I Still Feel Sorry For John Kerry

[THUNDER HANDS]

I'm reading the last part of this Newsweek article on him and its just sad the way folks never connected to him.

The deeper problem may be Kerry's personality, which may be too distant or reserved to win mass affection. As this reporter left his house in November, Kerry called out and followed him down the street. He wanted to show a letter from a schoolgirl that had been left on his stoop. The letter read, in part, "John Kerry, you're the greatest!" Kerry looked into the reporter's eye. "The pundits have never liked me," he said. "Is it the way I look? The way I sound?" He seemed vulnerable for a moment, then caught himself, smiled and walked home to his empty house.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6777696/site/newsweek/

I know what that's like. I was kinda funny looking in school and other kids never really warmed up to me. I've also been called kinda aloof and distant.

Its not elitism as much as it is a deep internal shyness. I think Kerry had that, which is odd, considering how much inner strength he has being a veteran and war hero and all.

[JohnKleeb]

1. I can see that, in that way I too sort of identify with him

[NVMojo]

2. I feel sorry for Kerry cuz of the losers who ran his election ...

they had not CLUE ONE about the crap going on with the RNC and the re-election efforts for GWB ....they were totally unprepared and arrogant. I know, I watched it happen in Nevada...

[tridim]

8. But Kerry won..

Those "losers" have won the past 4 presidential elections in this country.

[Hippo_Tron]

19. Different people ran Clinton's campaign than Gore's and Kerry's

Carville, Begala, and Lockhart were Clinton's main guys and thus have a damn good record on winning presidential races. Gore who foolishly decided to distance himself from Clinton decided to hire Bob Shrum instead. Gore's campaign was a disaster. Yes I believe that he truly did win Florida but the simple fact is that Florida shouldn't have mattered. There was NO EXCUSE for Gore's home state of Tennesee going to Bush when it had gone to Clinton in the last 2 elections. There was NO EXCUSE for Gore loosing the debates to a fucking moron like chimp. Basically, Gore had every sinlge advantage that you could've asked for in the 2000 election. His campaign was run SO poorly that it came down to Ketherine Harris' ability to send a few thousand votes one way or the other in a giant state like Florida.

Kerry also hired Bob Shrum and had him running his campaign until about September when he realized that his campaign wasn't going well. To try and rescue the campaign he put Shrum on the bench and hired Lockhart and Sasso and soon the race was tied again. Ohio and Florida both had Secretaries of State who were GOP party hacks, it was inevitable that if the race came down to a point or two that they could easily give it to Bush. They did their best to preven that but it's not that easy when the election is too close to call. The fact is that if Kerry had Lockhart and Sasso running his campaign in March (instead of September when it was simply too late), he would've been 5 points ahead in Ohio com election day. A one point race can be rigged. A five point race can't. Anybody who tried to change that many votes would be caught and thrown in jail. I would bet that the reason Kerry conceded is that his internal polling showed that it was simply too close to call in Ohio and he has no way of proving that 100,000 votes were fixed in favor of *. Had his internal polling showed him 5 points ahead in Ohio come election day you can damn well bet that he wouldn't have conceded.

Voter fraud is a serious problem, and the longer that we let it happen the more rampant that it will become. But to say that there aren't other things that the democratic party couldn't improve on is asinine and surefire way to continue loosing elections.

[chaumont58]

15. Shrum: oh for eight

Bob Shrum is zero for his last eight presidential campaigns?!? I don't think choosing Shrum was Kerry's best moment in 2004.
While I don't have specific answers, I do think the Kerry Campaign made a mistake for not finding a way to hit back at the Swift Boat Liars. I read one report that said Shrum and Cahill advises him against replying. Not replying gave the repukes a free(at least upopposed) campaign. An aggesssive reply could have been a national campaign. As it was, Kerry had a collection of state campaigns. I live in California and saw nothing except what was on cable news. We all know how unbiased they are.
Two months after the election, Two month after the election, no image of the Kerry campaign comes to mind. No need to elaborate.

[robbedvoter]

3. I feel sorry for me. Kerry stopped representing me as of November 3rd.

Folded like a cheap umbrella.

[THUNDER HANDS]

6. he feels like he let you down

its in the article. He's really depressed that all the folks who worked so hard were disappointed by him.

