How do you expect me to vote for you Mr. Kerry?

[BlondieK143]

It's one thing that you aren't even coming to my area (and I think making only one appearance in TN), but for you to send your wife POSSIBLY? Can you answer why in the world I'm supposed to give a crap about you or your campaign?? A slap in the face is what it is. Don't insult my intelligence by sending your wife to do your work for you. And definitely don't say that you don't need the South. My vote is VERY important Mr. Kerry and perhaps you should think about visiting instead of bypassing us altogether. Last time I checked, Tennessee DOES matter.

[isbister]

1. I'm sure the Senator

would like to meet with every voter individually but time just doesn't allow it.

[BlondieK143]

6. I'm not asking for that.

It would be wonderful, but I know he's not a miracle worker. But seriously, Tennessee should be a big deal to him and he won't even visit us? It's like he's written off the state completely as not mattering.

[isbister]

10. Schedule - looks like he is coming to Tennessee

Upcoming Events
Saturday, February 7, 2004 – Tennessee and Virginia

8:30 am CST Nashville, TN
John Kerry will host a Rally For Americas Future With Davidson County Democrats at the Maddox Grand Atrium at Belmont University on 202 Belmont Blvd in Nashville, TN. Please contact the Tennessee HQ at 615-312-7275 If you are interested in attending.

5:00 pm EST Richmond, VA
John Kerry will host a Rally for America’s Future with Richmond Democrats at the The Grand Ballroom / Salon F at the Marriott Richmond on 500 East Broad Street in Richmond, VA. Please contact the Virginia HQ at 804-358-3288 and join us!

Sunday, February 8, 2004 - Virginia
3:00 pm EST Chesapeake, VA
John Kerry will host a Rally for America’s Future at Oscar E. Smith High School on 1994 Tiger Driver in Chesapeake, VA. Please contact the Virginia HQ at 804-358-3288 if you are interested in attending.

Monday, February 9, 2004 – Virginia and Tennessee
John Kerry will host events in Roanoke, VA and Memphis, TN – stay tuned for details!

http://www.johnkerry.com/events/

[BlondieK143]

12. When was this added?

Because as of last night, there was only one possibility.

[isbister]

13. It doesn't have a date/time

stating when it was added. I assume Monday's wasn't there??? Maybe they're still working out the details... he might just stay in Memphis Monday night/Tuesday... I would guess.

[BlondieK143]

15. Thanks for the info.

And I do apoligize then. I really think that would be a positive thing and I really hope that by some chance he'll make a stop closer in East TN.

[H2O Man]

2. Remember:

When he was a young senator, Kerry (after being told by an "outsider") was THE ONE who fought tooth-and-nail to uncover the Iran-Contra scandal. If you are aware of the true significance of what THAT meant to this country, you might not be quite as aggressive as you come across here, my friend. We are not in a position in our nation's history when we can AFFORD to be offended by realitively MINOR things, such as those you mention. Please, look at the larger picture, and do not allow yourself to become part of unhealthy divisions in our party. If there are positive reasons to vote for another candidate (I prefer both Clark & Edwards), then by all means, do so! But we CAN NOT AFFORD TO FOCUS UPON NEGATIVE ENERGY!!!

[BlondieK143]

4. Excuse me??

You're right, I may come off as aggressive, but in the times that we're in now, I have a right to be. I've been lied to by the president, known people my age that have been fighting for a country that is lost itself, and this is MY future. I have every right to be aggressive. Excuse me for thinking that this is "minor", but my vote matters as well as it should matter to Kerry that he gets it.

[Carolina]

33. you hit the nail partially on the head

because it is exactly Mr. Kerry's fight to uncover Iran-Contra and thereby his awareness of who the players in that scandal were that should have made him leery of a pre-emptive war against Iraq. It's the same cabal.

I knew it. Millions of others knew it, his MA constituents surely knew it. But nooooooooo, he did what he thought was politically expedient not morally right. He has blood on his hands and he mortgaged our future on this gamble. I cannot get past this and at least at this point in the race, I adamantly refuse to swallow the placebo pill of Kerry's been a fighter and Kerry's electable.

