Well don't you Original Kerry Supporters just feel like REAL smarty pants

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

today??? :hi:

I meant that in jest. Like Mrs.Grumpy I was originally a Dean supporter and I still like him and will always respect and admire him. He did a lot for the party and continues to and fired up the Dems in my neck of the woods. I'll NEVER not like Dean.

But Kerry. Damn. Kerry's got me dreaming of the next four years. Kerry's got me hoping again. Feeling good again. And this was true BEFORE the debate last night. I "fell in line" sometime in April. But I fell in love during the convention in July.

Last night I think I moaned out loud when Kerry nailed bush on North Korea. I'm not sure most people realize how big of a point that was. Anything OTHER than Iraq has been completely ignored by this administration and to hear someone, ANYONE with a microphone and a big audience remind us there are other things to pay attention to, too, (something most of us here never forgot) was amazing, but to hear those things from someone who WILL be our next president made me want to jump for joy.

Ah, I got no sleep last night and I still haven't taken that nap I've been planning half the day, but I don't care. Too many letters to write (keep up the media blasting DUers, PLEASE). Too much work to do. Registering voters for EIGHT hours tomorrow. Senator Kerry, thank you.

[JohnKleeb]

1. He was my second choice

and I started supporting him in Iowa, if that means anything. They're great people too, really, they're tough mofos, so anytime you get down, talk to one of em, they know what its like.

[Jack_Dawson]

2. Last Night was the first time I've actually been excited about Kerry

Dude just looked and sounded like he knew what the fuck he was talking about. It was masterful.

[Toots]

3. Yes I do thank you very much

:-)

[wryter2000]

4. Add me, too.

Still and always a Deanie. But, day-um, that Kerry.

You Kerry guys get one free gloat from me. :bounce:

On edit: I lost a lot of sleep out of excitement last night. And when I did get back to sleep, I dreamed it was election night, and Kerry had beat * so bad even his supporters were glad * had lost. Even Lynn Cheney was telling me, "How did we get stuck with that loser?"

[calico1]

5. Kerry was my # 1 choice from the beginning

and yes, I do feel like a smartypants! :D

[girl gone mad]

21. Good for you. :)

Kerry was not my first choice, but he won me over months ago. It was his reaction to the Polier allegations that first did it. Funny how a little thing like that can give you a good sense of someone's true character.

His campaign has been a disappointment to me, beecause I know he is a much better person than the image they allowed to get spread around. Of course, that's why I wasn't worried about him last night.

[Minimus]

6. "I moaned out loud" LOL

I felt like a schoolgirl with a crush last night. He was awesome and I am so so so proud he is ours.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

10. I swear to you

I've never ever had such a visceral reaction to a politician in my life. And before the debates started, I was shaking like a leaf all over. I couldn't even sit down, too nervous.

I kind of giggled at myself once the moan was out because it sounded so funny all of a sudden.

"uuuuuuuuuuuu Kerry gooooooood Kerry spaaaaaaankkk booooooosh"

[Kimber Scott]

7. I was for Kerry first, then Clark then back to Kerry. I don't feel like a

smarty pants. I'm just happy as hell he did what he did last night.

[doni_georgia]

8. I've been a Kerry supporter since I saw him in February

Before that I was undecided between Kerry and Dean. After I saw Kerry, I just was blown away.

[Captain Lance Bass]

9. Was not even considering Kerry

I was a die hard Clark backer and was crushed when he was taken out so early BUT.....no matter who the Dems put out as our front man I was going to back him 100%. Glad to see we have a winner and I think the majority of America saw tha same last night.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

12. That's what I decided early on

I was a HARDCORE Deaniac. As in 110%, but I knew I'd back WHOEVER we picked. I just kept hoping and praying it wasn't Lieberman.

[newyawker99]

51. Hi Bleedstreet!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[WilliamPitt]

11. Yup

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

14. ...

:P

[The_Casual_Observer]

13. They were right about Kerry being a "closer" he will be a legend

by pulling this off against the BFEE , the media, and the rw corporate interests.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

15. No shit

I am really super super excited.......I can't sit still and I got about three hours of sleep....

[DaveinMD]

16. I couldn't make up my mind

I finally voted for Kerry when I got to vote. But I really liked Kerry, Dean, Edwards and Clark. I would have been happy with any of them. I didn't like Lieberman and never took Sharpton and Kucinich seriously. Graham was too boring.

[A Brand New World]

17. Liked him from the get-go!

I thought from the beginning that he just looked and acted more presidential. Although, for a short time, I did lean toward Clark. Still like Clark bunches but I did end up voting for Kerry in the primary.

