FOR Kerry not just against Bush...a Deaner's perspective

[fabius]

Digby had a post today about how we should be looking at John Kerry in a positive way, not just in an ABB way. He also has some good reasons why even former Dean/Clark/Edwards etc. supporters should be very happy with Kerry.

He's not a crook, he's not lazy, he's not stupid. He's very accomplished, he's highly experienced and he's got good instincts. But, I'm convinced that the most important character traits in a successful President at this point in history are resiliance and cunning; even if we win the election, politics are going to remain a bloodsport. The Republicans aren't going to fade away. This battle is ongoing and we must have someone who can withstand a punch and come back. It is going to be very, very difficult to govern. I think Kerry is running not because he's "electable," but because he's one of the few Democrats of his generation who has spent his life preparing to govern in the face of a radical political opposition. The job is not for the fainthearted.(Digby)

If I really look at John Kerry, I have to agree that he's arguably the best qualified of all the primary candidates to be President in these difficult times.

Full disclosure, I supported Dean until he dropped out, voted Kucinich in the Oregon primary, (since Dean wasn't on the ballot), but have been donating money to the DNC and Kerry ever since.

I have been voting since 1972 and I believe in John Kerry is arguably the best-qualified presidential candidate of my voting lifetime. Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, honestly, were pretty thin gruel for me. Even Bill Clinton, for all his immense talents and unquestionable success, wasn't quite "ready" when he took office, although he learned pretty damned quick.

Kerry has equal or superior credentials to any Democratic candidate in the last 50 years on foreign policy, military issues, and environmental issues. He has a solid voting record. He is tough and disciplined. He has the ability to work across partisan boundaries. He is a Washington insider.

The environment in Washington politics is so poisonous now that an outsider (even Howard Dean, whom I cheered for speaking so forthrightly), would probably have little chance of advancing an agenda.

If we want to move the party and the country to the left, that's fine, but first we have to dig in and resist the right-wing advance. Like Meade at Gettysburg, Kerry picks his ground carefully and digs in. He won't make mistakes.

His opponent is overconfident from a streak of electoral victories. He thinks he and his true believers are invincible. He is wrong.


http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2004_06_20_digbysblog_archive.html#108784659337413060

[hang a left]

1. An honorable post.

n/t

[sandnsea]

2. Yep

That would be exactly why I chose John Kerry a year ago.

[DaveSZ]

3. I agree with you

Despite the fact he's a little to my right on the economic scale, Kerry is the best man (including Nader) to go against BUsh.

He helped end the Vietnam war after volunteering for it, prosecuted BCCI and Iran/Contra, helped found the first Earth Day, and helped block Bush from drilling in ANWAR!


I'd be proud to call this man "President."

[Anarcho-Socialist]

4. I agree with your post, fabius

Hopefully Kerry will trounce Bush* and stop The Chimp from winning his first election.