I don't support Dean as a form of revenge against Kerry

[killbotfactory]

I support Dean because I believe he is the best candidate we have and will defeat Bush. I like him because his positions very close to my own. I like him because he's not an idealogue and will come to positions based on his own analysis and their own merit, and if that goes against the grain of conventional wisdom, or the majority of his own party, he'll defend his stance and won't pander. I like that he is unscripted, and speaks from his heart. I like that he was a leader during this horrible Iraq war, when so many other people were falling in line behind Bush out of fear, or ignorance, or political expedience. I like his focus on empowering people to take back their country.

That's why I support Dean.

I don't support him as some childish backlash against Kerry's vote on the IWR. I assume that many supporters are the same as I. That's why when Kerry, or some of his supporters, attack Dean it does not help him.

Kerry was never entitled to my vote. If Kerry didn't vote for the IWR, I would still back Dean. If Kerry was vocally opposed to the war, as Dean was, when it mattered, I would still be for Dean.

I don't support Kerry because I don't think he's the best candidate we have. I don't like the way he's run his campaign. I don't like the arrogance that eminated from his campaign when Dean was nipping at his heals. I don't like the sense of entitlement I get from him or his supporters because he had a good resume in Congress for so many years. I don't like his overwelmingly negative obsession with Dean, especially when I feel his arguements insult my intelligence. I just don't like him as a candidate.

Kerry and his supporters can waste all the time they want, scrounging for the perfect Dean quote to spin, screaming "BIDEN LUGAR WAS NO DIFFERENT" at the top of your lungs, or calling Dean a flip-flopper, but it won't help Kerry one goddamn bit.

If Dean manages to lose my support (not goddamn likely), I wouldn't start supporting Kerry. He's not my second choice.

I am not some crazy leftist liberal looking for a savior to martyr themselves before Bush. I think for myself, and am not too persuaded by the conventional wisdom spouted by pundits (and they have a horrible track record), or kneejerk emotional reactions. I am just looking for a good candidate I can support in good concience, who will beat Bush, and I think Dean is the man.

[KaraokeKarlton]

1. Amen

That is all.

[Cha]

2. I started looking at supporting Dean in December

2002! And it's only gotten stronger!

[mzmolly]

3. Exactly. I'd support Dean no matter how Kerry voted on the IWR...

:)

[w13rd0]

4. I started supporting Dean...

...about half an hour after Gore announced his withdrawl. Kerry has nothing to do with it. None of the candidates besides Dean have anything to do with it...

[Droopy]

5. I wonder how much Kerry's war vote has hurt him

Or has it at all. Is it just as you stated that people are prefering a different candidate because they think they can do a better job?

I'm betting it has hurt him somewhat (it hurt him with me), but not near enough to make his campaign start sinking the way it is. He's just not turning people on like he used to for some reason.

[ozone_man]

6. Dean is not part of the hive mind of Washington.

I think he took them by surprise, because they can't think for themselves. All voted for the IWR, voted for No Child Left Behind, like a flock of pigeons.

Dean doesn't need any special gimmicks to rally the populace, just good common sense. People relate to that. I agree, it's not a particular issue that attracts me to Dean, it's just Dean being himself.

Excellent post BTW.

[Scott Lee]

8. And notice how his presence has stirred to hive to drone agitation

Dean is getting attacked by all the right people - from Rangel to Hillary Clinton. These are people who are revealing themselves as either petty or stooges of the Bush Regime while marching around in Democratic threads.

[killbotfactory]

9. His IWR vote and war support sure didn't help him

He had a chance to be a leader and blew it, and now is left attacking a guy who was and giving lame explanations explaining himself. It's just not the only reason I don't support him.

[bearfartinthewoods]

15. if you are referencing Will's thread i think you missed his point

he was writing, in particular, about the attacks on Kerry that said he was a fool for trusting bush, when dean himself has said he trusted bush. that was the issue of Will's post imho.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. You don't like Kerry. Got it.

[killbotfactory]

10. He's probably a good guy and would make a great president.

I just think Dean, and a couple others, would be better and haven't been impressed by him or his campaign.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

11. We're probably lucky this guy didn't have to appear on TV

or have a website....

[JohnKleeb]

12. He didnt have a radio either

Hell I bet you were lucky back then if you knew what Lincoln sounded like. Now its like oh thats Bush, you know it in a heart beat.

[calimary]

13. Hot diggity-dog, killbot - great post!

No wonder you were hailed on another thread as one of the better writers!

I agree with this.

Let me say again, as I feel compelled to do routinely in the midst of all this accellerating candidate thrashing, I WILL support whomever winds up as our standard-bearer. That would include Kerry. WHOMEVER. Yes, even Lieberman. ABB! But having assessed what I've read and found and watched and heard, I, too, think Dean wins the general excellence medal.

[lastliberalintexas]

14. Good post

and a kick. I think certain Kerry (and maybe others) supporters need to see this.

You won't win people over to your candidate by criticizing their favorite. You will only do so by detailing the factual reasons why your favorite is the best- NOT just your opinion. BTW, electability is just your opinion, since none of us knows how the next election will go. Talk about policies, experience in public and private sectors, and plans for the future, and you just might win some converts for Dean, Kerry, etc.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. That's all well and good until you see: "he trusted- Bush what a fool"

and: "Fuck Kerry- he voted for War" etc.....

It really grates on and insults the Kerry crowd because John Kerry is the last person who would want to see war and bloodshed.