Kerry is the media's choice because the media, if past is prologue (and it usually is), favors Bush.

[bowens43]

3. Sour grapes?

Why should someone from say, Iowa , vote for Clark? A slap in the face, that's what it was when Clark considered himself too important to waste his time in the Iowa debates. Why should anyone give a crap about Clark's campaign when he does something like that?

[BlondieK143]

5. No real answer.

Guess the answer's hiding in the same place where Kerry decided he didn't need the South.

[H2O Man]

7. If we extend the line of thinking

that you are substituting for logic, why should I vote for any candidate that doesn't come to my county? My home town? My house?
I guess that represents a short-cut to reasoning about what is best for the country. If indeed you know any people who are fighting for what's best for the country, as you mentioned, then if you look really close, you might be stunned to find a lack of the "self-focus" that they display! In fact, if you take a good look at history - and to keep this simple, let's just say US history - those who fight the good fight, and do it well, are always and only the people who rise above a narrow sense of self-interest. Remember, I am not your enemy, I am just an old man who has fought in the trenches for many, many years ... and have seen the true enemy (re:bush administration in all of its manifest forms since 11-22-63) focus on any weaknesses in our side (narrow self-interest is THE weakness) and exploit it.... and the proof is in the pudding, my friends, because young people are already fighting "over there" for the CAPITAL INTERESTS of our enemy! And, if our side loses in 2004, many, many more will die, including hundreds or even thousands DRAFTED by bush et al. AMERICA IS DYING!!!
We can save its life, but not by negative means. I do not expect you to agree with me this second, but please open your mind to the possibility that this message may actually be correct! Thank you.

[BlondieK143]

9. First of all...

I never once said I was expecting Kerry to come to my house. Why is it so hard for people to not be able to understand why this bothers me? It seems to me that if someone wants to win the democratic nomination, that he would want to make as much effort as possible to spread his word around as much as possible. You're not getting it. I'm not saying that this is the most important thing in the world, but it really does matter. All I'm saying is that I think Kerry is going to lose support here because he's bypassing the state in order to focus on another one.

And also, I didn't say that I would vote for Bush over Kerry if he wins the nomination. I guess I should've been more specific, but I was talking about the primary. I'm completely with you and do believe so many more people will die if he is re-elected. All I'm saying is, I would've liked for more of an effort to have been made.

[H2O Man]

17. I recognize that you didn't say

you expected him to come to your house, hence I did not say that you did. I used an extension of what I believe you said. And, yes, I do understand that you are speaking of primaries. Listen: I have walked the streets of many towns and cities in this country over many, many years .... and have been proud to fight the good fight at the grass-roots level .... but I've never seen our nation at such an important crossroads! If bush wins in November, America is dead! For ever! Beyond any hope of bringing it back to life! The US Constitution - dead! Civil liberties - long gone! Democracy - dead! Now this is not mere rhetoric ... it is the pure and simple truth! But we have a great power, and can actually build upon the foundation that our country was structured upon for a long time. We are in a position to unite! Divided, we are like fingers, that our enemy bush/satan, can TWIST and BREAK! Yet when we unite, we form a powerful fist! Yes, I think that Clark is a much better choice than Kerry. I respect Edwards greatly, same for Dean! But I want them to become four fingers on the fist! Oh, I want everyone on here to remember: with today's technology, they DO come to your town/city/HOME! And if we do not form that fist - believe me - bush & co. will be coming into your town/city/home...taking your rights ... drafting your friends and family ....and sucking every last breathe of democratic resistance from the land.

[displacedtexan]

14. Wow! Well said!

I'm impressed with your ability to sift through the abstract bullshit and focus on what's really important.

Thanks, H2O Man!

[BlondieK143]

16. Explain to me how this...

is bullshit?? Am I not allowed to want to SEE/HEAR the candidates for my party? When I and the rest of my neighbors are the future of this country - I believe we have a right to have our votes earned.

