"I'm A Republican and I'm Voting For Kerry!"

[Beetwasher]

One of my co-workers who I talk politics w/ frequently just walked into my office and said this to me.

He's Vietnam vet and hard-core conservative/Libertarian and said he's completely disgusted and fed up with Bush and all the lies and all the screwing of Vets. His son also served in Iraq in the special forces (his son is disgusted and will not be re-enlisting) and came home recently w/ a scar down the whole side of his face. Because of budget cuts his son will not be able to get any reconstructive surgery. He was pissed. They are closing down a Veterans Affairs center in his neighborhood and a lot of his vet friends are going to be out of services. He was pissed. His youngest son needs speech therapy but because of school budget cuts his son will not be able to get it. He was pissed. He said he's pissed off like crazy at the trillions in deficits coming down the line because his young son will have to pay that off. His pissed off that his prescription drug costs are going up. It all came home to him and he's turned completely. This is pretty big. Just a year ago this guy said there was nothing that would change his support from Bush. His support was visceral and unchangeable at that time and that support is gone. The barrier has been broken and I can't believe he's an isolated example.

[molly]

1. I think we will see this a lot!

[girl gone mad]

2. Of course..

now that he sees a candidate who won't really change things too much, it's safe.

[blm]

6. Noone who knows Kerry and his record will agree with you.

But, I imagine there are plenty here who know nothing about Kerry and his actual record who will.

[IowaBiker]

39. I'm tired of no-record unknowns in the White House.

Carter, Bush, etc. Just plain losers.

So what if John Kerry has a few votes you don't agree with?

The guy in the White House right now has a lot more I don't agree with.

This, "Hey what about that one vote twenty years ago stuff is just anti-american garbage. John Kerry has been fighting for America all his life, and has left blood in forgeign lands to prove it.

I'm so tired of the nay-saying. And feel so much better that it's dieing every time John Kerry speaks to real Americans who care.

--Brian

[bushwakker]

54. too liberal or too conservative?

[Monte Carlo]

7. Kerry could change plenty, thank you very much.

Of course, not having a crystal ball, I can't say.

[eileen_d]

11. You've missed the point

I think the real story here is that a hardcore Bush supporter has finally realized that he's backing the wrong horse. He's found a Democratic candidate he can support. Whether that candidate is your preference or not, is ultimately beside the point.

[NNN0LHI]

20. Can't change nothing if Bush is still president next year n./t

[blm]

3. Vets down here in SC, even, are supporting Kerry over Bush, too.

They said Bush lied to them in 2000.

In SC, this is a VERY good sign. SC has more vets now than any other state.

[eileen_d]

4. Wow

Sounds like your co-worker has really been through the wringer this last year. My sympathies to him, AND I'm glad he won't be voting for Bush!

[edzontar]

5. Now if Kerry can only hold the DEMOCRATIC vote...

With his support of Bush on IWR, No Child Left Behind, USA Patriot, and so much more, I'm not surprised he can attract Republicans.

In the end, though, almost all of them will vote for Bush.

[Monte Carlo]

9. Stop me if I'm wrong, but I think he's done OK so far.

It seems he held the Democratic vote in IA and NH just fine despite all of that.

[edzontar]

21. But can he hold it together? That remains to be seen.

I have my doubts.

[Monte Carlo]

29. I have my doubts, too.

... but we have at least seen that he is capable.

[Hippo_Tron]

65. On this "support" of Bush that you speak of...

IWR - Kerry did not want a war in Iraq but he felt it was necessary to have congress give the okay so that Saadam would disarm. Does this excuse get Kerry off the hook completely. ABSOLUTELY NOT... Somebody with as much experience as Kerry should know not to trust so much power in the hands of the Bush administration. But, just because he voted for the resolution does not mean that he necesarilly wanted to invade Iraq .

No Child Left Behind - First, I'm not sure that he still supports this anymore. Second of all, No Child Left Behind was written by Ted Kennedy but Bush stripped its funding. Personally I think the whole program is a crock of shit no matter who it's written by but I think a lot of the democratic base would support it if it had some funding.

Patriot Act - Most people don't realise how extensive the USA Patriot Act is. I'm fairly sure that Kerry wants to get rid of the sections that violate our civil liberties. Burried under all the stuff that allows the government to spy on us, are some decent things that help the government capture terrorists.

