Daily Democrat: A positive discussion about John Kerry

[Skinner]

In an effort to provide for some enlightening discussion, rather than partisan flaming, the administrators have decided to post regular threads about the candidates for the Democratic nomination which are reserved for positive discussion only. These threads will be called the "Daily Democrat".

Currently, we intend to post two Daily Democrat discussion threads per day. If a particular thread becomes too long, then the moderators will open additional threads as necessary. These discussion threads will be allowed to stay open until the next two Daily Democrat threads are opened at some point the following day.

THE RULES

The rules for these Daily Democrat candidate threads are as follows. (For the purposes of these rules, the candidate who is the subject of the thread is referred to as the "Daily Democrat".)

1. You are welcome to post anything positive about the Daily Democrat. You can explain why you support that person. You can dispel myths about that candidate. You can discuss that person's positions on various issues. Whatever.

2. You are allowed to favorably compare the Daily Democrat to other candidates, provided that you are not unnecessarily inflammatory or antagonistic to the other candidates.

3. You may not post attacks of any kind against the Daily Democrat. Furthermore, you cannot post criticism and try to pass it off as a compliment ("I enthusiastically support candidate X because he ruined his state's economy!")

4. You may not discuss the supporters of any candidate (that goes for the the Daily Democrat, or any other candidate).

5. Undecided voters are encouraged to ask questions about the Daily Democrat in order to better inform their choice. Note that criticism disguised as a question will not be allowed.

6. You may not start another discussion thread for the purposes of responding to comments made in the "Daily Democrat" thread. Sorry -- you just have to suck it up and let the positive discussion continue uninterrupted.

7. I will not babysit the Daily Democrat thread, because I believe it will not be necessary. It is the responsibility of every member to know and follow the rules. Deliberate disruption of the Daily Democrat thread, or efforts by opponents to influence the Daily Democrat thread, will result in the banning of the individual(s) responsible.

8. I reserve the right to change the rules as necessary to make this work.

TIMING

We will discuss two Daily Democrats per day, and cycle through the list of presidential candidates in modified alphabetical order.

12/13 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/14 - NO DAILY DEMOCRAT THREAD
12/15 - Howard Dean ....... and ... Joe Lieberman
12/16 - John Edwards ...... and ... Carol Moseley Braun
12/17 - Dick Gephardt ..... and ... Al Sharpton
12/18 - John Kerry ........ and ... Wesley Clark
12/19 - Dennis Kucinich ... and ... Howard Dean
12/20 - Joe Lieberman ..... and ... John Edwards
12/21 - Carol Moseley Braun and ... Dick Gephardt
12/22 - Al Sharpton ....... and ... John Kerry
12/23 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/24 - Etc...

LET'S GET STARTED

Here's your chance for some positive discussion of John Kerry! Who wants to start it off?

[Patriot_Spear]

1. John Kerry has an honorable record of service...

We're lucky to have a man like John Kerry on our side.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. I agree.

eom

[WiseMen]

22. John F. Kerry is the UNIQUE TREASURE of the Dem Party. A Liberal War Hero

There is no other progressive leader in the Democratic Party with John Kerry's decorated, credentialled and uncompromized record.

It is a tragedy that he image has been so slimed by the subtle and not so subtle denegrations of his character and vision during the campaign -- by both Governor Dean and "oh so wise" pundits.

[curse10]

2. John Kerry is a true liberal

with the best shot of being a great president and to wipe the floor with Bush :-)

[sandnsea]

3. Kerry's Health Care Plan

Since I just posted this in another thread, I decided to copy it here so people could see the basics. There is more on mental health, aids, R&D and costs at the link below. The reason I like buying into the federal plan is because it won't be labeled as socialized medicine.

In a new compact with the states, the Federal government will pick up the cost of Medicaid coverage for children in exchange for automatic enrollment of all school children eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program. Eligibility for coverage will be extended to 300 percent of poverty-level incomes for children, and coverage will be extended to the six million single and childless adults who are uninsured and live below the poverty line. Independent experts estimate that the Kerry plan will cover 99 percent of America’s children.

Nine million Federal employees get health care through the Federal Employees Health Care Benefits program (FEHBP), which offers a wide range of plans with good benefits. The Kerry plan will allow every American access to this system. With tax-based incentives to employers and tax credits to individuals and the self-employed, the Kerry plan will ensure that this coverage is affordable.

By joining the new Congressional Health Plan under Kerry’s plan small businesses will be able to provide more affordable coverage. Kerry is also proposing refundable tax credits up to 50 percent of coverage to small businesses and their employees to help subsidize the cost of health insurance.

John Kerry believes that when you lose your job you shouldn't lose your health care. That is why he is proposing a 75 percent tax credit to assure workers can keep their health insurance between jobs.

