MI/WA/TN/ VA Dems...what kind of statement is a vote for John Kerry?

[farmbo]

My 1000th post...(Applause)...Thank you, thank you...you flatter me!

Granted, Kerry is a front runner in full stride...he's far ahead in the polls... he's a war hero... he'll probably drub Dean, Clark and Edwards...he polls well against Bush*...and blah, blah blah...

But what kind of statement do YOU, as a Democrat, make by voting for John Kerry in this week's caucuses and primaries?

First, it is an all-but-foregone conclusion that Kerry will win your states and become the nominee. So voting for Kerry is like voting for Microsoft or the New York Yankees...a juggernaut which dominates the field or a Black Hole from which nothing escapes. You can pat yourself on the back and call yourself a "winner" but not much else.

Second, John Kerry is a good man and will make a serviceable standard bearer, but he did NOT inject the passion into this campaign which brought us record turnouts and fundamentally changed the nature of campaign fund raising. Dean's combativeness and internet savvy, Clark's audacious attacks on Bush*, and Edward's spirited, populist rhetoric, defined this historic campaign. Sadly for those campaigns, John Kerry simply co-opted those messages, and appears to have the money and organization to be the last man standing. His contributions were from the traditional inside the beltway sources, yes...including "special interests"... and his policies were an agreeable muddle of something- for- everyone. In other words, he played it safe, took no risks, and now appears poised to reap the highest rewards.

Which behaviors should we, as Democrats, reward? Innovation, outspokenness, candor, political courage? Or blow dried, focus- grouped, $2000/plate, business as usual.

Kerry will probably take your states without your votes, but for any meaningful change to occur within the Democratic party, Dean, Clark and Edwards have to remain relevant and be given a voice at the Democratic convention. In Washington and Michigan, Dean is Kerry's chief competitor. In Tennessee, its General Clark. In Virginia, its Edwards. Send Terry McAulliff and the DNC a message that its no longer business as usual.

With apologies to Dr Dean... the power is in YOUR hands.

[Meldread]

1. I live in VA...

... and I am looking forward to voting for Dean. Though Edwards or Clark would be a close second.

[creativelcro]

2. A vote for Kerry is essentially a vote for 4 more years of Bush...

Because he's gonna lose big (oh, but the national polls in January said... Ok, let's laugh about them next Jan)...

[Johnyawl]

5. And you think Dean won't?

Dean can't even beat Kerry and Mcauliffe. Bush & Rove will roll over him without breaking a sweat. The defining image of the '88 campaign is Dukakis in that tank. If Dean is the candidate, the defining image from '04 will be the Dean look alike actor skiing down the Aspen slope yelling "yeeaaarrrrggg!"

This Washington resident will be caucasing for Kerry.

[John_H]

3. I live n VA: The honest answer is it depends

If Virginians have actually looked at all the issues and decided that Kerry cam beat chimp, they're dead wrong, but they've made an informed, thoughtful decision and will have to live with it.

If people vote for Kerry, as a few I've spoken with say they will, "because he's the guy I've heard of" or "Because he's winning" they're foolish sheep.

[smiley_glad_hands]

4. Clark all the way pal---

Need to go to campaign hq to volounteer so they will stop calling me. My wife will probably vote for Kerry---but she is going to come with me to volounteer for Clark.

[blm]

6. Vote Kerry because he is a LIBERAL whose record matches his rhetoric.

Why vote for a career centrist and corporatist who coopted the rhetoric of anarchists and internet message boards?

Real deals pull through. Faux populists will fall by the wayside.

[bigtree]

9. Vote Kerry to put the environment on the front burner in this election

John Kerry has a lifetime of service and committment to the country. He is the real deal for those who have worked along side of him to save and preserve our forests, to keep our air and water pollution free, and to protect and preserve our fish and our wildlife.


Robert F. Kennedy Endorses John Kerry for President-
September 17, 2003

Calling John Kerry’s environmental agenda “bold and visionary,” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed John Kerry for President:

“I am proud to endorse one of America’s great environmental leaders, John Kerry for President of the United States,” said Robert F Kennedy, Jr. “And I hope that every American who cares about the environment will unite behind John Kerry. He is the candidate with the best environmental record. He is the candidate with the best ability to beat George Bush. And he will be a President who will give us the environmental leadership we so clearly need.”

http://johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2003_0917a.html

[tnlefty]

7. We're planning to split 2 Dean votes to 1 Dean and 1 Clark in the TN

primary - spouse will vote one and I'll vote the other.

