Quick comment to Kerry supporters

[chookie]

Your boy is looking great. He is performing superbly. His speeches are inspiring -- I find myself spontaneously cheering. He is *something*. He makes me feel proud to be an American. Now I see what you guys have been saying about him all along -- and I commend you for the loyalty you have shown him, keeping the faith with him, and for picking the right horse.

I *adore* his wife -- always have -- and just about swoon when I think about her as First Lady, and now I am feeling the same way about her husband.

That being said -- and let me underline my sincerity of support and admiration -- I wish to make the following observation -- on top of being a fine man who will make an extraordinary president -- Kerry is proving himself to be a master politician. I do not say this to be unkind, but I believe that part of the reason -- and let me stress that this is just *part* of his glorious success -- is that he has successfully cannibalized the great ideas of his competitiors, and appropriated them as his own, and day after day becomes the guy who appeals to all of us. I do not say this to disrespect the man -- what I bring it up for is that -- HELL! If he is able to do this to his fellow Democrats, it logically follows that he will do the same thing to His Chimperial Majesty, and dislodge his sorry ass from the Oval Office.

Kerry is showing himself to be the equal, and may eventually prove himself to be the *superior*, politician to Bush. That's not a small matter. Kerry is using a couple of the tricks that Bush uses -- i.e. appropriating the issues of others, and cutting them off at the legs. Kerry REALLY seems to have his finger on how that son of a bitch operates -- he doesn't just TALK about Mr Rove -- but out-Roves him.

I am in no way comparing John Kerry to Bush or to Rove -- Kerry is a great man, whereas they are despicable hyenas. However, *they* are master politicians and strategists and it is to this that they owe their success -- and it now appears that Kerry is too. I think they have met their match.

This is good news. Kerry is going to beat Bush at his own game. I love it. He is going to strong-arm peace, prosperity and democracy back into power this year, using the same hard-ball stuff that drove peace, prosperity and democracy OUT of power in 2000. I think we've got the guy who can do it -- Kerry is DOING it.

[eileen_d]

1. Peace, prosperity and democracy

I think I can handle that! ;)

[Gimel]

4. Why not

"security" too? Or we already have that (not quite as good as before 9/11).

[liberalpragmatist]

2. Thank You!

Sometimes I feel so down when visiting this site - I get the impression that an awful lot of DU'ers can't get past their perceptions of John Kerry, leading them to awful vendettas against him. I understand if Kerry's not your first choice, and he's not pure, he has plenty of faults. But he's a good Dem and he'll make a good President. I'm glad that at least nationally most Dems recognize that. I just wish the same was true of DU.

Thanks for your support. Hopefully others will come around and we can have a united front against Bush and behind Kerry!

[chookie]

7. No -- thank YOU!

You were the people who sustained his campaign.

This election is NOT going to be JUST about issues -- although issues are in fact a very big deal this time around, because the country is in crisis on a lot of different levels and the whole "Who do you believe -- me, or your own eyes?" shit that Bush has been pulling all these years just isn't getting the results it used to as people have learned to trust their own inner good judgement, and recognize him as the liar with a devious hidden agenda that he is.

Sure, I have differences of policies with Kerry, but that's okay. He is on the right side of the critical issues of the day, and that'll do. I have never had the slightest doubt that he would be a great President -- I trust him to lead our country.

I think there are other people running who also would make great Presidents.

But Kerry is whoopin' ass. Nothing speaks quite like success.
He is playing the system like a Stradivarius.

This is not to undermine the other candidates -- who *all* are superb Americans. This also does not absolve the system of the wicked stuff that has happened to Dean, Clark, and Kucinich, all of whom I feel were wronged.

But Kerry is pulling it off. He's WINNING. He is using the system to his advantage -- no -- to OUR advantage.

And he is going to use the system to beat George W. And that is a good thing.

I 've had a smile on my face and a lightness in my heart that I have not felt in years -- as I watch Kerry succeed and win, time after time. He knows that he is doing -- thank heavens!

Good work -- y'all! I think ALL of the candidates and their supporters need to be commended for what they have brought to this election, and I salute them all. But I have a feeling that we're going to be owing a special thank you to you faithful Kerry supporters this November.

[blm]

3. Peace, prosperity, and democracy. Great battle cry.

.

[MAlibdem]

9. It is good, but alliteration is better

Peace, Prosperity, and Populism!