Not by his concession, but by the fact he didn't win outright on election day.

[LittleClarkie]

40. Only if Robbedvoter was one of the "intensely loyal" before Nov. 3

Were you, robbedvoter?

[Skwmom]

46. Considering the majority of the K/E vote was a vote against Bush

and not a vote for K/E, I doubt that the majority of K/E voters would satisfy your requirement.

[LittleClarkie]

65. Where is that poll?

I keep asking for it, but no one can point one out. I sure haven't seen a poll that measures the number of ABB vs actual Kerry/Edwards supporters.

No fair claiming a majority for yourself unless you can prove it exists. Most of the people I met or got to know were at least moderately for K/E and/or were traditional Dem voters who would have voted Dem anyway.

In the context of the article, Kerry said it was the supporters his nephew was referring to, the ones who got to know Kerry and became intensely loyal, that Kerry especially let down. So I figure unless that fits Robbedvoter, then Kerry wasn't referring to him as one he esp. let down.

I fit that description, but he didn't let me down. The media let me down. The voting system let me down. The idiot in the bar who called me a commie let me down. And not just me, but everyone who really, really needed hope to be on the way.

[StephanieMarie]

4. I do because I know in my heart that he won.

I just hope that behind the scenes somehow he's actually fighting for the victory that was his but stolen.

[Clark2008]

5. Awww...

:hug: for Kerry.

No, John, it's not YOU, it's that the pundits are bought and paid for by the neo-con wing of the Republican Party.

[elshiva]

12. I still love you Kerry

"John Kerry you're the greatest." That letter was from me, hon. (not really, but it could have been.)
Yeah, I and my other nerdy friends identify with Sen. Kerry cos he was/is an intelligent caring mensch, but the election was rigged by an oily chimp. He does great in the Senate like we nerds get good grades, but can't get in the WH cos the School Bully got it wired for himself.
Feel sorry for Kerry, but thank God he's still in the Senate and is still married to supersexy Momma T.:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[n2mark]

7. I do still feel sorry for Kerry

No matter what he said or did, his wife the same, Edwards the same the media excuse me fucked them. They could have not done anything different, the media was there to screw them royally, but the saddest thing was, the DEMOCRATS WERE NOT THERE FOR KERRY they were like puppets on a puke string. Excuse me DNC where were you during the election?

[LittleClarkie]

43. Remember how the media kept saying "Where's Edwards?"

They knew damn well where to find him. They were determined not to show him. It would have been too much of a help to Kerry!

"Where's Edwards?" my ass! As if he were sitting somewhere eating bonbons.

[zann725]

70. The Media kept saying "Where's Edwards?" even before he became VP Cand.

In the primaries, even when Kerry was ahead and winning...I distinctly remember the MSM rooting more for all the other candidates, BUT Kerry. Particularly Edwards...who they kept hyping as if he were catching up to Kerry quick.

I felt the MSM never much seemed to like Kerry, and were NOT subtle about it. I found it frustrating...particularly during the Primaries.

[surfermaw]

9. I think Kerry is a man that is what he seems ,

Intelligent, reserved and well educated, it just that most in the south wouldn't recognize and intelligent person if they saw one.

Republican grass roots , were connecting in 2001, we have to get on the ball...you have to hand it to the stupid looking Rove, he knew how to get the grass roots to move..

[raysr]

11. When I think of

Kerry, I think of John O'Neill, who has been hounding him all his life. And I think what I would do about it if I had the ways and means Kerry has.

[Todd B]

16. My thoughts..

John O'Neill and crew just royally pissed me off. Whenever I saw Kerry on the campaign trail I couldn't help but think of the damn character assassins on the right who would stop at nothing to vilify and destroy his character just to win an election. It pissed me off that John Kerry went off and fought in a war that he didn't believe in while that evil, vile, excuse of a human being * sat around in Texas getting drunk or whatever it was that he found interesting.

Maybe it's just because I'm a stupid Massachusetts elitist, but if John O'Neill thinks he can show his face in this state (he was rumored to be considering running for Senate) he has another thing coming.

Sure it was sad when he conceded on election night, but I truly believe that John Kerry was sincere, honest, and would of made a damn good president.

[Pirate Smile]

21. I think it was the other guy - the freeper, Catholic-hater that they had

to hide that said he was considering moving to Massachusetts and running against Kerry.

