better.

2. The simpler, the better.

3. The media is not your friend. They are not interested in complexity or actual journalism. They must be bullied, cajoled, and wooed into reporting what we want them to.

4. Bipartisanship is dead. Any and all attempts at bipartisanship will result in failure. There are two enemy camps at war and any sign of weakness invites defeats. They hate us, we hate them. The good old days are over.

5. There are no "conservatives". A conservative is someone you'd invite over for dinner. They are right-wing Republicans.

6. The Republicans are the party of Washington. They are the insiders. They are the party of the government. Democrats are outsiders and not the establishment.

7. Accomodation is not a strategy. Try to work with them or please them, and they will demand another pound of flesh. The only answer can be to meet their agenda with furious, unyielding oppositon.

8. If you aren't willing to fight, you should get out of the game.
http://www.oliverwillis.com/node/view/1563

[Bouncy Ball]

52. I just discovered Oliver Willis and I LOVE him!!!

Like Kryptonite to stupid!

[ElectroPrincess]

22. I only regret giving so much money to his Presidential Campaign

I don't care if he's the nominee in 2008, I will NOT ever vote for this chickensh*t again.

Kerry has conveniently FORGOT the courage he showed as a young naval officer opposing ANOTHER immoral war (Vietnam).

Kerry is part of the DNC machine now. He's lost forever to the *Corporations RULE* mantra.

[mattclearing]

23. Lame. Kerry has his reasons. I think he fought a good campaign.

He isn't willing to contest the election. The evidence uncovered so far isn't enough for him.

It doesn't mean he is a traitor or a Skull and Bones infiltrator, or a wimp.

This is a guy who picks his battles. Try to look at it from his point of view and work for the long haul.

[robbedvoter]

28. Picks his battles? ya know one more important than democracy itself?

Without a right to vote, we are nothing but cannon flesh to them.
THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS ONE. NOTHING

I am so amazed, that people in this country can hold these 2 thoughts in their mind: USA id the best country in the world, best democracy, nothing like a dictatorship can happen here"
and
"A fraudulent election is not the end of the world. Next time, we'll work even harder, and hopefully, the third time in a row, Lucy won't kick our football"

[Lorien]

71. Exactly. Speak now, pink tutus, or forever lose

your right to speak at all!

I'm sick to death of this DLC "if-we-play-nice-and-roll-over-and-lick-Bush's*-boots-we'll-be-accepted-and-loved-and-we'll-have-a-better-chance-next-time-because-we'll-act-just-like-the-"winners"-do" crap.

When you "play nice", you look weak. When you adopt the opposition's viewpoints, you're saying that THEY have the good ideas, and that yours are to be moved away from, plus you alienate your base. If there are any Dem leaders left out there; buy a clue; the DLC IS the opposition! Fight now, or die an ignominious death along with the rest of our democracy.

[sendero]

31. Trust me on this...

... as of the time he sent out that sorry memo there is no long haul for John Kerry, at least not with regard to the presidency.

I've given him the benefit of the doubt for the last time - now I know what kind of man he is and you can have him.

The Dem congress is full of these "go along to get along" types and we don't need them any more.

[0007]

26. Fuck a duck!

[Stepup2]

32. Be nice I'm new, but is this

thing done if he does not get involved?

I intend to keep calling and e-mailing regardless. I figure people standing up in numbers had some impact in the Ukraine...

[FrenchieCat]

34. in reference to the Ukraine....

I believe that their leader was standing on the stage during the protestations. He wasn't sitting down when he needed to be standing....and he certainly was running around in some other countries doing photo ops shadow government type of activities.

It takes a leader to lead....a missing ingredient in our US election foul.

[Stepup2]

36. Thanks...point taken

:mad:

[robbedvoter]

39. Same thing in Romania. leader, protest fraud, re-vote, victory.

[LisaL]

64. He told them to go out and protest.

[robbedvoter]

38. Our voting right is a bigger issue than Kerry. His concession doesn't

extend to my right to vote or to be represented - it's not his to give up.
We all know the GOP owns every avenue to justice - but if they don't speak up, they are accomplices in the murder of democracy.