[ihaveaquestion]

8. Maybe he'd do a commercial!

If a bunch of these recovering republicans could be gotten together and put on TV - that would be a great commercial or interview program.

Any interested producers out there??????

[newyawker99]

78. Hi smjoyner!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[creativelcro]

10. Kerry is a major flip flopper...

[Monte Carlo]

12. Isn't everybody?

I mean, come on. We're talking about politicians here.

[Native]

33. And a 20+ plus year career.

I'd hope we'd see some change and growth, wouldn't you?

[Monte Carlo]

80. He's done that.

He's done very well for the Commonwealth and the nation in his term.

[eileen_d]

13. Dean is a model of consistency...

On edit: What MonteCarlo said.

[pnziii]

14. Too Bad

If he's a conservative/Libertarian then Kerry isn't his guy.

Dean is more conservative than Kerry.

I am a Libertarian and Dean is the only reason I will vote Democrat. I voted Libertarian the last two elections.

If it's not Dean I will vote Libertarian again.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[oasis]

50. It will not be Dean,so you can start working with the Libertarians ASAP.

[MercutioATC]

52. Way to encourage an inclusive atmosphere.

Personally, I'd encourage any voters, regardless of their chosen candidate. Granted, I'd love it if they'd all vote for Dean, but any Dem vote is one in the win column for us.

[oasis]

76. All 3 of us know what is at stake. No bended knee plea from me.

[MercutioATC]

77. Didn't ask for one...just commented on the treatment of new Dems

by certain campaigns...

[Hippo_Tron]

66. Please describe some of these "non-libertarian" aspects...

That you see in Kerry.

[mikehiggins]

15. So, is he really voting FOR Kerry or AGAINST BushCo?

Is your hard-core conservative libertarian going to vote for the big time government liberal from Taxachusetts or is he just ticked off right now?

How about in November? When he walks into the voting booth? After all the stories and lies this campaign is going to produce?

I've been involved with politics for forty years and I can say without any fear of being proven wrong that just like Viet Nam was the wrong war in the wrong place in the wrong time for the wrong reasons, John Kerry is the wrong candidate for this election.

Two states with a total vote smaller than the population of Yonkers, and anointment by the mediawhores do NOT make a winning candidate.

[Beetwasher]

17. He's Voting For Kerry, He Thinks He's A Straight Shooter

He says there are some things that he doesn't agree with Kerry about but they don't matter as much as saving the future of this country.

[K8-EEE]

16. Kerry Came In 2nd In GOP Primary

I was wondering about that -- voters in the GOP primary who trudged out in that weather just to write in Kerry (and Dean and Edwards and Clark) 15% according to the figures that were posted here.

Here are two things that have GOT to have Rove worried: 1) there is indeed an "energized" force of voters wanting Chimpster OUT that was lacking in the 2000 election when a lot of people were buying the "there's no difference between the two parties" line. There is an ABB movement that is not only Dems but Indies and some GOP too.

2) GWBs lines are really starting to be repetitive and wear thin (the world is safer without Saddam Hussein etc.) months before the campaign.

I don't care what the KGB media says, GWB is in trouble, and I don't care if they parade OBL with bow around his neck. They don't want to do that too early cuz it will soon become apparent, like with Saddam, that it really doesn't solve anything. I think the OBL "October Surprise" might be moved up though if Chimpy's numbers sink any lower.

[Kolesar]

18. Please ask him: "why John Kerry instead of the others?"

This is a serious question. I suppose answers might be (1) Kerry is getting media exposure, (2) He picked the veteran in the Dem field, or (3) Some particular policy Kerry spoke of, or something else.

[Beetwasher]

22. He Doesn't Trust the Others

He shares a bond w/ Kerry due to the Vietnam vet thing. He said for some reason he just doesn't trust Clark. It's very visceral w/ this guy.

[krkaufman]

69. Gee, it couldn't be because he watches FOX

nuff said

[AntiCoup2K4]

19. Republicans voting for a war supporting Bonesman PNAC'er

Wow, I'm shocked! Shocked, I say.

Republicans HAVE voted for him already, you can bet on it. Because they know he doesn't have a chance in Hell against Junior.