What is his name? It starts with a C.

Anyone?

[JI7]

23. Jerome Corsi i think

[Pirate Smile]

26. You got it - Geez, it was just barely out of reach in my brain. I hate

that!

[Todd B]

34. Ah, I do recognize that name!

Ooops, I stand corrected; I do remember that name now. Oh well, it doesn't matter. They are both despicable excuses for human beings.

I don't see how he could even think he would have a chance here; Massachusetts can actually see through their lies and smears.

[Merlot]

22. Sorry, I don't have to hand anyting to rove

If winning by any means possible, character assination, manipulations, lies, and probably outright cheating in the elections are something to be admired, then go right ahead and hand it to rove. He's probably broken laws, has no professional ethics, and lives for revenge. I will hand it to him for not landing in prison (yet).

As for democratic grass roots, think about all the volunteers, all the donations of time and money, all the new voter registrations. No one expected Kerry to even come close to the bush war chest, yet he managed to bring it almost even. I'd say we did pretty well, considering we "lost."

[Kahuna]

10. Kerry let the bushies define him. That is why he couldn't connect..

with voters. Once they branded him a "flip flopper," and the Swift Boat vets got trough with him, there wasn't much more he could do. The debates were great. But the Swifties never let up on him. They ran their ads in the states where it counted.

[Deja Q]

13. I feel sorry for the Dems who won't stand up to the idiots they vote for.

The DLC runs the Dem party. And corporations rule the DLC, it seems.

They also said they don't want people like Michael Moore speaking up for the Dems. And the moment they said that, the urinated on everybody who believes the Democratic party is the party of the people.

They're no better than the repukes; they can claim to be pro- this and pro-that to get our votes. But I've had it.

Forgive me, I refuse to forget. Or forgive. They've proven they don't deserve the votes of Lefties. And it's going to cost them the next election and make the repukes think they really did win in a landslide.

[THUNDER HANDS]

18. i felt the way you did for a while

then I realized the only people who benefit from us feeling like that were Republicans, and I don't want them to benefit anytime.

Centerists and liberals need eachother. There was something on the history channel about the beginnings of the Russian empire and how the Mongols used to keep power over the Russians by dividing them and having them war and fight with eachother.

Once the Russians stopped fighting eachother, they were able to defeat the Mongols.

I see that happening with us, eventually.

[Blue Wally]

72. Bubonic plague

The prevalence of bubonic plague depopulated the Mongol and Tartar warriors of the Russian steppes and permitted the Russian and Ukranian farmers to reclaim the lands taken over by the Mongols and Tartars. It had nothing to do with Russian unity.

[amjucsc]

14. Hell, I still feel sorry for Al Gore

Kerry would have made a great President. His performance in the debates--especially the third IMHO--suggested what might have happened had he had a competent campaign staff.

[roguevalley]

17. I'm too tired to care about him anymore. Maybe later. But right now?

nope. Can't do it. I feel for everyone who is suffering REAL things right now. Kerry has left us alone in silence too long. I wish he would come out and say something, even good morning. I feel too tired to care about him right now. Maybe after Jan. 6th, but I won't hold my breath. I have wanted things too much to get that involved right now. Show me your money, Mr. Kerry. :)

I won't be voting for him in 2008.

[malatesta1137]

20. I feel sorry for the Tsunami victims, not Kerry

Why would I feel sorry for a man married to the Heinz Empire, worth millions, if not billions?

A man who caved in so fast even his running mate was shocked. A man who fled when we most needed him to REPORT FOR DUTY.

[raysr]

24. They're all

afraid now because of what happened to Dashle.

[seaglass]

25. I feel sorry for you. n/t

[paulk]

27. but this thread isn't about the Tsunami victims

but, then again, why pass up a perfectly good chance to dump on Kerry?

[elshiva]

28. Feel Sorry for Tsunami victims and survivors,

Don't feel sorry for Kerry cos he really won and he is wonderful person who is rich in many ways. He tried to REPORT FOR DUTY, but chimp rigged it. Hopefully, he'll continue to be a great senator.
Praying for him cos it is right and good to pray for all our leaders, but pray especially hard for the Tsunami victims. Hope that Sen. Kerry can dish out a couple million for them...