[DistressedAmerican]

47. it is done if NO senator stands up tomorrow

to take a stand and I really do not see that happening. Far, Long shot would by Robert Byrd. But I do not think it likely.

[Jose Diablo]

41. Next step will be declaring the Dem party as the moderate republicans n/t

Thanks DLC.

[Geek_Girl]

51. Kerry is a Pragmatist

He has always played it safe. I'm not surprised by this, I expected it. Does it make him rotten to the core? No, just a politician that doesn't like to take chances.

Does it make him a good leader? I don't think so. I won't be supporting him in '08. We need a strong leader in the democratic party that can stand up to the GOP machine and fight tooth and nail.

[DistressedAmerican]

59. What it makes him was the WRONG nominee (n/t)

[Geek_Girl]

62. Your Probably right

I really liked him. He was highly intelligent but too practical. I wish he had run a bolder campaign he would have won by landslide. But his time is done and the democratic party needs to find a strong candidate in '08.

[IndianaGreen]

86. At least Neville Chamberlain had the decency to resign his office

When is Kerry the Bush appeaser going to resign?

Fellow DUers, put Fahrenheit 911 in your DVDs and watch the sad spectacle of the Black Caucus challenging the Florida electors in 2001 while not a single Democratic Senator joined them in their challenge. Deja Vu in 2004!

[Adelante]

120. Fahrenheit 911

I watched it again recently for that very scene :gag:

[Eloriel]

133. Nooo, that's not pragmatism

Kerry isn't a pragmatist (Howard Dean is). Kerry is a self-serving opportunist. Someone upthread called him timid and that's not quite it either. He's TIMID because he's so self-serving.

[Bouncy Ball]

53. I haven't been happy with any of this

but I have the hardest time turning around and hating the person I JUST voted for.

For the record, I don't have any beef with either side here, the whole thing just makes me sad.

:shrug:

[zulchzulu]

54. Link? What did he say EXACTLY?

I'm curious. I have a site supporting him and may consider taking it down if he doesn't say something I would agree with...

[Leilani]

58. It was the email he sent to his supporters today.

You must have gotten one.

Mine has been deleted, but it's been posted all over DU.

[BeachBuckeye]

73. Here is Kerry's cop-out email

Dear Friend,

No American citizen should wake up the morning after the election and worry their vote wasn't counted. No citizen should be denied at the polls if they are eligible to vote. And, as the greatest, wealthiest nation on earth, our citizens should never be forced to vote on old, unaccountable and non transparent voting machines from companies controlled by partisan activists.

Tomorrow, members of Congress will meet to certify the results of the 2004 presidential election. I will not be taking part in a formal protest of the Ohio Electors.

Despite widespread reports of irregularities, questionable practices by some election officials and instances of lawful voters being denied the right to vote, our legal teams on the ground have found no evidence that would change the outcome of the election.

But, that does not mean we should abandon our commitment to addressing those problems that happened in Ohio. We must act today to make sure they never happen again.

I urge you to join me in using this occasion to highlight our demand that Congress commit itself this year to reforming the electoral system. A Presidential election is a national federal election but we have different standards in different states for casting and counting votes. We need a national federal standard to solve the problems that occurred in the 2004 election. I will propose legislation to help achieve this.

Florida 2000 was a wake up call. But the Republicans who control Congress ignored it. Will they now ignore what happened in 2004?

There are nearly 3,000,000 of you receiving this email. We accomplished so much together during the campaign. Now let's use our power to make sure that at least one good thing comes from the voting rights problems of the 2004 election. If we want to force real action on election reform, we've got to demand that congressional leaders hold full hearings. Make sure they hear from you and help hold them accountable.

Speaker Dennis Hastert: 1-202-225-0600
Leader Bill Frist: 1-202-224-3135

And please report that you've made your call right here:
http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/electoral_reform.php

I want every vote counted because Americans have to know that the votes they stood in line for, fought for, and strived so hard to cast in an election, are counted. We must make sure there are no questions or doubts in future elections. It's critical to our democracy that we investigate and act to prevent voting irregularities and voter intimidation across the country. We can't stand still as Congressional leaders seek to sweep well-founded voter concerns under the rug.