[Frances]

18. You expressed my thoughts exactly,

But I'm just registering voters for 3 hours on Sunday and then I'm off to a fundraiser for Kerry-Edwards. I can't give much, but I think every little bit helps.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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

[DURHAM D]

22. Yes, I've been a fan since l971. Never thought

I would get to cast a vote for him. It's good to be old.

[Cha]

23. I'm feeling the same way...

only I got on the Kerry/Edwards bandwagon at Convention time.

That was one Freakin' Good Convention! :7 :party: :bounce:

[debatepro]

24. Go watch - Going Upriver

You will be more impressed.

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

49. Amen!

Here's the note I wrote to my friends at 5pm today (Friday) (have been biding my time to post to a suitable thread, since I dont have thread starting privileges :-(

====================
Hi All,

Sorry to be misusing the mailing list thusly. But I think I have something important to say: drop everything that you are doing, and go see "Going Upriver: The long war of John Kerry" by his long-time friend George Butler.

I just got back from it -- it is an amazing movie about an amazing man. It is also a bit of history that might be the first of its kind (I am not sure). Butler tells a tale of JFK primarily, but he also weaves in the history of that poignantly turbulent times in a heart-stopping way.

If you see only one movie this season, make it this one. I am going back as many times as I can with as many friends as I can possibly drag: in these times of petty wing-nuttery, we need the inspiration of this idealistic young man...

Best,
Radha

[Lexingtonian]

25. well...

it takes people a while to get what he's about. He grows on you. After a while people see that he doesn't feel the need to win every battle- he'll take the tie any day- but is adamant about getting done what will actually win the war.

Those nearly orgasmic comments by DU ladies in that thread last night were hilarious reading, btw.

[CrowNotAngelGRL]

26. I know how you feel

about not having sleep. After the debate I was so excited and hyped up I didn't end up falling asleep till around 4:30am. At least tonight I'll be sleeping like a baby. :)

[MaineDem]

27. Last night was like the Iowa win for me

I like the feeling!

:)

[eridani]

28. Fourth choice, originally

After Kucinich, Dean and Clark. What won me last night was his firm assertion in the most public of forums that he was against the primary strategic reason for the Iraq war, having permanent military bases there. I'm betting that any antiwar voter who taped it instantly hit rewind to see it a bunch of times.

Now I can lobby all of the more reluctant Kucitizens with a straight face, and work enthusiastically in the campaign instead of just dutifully.

I'm willing to suspend my distaste for his bandaid approach to universal health care, because I think that health care activists have learned something from 1993 and are ready to make a bigger and more successful push this time. Obviously our chances would be zilch with Bush--but so what? He's gonna lose!

[11 Bravo]

29. Actually, yes.

It was about 6 months ago that I posted right here on DU that the very idea of John Kerry, a bona fide war hero, debating that smirking imbecile gave me a hard on. Hell, it was even better than I thought it would be!

[sangh0]

45. Wasn't it though?

As good as I always knew it was going to be, I didn't expect it to be quite that good. Kerry's got The Right Stuff.

[HarveyBriggs]

30. Absolutely

Attack Kerry and he'll turn the boat into you, beach it, chase you down and kill you.

Bush felt that last night, and just like the yellow belly he is, he blinked. And blinked. And blinked again.

Bush showed us he is a coward.

Good for John F. Kerry.

Been there since before the Iowa caucus. And was at the caucus voting for him.

Harvey Briggs

[Demi_Babe]

31. way to go

[kwolf68]

32. I was with him from DAY ONE

I had many spirited debates with the Deaneacs that at times got a little heated.

In time, I have come to truly appreciate their man (Gov. Dean) just as they have appreciated my man (Senator Kerry).

And now? They BOTH are OUR MEN...

It was a tough primary, but things are playing into shape.

[Voltaire]

50. I love your post

As a hardcore Deaniac I appreciate that sentiment. The primaries were HARD. And that has given us the perfect instrument to get Bush the fuck out of here. GO KERRY!!!

[NMDemDist2]

33. why yes, yes I do

:D

I've been a Kerry supporter since August 2002

[gauguin57]

34. Hey, I'm owed one. Neither Carter nor Clinton were my first choices.

I supported Mo Udall in '76 and Bob Kerrey in '92.

And I voted for Bradley in the primary in 2000.

But the first candidate I really supported in this race (though I flirted briefly with a couple of others) was Kerry. Because I felt he was the best in the all-around competition (others had strengths Kerry doesn't have, but he has the best resume and seemed, to me, the most presidential of the bunch).