[MercutioATC]

29. OBLIGATORY TSUNAMI REFERENCE!!!

I could start a "I like my dog" thread and SOMEBODY would have to point out that I shouldn't like my dog, I should feel sorry for all of the dogs the tsunami killed.

:eyes:

[LittleClarkie]

36. Why is it when people were sorry for the tsunami victims

others posted Iraq war dead and other disaster totals. Why can't we just feel sorry for those we feel sorry for. Why must we compare them to other tragedies. I'd never feel sorry for anyone then.

By the way, some of those tsunami victims were rich tourists. Do you feel less sorry for them because they were rich tourists? Do you normally do a background check on people before you decide to let your heart feel something?

What would be the word here for this ugly prejudice I see regarding those in power with more money than most of us have? Status bigotry?

And once again, conceeding is normal. 2000 was the anomaly. Kerry didn't have anything to base a non-concession on, nothing concrete. Even waiting for the votes to be counted looked like a lost cause. Nothing would have changed. Nothing, except that he would have looked stupid.

He did report for duty, just not in the exact way you want. He will report in the Senate. I'm probably stuck with that fact. And I hate it. But it has little to do with him and alot to do with the Bush junta.

[fujiyama]

45. Well said

Good post.

I remember some threads following the tsunamis and earthquakes saying the media was talking "too much" about it and then comparing it to Iraq. Another post the other day had it being compared to 9/11.

It was pretty crass and unecessary.

Each of the events are tragic in their own ways. The death toll in Asia may be the highest of all of them, and of course I feel terrible for what anyone in that situation has had to endure. Ultimately for the families affected by each of the tragedies, the feelings are the same - greif, devastation, loss, frustration.

Tragedies need not be compared. There is no contest.

And I don't understand why feeling bad for Kerry's loss in the election need be compared to the tsunamis. Now if someone wanted to criticize Kerry for not giving enough or speaking out enough, well that's a legitimate issue.

I feel bad for Kerry. I think he campaigned and worked very hard. I was EXTREMELY critical at times of the way the campaign was handled at times, but I'll always view Kerry as a fundamentally decent person.

I sure a hell would rather have him representing us in these dark days than the incompent, stingy, heartless, ass hole we have in charge now.

[MercutioATC]

30. I don't. I feel sorry for the people who were duped into thinking he

was "electable".

[LittleClarkie]

37. Which of this year's crop do you think was more "electable"

I don't think any of them would have fared any better.

[MercutioATC]

38. Either Clark or Dean would have been a better choice, I believe.

Of course I'm biased and it's only an opinion, but both were much better at relating to people and communicating in simple, easy-to-understand terms.

[LittleClarkie]

39. I loved Clark

Obviously. But Clark needed the practice he got in the primary and in campaigning for Kerry. He was a political newbie. He got in the race too late, so finances would have been a problem. And he was sometimes limited in how he spoke when he was away from the Iraq issue. I was reading some primary debate transcripts the other day and noticed this.

Dean was clearer, but also louder and more abrasive. He was going to be the love me or hate me guy. He also needed the experience he got with this primary and campaign season. I saw him say so on Meet the Press. He was a newbie to national politics.

I'm biased too, but I think Rove had a little spiral notebook on each. Dean's conservative background would have come out (I wish he'd have run as the moderate he really is. That would have been better in the long run. Not as good in the primaries, but better in the election). Clark's inexperience, without a Rovian backup to make him appear as one of the guys, would have gotten in his way.

I sense that the ABB vote would have gone to anyone who was ABB. So maybe it really didn't matter.

Well... thinking just a second ago about the pub, I will conceed that some of the Repubs might have had an easier time voting for the ol' General.

But if there was vote switching, than anyone would have been suseptible to that.

[Yupster]

60. I think Gephardt

only because this election needed someone who looked sincere and down to earth who could sit down and explain calmly to people that what Bush was saying didn't make decent sense.

I think of the available candidates Gephardt was the most likely to break through the noise to do that.

[LittleClarkie]

66. I wonder why he never seems to break through

He's tried before, but he always just lays there. What's not clicking? He seems decent enough.

[LittleClarkie]

31. I was that kid in school

Damn it, just thinking of him in that role makes me want to cry. I know what that's like. I used to be shy. Now if anything I'm overly agressive. Finding the between ain't easy.