Please join with me in calling Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist and telling them that you want action on election reform now.

A recent report from Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan) reveals very troubling questions that have not yet been answered by Ohio election officials. I commend the Democratic National Committee for its announcement this week that the DNC will be investing resources and reaching out to non-partisan academics in a long term study of Ohio voting irregularities. I am only sorry that we haven't seen the same from Ohio Secretary of State Blackwell and GOP officials.

Congress must play a positive, proactive role on this issue. That's why I will soon introduce legislation to reform our election system, ensuring transparency and accountability in our voting system and that all Americans have an opportunity to vote and have their vote counted.

Please remember to let us know that you made your call when you're done. We're hoping to ensure House and Senate leaders' offices hear our demand for action on election reform in meaningful way. Please take a moment to let us know you have made your call here: http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/electoral_reform.php

Thank you,

John Kerry

[DistressedAmerican]

81. Thanks

I put a block on all the crap I was receiving for my efforts so I no longer get the e-mail barrage.

[zulchzulu]

83. Thanks L

I found that out after snooping around a bit. I guess I need to check my 300 messages of spam...

:eyes:

On seeing the letter, I don't blame him in a way...but I am pretty peeved about this whole thing...

[tgnyc]

56. What a little biyatch he is.

He's asking us to do his job for him. And to think his punk ass was almost president. What a joke.

[Geek_Girl]

65. Even with his faults

He is better than Bush by a long shot. Off course that's not saying much since Bush is the worst president ever.

[roguevalley]

68. go to his site. its probably there. I got it in my email box and I

immediately unsubbed after reading it, I'm so sick of wimps.

[lucca]

66. Disappointed in Kerry..

This is not about you, John Kerry.
It is not about, "It would not make a difference in the outcome of the election."
It is much more than that.

This is about the future of our country, our democracy, and honest elections.

Who has our "back"?
What is everyone afraid of?

To the Senators, that will stand up tomorrow, and fight for truth and honesty.....Thank you..Thank you...Thank you!

[Generator]

69. I hope you and everyone here is just as disapointed in Al Gore

Because not only did he not contest, he asked that the no one contest it. (oh I know He fought the good fight until he was fucked by the supreme court but still...he actually had more power than Kerry by presiding over the senate)

Kerry has not done that.

[Leilani]

74. I thought Al Gore put up a valiant struggle.

First, he had no warning that they would rig the election.

Second, the Republicans descended on Florida, headed by James Baker & Co. to skew things.

Gore had very little support from the Dems.

Gore was working in a state that was controlled by Jeb Bush.

Lieberman, his own Veep, didn't give much support.

Gore went into court, & there were recounts of votes.

Essentially, he went all the way to the Supreme Court...it couldn't go any further...they had the final word.

I think the 2 scenarios are totally different.

Edited to add: Al Gore's campaign was pretty run-of-the-mill. Kerry however, because of anger over 2000, had the wide support of the Dem Party, & ESPECIALLY grass roots. Look at the work done & money raised.
I think that's why people are angry or disappointed.

[CTLawGuy]

80. however

Gore was NOT a senator at the time and could not sponsor a challenge to the election. The President of the Senate does not have a vote unless there is a tie.

[CTLawGuy]

75. When Kerry voted for IWR

I knew what kind of person he was; someone who wasn't willing to stand up for what is right. He was more concerned about his political career and being "electable" than such "trivial things" as the lives of our soldiers, the lives of Iraqis, our budget, our credibility in the world. Instead of fulfilling his responsiblity to be a CHECK and BALANCE on the president, he deferred to him, and that got us into this mess...

in light of that knowledge, Kerry's actions do not surprise me.

Truthfully, it is not likely that kerry actually won, but what happened in Ohio and everywhere needs to be discussed and dealt with. This challenge is a great way to do that, even if the likely outcome is that Bush won Ohio. It's also a great way to atone in a small way for not challenging the vote in 2000.

