John Kerry has earned it back

[Dave Sund]

He's still not my first choice, but I would proudly vote for him again in 2008. For all the disappointment today, Kerry and Kennedy really did something great: they stood up for principle.

[catmother]

1. not my first choice either, but i too, would vote for him again. nt

[derby378]

2. As long as he reclaims his spine from the 1970s, he's good (n/t)

[blm]

8. Funny, I prefer what he did in his 5yr battle to expose BCCI

and the year before when he uncovered IranContra. And when he advocated for gays to serve openly in the military.

And when he helped expose CIA drugrunning.

Kerry never stopped showing spine, but the GOP learned how to gain control of the media the last 20 years so they can pretty much get away with defining any Dem they target.

[Dave Sund]

10. If he would have been the same man on the campaign trail

As he was in the Senate, he'd be President right now.

[blm]

16. Check the editting room floors at the corporate newsrooms - he was

Corporate media now has the control to define ANY Dem they target.

[FreedomAngel82]

38. Yep

When you hear some of his speeches and watch rallies and campaign stops of his he did fine. A few things wrong but other wise fine.

[Inuca]

3. He never lost it :-)

[Dave Sund]

6. From me, for a while

I was pissed at him for how quickly he gave up. I got over it. He fought hard this past year. But today really made me proud, and reminded me why I liked him in the first place.

[ginnyinWI]

45. Kerry is a real fighter

That's why I believe that if there was anything he could have done to contest the election, he would have. He's been very tenacious during other fights he's undertaken over his political career.
With this potential filibuster, he was swimming against the current all the way, and actually got over half the Senate Dems to come with him--all in just a few days' time. That's because he's a real leader, too.

[Narraback]

4. I agree

nt

[marions ghost]

5. Kerry and Kennedy

:patriot: :patriot:

:toast:

[sandnsea]

7. Always comes through in the trenches

And if you don't think he would have fought the election if he had had solid evidence of fraud, especially after seeing him these last days, well then I just don't know what you're looking for.

[Norwood]

9. Ditto

Clark is still my candidate but if Kerry is nominated I will proudly support, campaign and vote for him again

[seito]

11. As far as I'm concerned, he never lost it

:patriot:

[JamRock]

12. Repubs could not match Kerry and Kenedy for eloquence and passion

They only had whining and brute force. We can be proud of
our leaders.

[Ian David]

13. Agreed! John Kerry for Unitary Executive 2008!

[Dave Sund]

15. I don't know why, but that made me laugh

Thank you. I needed that.

[whometense]

23. Me too!

On a day like today it's especially important to keep one's sense of humor. And especially difficult.

[globalvillage]

17. Awesome.

That helped.
I'm very proud of some of our senators today, and completely disgusted with others. Despite the results of the cloture vote, Sen Kerry and Sen Kennedy and others stood up for what's right and good, and that took guts.

And you made me smile. Thanks for that.
:-)

[_dynamicdems]

41. They both did a wonderful job today and they are both heroes, but I can't

forgive the Democrats who voted for cloture and against the filibuster. I've never said word one against ANY Democrat until today.

Well, today changes that: the Dems who voted against the filibuster SUCK. They are spinelss slimes and I'll never support a one of them again. From now on, my money goes only to the PACS/campaigns of Sens. Kerry, Kennedy, Boxer and the rest of the Dems who showed courage and loyalty today.

[ClayZ]

34. Lol..... I love that!

:applause:

[Marnieworld]

14. I agree completely

Was I disappointed that he didn't fight harder in 2004? You bet. Very. But even then I never hated him for it. It's so wasy for me to sit here on the side lines and call the shots from my computer. I can't say what he should have done because I don't know what it's like to walk in his shoes. He has definitely won me back this week for sure.

When I saw "Going Up River" I found a hero. I voted for that man. I believe that is who was fighting this fight and I am glad that he was our champion. That guy does have "our back". I hope he sticks around. :patriot:

[jenndar]

22. The cloture vote today should be an idication

of the fact that he never truly had the support of his own party. This is something we need to work on, because I still really think a Kerry presidency could help turn this country around.

[Generator]

18. I have no doubt of Kerry the man

None. I never felt that way about any politician so clearly. Still, the question is the method. I don't think being in traditional politics is the way home anymore. I've thought that since he "lost". I don't think we can win anything in a fascist state that has the media in it's pocket. I think the way is the truth and that is not going to happen where he is.

[FreedomAngel82]

39. Same here

Kerry helped to make me a democrat. :) He's my hero and always will be. He proved it even more this past weekend.

[kerrygoddess]

19. He's the Real Deal...

Always has been... always will be!

[Pale Blue Dot]

20. He didn't for me.

I have more respect for him than I did, but he still did not demonstrate the leadership to get this done, while his 2004 opponent, who has a 36% approval rating, has his party marching in lock-step.

I will not vote for Kerry in 2008.

[fedupinBushcountry]

28. So quick to blame

He showed leadership, to bad 19 others chose no spine.

