John Kerry is an august, silver tongued speaker of many, many words...

[bridgit]

perhaps upon the oft occasion too as such misplaced however so untimely as well...there i said it :D

[msongs]

1. tooooooo many words usually. He ought learn American english

before he runs again :-) I guess all that talking is a legacy of being a senator.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[nolies32fouettes]

66. See this:

http://www.progressiveu.org/172340-kerrys-first-words-since-pronoungate

[Spider Jerusalem]

70. "American English" = "How to talk like a moron?"

[11 Bravo]

2. OK ... Now, what exactly is it that you said?

[sendero]

3. I was wondering that too.

.... I had a stack overflow trying to parse that sentence :)

[Hav]

9. .

Haha but I guess that was the point of the post ;).

[bridgit]

28. cheers, Hav...

:toast:

[undeterred]

4. He's too damn smart for this country, we're more like Dumya.

We like arrogant stupid Texans who murder the English language.

[orpupilofnature57]

8. F.D.R. talked like Thurston Howell , common people loved him ,know why?

They sensed he loved them and he would of never put on a CarHart ,or agreed to a war he didn't believe in or knuckle under to any Corporate pressure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Plot

[nolies32fouettes]

67. Because our society has been "dumbed down."

[KittyWampus]

32. Paul Krugman is damned smart, and yet he can write an easily understood article

about very complex stuff.

[rosesaylavee]

5. Love Kerry and very much appreciate

all the work he did to get so many DEMs elected this time round. Very tired of the Kerry-bashing on this site. I don't understand it. And, no, that's not an invitation for someone to tell me ad nauseum how disappointed they are about how he didn't fight for a recount in 2004. If you haven't read it a zillion times here already, Google Woodward and James Carville.

Thank you Senator Kerry for your unswerving dedication to our country and to our constitution no matter the personal costs. :patriot:

[bridgit]

19. fair enough...

[stepnw1f]

34. Thank You... There, You Said It (nt)

[leeroysphitz]

52. "I don't understand it." Here's one possible explanation.

John Kerry is a veteran like me. I respect and admire him for his service to the nation. Senator Kerry returned from the war and spoke truth to power because he believed it was the right thing to do. I doubly respect that act of courage. Kerry is extremely intelligent, sharp and thoughtful and we desperately need that in the white house more than anything.

But the party and the country also need a few things more besides.

I don't think Kerry is "the one" and not because of 2004 or anecdote malfunctions or slanderous right wing defamations such as "flip-flopper" and the swift boat garbage.

I liked Kerry, I supported Kerry with my money. I advertised for him with signs on my house and on my car. I VOTED for John Kerry and I tried to persuade others to vote for him... In 2004 when he was running against George W. Bush.

NOW,however,(and even then to a lesser degree), Kerry to me absolutely SCREAMS status quo. I'm sorry but I defy anyone here to describe Kerry as "maverick", "outsider" or "visionary" with a straight face.

Our party is in dire need of real innovation. Real activism, real change in election strategy and far more importantly policy. We are going to need, in 2008, a candidate who will be, not only, to the democratic party but also to the independents (and a not inconsiderable number of self labeled "conservatives") what Star Wars was to 70's/ 80's movies (in a word: revolutionary). John Kerry is not Star Wars. John Kerry is James Bond. He used to be cool in the 70's, he tells terrible one liners and there is NOTHING to him that you haven't seen done before, and better by some other old guy in a suit 30 years ago.

That's at least one reason as to why some people here don't support John Kerry.

[rosesaylavee]

72. I thought my post was thanking Kerry about

what he has done to promote a DEM congress this past year. I didn't mention 2008. Before I decide about who I will support in 08, I will wait to hear what he says if he throws his hat in the ring about what he would do differently than 2004 and others running.

BUT, I think he does deserve thanks from his fellow DEMs for working hard to get the election results we got 11/7 rather than the kick in the teeth he gets on a regular basis from arm-chair political junkies.

