Kerry is Great... But Exasperating

[liberalpragmatist]

I really like Kerry. I honestly believe he'll be elected on November 2 and he'll make an excellent President. He was my top choice in the primaries too (although I also liked Clark a lot, and back in the fall of 2003 I nearly became a Deaniac because Kerry was really disappointing me at that point).

I'm so glad John Kerry is our nominee. I'm so proud of him.

Even so, and I mean this and sort of a "caring" way - he can be exasperating at times. It's just that his whole pattern of campaigning - falling behind, enduring near-death experiences, then rising phoenix-like from to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat - it makes for great viewing for politicos, but damn can it get nerve-racking.

Please note that I mean this in no way as a criticism of Kerry, just an acknoledgment that he may give a lot of his heart palpitations sometimes. Still, just accept that for who he is and trust him. I think he just might make us proud. :)

[girl gone mad]

1. When Kerry wins this election..

He'll become a legend for his campaign style.

[childslibrarian]

2. He was my senator for 14 years

He's a good man. He isn't the best campaigner, but he's a good, honorable man.

[babylonsister]

11. Honorable is the crucial word; I agree.

Shrub has NEVER seemed honorable to me.

[DURHAM D]

3. You think he is "trying" to create the roller coaster ? n/t

[athena]

12. I think he is.

He knows that he performs best under pressure. He doesn't do so well when he is comfortable. So he lets go until the last moment, which also happens to be when most people are making up their minds.

All through August, I was confident that this was Kerry's strategy. I started to fret in the last two weeks or so, but now I see that there was no need for worry. Kerry is a much smarter man than most people realize. No one else could have put the shrub on the defensive the way Kerry did, on what is supposed to be the republicans' strongest point.

[demwing]

17. And I Loved the Way He Did It!

The way he looked so calm and cool and confidant while Bush was falling to pieces.

This debate will be studied in future PoliSci classes.

[DaveinMD]

4. he's a true Democrat

we always make it harder on ourselves. As a New York Giants fan, I can identify with that.

[faithnotgreed]

6. im with you dave. i would only add: ny knicks, ny mets

they definitely struggle when they dont have to..... and thankfully i gave up being so invested in sports, because these guys were not good for my health!

[babylonsister]

10. LOL!

I'm a Giants fan, too; I've felt your pain!

[AgadorSparticus]

5. he has already made me proud of the way he stood up to their

smear campaign. the original flip flop charge was reserved for howard dean. but since kerry won the primaries, that honor went to him instead.

considering all the lies and distortions about his integrity, courage, and character, I think Kerry has done amazingly well. I'm not sure many men could withstand that sort of scrutiny and smears.

[Larkspur]

8. Don't think so

Flip flop was intended for Kerry.

[AgadorSparticus]

14. no, when howard dean started to move to the center for the primaries,

they started to go into him about flip flopping. at the time, dean was looking like he was unstoppable. but since dean didn't really get out of iowa, they stopped abruptly to see who was going to get the nod. it was obviously Kerry and they refocused their attention to Kerry and so did the flip flop smear campaign.

[TrustingDog]

7. In this horserace:

Bush is the 'Mudder' (mudderfucker is you ask me) - on a bad rainy track you have to come out the gate first - fast and hard to avoid catching it in your face from the frontrunners.

Kerry is the seasoned long distance runner. He paces himself - he knows he has the jam and he knows just when to put on the speed in reserve - just before the finish line.

Weather Report from now to Nov 3rd: More dry sunny days that wet sloppy ones. :)

[Lexingtonian]

9. true

But look at what it does to his opponents: they utterly expend themselves because they always imagine that victory is still in reach- or even in grasp. It's brutally cruel on them, They have absolutely nothing left on Election Day- no political capital, no real credibility, no money, no friends that can help them get up, and no hope.

[arbusto_baboso]

13. Well, yeah. Haven't you noticed that Kerry seems to be an adrenalin...

addict? Look at his history; the military years, the extreme sports, the campaign style. The guy LOVES the pressure! he THRIVES on it!

[Kahuna]

15. My take away from Kerry's performance last night is..

He came across as a really nice, decent man. Contrast that to *'s bad behavior. While there were moments that I wanted Kerry to pound a little bit harder, in all I was very proud of the impression he made. Very regal, nice and respectable. Unlike-- you know. :puke:

[AmerDem]

16. Nice of you to start such a topic and then...take off.

Lord knows this topic was what everyone needed after such a great debate!

*Sarcasm heavy and deliberate*