[Punkingal]

8. Well, I have 2 brothers in Tennessee,

and I talked to one of them yesterday. They have already voted absentee, and much to my surprise, they voted for Kerry. I thought they would have been for Clark or Edwards. He told me they thought Kerry was the one who could beat Bush...that was a big reason for their vote. They don't like that Clark voted for Nixon and Reagan, and they like Edwards, but don't think he has enough experience. He also said they liked the fact that Kerry's voting record is very similar to Ted Kennedy's, so they have done some homework before making up their minds.

I think it is unfair to imply that people who vote for Kerry are somehow wrong, and thoughtless. Yeah, I was surprised, but they had thought about why they were voting for him, and I respect them for that.

[cindyw]

10. Now why have I heard this argument before? hmmm. I know, Nader.

I remember the your vote isn't necessary before. It is bunk. Every vote counts.

If Kerry is your choice, VOTE KERRY.

Don't fall for voodoo mind tricks for other voting plans. Remember Nader.

[farmbo]

11. Err..sorry. A vote for Dean, Clark or Edwards is NOT a vote for Bush.

That would be in the GENERAL election.

But, while we're on the topic of Nader, if Kerry steamrolls over Dean Clark, Edwards and Kucinich and keeps their issues off the Democratic agenda in Boston, Nader will run, throwing the election into chaos once again.

No brag, just fact.

[cindyw]

18. I did not say that. Where are you getting that?

And we will run right over Nader. He will not help elect Bush again.

I am not about to let the man who brought us Bush, do it again.

As for my argument, I am talking about the primary. You are making the same vote as nader did to Dems in 2000. He said, vote for me to send a statement. Gore will win anyway in your state, so vote for me. Well I'm just not dumb enough not to have noticed that a loss or a poor showing in the states you mentioned might be the only way to stop Kerry.

""Err..sorry. A vote for Dean, Clark or Edwards is NOT a vote for Bush."

I did not say this. I like how you put it in the subject line, so that people would think I said that. Cute. More correctly it would be a vote for anyone else is a vote against Kerry. We all should vote for the person we support. That simple.

[farmbo]

19. I thought you were equating a Dean vote to a Nader vote...

No harm intended.

As you say we should all vote for the person whose policies we support...NOT for the person who we think will fare better against Bush.

I'm convinced that the Democratic nominee will defeat Bush whoever he/she is.

[underpants]

12. In Va. it will show that he can win in the south and make it easier

in the GE.

I still haven't decided between Kerry or Edwards for my votein 5 days.

[woofless]

13. WA voter here,

And I have wanted John Kerry as the nominee since before he declared his candidacy in SC. So, there is no bandwagon jumping or voting just because he is the front runner. I simply believe that he is the strongest candidate we can put forward to end this despicable regime and that he will do nothing to either harm or embarrass us.

Woof

[farmbo]

14. OK...you have our permission to vote for Kerry

:)

[Mile Hi]

15. A vote for Kerry

Is just saying I don't care what a lousy job the Democrats have domne the last few years. It's just business as usual.

A vote for Dean was a vote to give the power back to the people.

[blm]

17. A vote for Dean was a vote for a corporatist masquerading as a populist.

Campaign year conversion positions and spouting internet message board rhetoric should have clued folks in.

[mitchum]

20. Whoop, there it is!

Kerry 2004

[TheDonkey]

16. A vote for enviroment, a vote for science, a vote for foreign policy exp,

a vote for a leader, a vote for a liberal, a vote for a great tax plan, a vote for doable healthcare reform....

[maxr4clark]

21. I'm not voting for Kerry, so it isn't a statement.

Kerry is polling well against Bush because he is the front-runner. A different front-runner would also poll well against Bush.

Who was polling well against Bush before Iowa? Clark and Dean were. The Iraq war is going to be center stage, and we should have a nominee that opposed Bush's stance on it from the beginning.