[Octafish]

19. Try GOOGLE. Enter Kerry and/or BCCI...

Or "John Kerry" and/or "Jackson Stephens" + "Ollie North" + Iran-contra drug" + John Hull + BNL + April Glaspie + and a whole bunch more terms that show Kerry has fought the BFEE* his entire time in the Senate.

* Bush Family Evil Empire

[BlondieK143]

21. I don't have a doubt in my mind

that he did, I'm not questioning his viewpoints nor his stand. All I'm saying is that the effort would've been nice.

[Carolina]

34. that's why his IWR vote is unforgivable

It is exactly Mr. Kerry's fight to uncover Iran-Contra and thereby his awareness of who the players in that scandal were that should have made him leery of a pre-emptive war against Iraq. The same cabal of people were involved.

I knew it. Millions of others knew it. Kerry's MA constituents via their phone calls and emails surely knew it. His Senate colleagues Kennedy and Byrd (to name a few) knew it. But nooooooooo, Kerry did what he thought was politically expedient for HIS future. He has blood on his hands and he mortgaged lives, the good standing of this nation, and the financial health of the country on this senseless, shameless war.

[iowapeacechief]

8. Maybe decided not to compete for a state that couldn't even...

...turn out for its own Al Gore?

I've wondered about this since 2000. I hear this complaint that Gore could have won if he had carried his own state--Was that about Gore or the Democrats or what? Where were the Dems?

[BlondieK143]

11. So you're saying..

Why even try?? I can't speak for all of TN, but I do know a lot of people who worked very hard for the Gore campaign and spent many hours volunteering. If I could've voted at the time, Gore would've had my vote 150%. But simply because Gore didn't carry the state doesn't mean that we're a lost cost. I don't have answers to why he didn't win and I don't know what the deal was with the Dems. I do know that in a lot of places, it is VERY Republican. That's why now, more than ever, it's important for our candidates to work hard to show the people how badly we need a change.

[H2O Man]

18. What you are saying

is not "bulls**t" or in any way "stupid". No, my friend, you are a soldier on the front lines, who feels frustration! And that is not only normal, or merely okay, but it is good! Rather, it is potentially good .... but the fact is that it is entirely up to you to make it good. Now, there is a near-by post about the Beatles ... my favorite group, so I may not be fully objective ... but they NEVER played in rural, upstate New York. Never came to my town. Didn't bring their guitars and drums to my house! But, my good and CONCERNED friend, their MESSAGE GOT THROUGH!!! Records, tv, radio, books ... the message got through! So please: believe me when I say that I share your frustration! Oh, I do! But do not react; instead, respond! And please believe me when I say that our country is not on a fence -- it will not be that ,say, Kerry supporters survive, and Clark supporters suffer. No! We are all in this together. And I am glad to have a soldier like you on this side!

[BlondieK143]

20. Thank you.

I really admire your take on things. And I didn't mean to sound like I was bashing Kerry, I'm just frustrated and disappointed. I do think that it's vital for us all to be united come November. But it's just really hard doing that when you feel insignificant. Major kudos to you for your posts - it makes sense, but it's still frustrating.

[Samantha]

32. Al Gore didn't lose Tennessee by many votes

I checked the vote count shortly after the 2000 election and saw Bush* with a lead of 70,000. Tennessee was always a very conservative state, but since it has no income tax, and many, many people have retired there and in Florida to pay less taxes, it has taken on an even more conservative complexion than it once had.

Additionally, I was very upset to learn that Tennessee was a mini-Florida in terms of election irregularity during 2000. There were many stories on the Internet about voting problems of the same nature prevalent in Florida: African-Americans whose voter registrations could not be found; long lines in traditional African-American, hence Democratic, areas, African-Americans being pushed to the back of the voting line and caucasian voters placed in front. One story I will never forget came from an African-American minister who was denied his right to vote because his name was not on the list (motor-voter). He angrily refused to leave and threatened to call a lawyer. He was allowed to vote. The only difference between Florida and Tennessee is the magnitude of the irregularities and the publicity given thereto. But of the four or five lawsuits Ashcroft filed over voter discrimination issues (selected from about 15 complaints) three or four were filed in Florida and the remaining one was filed in Tennessee. I believe the State of Tennessee was "delivered" to Bush* in the same manner as was Florida.