[quaker bill]

37. Credit where credit is due.

I support Dean and still think he would have made an excellent candidate. I have supported Kerry since the nomination became obviously his. I always have voted for the Democratic nominee, and only once has the candidate I supported in the primaries end up the nominee (Jimmy Carter).

All of that being said, I had not truly warmed up to the notion of Kerry as the standard bearer until last night. I still do not agree with him on all his positions, but I am now convinced that he has the skills needed to carry the message and prevail in this race.

I am impressed.

[JPace]

35. I was a Kerry supporter from the start.....

but admit I almost switched horses to Dean when Kerry
was faltering badly at one time. Still I came to my
senses and regrouped my original focus. I did however
admire the passion and dedication of the Dean supporters
because they worked so hard for their guy. I am glad
others are now seeing the real potential of Kerry, the
man really is presidential material and will make a
good leader. Truth is though that the repugs have turned
into a killing machine (look what they did to Clinton)
and they are going to try the same thing with Kerry in
the WH. If we cannot get a better hold of the media and
demand they be fair we are in for a rough four years no
matter how great Kerry is.

[johan helge]

36. I always liked Kerry best

He proved his character in Vietnam - and he proved it again yesterday!

[JerseygirlCT]

38. Does that mean we get to do just a wee little tiny superior dance?

It was quite a thing to behold, last night. Never dreamed it could go that well.

I just LOVE a smart man!

[girl gone mad]

39. When he wins. n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

40. You're right! nt

[tom22]

41. I sent him a hundred bucks

last October. i should dig the check out and frame it.

[juajen]

42. So funny

I picked him at the beginning; then he didn't seem to take off and I was conflicted about Dennis Kucinich, who is wonderful; then I fell in love with General Clark. Gee, I'm fickle. I'm absolutely thrilled with John Kerry and John Edwards. Let's face it folks, we had a plethora of candidates who were amazing. GO JOHNNY GO!!

[JohnKleeb]

43. If it hadn't been for Kucinich, I'd been a Kerry supporter

I can't see myself switching because of the struggle he had though, I stayed with Kucinich even as people called to have no primaries and just nominate Dean or Clark on the spot which I felt no offense to anyone who supported those two but I felt it was horseshit.

[chieftain]

44. We proud Clarkies salute all you original Kerry Supporters .

He was great last night and he is going to lead a united , invigorated Democratic Party to victory in November .

[zulchzulu]

46. Let's win first! But my hat goes to Howard for getting people pissed

When we win, we all need to congratulate ourselves not only on how we beat Bush but how we all contributed to this democratic process.

From Bob Graham to Carol Moseley Braun to Dennis Kucinich to Dick Gephardt to John Edwards to Joe Lieberman (yeah, even him) to Howard Dean to Wesley Clark to Al Sharpton to John Kerry...we should all be proud!

While I wasn't the biggest fan of Howard Dean during the primaries, I am a full-fledged fan now.

I absolutely appreciate how he got people mobilized and gave a voice to getting the Democratic Party back on our feet and ready to fight.

Thank you Howard!

[riverwalker]

47. It was that Windsurfer interview

that really made me fall in love with him. He talked about spirituality, studying all the worlds religions, and universal principles. It was damn near mystical.

[iamjoy]

48. Yeah, I Was An Edwards Supporter...

and even though I signed on to volunteer for Kerry the day after Edwards dropped out, I didn't really understand why Kerry was our nominee until the convention.

Kerry lacks the charm of Edwards, the fire of Dean and the rugged "outsider" appeal of Clark. But none of these seem so important any more. Kerry is PRESIDENTIAL. He has the intelligence, courage, compassion, experience and dignity to lead.

[Hans Delbrook]

52. Long time supporter - let me tell you why...

I have been a Kerry supporter for a long time and maybe I should tell you why. I have a cousin who came home from Vietnam really messed up on heroin - it almost ruined his life.

Years ago he told me how he'd been following the attempt to put to rest the "Rambo" stories about there still being soldiers "left behind" in Vietnam. Later, he really seemed to find some peace when all that was proved to be false and we normalized relations with Vietnam.

Being a political junkie I started looking into the story and read about Kerry heading up the committee. The thing that impressed me the most was that many people had told Kerry not to take that committee on - politically it was a lose/lose proposition no matter what he did. He took it on anyway because he felt it was his duty.

I admired him for that - it proves how big a lie it is that JK is only motivated by ambition. He's a man of honor, duty and integrity.