[Cookie wookie]

88. It just occurred to me

Kerry's letter came out yesterday. A way to diffuse reaction from Dem voting activists when the Dems in Congress let us down? And/or a way to gather a poll (this email is going to 3,000,000....), take our temperature, so to speak, to make sure they have support for not supporting Conyers? He repeats the instructions twice to call.

"Please remember to let us know that you made your call when you're done. We're hoping to ensure House and Senate leaders' offices hear our demand for action on election reform in meaningful way. Please take a moment to let us know you have made your call here: http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/electoral_reform.php"

Are they collecting numbers so they can go to the Dems who might be considering breaking with the leadership and say, "We got this many positive responses to my not standing up in Congress..."?

Just a thought.

[DistressedAmerican]

89. I wish I thought you were right

I think he is just trying to have it both ways again. Not support the effort while trying to head off criticism for not supporting it. As I see it, he is just one more ass covering weasel.

[Citizen Kang]

93. Everybody lay off John Kerry...

he's the most electable. He wants the job more.

oh, I am 12 months too late.

[ecstatic]

102. No surprise here

I saw him for what he truly was on Nov 3. I know many of us held up hope about him standing up for us in due time. Who knows? Maybe he'll end up winning despite his lack of interest.

[DistressedAmerican]

105. Reporting For Duty My Ass!

D-Day is here and our general has gone AWOL! Looks more like Bush with each passing day. Report for duty NOW or forever make my 4-star weasel list!

[Q]

110. That he 'won't participate' is a very poor choice of words...

...and I really don't understand what he was thinking when he wrote that. It's like he's telling his supporters that HE is too busy to be bothered with free and fair elections...but that THEY should go ahead and fight for what he is too busy to fight for.

Not a great display of leadership skills.

[Geek_Girl]

121. I don't think he's thinking

I think some political hack or hacks are giving him stupid advice.

[c o f f e e]

112. Kerry Parody Letter - paraphrased from his pathetic email

B i g J o h n

Dear Stupid F *** American,

No American citizen should wake up the morning after the election and worry that they got some terrible disease from a candidate screwing them up the keester. No citizen should be denied at the polls, unless it is 2004 and the elite in the country have already picked bush. And, as the greatest, wealthiest and most corrupt nation on earth, our citizens should never be forced to vote for old, unaccountable and non transparent liars like myself, since I am controlled by partisan activists.

Tomorrow, members of the goose stepping new-speakers, we call Congress, will meet to certify the results of the fraudulent 2004 presidential election. I will not be taking part in a formal protest of the Ohio Electors because I am a pathetic liar with no moral center or sense for what is right or wrong.

Despite irregularities, questionable practices by some election officials and instances of lawful voters being denied the right to vote, our legal teams on the ground have been hard at work shuffling papers and trying their damdist to look busy while actually doing nothing. My political stooges do not want to change the outcome of the election. God must have ordained that Satan...errrr...Mr. bush become the next president, so I am satisfied if God is satisfied.

But, that does not mean we should abandon our commitment to me and my family. I still need your support to give my pathetic life meaning. We can work hand in hand to addres s those problems that happened in Ohio (wink-nod). We must act today to make sure they never happen again (wink-nod).

I urge you to join me in using this occasion to highlight our demand that Congress commit itself this year(or maybe next year, or the year after that at the latest) to reforming the electoral system. Just recently I was informed by a eighth-grade civics teacher that a Presidential election is a national federal election but we have different standards in different states for casting and counting votes. We need a national federal standard to solve the problems that occurred in the 2004 election. I will propose legislation to help achieve this by eliminating all names on the ballots except for the names of republican candidates. In the future we can all vote for the same candidate and feel confident our votes counted. Do you see the logic in this simple plan?

Florida 2000 was a wake up call but nobody did anything we just rolled over and went back to sleep . Will we now ignore what happened in 2004? Probably...why not?