I think he was that kid in boarding school. He wasn't rich enough (not at all really -- he was there because of a rich auntie and because he still had the right pedagree). He wasn't Republican like the other rich kids. He was to serious and ambitious at a time when it was chic to be unconcerned.

He learned to guard his heart. If he let's you see it, it's a compliment to you.

As I just said in another thread, he's the debate geek. He's more qualified than most for the job of president, but it's a popularity contest.

Why is it the pundits never seem to connect with him, but sometimes I'm so connected it hurts? In that article, they talk about the intensely loyal. Well, we may not be enough to swing an election, but he sure has that kind of loyalty here. We're not be all that widespread, but damn it, we're here!

Is it the pundits themselves? I would assume most of them are just too jaded to not assign political motives to almost everything he or anyone does. Does Bush get a pass because of 9/11? Or because he wines and dines the damn bastards until they're drunken, whoring hearts are just pining for that Texas drawl.

Damn it. I want Kerry! Why aren't there more of me!?

[elshiva]

33. I'm a LittleClarkie Fan

Hi, there neat person. I love your posts cos I am still in love with Kerry. I like the painting you put on your posts, too. I got really connected to him after "The Choice" Bio on PBS. He was such a great college student, anti-war leader, and (is) senator. I didn't want to love him after I fell in love with Dean, but God knows Kerry was/is dedicated and passionate.
I feel worse than with Gore... What broke my heart was Kerry's Washington Blade(DC gay paper) interview, where a lesbian who married in Mass interviewed him and asked why he has consistantly stood for gay rights since '85 and he said he had plenty of gay friends and gays fought with him in Vietnam. Then the third debate when he said, "We're all God's Children, Bob," and went on to represent my feelings as a pro-gay Christian. I saw the concession speech and I loved that he wanted to hug all his supporters. Damn it, he is so femmy and sexy, he puts my bisexual heart in a flutter. (Don't get me started with Momma T!)
LittleClarkie, I like you and look forward to your intelligent, distinctive posts.

[LittleClarkie]

35. (Blush) Thank you

I connected to Dean alittle too. It was a Meet the Press interview I saw where he all gracious and talking about how even some evangelicals liked him because he was passionate.

That is a lovely painting, isn't it. I copied it out of the NYT. I have to tell the artist one of these days what it has meant to me.

I like you too dear. I look forward to seeing more of your posts in the future.

[Still_Loves_John]

41. That was a beautiful post

I can't even really think of anything to add, except to say that it's nice to see someone else who really liked Kerry, when so many people seem to go out of their way to find a reason not to.

[Withywindle]

32. I'm with ya...

I'm sad for him too. I don't know if "sorry" is exactly what I feel...but definitely sad. And he certainly made an emotional connection with me!


But then, that article is a hack job based on a Nov. 11 interview and designed to make him look pathetic. I don't think he needs anybody's pity.

[Clarkie1]

42. I don't feel sorry for him; I feel sorry we nominated the wrong guy

[Leilani]

44. I feel sorry for my country

& its citizens.

[BlueManDude]

47. It's not Kerry. The DC pundits find every Democrat "unlikeable".

[donsu]

48. a bunch of crap-o-la -- the bushgang rigged the election and Kerry

knifed us in the back. guess they threatened him so much his spine melted.

[BurtWorm]

49. How artfully written. "Walked home to an empty house."

:eyes: Nice "reportage."

[vitoria]

50. I don't understand the "looks" issue

I think Kerry is gorgeous, especially in person. I would melt if I actually got real close to him. He was nice looking when he was younger, also. And I love his personality.

Ok - I admit, I love the guy.

[Lavender Brown]

53. neither do I

They made such a big deal out of his having a long face - what about Bush's vacant, smirky face?

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[mattclearing]

51. This is media crap.

They made it about Kerry not connecting with the voters.

I don't know about you guys, but Kerry connected with me just fine.

I think you will find that millions and millions of voters were inspired by the way Kerry embarrassed Bush before the world in the debates.

Kerry may have been chosen due to ABB, but he proved himself a worthy competitor.

I ask everyone: Please stop accepting the media's storyline. It's bad enough that Kerry believes the hype. We should know better.