[oasis]

51. Kerry's not a PNACer. But you already knew that.

[AntiCoup2K4]

70. Will Marshall certainly is

and he's advising Kerry's campaign.

[ArkDem]

23. All of the hard-core conservative/Libertarian's

will be voting democratic.

[MercutioATC]

24. Wasn't this a BAD thing when Repubs were voting for Dean?

Not specifically addressed to you, but I'm curious why Republicans voting for Dean meant that Dean was a Republican and Republicans voting for Kerry shows his broad appeal...

[Feanorcurufinwe]

26. They were for Dean because they thought he was a joke

This guy is voting for Kerry because he trusts him to get our country on track.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[leftynyc]

32. They were voting for Dean because he'll be

the easiest to beat.

[MercutioATC]

38. So the Republicans for Dean site is just a hoax?

http://atlblogs.com/republicansfordean

Dean's campaign certainly doesn't think so, they have the link on their homepage.

Knowing about the subject matter makes for more enlightening (or at least pertinent) posts. It'd have taken about 5 minutes to hit the Dean page, follow the link, and read enough to see that they're sincere.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

42. If you say so.

[MercutioATC]

44. THAT'S your reply? That's IT?

...maybe it's just easier to make accusations and ignore arguments to the contrary, even if they contain valid proofs...

[Feanorcurufinwe]

46. You've gotten the reply your post deserves.

[MercutioATC]

47. You object to proof? Your assertion has been effectively debunked.

I don't have an issue with you disagreeing, I just don't understand why proof of your error (with a link) doesn't rate an intelligent reply.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

56. If Dean can win crossover votes

he should use that to, I don't know, win an election maybe?


Whatever the method, if Dean wants be the nominee, he's going to have to win some elections.


Spending tens of millions of dollars of other people's money with nothing to show for it certainly is not going to impress anyone.

[MercutioATC]

57. That wasn't the argument. You said the Repub votes were all a hoax.

I showed otherwise.

As far as I'm concerned, I have more to say about Dean's "wasting" money than you (I just don't see you as a big Dean contributor). I'll make you a deal...I'll just relieve you of the burden of worrying about Dean's "impressing" his supporters and take it all onto my shoulders, 'K?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

61. Wrong. I said what I said.

Have you worked on a losing campaign before? I have. It's not a good feeling. You have my sympathy.

[MercutioATC]

64. "They were for Dean because they thought he was a joke" was what

you said.

...just to be perfectly clear about it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

68. Yes, that's true, Rs wanted Dean because he would be easiest to beat.

Oh well, instead of their dream candidate, they are getting their nightmare candidate - someone who can win.

[MercutioATC]

74. SOME Repubs, possibly. Not ALL, as I've shown. You posted in response

to my question why Repubs supporting Kerry was good while Repubs supporting Dean was wrong.

Are you saying that Kerry's Repubs are fakes, too?...specifically the gentleman referenced in the first post of the thread...I'm interested in your take on this.

[x-g.o.p.er]

28. Ditto

I am a life-long Republican, and joined DU today to express my frustration with "Dubya". I supported him in 2000, but WILL NOT, under ANY circumstances, vote for him in '04. Right now I lean Libertarian, but will probably vote for Kerry if he gets the nomination. I am active military, support the war, but CANNOT STAND how much money he is spending, or his assault on free speech. I welcome any and all (respectful) replies. I will return the favor in kind.

[blm]

30. Hi...and welcome.

I hear the same feelings expressed by vets here in SC, too. They even say Bush lied to them to get their support in 2000. They are not forgiving him and are actively organizing for Kerry.

[x-g.o.p.er]

35. Can't speak for other vets or Republicans....

But this is a true story from the 2000 election. Remember when the networks called Penn., Mich., and Fla. for Gore fairly early in the evening, and it looked like Gore was on his way? My wife and I were EXTREMELY depressed; she almost started crying. Then Fla went back in the "too close to call", column, and we literally whooped and yelled and jumped up and down, we were so happy. Then Bush won the election (I know, I know, some say stole, appointed, etc--another discussion for another day, lol). Anyhow, we were ecstatic that Bush was going to be president.

NEITHER of us will vote for Bush in 2004.

[aldian159]

31. Welcome to the machine.

And enjoy your stay.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

34. Welcome to DU.

Your presence is appreciated. I am curious, is there any one thing that was the straw that broke the camel's back?