And as for Senator Kerry, while you are googling information on him, you might want to see if you can locate his unfortunate remarks made immediately following the vote of the Electoral College during Election 2000. Thinking back to the petition the Congressional Black Caucus attempted to file to protest the Slate of Electors from Florida, invalidated by the failure to acquire the signature of one Senator, Kerry was asked by a CNN reporter (following the vote) if he had been asked to append his signature. "No, I wasn't asked to sign the petition of the Congressional Black Caucus, but I wouldn't have signed had I been asked." (words to this effect). I saw this interview live and his words stayed have always stayed with me, to this day. Immediately after he delivered them, I knew the reason why. He was planning a run in 2004 and had come to the conclusion he stood a better chance of beating Bush* than an incumbent Gore. Thus his failure to stand up and champion the right of not only African-American voters, but the balance of the 51 million Democratic voters whose ballots were negated by that despicable Supreme Court per curiam decision, ENABLED Bush* to occupy the White House these last three years and commence his dismantling of our Constitution, our civil rights and our economy. Kerry and other Dems like Kerry who placed their own political interests in 2000 above the rights of the American voting public failed to perform their sworn duty to protect us from Bush*, et al. Kerry is all about Kerry, and that is why I will never vote for him.

Additionally, Kerry is one the DLC'ers who supported the squashing of an Al Gore run in 2004. Gore was consistently the candidate who polled the highest among all those currently running, as well as Hillary Clinton. He presented the best opportunity for the Democratic party to take back the White House in 2004. Kerry, being all about Kerry, however did not consider that to be as important as him being able to "take his turn" at a run.

As a person whose family home is in Tennessee and spent many of my early years growing up there, who still has a lot of family residing there, I urge you to consider one of the other candidates as the best recipient for your vote. I hope you consider someone who stood up and spoke against this illegal, immoral war the United States launched on Iraq, a war which Kerry supported to advance his own political profile.

This race, despite the DLC brainwashing matra, this is all about finding and uniting behind a candidate who can defeat Bush*, i.e., Kerry, is more importantly all about finding a candidate who represents OUR interests, as opposed to his own political future. Once we decide who that is, we can unite behind him and take back the White House.

[blm]

22. Are the other candidates making it to every state?

Or are you singling out Kerry for a reason?

[BlondieK143]

23. I'm talking about Tennessee.

Edwards came yesterday (not sure how many times he's been here), Clark has been in TN all week, and as for Dean, haven't heard anything from him either. The reason why Kerry was specifically targeted was because he's the front-runner right now. Which is why I would think it would give him even more initiative to make a trip and build more momentum. Or well, that's what I thought.

[blm]

24. He may also be doing Clark and Edwards a favor by letting them

have an equal shot at battling it out. That way the Dems see which of the southern candidates are the better draw.

Politics is people + strategy. If you want to win in November.

[BlondieK143]

25. Good Point.

But I would've really liked to hear him speak.

[bushwakker]

26. He's in Nashville today for Christ sake

Do you want him to come to your house? Will that satisfy you? The negativity here is incedible.

[BlondieK143]

27. You clicked.

Now you can unclick if you wish.
Negativity surrounds politics dear.
And once again, never asked for the man to come to my house, but thanks for trying.

[bushwakker]

28. Give the guy a break

[BlondieK143]

29. Sure, will do.

I'll give him a break, when Clark gets a break from the media. It's politics, there are no breaks. Like I've said, I have nothing against the guy personally, I'm just asking for a little recognition.

[bushwakker]

30. I'm a fan of Kerry, Clark, Edwards and Dean

will gladly support any of them. There's just a little to much fratricide going on in this place.

[BlondieK143]

31. I'm going to support our party, don't get me wrong.

btw, like your screen name.