[TayTay]

59. I don't think Kerry believes it

I think the Nov 11th interview being published now has a lot to do with selling books for Newsweek. Based on years of seeing Kerry in MA, I think he always believes he can improve on his performances. (Heavy into self-improvement.) Seems to me that losing a national election for President is an opportune moment to think about what you did, what you didn't do and what you can do in a theoretical next time. (Still not convinced there will be a next time. It's too soon to think about that.) I think he should reflect on it, just not swallow the Rethug lies about Democrats being out-of-touch with ordinary voters. We are the Party of the People and we need to change the dialogue to reflect that. That's worth a bit of introspection. Then come out and fight like a bastard. So should every Dem.

[elperromagico]

52. Does Kerry strike you as the type to say something like that

to a random reporter? This is a guy known for his guarded emotions, even with people who know him well. So he's just going to start saying stuff like "Is it the way I look?" to a reporter when he knows his comments could be published?

Kerry may very well wonder about those things, but I doubt he's saying them in any public way.

I'm sorry, but I call bullshit. I think this is pure hokum designed to make Kerry look like the poor, pitiful lout who lost to The UberPresident.

[Leilani]

54. I don't think Evan Thomas is a random reporter

& Eleanor Clift contributed to the story...last I saw she was on our side.

[elperromagico]

57. I still call bullshit.

They're trying to make a story here.

[madison2000]

63. Agreed- That whole quoted paragraph sounds like total bullshit to me

and sounds very much like the kind of thing they said about Gore. I don't find either man to be aloof or wooden or cold or impersonal or any of those things. This is what they say about men who don't have the sexual/behavioral dirt on them that someone like Clinton does. Its a vicious and personal attack, and thats ALL it is.

[MsTryska]

55. I love me some Kerry,

but you know what? I loved him on paper before i ever watched him interact.


Once i got to see how he interacts, i loved him even more!


so i'm not gonna blame Kerry, i'm not gonna blame his campaign exactly, i AM however, gonna blame the press and their unwillingness to give him a fairshake. I'm sorry that he ran his press junta like a bunch of professionals, and not that margaritaville partybus that dubya ran, and i'm sorry Candy Cruller couldn't get anyone drunk and take advantage of them, but they could have at least treated him with a modicum of respect.

[DistressedAmerican]

56. Poor, Poor, Rich John Kerry

Sorry I find it hard to feel sorry for the guy just rattling around his empty multimillion dollar home. I can't feel bad for any rich, Yale educated, Skull and Bones frat boy that gets to run for president then blows it!

[NYCGirl]

58. And he's got a real nice job to go back to. NT

[FrenchieCat]

61. I don't feel sorry for John Kerry.....especially if

the "Times" cry in your fries article is correct about this heree....

In the heady days before the election, Kerry's top aides sat around picking a cabinet(one plan was to ask Colin Powell to stay on as secretary of State, thereby avoiding a massive power struggle between Sen. Joe Biden and Democratic foreign-policy wise man Richard Holbrooke).
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6777696/site/newsweek /

If this paragraph is accurate, that lets me know all about what a Kerry Presidency would have been like.

To be that "scared" of controversy or attempting to avoid a "power struggle" at the cost of doing nothing does not smell like "leadership" to me.

Keeping Powell would have telegraphed such weakness on Kerry's and the Democrats' part, it would not have even been funny.

Hope it's a big media lie!

[LittleClarkie]

69. "One plan" as in they were brainstorming

By no means THE plan, nor the ONLY plan. Just one that the top aides were batting around. Kerry tended to let his people bat ideas around, but if he himself didn't like the idea, he's have slapped it down himself. He has pretty good foreign policy knowledge.

They were just ideas, not policy. They were far from that.

And how novel would it have been for Powell to have people actually listening to him. He's still a disappointment though.

Do you really hope it's a lie? Or are you glad to have one more coffin nail?