[x-g.o.p.er]

36. The drunken-sailor spending spree was

Billions for this, billions for that

I don't mind tax cuts, but tax cuts AND a 30% increase in discretionary spending? Unreal. I am scared my children will be paying off the sins of my generation long after I'm gone. And it shames me

[pearl]

37. Welcome to DU

:bounce: :bounce:
I would hope that if we had an out of control democratic president
there would be enough dems to put an end to it. Thank you for
serving your country and for putting country before party.
They are drunk on their own power and all the world is hoping America
will make a better choice this year.

"Pray for the dead, and fight like hell for the living"
Mother Jones

[calimary]

40. HEY! Welcome to DU!! Terrific to have you aboard. Today's the day?

Cool! We're completely nuts here, but if I didn't have this as a place to vent and kick around the topics-du-jour and expand my thinking and add to my insights, I don't know what I'd do.

I'm 50, longtime married, mother of two, anglo, lifelong Democrat, college grad, liberal Catholic.

The bush calamity upon this country hurts my heart. Perhaps we would not share the same views on Reagan, or bush I. I didn't like either of them. But THIS! THIS takes the absolute cake, pie, hell, the whole bloomin' bakery! In all my 50 years, 30 of which have involved some measure of political awareness, and having voted in every election since I first could, and then lobbied for the 18-year-old vote, I can NEVER remember things going this far astray in our country. Never, ever. I never remember it being this bad, or our citizens so divided, so much hate spewed everywhere, so much fear - not only about terrorism from outside, but the domestic terrorism of fear for your job, fear for your livelihood, fear for your ability to stay healthy and/or to afford to get sick, fear for your children's future and education and rights, fear for your ability to keep your family afloat and the roof over your head and gas in your car, and fear for your elders that they'll be left in the cold for the sake of some greedy robber-baron's further enrichment. I was a toddler during the McCarthy era, so I never really knew much about the Red-baiting and the fear of that time. This, from what I've read and studied (and I like to read, and read history), this is the worst. This is the lowest.

Welcome, x-g.o.p.er! Delighted to have you among us. Bless your heart!

And by the way, I was one of the many who marched against the war, to avoid the bloodshed, waste, and desecration that we've seen since it started. My main objection after just the stupidity and lies of the war is how veterans have been utterly shat upon. Not only veterans, but the FUTURE Veterans of America. These chickenhawks in Washington have the nerve to wrap themselves in the flag and accuse someone like me of being unpatriotic, when I dare to object to the cutbacks to the VA, the cutbacks to combat pay, the cutbacks to the family separation differential, the cutbacks of/to VA hospitals. They send crony contractors over there to price gouge, so they can feed our troops rotten meat and produce from filthy kitchens with bloody floors. They don't give our troops enough drinking water - when they're expected to wage war in a DESERT, okay?!?!?! They "provide" our troops with no flak jackets, defective haz-mat suits - one out of every three sent over, and they string our troops along about when they'll be able to a) go on leave or b) complete their tour of duty and go home! They're discussing a VA land-grab here in West LA even as we speak, because that land would be so much better used if we made a three-in-one mega-mall out of it. Lots more SHOPPING!! And all of this behind your backs as our soldiers!!!! And then, they call themselves the true patriots!!!!!!!!

But he can call for a whole bunch to be spent on cosmetics to prop up the concept of conventional marriage. And he can run up the bills that our kids will be paying off for, what, HOW many generations to come, when the last guy left him with a surplus. And he can run things on an ever-increasing deficit, and get his lackeys to go around to the talk shows to preach that deficits don't matter. And this from a purported "Harvard MBA." The same "Harvard MBA" who dealt in insider trading and drove three consecutive Texas oil companies into a ditch.

I really better wrap up this post. You just got me started. Anyway, again, SO glad you came aboard. Hope you like it here for a LONG time! You are among friends.

[x-g.o.p.er]

43. Thank you all for the warm welcome...I am touched

Calimary,

I'm starting to figure out the nuts part :)--but strangely, I have yet to find a traitor, which is what I was told this site was full of--only Americans who love their country and like to express their opinion.

Yes, we probably will disagree on Reagan, Bush Sr., and dare I say, Clinton and Carter. I agree with you that there is hate being spewed in this country, but I hope you would be honest enough to admit it is coming from the right AND the left.