[Leopolds Ghost]

82. leeroy, anyone who thinks Kerry is "status quo" does not understand

how far to the right the Democratic Party has moved in the past 20 years.

The Democrats who are attacking Kerry out there, off the Internet, are attacking him from the right. They think even LESS of you.

(I would say of you and me, but I don't want to muddy the bracing slap of cold reality I am trying to administer.)

Those of us lefties who attack Kerry and repeat right-wing talking points about Kerry are not doing any favors for their preferred candidates. They are merely useful idiots for the Clinton wing of the party.

The "he had his chance" people and the "he didn't fight for me" people spout lines that are so hackneyed in their ignorantly partisan, knee-jerk campaign-trail speak that they can't possibly be coming from the left.

They probably would prefer Clinton (and would certainly forget all about Kerry or the Dean wing of the party and close ranks behind Clinton if she was nominated, if they have not done so already.)

The rest of us should be realistic. It doesn't matter if Kerry runs again or becomes president: The important thing is to measure consequences. If we allow Kerry to be taken down by Clinton in this fashion with the craven participation of the "he didn't fight for me" crowd, we are doing the left no favors. Do you want Kerry to be treated like Ted Kennedy for the next 30 years, portrayed as anything he says should be run to the right of?

The Republicans did not allow themselves to do that to Newt, though they well could have. Instead they rehabilitated him just as they will eventually rehabilitate Bush. They are masters at rehabilitation. Just look at Kissinger and Nixon and Poindexter.

When was the last time Dems rehabilitated one of their own instead of sending them off to cuddle up with some centrist Republican in the Trappist wing of the Senate for 10 years and come back chastened with some of that "center right credibility" rubbed off on him. That seems to be the DLC strategy for dealing with media character assassination of Dems. Send them to the woodshed until have a Nixon-goes-to-China moment and embrace their center-right captors.

[bear425]

56. Senator Kerry worked tirelessly to get our Congress back.

He's worked tirelessly for this country all his life. Yes, he's a fallible human being who sometimes makes a verbal faux pas. Don't we all!

I wish those who are tirelessly working to degrade him would use their talents for the good of our country, instead. (Not necessarily directed to the OP, but you know who you are.)

I was honored to meet him this election cycle and I know what an influence he was in what happened on Nov 7th. Thank you Senator Kerry! (and rosesaylavee for speaking up!)

[orpupilofnature57]

6. Verbiage is what has him on the suspect list , Al Gore doesn't talk..

..enough ,C'mon Al give the word.

[bridgit]

16. i love listening to Gore talk...

or is it speak, either way :patriot:

[blm]

24. Covering up IranContra, BCCI, Iraqgate and CIA drugrunning has him on the suspect list

Until he pledges that he will open the books on BushInc if he takes office. Or at least spill the beans on WHY Clinton would not pursue any of the outstanding matters on those crimes of office by Bush1.

Do you REALLY want to go into the "suspect" debate here?

[orpupilofnature57]

27. I meant only ' Verbiage ' and thats all ,Nothing about Integrity

Kerry opr Gore are both capable of saying "I Fucked up"

[nolies32fouettes]

7. love it! and there's this too.

http://www.progressiveu.org/172340-kerrys-first-words-since-pronoungate

[bridgit]

15. thanks for the link...

:)

[nolies32fouettes]

65. yw!

[Wiley50]

10. What You Say In August isn't as Important as Winning in November

I believe he did that too.

Fuck Blackwell

[bridgit]

17. delete...

[bridgit]

18. nail. on. head; Wiley50...

[A-Schwarzenegger]

11. Uncomfortable with self, uncomfortable with expression of self.

[Mass]

12. Truth is I never met somebody who did not understand Kerry.

What I met are people who thought other people are not smart enough to understand him (wonder who are the elitists).

[bridgit]

14. people say the same thing about me all the time, yet the concepts...