[MAlibdem]

10. dupe

doh

[sandnsea]

5. Master Strategist

Yes. Unquestionably. The amazing thing to me is that I was a supporter, watched it unfold, and didn't even know it was unfolding until it was all over. Not that it's all over yet, because it's not.

"cannibalized the great ideas of his competitiors", I would disagree with because I haven't heard him change his ideas one bit, ever really. But whatever creates harmony in the end is ok with me.

"He is going to strong-arm peace, prosperity and democracy back into power this year"

Yes. FIGHT.

[chookie]

11. I did not mean that disrespectfully.

You are right. He has not changed his positions one bit. This is true.

But -- it is my opinion that he has harvested some of the energy that some of the other campaigns were running on. He is making *their* causes part of his cause. I meant to imply that he is growing. He's really become the candidate that is going to have national appeal -- because he has injested the issues that other candidates have raised, which were great issues, but which they might not have the ability to WIN with nationally. That he has done so is a good thing.

I really think he has a profound understanding of the big picture -- this, in combination with his mastery of political strategy = victory in 2004.

I don't "believe" this. It is not an article of faith. I am simply reporting what I see unfolding. And it makes me feel more hopeful than I have in years.

Gee guys -- it's going to be uglier than we can ever imagine -- but Kerry is going to beat Bush.

[sandnsea]

18. Maybe

I guess I would liken it to the AWOL thing. Kerry was able to pick up the issue because, in my opinion, he politicized it better. He took it from the word "deserter" being over the top and then reframed it correctly, AWOL and unanswered questions. He made it palatable to more people. And now he's slamming it at Bush as unanswered questions, not unsubstantiated "deserter" slander. If that's what you mean, yes, I'd agree with you totally.

It is going to be ugly, although I don't think as ugly as some people might think, but if we all pull together and get tough and fight, we can absolutely beat Bush.

I'm seeing that fight over on the Clark phone call threads. That's what we're talkin' about!

[chookie]

24. I am in awe of Kerry in regards to the AWOL thing

Can't remember when he said this, but it was in the last day or so.

When asked about the AWOl controversy, this great man said (I am not a great man, and paraphrasing here as best as I can!): "It was a complex time. There were a lot of choices that people could make. Some chose to fight. Some chose to go to Canada. Some chose to oppose the war and pay the penalties. Some chose to enter the National Guard. I don't have a problem with any of these choices, because I remember what it was like."

Now -- that's a good answer. That's a DAMN good answer. That's the best answer. That's the answer Abraham Lincoln would have made. My respect for Kerry skyrocketed at that moment.

First of all -- it is the utter truth. But what it leaves unsaid is that we all need to answer for the choice we made then. We have all had to live with the choice we made then. And the hypocrites have to live with the choice that they made.

In making a general statement, and one as profound as this, and without making any accusations or casting a judgement -- John Kerry blew the chickenhawks out of the water.

Furthermore -- the AWOL thing bugs some of us more than others. It was just yet another mountain of dirt and sleaze we had on Bush years ago. But we were not in a bloody war 3 years ago, with kids dying on a daily basis. Therefore, I say -- you bet your butt that the choices people made back in the 60s matters now.

The Ghost of Viet Nam. The way Bush intended to use it was to declare to the American people: There will never be another Viet Nam! Because we will never pull out of any conflict!" That sure sent alarm bells off all over in my head -- because what he means is that no matter how badly he messes up in Iraq, we're just going to let the meaningless slaughter go on, no matter how much blood and treasure we sacrifice.

John Kerry has also seized on The Ghost of Viet Nam -- and he is going to use it honorably to defeat the war-profiteers who lied us into this bloody conflict, the way they did back then. War as a last resort -- not as a opportunity for profit and political opportunism!

And I hope and pray that in doing so, President Kerry finally exorcizes the Ghost of Viet Nam, and that all of our veterans of that awful war -- which tore our country apart -- find the peace that they deserve-- not the polarization and exploitation and the screwing that His Chimperial Highness has given them.

[TheDonkey]

6. Excellent post!

Thanks for adding quality substance to DU: Primary 04 forum. :toast:

[vi5]

8. A great post.....a nice change of pace from the...

endless hypocricy of people who shouted day in and day out that the people who said negative things or raised questions about a candidate did so only because their own candidate had nothing to sing the praises of.

Now, not surprisingly many of those same people spend their days on here telling us what we should hate about the frontrunner and all the negative things about him.

