Some Thoughts on Dean, Kerry from NH Folks

[Justice]

Heard this today from New Hampshire voters -

1. Generally, people are puzzled why Kerry is not doing better in NH. Thoughts - he is playing it "too safe"; he has Jeanne Shaheen's husband running his campaign (Jeanne is former governor, lot bitter senate race to Sununu) The campaign seems lackluster - like Shaheen's race in the end. The Kerry folks working campaign events seem, well frankly unprofessional - young, not well educated.

2. Dean - one comment was whether he was an isolationalist. Dean acted pretty isolationist while Governor of VT - seemed solely concerned with VT, no thoughts, concern about US as a whole.

[alexwcovington]

1. Well...

You do not need to concern yourself much with the rest of the US as a state governor. Aside from begging for more federal money, there's really not much you can do.

[maxanne]

2. You're right about Kerry campaign workers

I saw a bunch of them just randomly accosting people on the street in Concord. Not cool, downtown by the state house. Young, and clueless.

The Kerry people in the Laconia office are good. Not as good as the Dean people up here, though. They're smart and working to be part of the community.

I don't think Billy Shaheen is a bad choice - but the Shaheens are well known as being very moderate Democrats. I think Kerry would do better to be a little more rebellious - but he's voted for so many crappy Bushista things, it's hard to defend. I don't mean just the war in Iraq - he voted for No Child Left Behind, and then had the nerve to complain about it.

Kerry is not percieved as something new and different.

[KC21304]

3. Is Kerry not allowed to complain if a program

( No Child Left Behind) he votes for is not funded ?

[kwolf68]

4. Hell no

Haven't you figured out the MO yet? Dean fan attacks Kerry, but only offers part of argument.

Dean fan has luxury of having candidate who didn't have to vote for anything, who didn't have to politic and make compromise. Dean fan has the perfect candidate....Dean has done nothing...ergo, he has done nothing wrong.

Kerry has record. Record of 20 years in office. He has voted for a lot of things...Chances are he didn't get it done on some votes.

Dean fan ignores countless fights, wars, and battle Kerry waged on behalf of our principles while Dean was laying in a hammock in Vermont.

[candy331]

5. Kerry has no fire

and I'm sorry to tell you but the candidate that is not burning up will not appeal. If Sharpton was of the right persuasion (color) you would see his numbers at the top. The man has that fire and he gets people excited. He gets people excited and gets them to the polls and not just Afro-Amer either. Dean's delivery is not burning but his message is so he commands attention.. Sharpton delivery and message exhudes fire. Perhaps Dean could get some private lessons from Al. I don't think it will help Kerry he is too stiff and seemingly too gentlemanly like not someone you'd think would fight. . THIS IS NOT BASHING JUST OBSERVATIONS, PLEASE.


''IF YOUR SPEECH DOES NOT FIRE UP THEN THROW THE SPEECH IN THE FIRE" ...and start over

[maxanne]

6. My my my

arent' you just amazingly gifted at reading between unwritten lines? You been working with Miss Cleo??

I don't recall listing myself as a Dean fan. Clearly in your mind, anyone who dares criticize or question the views/votes of any candidate is someone to bash. That's great policy. I thought we were here to have discussions, not sophomoric playground debates. :eyes:

What I am is someone who is fed the fuck up with wimpy Democrats voting for GOP policies and then whining about it. I knew that No Child Left Behind was a sucky policy, and I'm just a hick from NH. Why didn't Kerry know? And how many times can he apologize for rolling over for the Bushistas?

Apparently thin-skinned Kerry fan equates Howard Dean with Satan. So many of you showing up these days. :eyes:

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

11. NCLB

Kerry thinks it's a good law, just complains that it is unfunded. He is dead wrong, though. It's a piss poor law that is ruining education, and funding it would only make it worse. It needs to be repealed.

[blm]

7. No problem..the Kerry campaign has the MASTER activists

about to set NH acracklin'. The IAFF endorsement unleashes the NH Fire Fighters to start hitting the streets, which they will do on MONDAY. They were Gore's first responders and the FIERCEST of advocates.


Visit the International Association of Firefighters Web Site
Statement by Harold A. Schaitberger
General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters

Endorsement of Senator John Kerry for President
September 24, 2003

I am proud to announce that a few moments ago the IAFF Executive Board, the senior leadership of the fire fighters union, voted unanimously to endorse Senator John Kerry for President of the United States.

Next Monday, John and I will be together at a fire station in New Hampshire to formally kickoff the “Fire Fighters for Kerry Campaign,” accompanied by hundreds of professional fire fighters and their families from the Granite State and across New England. Then, we will move on to Iowa, South Carolina, Arizona, and other early primary states to join our members there on our road to electing John Kerry as our next President.