...some and/or certain of the concepts are dirt simple still...i am appreciative of the thoughts & opinions even of they less likely to understand that i am :)

[McKenzie]

13. I have no doubt he means well but perhaps he needs to have spent time

being poor, disenfranchised, outcast, Latino, Black etc before he can really understand what it is like to be in any of these marginalised groups.

That is the problem with many well meaning, rich and priviliged, politicians who have never walked in the shoes of the groups who most need social justice and whom, on whose behalf, they purport to speak. I'm not bashing Kerry; all I am saying is it is impossible for people like him to fully understand what it means to be cold, hungry, outcast, a member of an ethnic minority etc. He cannot understand because he has never been there.

[Mass]

20. Except for Kuchinich and Sharpton, who exactly has this experience who could run?

[bridgit]

21. while i am aware Kerry to be a descent, extraordinary & honorable person...

i as well understand what you're saying...i want to college on a scholarship

[sandnsea]

40. Like on a swift boat in the Mekong Delta

Side by side with people from all races and classes, in the midst of an impoverished and war torn nation, part of a war of opression that is literally killing innocents right before his eyes, and then come back and be put under the microscope of his own government because he dares to tell the truth of it - and is then kicked in the teeth by people like you for the rest of his life.

Who is more involved in their own selfish life?

[liberalpragmatist]

77. To be fair though, did FDR or JFK? - nt

[blm]

86. You think he was hobnobbing with Bushes on naval ship or on the Mekong Delta?

Who do you THINK Kerry was spending those years with?

And further - Kerry worked throughout college for his room and board and expenses while his tuition was paid for by a maiden aunt with money - his parents had little money at the time.

[undeterred]

22. I think he's incredibly sexy and I'd like to date him.

[bridgit]

23. .

:blush:

[kestrel91316]

25. Well, me too. But I suspect Teresa might have a few things to say about that.

[bridgit]

26. we're between health carriers, i would not mess with Teresa till a new...

carrier were established :thumbsup:

[undeterred]

29. ok, then we'll form a posse

overtake her, and we can share him after that :-)

[bridgit]

30. Yay! we have a plan...

:bounce:

[undeterred]

31. Yeah, whoever says the Dems don't have a plan

doesn't know about us!

[JI7]

80. so do I

[seabeyond]

33. i never once had a tough time understanding what kerry said

i wonder about those that do not get the simple (yes simple) words he uses. i cannot believe there really are so many people with such a fragile grasp on the english language, and the definition of words to have issues with kerry speech. not something i would be braggin about. but then georgie in all his simplicity adn three word sentences is so much more clear. like dreams on wings....????

[stepnw1f]

35. Maybe He's Too "PCish"?

Maybe he should throw in a word like, "queer, faggot, nigger, honkey", or some other non-PCish simple terms to garner more support. :sarcasm:

[LWolf]

36. It all seems to be a matter of perspective, doesn't it?

John Kerry is a wuss. John Kerry is an Olympian. John Kerry is a hero. John Kerry is Socrates, Plato, Darwin, and Einstein rolled into one. John Kerry is God. Whatever.

For someone who has no emotional investment in John Kerry one way or the other; from someone who appreciates his valuable service to his country, and who wants him to continue to serve his constituents in his state; from someone who wishes him the best but has no interest in placing him in the whitehouse:

John Kerry is irrelevant.

[seabeyond]

37. or maybe people, NO ONE feels kerry is olympian, socartes

plATO DARWIN einstein or god..... maybe we think he is a good man and would make a good president in all his flaws but many more plusses and just want a little honesty instead of the bullshit above to dismiss him and all those that support him

i dont think you will find a single kerry supporter who would chalenge your rate to ot want him as president. yet you easily dismiss a supporter as what, a nut?

[orpupilofnature57]

38. No No NO , John Kerry is a fine Democrat and man ,this thread as..

...I understand it, is his Inclination to use too many words.