There are nearly 3,000,000 of you receiving this email and 25 of you may actually read it. We accomplished so much together during the campaign and I know that this letter sounds like it was written by a political operative but my handlers told me that writing an email was the least I could do after I bailed out and let so many people hanging in the breeze. So I did my duty- ok almost finished. Here are some numbers to call if you want to scream at some minimum wage operators.

Speaker Dennis Hastert: 1-202-225-0600 or 1-800-SUU-EEEE
Leader Bill Frist: 1-202-224-3135 or 1-800-FUK-YUUU

I want every vote counted because Americans have to know that the votes they stood in line for, fought for, and strived so hard to cast in an election, are counted. As our old friend Joe Stalin once said, "it doesn't matter who you vote for it matters who counts the votes!". Old joe was right on! We must make sure there are no questions or doubts in future elections so voting for a single candidate should take care of any arguments. Please join with me in calling Speaker "oink-oink" Hastert and Leader Frist and telling them that you want action on election reform now, or maybe tomorrow or next week at the latest.

A recent report from Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan) reveals very troubling questions that have not yet been answered by Ohio election officials. Although I will do absolutely nothing I commend anyone who runs into that brick wall.

Congress must look like they are doing something, anything. That's why I will soon introduce meaningless legislation to reform our election system.

Please remember to let us know that you made your call when you're done. We're hoping to ensure House and Senate swine hear your demands for action on election reform in a meaningful way. Please take a moment and write us another check so we can continue to work for you.

Thank you,

Big John , he sure aint no JFK!

P.S. Thanks to all those who participated in the 2004 elections. Better luck next time.

[DistressedAmerican]

117. Again Funny!

I read this out loud to my wife and we were both cracking up. Just say NO to gutless weasels with their own interests placed over those of the nation!

[msanthrope]

122. Fuck You John Kerry!!!!! I cried and fought for you, and you

punked out. Fuck you, you gutless prick.

[IronLionZion]

123. Kerry and Edwards can't participate

because they were running in the election. They'll look like assholes if they contest THEIR OWN election. It's better for other Dems to do it. Kerry is doing something usefull - visiting troops in Iraq.

[TheDonkey]

124. Smart move on Kerry's part.

It's not like the election will be rewritten now due to this squabble in DC. What needs to happen is real reforms for the future that Kerry is for.

If he were to be on TV now screaming about electoral reform the haters would just brush it off as Sore-loser politics. It's time that all of our leaders called for electoral reforms.

[DistressedAmerican]

126. I am Amazed. More than one!

Go liberal Senators!

[Filius Nullius]

129. RE-POST: ELECTOPRESTIDIGITATION

ELECTOPRESTIDIGITATION—

NOT AS LONG OR CATCHY AS SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS, BUT PERHAPS MORE APT

Congratulations to John Conyers and Barbara Boxer! They and colleagues like Jesse Jackson are true patriots, but they appear to be voices crying in the wilderness. With the possible exception of MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, the mainstream media and the rest of the country have been ignoring them. I wish them all the luck in the world, but I fear their valiant fight will soon be over.

When the Senate concludes its debate, somnolent Democrats will slumber peacefully until the media rouses them for the next sleepwalk to the polls. It is as though we are a party of “sleepers,” like Franco in the Manchurian Candidate, who are activated just in time to participate in a coup d'état that takes place at the conclusion of every presidential and mid-term election.

I understand the sentiment that is drilled into most U.S. politicians (and especially Democratic politicos) that the process is more important than the outcome and that the democratic electoral system must be preserved at all costs. That makes sense when minor irregularities that do not amount to fraud are involved.

However, in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, irregularities were not all that happened. Fraud occurred, and it was not the isolated work of single individuals. A concerted effort was made to overturn the will of the electorate in key voting precincts and counties in swing states through the manipulation of voting machines and central tabulator programs, like Diebold’s GEMS database.

The Democratic leadership appears, for the most part, to be incapable of comprehending what has happened. For some inexplicable reason, they seem unable or unwilling to understand how easily fraud can be perpetrated with the insecure voting machinery and software put in place by election officials and voting-machine vendors that are blatant supporters of the GOP.