[Pale Blue Dot]

29. A leader gets people to follow him. nt

[WildEyedLiberal]

31. Then blame REID who should've been organizing this from the beginning

Kerry had to do it because the rest of the Dems dropped the ball. He is not on the judiciary committee.

You blame the one man who had the courage to do ANYTHING. I really want you on my team; you'd be blaming the guy who scored the most points on a losing team for not scoring enough. What a winning spirit.

[_dynamicdems]

42. Amen. I'm disgusted with Reid and I'm unsubscribing from his emails.

I'm drafting quite a few letters to the Democratic leadership and to the Senators who voted against the filibuster. Then, I'm sending whatever money I can to the Senators I consider heroes. Kerry and Boxer both have PACS that they are using to support grassroots campaigns for Dems. I'm going to filter all my donations through such pacs. Not a dime to the Party ever again.

Where was Howard Dean on the filibuster? I'd like to know because I've admired Governor Dean and his courage. I'm going to check on this and if he did speak out for the filibuster and side with Kerry and Kennedy, then I'll send money to him too, but Give'Em Hell Harry dissapointed me bitterly.

[jenndar]

21. He never lost mine.

I have more respect for him every day.

[Sydnie]

24. I have always said that he would make us proud yet

and he never fails to do that. He might not always win ... but he stand up and suffers the brunt of the battle.

I :loveya: John Kerry. Kerry on! :patriot:

[MH1]

25. He never lost me.

He was my first choice in 2004, and he'll be my first choice in 2008, unless someone else convinces me they're better. But it's a pretty high bar to clear.

The media was ruthless in undercutting Kerry in 2004 and the Dem Party, for whatever reason, didn't back him up sufficiently. I mean in the media - I know a lot of people worked their heart and souls out doing canvassing and the like, and that was almost enough to overcome the media spin, and that says a lot for the efforts of the folks on the ground. But somehow we have to fix this media problem, or our champions will always seem sullied by the fake mud that the right wing corporate controlled media churns out.

[fedupinBushcountry]

26. He Never lost it

This is the same John Kerry that I found and supported in early 2003. I didn't listen to the pundits or the critics I did my own research. I read everything I could about him, watched every event on C-Span. I wondered to myself, where has he been hiding, but to be truthful to myself it was me who was hiding in my own little world.

He brought back my activism of the 60's and gave me hope and inspiration to fight. He made me feel proud to be a Democrat.

To me he will always be "THE REAL DEAL".

[JetCityLiberal]

27. Watching his speech as I type

My wife has the tape of his speech when he accepted the nomination at the convention playing.

This is hard to listen to and uplifting as well...I will keep shouting about the machines, this man is a leader.

[Dr Fate]

30. I'm ashamed of myself for bashing the guy.

No more of that.

[WildEyedLiberal]

32. But you have seen the light

So all is forgiven - you know a fighter when you see one.

Some here are not so gracious and intelligent as you, which is a pity.

[rockymountaindem]

40. I'm with WEL, all is forgiven

Together we'll help Kerry make this country a better place.

[TayTay]

44. Dr. Fate: I don't feel you ever bashed John Kerry

I saw John Kerry in April of last year give a speech at Faneuil Hall in Boston in which he talked about the 'felt needs' in this country that he said are piling up and not being attended to by this Administration. Mr. Kerry asked for the people to come forward and press these issues, scream them in the ears of their elected representatives and demand change.

Dr., when have you ever done otherwise? There is a difference between real bashing, which is a false thing based on mean motives and a sincere desire for someone to live up to their potential. I have read posts in which you have strongly asked Sen. Kerry to state his views, beliefs and opinions in public, as loudly and frequently as possible. That, my friend, is the work of a patriot, not a whiner. That is called constructive criticism and is welcome.

I like that Sen. Kerry spoke out so passionately and well on this. I am profoundly sorry we couldn't block Judge Alito from the SCOTUS. But there is another battle just around the corner and we need good voices to push it. We need them on CapHill, and I think Mr. Kerry has shown he will step up for these. We all need them in the trenches, out here in the rest of the country. I believe you are one of those who are in it for the long haul and will continue to press our people in DC for change. I commend you for it.

[blm]

46. That's why Doc has consistently been one of my favorite posters at DU.

Tough as hell, but in MEANINGFUL ways.

When most here can be tough in absurd and meaningless ways.

[AX10]

33. I have the utmost respect for John Kerry!

[CanOfWhoopAss]

35. I think he felt the heat of Al Gore's stance so it stiffened his spine.

He has earned the right to be Al's VP. I will support him again so long as he never waivers again.

[mousie]

36. Kerry remains my FIRST CHOICE!!

And he continues to confirm that right decision as time goes on... Thank you, John Kerry!!!

[FreedomAngel82]

37. Yep!

Kerry 2008!!

[seabeyond]

43. kerry won my respect and support, and just keeps reinforcing

this for me over the last year. out of all our dems, kerry is the one that has stood up the most and consistantly. i dont need perfection in any man or woman, kerry is damn good