[LWolf]

48. No.

I didn't dismiss any supporter. I logged in to find two competing Kerry threads; the "wuss" and the "august," etc.. They both seemed a little over the top to me.

I don't dislike Kerry. I'm sure he's a good man. "August, silver-tongued," etc.? As I indicated above, I think that's a matter of perspective, and I don't share that perspective. My post indicated appreciation and support for his work in the Senate. There are plenty of good people I don't want as President, and he is one of them. You are welcome to support him; I am welcome to dismiss him from my list of potential candidates to support. I can do so without attacking him, which is the point of my post.

[seabeyond]

68. thank you lwolf for the clarification

"dismiss him from my list of potential candidates to support. I can do so without attacking him"

i can certainly appreciate and respect this, that is for sure

[The Count]

44. Hear, hear! You said it!

I'm with you.

[cadmium]

45. You don't want him in the White house -- That' fair

but it is a mistake to think he is irrelevant. He is the Democrat that knows the most - possibly along with Senator Harkin and Wes Clark about the Bush-Iran Contra-terrorist network gang and their secrets. btw anyone who thinks any politician is a Socrates, Plato, Darwin, and Einstein is too idealistic about politicians.

[LWolf]

54. A couple of points:

To clarify "irrelevant:" His candidacy is irrelevant to me, personally, because he is not on my list of those I will campaign for. I didn't mean that he was irrelevant to American politics overall, and I should have made that clear.

I agree that anyone who thinks that any politician is a great philosopher, etc., is overly idealistic. That's why I find statements that "gush," that over-exaggerate a potential candidate's assets, to be tiresome at best, and potentially harmful at worst.

If not Plato, Socrates, Darwin, Einstein, etc., who is the "August, Silver-tongued" one supposed to be? John Barrymore? Sir John Gielgud? It makes him sound like his listeners are overwhelmed with his intellect or with his delivery, or both. I haven't been overwhelmed by anything. :shrug:

[cadmium]

71. Gotcha--I support him for a couple reasons that

may have more to do with me than him

1. I have a trust level now. I like him and generally agree on most issues. He does have an in depth understanding of most big issues, although that doesn't always come off in interviews. I dont trust charismatic figures.

2. I have a strong bias in favor of any liberal that I think is unfairly treated in the media. Right now Kerry is getting it from supposed liberal journalists out of proportion to any of his liabilities and way out of proportion to any other liberals. It is reminiscent of the way the MSM relentlessly tried to paint Gore as a stiff buffoon in 2000. I didn't care for Clinton that much but whent the right-wingers ganged up on him I became a supporter. Kerry pisses off the Bush white house big time and I partially judge people by their enemies in reverse. The ridiculous anonymous attacks against Kerry's giving and now this "botched joke" reinforces my support of him.

I also judge people by the people they stick up for. Dean Kerry and Clark really stood up for both Ned Lamont and Jack Murtha. Kerry is far more straight-forward and clear when he is sticking up for an ally than he is in interviews and speeches.

I could go on but I don't want to be long-winded-- ha ha. Bedtime.

[PassingFair]

39. How DARE you impugn that august, silver-tongued speaker...

Why, during the 2004 campaign he...



:boring:

[bridgit]

42. oh i know...

------------>me :spank:

[PassingFair]

43. LOL

I LIKE the guy.
I'm NOT stupid. I understand everything he says.
BUT, he PUTS ME TO SLEEP.

REALLY. I would NEVER need NO-DOZE
with him around.

[bridgit]

46. i do hear you, understand what he says...oh & cheers...

:toast:

[many a good man]

41. President Bartlett said it's a New England habit

Why something in 10 words when you can say it in 100?

[ruggerson]

47. The exact moment I knew Kerry had lost the election

was when he was on Jon Stewart, who jokingly asked him if he made a nickel every time an American opened a bottle of ketchup.