Since the Democratic Party and national media are once again failing to confront the problem, it will inevitably be worse when the next electoral cycle rolls around. Republicans are getting close to the 60 percent majority in the Senate that will permit them to shove repressive legislation down the country’s throat without any possibility of a minority filibuster.

I was willing to suspend judgment in 2000. I looked away again during the 2002 mid-term elections in the hope that the so-called “Help America Vote Act” would correct most of the problems. However, despite those changes (and some would say largely because of them), another election has now been stolen before our very eyes. It is a feat of legerdemain more amazing than anything Houdini or Copperfield ever dreamed of accomplishing.

In fact, the GOP’s achievement is so astounding that Democrats are obviously at a loss for words. We need a new phrase to describe it. I propose “electoprestidigitation,” a term that I just this minute coined from the words “electoral” and “prestidigitation.” The latter word, which comes from the French “prestidigitateur,” meaning one who conjures illusions with his fingers (digits), takes on a whole new meaning in this age of deception by digital computer.

To put it mildly, I am profoundly disappointed with the DNC and Kerry/Edwards campaign. Frankly, I have no more trust in them than I do in CNN (“The Most Trusted Name in News,” ha!) and the other mainstream media.

The name I have chosen to use on this discussion board reflects the sense of abandonment by the Democratic Party that I feel. I am 52 and have voted for Democratic candidates in every presidential election since I was old enough to vote, but lately it has become an exercise in futility that I can see little point in repeating. They say it is a mark of insanity when one continues to engage in an activity that has failed repeatedly. As the saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Fool me three times and counting…. Well, you get the picture.

[Vadem]

130. What a great post! Welcome to DU, Fillius Nullius......I am just

where you are in this whole election mess. You've stated it so much more brilliantly than I ever could have. This article by Sam Parry (Robert Parry's son) of Consortium News is a must read; he also says it exactly as I am feeling about John Kerry and the majority of the Dems, excluding, of course, Barbara Boxer, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, John Conyers, the CBC and the other House Dems who stood up for democracy today:


http://www.consortiumnews.com/2004/010605.html

Editorials

Kerry's Last Flip-Flop

By Sam Parry
January 6, 2005

John Kerry may have written his own political obituary with a pathetic letter to his supporters saying that he won’t back a protest by African-American House members against voting fraud in Ohio. Instead, he urges his supporters to call Republican leaders and demand that they reform the electoral system.

The letter reads like it was written by the caricature of John Kerry that George W. Bush portrayed during the campaign: the indecisive, flip-flopping politician who wants to be on every side of an issue.

“I will not be taking part in a formal protest of the Ohio Electors,” Kerry wrote in an e-mail to 3 million supporters on Jan. 5. “Despite widespread reports of irregularities, questionable practices by some election officials and instances of lawful voters being denied the right to vote, our legal teams on the ground have found no evidence that would change the outcome of the election.”

snip

To many Democrats, John Kerry’s have-it-both-ways letter ends whatever hope he may still harbor to be a national political leader.

More....


Excellent article!

[IndianaGreen]

131. Welcome to the insurgency, Filius Nullius!

That's an excellent post in which you pretty much described the road that many of us have already traveled.

Welcome to the insurgency!

[DistressedAmerican]

134. Yeah, Welcome

Good early post. This is a good spot to work through some of those issues. Lord knows I do. Keep it up.

By the way nobody ever welcomed me. So, I am hereby welcoming myself retroactively. Welcome Distressed...

[Vadem]

138. Welcome DistressedAmerican!....Sorry you weren't welcomed...

earlier....We fell down on the job, apparently. Anyway, welcome! You may become as addicted to DU as the rest of us!

[tsuki]

137. After listening to Rep Heywad quote his good friend Kerry and Kerry's

attorneys, I am thoroughly disgusted.

NO to Kerry in '08. Kerry only fights if he can win. He sells out all other Democrats on the voting issue.

[DistressedAmerican]

139. It is a very bad sign when JD is quoting OUR guy!

Gives me the creeps. Where's our Yushchenko? His opposition sure as hell wasn't using HIS quotes to make their case!