While America’s fire fighters have many reasons for supporting Senator Kerry’s candidacy, there are several that form the basis of our endorsement today. First and foremost, John Kerry represents the values that we, as fire fighters, embody and embrace. Just as fire fighters work on the front lines, under fire every day, so has John Kerry faced hostile fire as the gunboat he commanded fought its way up the Mekong Delta. Just as fire fighters have been hailed as heroes for their courage and their sacrifice, so has John Kerry been decorated as a war hero and recognized by his peers and his nation for his guts and his bravery.

Just as fire fighters are acknowledged as America’s domestic defenders, so has John Kerry proven his commitment to homeland security, backed by his extensive experience in defense issues and foreign affairs. Just as fire fighters protect the public from every conceivable emergency and disaster, so too has John Kerry protected the public for 30 years as a United States Senator, a hard-nosed prosecutor and a wartime Naval officer. John Kerry understands the true meaning of service and duty just as fire fighters do. We trust John Kerry because he is one of us.

John Kerry can win and he will win.

That’s because America’s fire fighters, the 260,000 men and women of the IAFF, who live, work, and protect 80 percent of the nation’s population in thousands of communities will be helping him across all 50 states and throughout all 435 congressional districts in this country. The latest polls show that John Kerry can defeat George Bush and help put our country back on track at a time when our nation is at a crossroads and the Bush Administration has thrust our nation into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. When we have watched a $5.6 trillion budget surplus evaporate into the highest federal deficits in history, after only two and a half years of Bush’s reign.

When 41 million Americans are without health insurance and many of them must call 911 and use our fire departments and costly hospital emergency rooms for basic medical care because they simply cannot afford a family Doctor. When the number of unemployed Americans has grown by 49 percent since Bush took office, and, when cash-starved state and local governments are being forced to layoff fire fighters and cut other essential municipal services to their citizens.

At a time like this we need someone with vision, integrity and experience to pull us out of this economic decline. And, the International Association of Fire Fighters knows that John Kerry has what it takes to do the job. He is a proven leader. He knows how to navigate Washington. He learned the hard way in Vietnam, in the courtroom, and in the halls of the U.S. Senate.

America’s fire fighters will be on the front lines of the Kerry campaign across this nation in the coming weeks and months just as we are on the front lines everyday to protect the safety of all Americans. And now John, let me give you the first “Fire Fighters for Kerry” T-shirt. I assure you that the public will be seeing a lot more of these gold and black shirts as this campaign moves forward to secure your nomination and ultimate victory on Election Day. 
**********

[KaraokeKarlton]

9. Well let's hope there are no fires or traffic accidents

If all of NH's firefighters are going to be out campaigning for Kerry.

Hate to tell you blm, but firefighters are going to be manning their respective firehouses, not canvassing on Monday. They can do some volunteering during their off hours, but the way you're talking you'd think they were going to be campaigning full time. Won't happen, as they have important work to do.

[blm]

10. You don't know that much about the Fire Fighters, do you?

Or the way they are scheduled. Or the fireceness of their advocacy.

Your post just illustrated how little you know about the power of the IAFF in elections.

[KaraokeKarlton]

12. I know a lot of them, actually

And after their long shifts they usually just want to go home and spend time with their kids and family.

[blm]

14. Some...but most of them are gungho in election years.

And this upcoming election will be their most visible and influential campaign EVER.

[KaraokeKarlton]

8. Dean actually worked very closely with both NH and Maine

on several things. One such thing is the prescription drug pool, to help make prescription drugs more affordable. Vermont and NH authorities work closely as well. There is the New England Dairy Compact as well.

I do agree about Kerry and the Shaheens running his NH campaign. Shaheen should have been able to win against Sununu easily. She was a two term governor who left office to run against Sununu. Unfortunately, she ran a disgustingly negative campaign that really turned people off. She's not the "hero" in NH that some Kerry supporters believe her to be. I'm just glad she endorsed Kerry and not Dean! I don't think her endorsement will help anyone. If NH voters didn't choose her over Sununu I don't think her endorsement is worth much.

[maxanne]

13. Karlton

You're being a little unfair to Jeanne Shaheen. I have no great love for moderate Democrats - but Karl Rove's influence in the Sununu campaign was felt. Deeply felt in the reprehensible Bradley campaign against Martha Fuller Clark.

NH has a school funding crisis - and until we deal with the way we fund education, we will continue to be screwed. Shaheen made a convenient scapegoat for the high property taxes and lack of resolution. The fact that the NH House has been under Republican control since the Civil War wasn't mentioned. We need a state income tax. William Loeb is still dictating NH tax policy from the grave. Jeanne was easy to blame it all on.

2002 was an abysmal year for Democrats around the country - W. flew to campaign for every dog catcher - Democratic patriotism was under fire - and Democrats did even worse than usual in NH. Sununu had big money and big names behind him. He's a rubber stamp Republican, who has never had an original thought in his life. He does what the big boys tell him to. They spent a lot of money to make sure he got elected.

I don't think it's fair to blame her entirely - it was a bad year for Dems everywhere, and even more so in NH - a state that hasn't fully embraced the 2 party system.