Kerry smiled and uttered: "Would that it were, Jon, would that it were."

Having grown up in New England myself with grandparents who talked exactly like this, it made me cringe.

Kerry's problems had nothing to do with his policies, America by and large agreed with all of Kerry's positions.

Kerry's problems had to do with how his personality translates on television. And that hasn't changed.

Would that it could.

[bridgit]

51. there'ya see now i would have said, "would that it were so"...

criminy, now i'm speechifying w/too many words x(

[ruggerson]

55. I would have said

don't tell anyone, especially my wife, but I'm really more of a mustard and hot dog kind of guy.

[bridgit]

57. LOL...

:rofl: :thumbsup:

[tinfoilinfor2005]

49. Ain'teth gonna happen.

Maybe one day, but not this time.

OK, flame me, but I will bet my paltry paycheck on this.

And, BTW, I felt the same way about Gore in 2004, but this time around, if he decides to run, he will have the upper hand.

[Vektor]

50. Kerry's a brilliant speaker...

...tripping over one's words once every two years or so when under the microscope and on camera constantly is a pretty good track record.

Let's contrast that with Bush who says something stupid and embarrassing every time he opens his thin- lipped, crooked, terse little pie-hole. If there was a frenzied, knee-jerk media response every time Bush misspoke, it would warrant round-the-clock coverage.

[bridgit]

53. agreed, bush spits gobbledygook out the side of his lying mouth...

without having to answer a single question as to why he has done so :thumbsdown:

[Vektor]

58. Isn't that the truth?

I guess that everyone is so accustomed to Bush's constant flubs that nobody pays attention any more.

If all these sensationalist talking heads have on Kerry is a dropped pronoun, well, they "ain't got dick."

It seems that if a Republican president, say, perpetuates an unjust war that has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of non-combatant civilians, the media is willing to turn a blind eye. But look at the backlash that ensues when a Democrat cracks a joke, and the masses are too stupid to get it. Or more accurately, they pretend to be too stupid to get it so they can feign indignance over it.

In a sense, it's a compliment. It shows they don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to ACTUAL issues. All they have is histrionics and diversionary tactics. Sad.

Bottom line, nobody died when Kerry made a joke about Bush's ignorance. However countless people have died as a result of Bush's ignorance.

Which of those is really the newsworthy item?

[bridgit]

59. i don't think bush's donor/fan base have any higher expectation of him...

than to sign the papers they slip under his nose sight unseen x( for them it is the stupider the president the better

[Vektor]

60. Hahahah - then they must be thrilled!

If they wanted a dumb president, they sure got one! :-)

Desired result, achieved!

[bridgit]

61. up until Nov. 7, 2006, i think they were relieving themselves down both...

pant legs...oh well :rofl:

[Vektor]

62. Now they are relieving themselves...

...for an entirely different reason. ;-)

[survivor999]

63. He's pompous.

[Cocoa]

64. does Kerry use different words than anyone else?

he has kind of an odd accent and way of speaking, but I think he uses words normally. In fact I've noticed he has a way of on occasion using common words incorrectly and pronouncing them wrong.

[Chomp]

69. Kerry will never be POTUS

The prescription is this: everyone get comfortable with that notion and move on.

[blm]

87. Why? So the coverup wing of the Dem party gets a free ride? Fock that.

I'm loyal to anti-corruption, open government Democrats and any COVERUP Democrat ala the Clinton team can go kiss Bush's ass....AGAIN.

[Imagevision]

73. Senator Kerry exposed IranContra and CIA drug-running

[emulatorloo]

75. but that's "too hard to understand"! EOM

[bridgit]

76. he's done many great things for this country, but can you believe i heard...