[Darth_Kitten]

62. Kerry is no sociopath like your current "president"

Funny, the rest of the world connected with him, wanted him as president. :)

Bush is not a likable character no matter how many times the lapdog american media tries to tell us he is. :eyes:

[rainbow4321]

68. The Sociopathic Bush Administration

Ahhhh---I have so been looking for a reason to re-post this....


http://www.phillyimc.org/article.pl?sid=05/01/01/1925259



Let's take a look at some of the characteristics of sociopathic behavior, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association, and see how they fit:


Callousness, lack of empathy, irresponsibility, and reckless disregard for the safety of others: In addition to Rumsfeld's most recent display of callousness and reckless disregard, President Bush routinely exhibits these symptoms. Childhood friends have described how the young George W. Bush would attach firecrackers to frogs and blow them up. Decades later, as Governor of Texas, Bush mocked and ridiculed convicted murderer Karla Fae Tucker's desperate plea for her life. Today, President Bush sends our young people to Iraq to fight an out-of-control war based on lies, ships American workers' jobs overseas, runs up the budget deficit, and sets out to put Social Security into the hands (and pockets) of Wall Street brokers, with apparently no consideration for how this reckless behavior will affect average Americans. He and those closest to him remain safe in their money-padded cocoons, far removed from the reality that their actions create.

Glibness and superficial charm: George W. Bush won votes with his casual, down-home style. He won the support of the heartland's cupcake moms and NASCAR dads by coming across as a regular guy. At the height of the 2004 campaign season, when asked which candidate they would rather have a beer with, 43 percent responded that they would rather have a beer with President Bush, compared with 25.1 percent for John Kerry. But Bush's frozen smirk betrays a glibness that tells us that his underlying agenda does not include buying a round at the local saloon for the common folks.

Deceitfulness: George H. W. Bush deceived the nation when he said, "Read my lips: no new taxes." But that lie did not cost thousands of innocent lives. George W. sent our young men and women into Iraq to fight a war based on false allegations: Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, ties to al-Qaeda, and a grave and gathering threat to America. Vice President Cheney still clings to some of these stories, and National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice herself tapdanced around the truth in her testimony before the 9/11 Commission. This administration does not let facts get in the way of their agenda.


Grandiose sense of self: Having won reelection with 51 percent of the vote (hardly a landslide), George W. Bush described his victory as a "mandate." He claimed to have earned "political capital" during the campaign, which he now intends to spend. The other 49 percent of the voting public will just have to accept it. After all, as Bush told an Amish group in July of 2004, "God speaks through me."


<snip>

[politicasista]

64. On Election Day

I saw pics at Yahoo.com and on the news of Kerry and his daughters voting in Boston with Momma T. I remember thinking that the this was the day we were going to change the world. He was also on Tom Joyner Morning Show (A radio show where us Blacks get our info) that morning also. Kerry looked so presidental, like a president-elect waiting to give his victory speech and party. I do feel sad for him on some days, cause he would have made a cool president. Way, way better than that convict-in-chief that occupies the White House. :cry:

[knight_of_the_star]

67. I don't

He could have shown what stern stuff he's made of by standing his ground and fighting and following through with what his running mate said to his partisans at 2 am on that cold night in Boston, not folding up like a pair of twos. He lost because of his own mistakes and his own hesitancy. He hasn't EARNED my sympathy, and he will have to be a HERO to even come close to that for the next four years.

[njdemocrat106]

71. I'm more sorry that we won't have Kerry as President

John Kerry is the greatest President this country will never have. As far as I'm concerned, he IS an American hero, and Bush is nothing more than an idiotic coward. He really did connect with me, and his style came across to me personally as "down-to-earth" (something the freepers and even many of you DUers will disagree with me about). Yes, he is rich, but I felt as though he would put the welfare of all Americans, not just the upper-class, first. The man was more than qualified to be our President, yet 59 million Americans voted for a man who isn't even qualified to dump bed pans at a nursing home. Yes, I do feel his campaign could have been run better (Carville should have been directly involved, IMO), and he needed to respond quickly to the flip-flopper and Swift-Boat lies, but all in all, I think if Kerry won, our country would have been better off 4 years from now.

[babylonsister]

79. I agree.

He sounded intelligent and you could feel his integrity. Plus he would have been a helluva lot better at diplomacy.

[Davis_X_Machina]

73. "Enoch Dunlap", from...

...Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology:

How many times, during the twenty years
I was your leader, friends of Spoon River,
Did you neglect the convention and caucus,
And leave the burden on my hands
Of guarding and saving the people’s cause?—
Sometimes because you were ill;
Or your grandmother was ill;
Or you drank too much and fell asleep;
Or else you said: “He is our leader,
All will be well; he fights for us;
We have nothing to do but follow.�
But oh, how you cursed me when I fell,
And cursed me, saying I had betrayed you,
In leaving the caucus room for a moment,
When the people’s enemies, there assembled,
Waited and watched for a chance to destroy
The Sacred Rights of the People.
You common rabble! I left the caucus
To go to the urinal!


