The reality of the general electorate in the Dem primary.

[blm]

The problem that I see many have is that you MISCALCULATED the impact post 9-11 of the fire fighters and veterans and how the GENERAL PUBLIC feels about their involvement with and preference for Kerry's candidacy.

Once people started to focus on the primary and the candidates, Kerry's credentials, ads and the efforts of fire fighters and veterans TRUMPED the efforts of internet message boards.

Many here, like me, have said it till we're blue in the face, but, 9-11 DID change everything. Be proud that there are liberals on our side with solid credentials in national security and military matters that we can pound Bush in November.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. I too am PROUD that there are LIBERALS with solid defense....

credentials on our side. For me, Clark and Kerry are the best that we have and they are strong candidates that care about our country!

:dem:

[John_H]

2. You're stretching a bit, but it's clear that old fashioned organizing

will smoke ten thousand Liberal Arts majors with weekend minutes every single time.

I do admire the clever suck up to Kerry's only real union supporters, though, blm.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. Yeah, and Kerry's "sucking up" to the middle class tax cuts

Wow. Kerry found someone who really needed the 'piddling' thousand or so bucks the Bush's tax cut actually gave her. Imagine that. Real money in a real person's pocket and Kerry sided with her.
Imagine that. And people actually voted for Kerry.
Probably a bunch of union folks too. What idiots. Actually voting for someone because he defended a few extra bucks on the table for them and their families.

Anyway, your comment about L.A. majors gave me quite a laugh.

[John_H]

13. Middle class tax cuts are great. Unions are great. John Kerry is

almost as great as Wes Clark. Hell, Liberal Arts majors with weekend minutes are occasionally great. Firefighters are always great.

I was just poking some good natured fun at the Kerry camp's saying the word firefighter every chance they get since the endorsement.

Hope you didn't think I was being mean.

[blm]

17. nah...

I've already seen your good heart.

But...don't MISCALCULATE the influence of the fire fighters. heheh.....that's the point.

[blm]

5. No suck up, at all, JH....

My brother is a fire fighter and there are many vets in my family.

[John_H]

14. No offense intended, blm. Thanks to your kin for all they do except

chosing the second best Democratic candidate rather than the very best.

[blm]

15. No offense taken, JH...

I took your word straight up. ;)))

[bearfartinthewoods]

20. the suck up may have been clever but i disagree with the premise

and if i were an iowan, i'd resent the implication that i was some sort of mind numbed robot who voted for a man based on endorsements. btw, i don't have a link because it was a tv interview but the reporter said on polls at the door to the caucuses, less than ONE PERCENT of the voters listed endorsements as their reason for voting as they did.

[soleft]

3. That was my point in this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=173278

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. I'm a vet and will never vote for Kerry.

Can't speak for fire fighters but there are a lot vets who think that Kerry's support of the war in Iraq disqualifies him for the presidency.

[blm]

8. Well, there are MORE vets who believe Kerry is the antidote to Bush's way.

And Kerry has given them over 30 years of proof of who he is and how HE would perform as president.

YOU don't want the best environmentalist for president.

YOU don't want the lawmaker who exposed more government corruption than any other for president.

I do. And so do many others.

[AP]

7. But I think Democrats have a choice: (1) ride that change...ie, go with

kerry or clark, or (2) elect a president who gets America back on the trajectory it should have gone on beginning with FDR and which JFK briefly got America back on to, and WJC struggeled towards, and which has been derailed by three assassinations in the 60s, an extreme right wing coup by the Bush family twice, and with 9/11.

I have no problem with doing what's needed to win, and if adapting to the changes 9/11 inflicted on America by electing someone like Kerry or Clark is the solution, I'll go with it.

But if voters start to respond strongly to Edwards, I'm going with him, because he's not a reaction to the right wing. He's an action for democracy.

You also have to realize that if you're going to try to ride 9/11 to victory, you have to realize that you're riding a horse whose barn is in the Republican camp. That horse isn't your friend.

[blm]

9. It is if you are Gandalf and that horse is YOUR Shadowfax.

heh.

[AP]

10. You know, I only saw the movies. "Mordor" sounded bad. "Elves" and "shire"

sounded good. I didn't need to know much more to follow the plot.

So, uh, how 'bout a little help with the, uhm, "literary" reference?

:)

[blm]

11. Remember the huge white horse

and how Gandalf rode in to the battle?

[AP]

12. Yep.

I don't think 9/11 is Kerry's big white horse. Someone else gave that horse to him, and it's big and dark and it has a nasty temperment, and the last time anyone rode it was when Bush and Cheney and Rove galloped it into DC.

[blm]

16. no, no, no.....I meant the fire fighters and vets are the white horse.

Joined with the rider, they have a power of light.

[PATRICK]

18. What might W

understand about the image white horse?

[AP]

19. It was a clever Hobbit from the shire with a good heart and no horse...

...who saved middle earth and brought about the age of man.

[blm]

22. heh....

maybe together, eh?

[Guaranteed]

21. LOL so now endorsements DO matter... nt

[blm]

23. No. Their courage, hard work and efforts matter.

And that is why people are more influenced by their endorsements.