Duncan Hunter, that's right: Duncan Fucking Hunter, said on the tube the other day that the dems will not be able to run the iraq war on what he called, and maybe i'm wrong cause it sounded so goofy, but i think he said, "bumper signs" :shrug:

he has got to be f'ing kidding me & you both :rant: republicans have been running this entire lame-ass dog & pony show ON NOTHING MORE THAN WHAT COULD BE FIT onto a 'bumper sign' :banghead:

but there they are, making no contribution but the death of innocents, the further destruction of the world and they have the mic...at least for now and the last six years

how does it happen?

with simple if vacuous slogans: 'love it or leave it', 'my america, not yours', 'support our troops', 'we cut & run we lose', blah-blah-blah

but for the death & rape of blood, treasury, freedom, liberty...not a single piece of silver & gold flowered embroidery, not a one

it is a square peg in a round hole mentality and all we need to facilitate is a BFH...that's it, the substance of a popcorn fart no more words than a fortune cookie fortune

[emulatorloo]

74. Holy Crap -- if you want lowest common denominator, listen to Bush

or a Britney Spears record.

Kerry is not that hard to understand. You're just flogging a BS cliche for who knows what reason. Why on earth a DU'er would want to gratuitously trash a good Democrat is beyond me.

I feel like an idiot for kicking your idiotic thread, but so be it!

[bridgit]

78. oh, so you missed the 'Kerry is a wuss' thread...

many here including myself have already stated that he is in fact not hard to understand...maybe just a little too easy for the opposition to step around,

you're not an idiot, you're a democrat as are we all right? i voted for the guy :shrug:

[emulatorloo]

83. I guess your humor is too subtle for me. . .

or maybe you just botched the joke! :toast:

[wisteria]

79. I don't seem to have any problem understanding him, you on the other hand- I

am having a hard time figuring out. Granted, Kerry has been known to take the long way around an answer in the past- personally, that doesn't bother me, but he has for the most part changed his speaking style and some of his speeches are just absolutely fabulous. I would suggest to go to the links below and give a listen than come back and tell me you don't know what he is saying.


http://video.johnkerry.com/video/flash/102906_livestrong.html

http://www.johnkerry.com/video/flash/101406_nhjj.html

http://www.johnkerry.com/video/flash/042406_dissent_20min.html

[bridgit]

81. with respect to me, i'm not convinced you're applying yourself...

why then do you think Mr. Kerry's message was not conveyed in what you feel to be its pure form? any thoughts there? MSM failure? the other side talked too much, too fast? what?

as i've stated above i voted for him, and there were times i wanted to rearrange his 'rapid response' team...time = tic-toc, tic-toc; then it's all over

in a nation on it's way to a vinte white mocha, a tee time, or the purchase of a new hummer, a diamond tennis bracelet; it is vital to be as concise as possible while your opposition is raining lies down all around you

you think i've been hard to understand thus far? it is an artist's malady to be sure http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=216x3994

[Canuckistanian]

84. I haven't the slightest glimmer of comprehension.....

... as to that obtuse reference.

[TayTay]

85. Ahm, what did you say?

I like the guy who said:

It is immoral for old men to send young Americans to fight and die in a conflict without a strategy that can work -- on a mission that has not weakened terrorism but worsened it.

It is immoral to lie about progress in that war to get through a news cycle or an election.

It is immoral to treat 9/11 as a political pawn -- and to continue to excuse the invasion of Iraq by exploiting the 3,000 mothers and fathers, sons and daughters who were lost that day. They were attacked and killed not by Saddam Hussein but by Osama bin Laden.

And it is deeply immoral to compare a majority of Americans who oppose a failing policy and seek a winning one to appeasers of Fascism and Naziism.

http://www.johnkerry.com/news/speeches/speech.html?id=12

I understand there are a lot of people who can't understand the simple idea that we need to get out of Iraq and stop this war because it is damaging America and our moral standing in the war. I guess this just points out the failure of the American education system as well.

It's a pretty simple concept. It is immoral and we should not be engaged in this immoral conduct. Now what part of that do you have trouble with?