[chookie]

13. Nothing succeeds like success.

There are people you spontaneously give your support to, and trust your most earnest hopes with -- and then there are the people who EARN your support.

Kerry EARNED my support.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

12. Thanks for the nice post, Chookie

I am not a Johnny Come Lately to Kerry's campaign although I took a VERY long time to get behind his candidacy for THIS election. I looked at ALL the candidates and only really committed myself to him shortly before Iowa.


I have envisioned Kerry would ONE day become president since the first time he ran for the Senate. This ins't a new found admiration but one spanning over decades.

Oddly enough, some of the things people hate about hate about him are the things I love about him. He is criticized for self preservation, but in my view you can't make any difference at all if you can't survive.

He is criticized for coming late to things others have said or being calculated. I like a guy who thinks first, then acts or speaks.


He is criticized for being an insider. I like a guy who knows the score and can use that to his benefit.

In the long run, I belive he will make a far better president than anyone is willing to admit right now. For two decades, he has been on the side of issues I hold near and dear to my heart.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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

[chookie]

15. You are in error sir

That's way across the line of civility - Faygo.

[MAlibdem]

17. This reminds me of a Simpsons episode

When Homer joins Lalapalooza and one guy says something to the other, and the second asks "are you being sarcastic?" and the first says "I don't even know anymore." Maybe you had to be there...

Anyway, I think the amount of sarcasm on a board where tone and inflection cannot be measured is confusing things.

[chookie]

21. I do joke around a lot

When I am being sarcastic or ironic, I use the convention /sarcasm off to clarify it.

Oh well -- so what's a bit of character assassination and lies being told about you, and misinterpretations? That's the state of politics these days, isn't it -- right to the jugular. That's what our candidates have to deal with every day, and before the eyes of the world.

If I think I am immune, or too precious to be the subject of attack, I better get out of politics.

If Dennis Kucinich can take it, and President Clinton can take it, Max Cleland can take FAR worse that any shit a DUer would throw my way -- I can take a jab from a DUer.

[MAlibdem]

23. Lol

and cheers for your comments.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

16. She wasn't being sarcastic

I know this poster. Her observations are astute and in my view accurate.

I don't have an issue with a single thing she said. The name of the game is POLITICS and in order to compete in politics you need to be a politician...it's just the nature of the beast.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. It's a symptom of how very ugly this forum is

That your comments aren't being taken in earnest. Don't take it personally.

[chookie]

22. It's practice for what lies ahead of us.

I faced down the goons Bush sent to Tallahassee -- and these guys had weapons with them. Now THESE folks really had bad intent. If I can take that, I can take this.

There are people WAY meaner than Faygo out there. He's at least some percentage point with us.

We have got to learn how to respond to vicious attacks -- because they are going to be flying at us all this year.

If we all don't grow very tough skin, we're going to have a lot of pain that they just can't wait to dish on us. The opportunity to thicken my hide here, at DU , seems a luxury compared to a lot of the other things I do to right these wrongs, and what I will be asked to do.

[NNN0LHI]

20. His comeback surprised me as much as anyone

I hate to admit that I wrote Kerry off months ago. Even though I have always admired him. I feel like a morAn for losing faith. :-)

Don

[chookie]

25. I've tried to learn

I do not regret the positions that I took, and I gave my support to who I did after careful consideration and for good reasons.

Although I had my favorites, I at least aspired to be open-minded, and I aspired to respect the views of others, and listen to them carefully. I did not enter into the fights, and if I did say anything that was offensive, it was a mistake that I apologize for.

I know that supporters of all the candidates feel frustrated from time to time -- and the vicious fights that go on here sometimes certainly are most discouraging of all. Feel like you have to remind yourself that we're all on the same side sometimes? I feel like that a lot!

But what I want to pass on to ALL supporters of ALL candidates -- you may not feel like you're making headway, and you may feel like there are a lot of jerks out there (which is true :-) ) -- but what you may not realize is that people like me have been lurking, reading your posts, considering your arguments, and remembering.

When I discuss with politics outside of DU, when I talk with someone who does not like my candidate, then I try to steer them to someone who DOES share their vision of America -- and I use *your* arguments, because I want them to vote, to be involved in the election.

I do not find the practice of "taking the election hostage" to advance one's own candidate very productive. Call me old fashioned, but I do have a soft spot in my heart for reasoned debate and exchange of ideas.

I'm saving my fight to take to the Bushistas. My earnest hope all along is that we pick the right person, and that by putting our collective heads together, we will.