Politicians are, at the end of the day, people. We sometimes invest too muchm in the, and expect too much from them.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

74. Like Tennyson Said...

We are what we are....


Kerry is a decent fella who ran a decent campaign... He beat Bush* like a drum in all three deabates... I don't know about Bush* but if I got my ass handed to me like he did in a public forum I'd be embarrassed but I guess you have to a brain or conscience to feel shame...


John Kerry could never shake his patrician being like his hero, John Kennedy and maybe America liked a touch of the elite in their leaders back in 1960....

[kerrygoddess]

75. Kerry's just fine

Kerry Charts Own Course on Middle East Tour
4 January 2005

Senator John Kerry arrived in the Jordanian capital of Amman, to begin his 13 day tour of the Middle East. Kerry has scheduled visits to Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Egypt, Israel, and the West Bank.

April Boyd, a Kerry spokeswoman, said he has meetings scheduled with local leaders, military commanders, troops from Massachusetts, a wide range of specialists in the area.

Senator John Kerry has made foreign policy a foundation of his 20-year Senate career. Kerry has been a member of the Foreign Relations Committee since he first entered the Senate. Kerry is the Ranking member on the Foreign Relations Sub-Committee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

"He intends to play a prominent role in foreign and domestic policy, and this is clear evidence of this," said Philip W. Johnston, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. "The fact that his first major public outing following the election relates to Iraq and foreign policy tells us that he intends to be a strong spokesperson on those issues."

Kerry is the only elected official on his trip, and he is making an unusual number of stops in the Middle East, suggesting that he wants to go beyond the sometimes-scripted events planned by the Bush administration. Foreign trips are fairly typical for members of Congress -- a large number of House and Senate members are making trips to Iraq in the run-up to the Jan. 30 elections there -- but Kerry insisted on charting his own course for his trip. He is making stops in Israel and its occupied territories, as well as other Middle Eastern nations.

Johnston, state Democratic Party chairman, said Kerry has indicated he hopes to focus more on domestic policy, particularly as healthcare and Social Security become increasingly important issues. Late last year, Kerry issued a call for supporters to join him in pushing for an expansive health care bill for children.

"John's career in the Senate has focused on foreign policy issues," Johnston said. "But as a result of the campaign, he became very knowledgeable about domestic policy issues, and he became quite passionate on the health issue in particular. People are hoping that he will be very vocal in taking on Bush's policies."

A recent Newsweek article stated that upon his return from the Middle East, Kerry will “introduce two bills in the Senate: to provide for health insurance for every child in America and to increase the size of the U.S. military by 40,000 troops.”

Kerry recently set up a new political action committee naming Boston “streetwise political organizer” John Giesser, as the head of the PAC. Kerry supporters anxiously await direction from Kerry’s new PAC. Despite the recent news article disparaging Kerry’s effectiveness to connect with his supporters, there are a large number of Kerry faithful, who strongly disagree with those assertions.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=190

[Cha]

76. Well, fuckhead headcase is pres(sic) and

that son of bitch has no "connection" to millions of People.

[dolstein]

77. Kerry's got all his hair and married a billionaire -- I'm not sorry

Let's see . . . he's tall, full head of hair, filthy rich, good looking wife, safe Senate seat.

Excuse me, but why on earth should anyone feel sorry for John Kerry? So he's not going to he president. Yeah, him and 100 million others.

[indie_voter]

78. I feel sorry for him but I think he screwed up

He played it safe when he shouldn't have.

He had the spark, I saw it while watching tape of his testimony during the Vietnam War.

The media was against him and tried to define him, that is a given, however he played in to their hands too many times.

He KNEW the swift boat morons were out there. Why he didn't call a press conference the DAY they began the attacks and mince no words in attacking back is beyond me.

He tried to explain his past when he should have bluntly told those who questioned him to back off.

I think he would have been an excellent president, but unfortunately he was a mediocre candidate.

This country has descended in to a cartoon caricuture mentality. "Good" and "Evil" with no shades between.

Rove knows this and played it to his advantage.

MHO.