In 2001, only 4/10 of one percent of private insurance claims were for individuals with health expenses in excess of $50,000. However, these claims accounted for nearly 20 percent of medical expenses for private insurers. Under Kerry’s proposal companies and insurers that guarantee a pass-through of the savings to their workers through reduced premiums, would be reimbursed for 75 percent of catastrophic costs above $50,000. To be eligible for this relief, employers would have to: provide affordable health coverage to all their workers; demonstrate they will pass through savings of up to $1000 to workers; and encourage disease management to improve and hold down the cost of care.

Prescription drug assistance using the federal government's purchasing power to induce giant drug wholesalers to pass along to consumers the rebates they get from the drug manufacturers; getting more affordable generic drugs to the market, giving states the flexibility to negotiate better deals, and allowing people to buy quality drugs through Canada.

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/healthcare/

[blm]

9. You're right. Kerry words it so Repubs CAN'T refute it because it's THEIR

health plan that THEY get that WE the taxpayer pay for.

Brilliant stroke by Kerry. Brilliant. And you can be sure this is exactly one of the reasons the media won't pay attention to it.

[Jacobin]

4. He helped end the Vietnam war

[blm]

8. and the Iran-Iraq war and the illegal wars in Central America.

All ended because of Kerry's diligence in investigating the illegal supplying of arms to both Iran and Iraq and Kerry's efforts in exposing the illegality of Reagan-Bush's wars and the atrocities in Central America.

[ACK]

5. Kerry's overall voting record

superb.

[blm]

6. Best chance for a real liberal. He built the best team to take W down.

Bush doesn't want to have to face the man who WROTE THE BOOK on terrorism and its funding by international governments in 1997, The New War.


John Kerry assembled a team to confront Bush on the issues Rove wants to take to the American people in 2004. National security and the fear of terrorism. No doubt, the last thing Rove needs are experts in those areas speaking out during the general election against Bush and for the Democratic opponent.

Gary Hart, knows more about national security and antiterrorism measures than any national figure. He is the author of the Hart-Rudman report which was delivered to Bush in Jan. 2001 after a 2 1/2 year study commissioned by Clinton. The report wasn't dealt with at all prior to 9-11.

Rand Beers, former National Security Official, knows the inner workings of the Bush team's post 9-11 efforts, of which he observed mostly inertia and incompetence.

Max Cleland, formerly of the 9-11 commission, knows the Bush team is trying to pull a fast one on the American people by covering up crucial information of dealings that led to 9-11. Has been speaking out to groups across the country, and swinging the AWOLSTICK as a bonus.

Gen. William Perry, Clinton's expert on nuclear arms proliferation and N. Korea, knows Bush's failures on the serious Korea issue and his incompetence in dealing with its threat.

Joe Wilson, the man who knows TOO much. Exposed Cheney's office as the source for cooked intelligence reports on Iraq. Also alerted public to treasonous acts by White House in exposing his wife, an undercover CIA agent. Many in intel community aligning with Wilson and his wife against the WH.

The media is loathe to give these men the airtime at this point because they are too damaging to Bush on his perceived strengths. They can afford to ignore them and the substance of their case against Bush because they are selling the American people the "process" of the primary horserace as entertainment. If Kerry were the nominee, the media would have no choice but to feature his spokespeople on the various issues.

Kerry assembled a team to TAKE BUSH DOWN, while some others assembled a team to take Kerry down. Democrats need to take this into consideration. BushInc. NEEDS these men and their message muted.

  

[Democrats unite]

7. I have the utmost respect for John Kerry

And wish him well in the primaries

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. He is the most presidential

and will make the greatest president.

[OKNancy]

11. I would feel very good and proud of a John Kerry presidency

He is a great guy and I have defended him many times here on DU.

Kerry would be a damn good President.

[JohnKleeb]

13. One of the best candiates on the environment if not the best

Plus hes been my second choice for a while.

[MaineDem]

19. By far the best environmental candidate!

No question.

[eissa]

14. Great record

Would be very confident of his abilities as POTUS. Still my second choice though :-)

[stickdog]

15. Kerry knows policy backwards and forewards. (nt)

[frustrated_lefty]

16. kick

[maddezmom]

17. John Kerry ~excellent record in the senate ~would be a great Prez!

[mzmolly]

18. John Kerry has balls!

:toast:

[janx]

20. He sure does.

He won't back down, and he has taken a bullet too.

[UrbScotty]

21. He knows what he's talking about.

He has done an excellent served his country in uniform and in public service for the past nearly forty years.

[mb7588a]

23. Kerry has the winning image,

and image is SO important to so many Americans. Face it, if they don't know anything about a candidate, they judge them on appearance, and on party. The image in my signature ought to win elections all by itself. :)

[blm]

24. Geez, that picture is cute.

He really shines with kids, doesn't he?