I fought in Afghanistan, and being in a Special Operations unit, I can honestly say I had all the equipment I needed. The food I got was pretty good, all things considered, but MRE's get REAL old after about 30 days, lol. Thank God I never had to find out if my chemical suit was defective. On my second trip to Afghanistan, I contracted some viral infection that attacked my central nervous system and left me with blinding headaches and occasinal bouts of severe vertigo. As a pilot, this is a bad thing to get. So now I fly a desk and will retire in about three years, and I had to sit on the sidelines for Iraq.

I agree with you on the cutback of veteran's benefeits. That epiphany came to me while I was trying to get treatment--long story about that later. But what steams me is the way he can freely spend money, and have no thought to what havoc the massive deficit he is accumulating will bring--about the time I am set to retire.

Cali, I have no problem with people who protest--it is out first amendment right. I do have a problem with the trampling of the first amendment the last few years. I think one of the worst things that was done by Bush and Congress was the passage of the so-called Campaign finance reform bill. That does nothing more than crush political dissent as an election nears--which is a direct violation of the first amendment and free speech.

Whew, let me jump off my soapbox. ABB

[blm]

45. I hear ya. Jump back on any time.

We like to hear every point of view here.

[bain_sidhe]

48. Welcome! And just gotta put a plug in

for my guy... If you decide to vote in the Democratic primaries (dunno if you can in your state, but if you can, and decide to), please take a look at Wes Clark. This is a Kerry thread, so I won't get into a lot of detail, but three things you might be interested in reading:

http://clark04.com/issues/patriotact/

http://clark04.com/issues/veteranssecurity/

http://clark04.com/issues/economicplan/

Ok, four things...

http://clark04.com/issues/govtopenness/

...ecause I think the secrecy of the Bush Administration is a real problem for our civil liberties too.

But, all that aside, WELCOME to the "BushOut" side of the fence!

[x-g.o.p.er]

49. Thanks for the links....

But I do not get a warm fuzzy about Clark. Sorry. But I will look at the links.

[bain_sidhe]

53. LOL - not asking for your heart...

...just your head. Warm fuzzies would be icing on the cake, of course, but the real question is, is Clark the guy who can remove Bush from the White House. I believe we can't do that unless our candidate takes at least some of the Southern states. I'm convinced that Clark can take at least three, and maybe as many as five. I'm not convinced that Kerry can take any of them. I'm not convinced that he can't, either, but I'd rather not take that risk if I don't have to.

So, personal feelings aside, looking at Clark's background (the military being a rather big thing in a lot of southern states) and positions, do you think these could be a "winning message" against Bush?

[x-g.o.p.er]

58. No, I don't because...

Clark irritated a lot of military folks when he made that "I'm a general, and (Kerry) was just a lieutenant" comment. He really came across as arrogant and dismissive. Plus, I served under Hugh Shelton, and I respect his opinions--he was an awesome leader. And his comments about Clark's character really influence me. And although Kerry can be potrayed as inconsistent, Clark has flipped more than some pancakes he served at his New Hampshire breakfasts. And in a lot shorter time.

And regardless of what his positions are, the "abortion up to the moment of birth" crack lost the south. All of it. And most of the midwest.

Edwards would be the most formidable opponent, with Kerry second.

But hey, that's just my ex-right-wing opinion. I know it's not wrong, lol.

[rumguy]

60. Edwards the most formidable? I think that too...

He has a spark to him...

[bain_sidhe]

63. Fair 'nuff...

Just to note though, (since I'm pathologically unable to let a error about my guy stand unchallenged, because he DOES have my heart and warm fuzzies) he didn't say "just" a lieutenant. Bob Dole said something about Kerry having demoted Clark to "Colonel" and Clark responded that Bob had to get his facts straight "I'm the general and Kerry's the lieutenant."

And, yer right on the abortion thing, although he didn't say "until the moment of birth." He made a quip that "life begins when the woman decides" - trying, I think, to make the point that it was the woman's decision, not his and not the government's. But I cringed when I read it. There are SOOOOOOOOOOO many better ways to say it's the woman's decision!

Shelton? From all I've heard, he's a good man and was a good leader. It's unfortunate that he hates Clark, but, hey, that's the breaks. It happens when they get to that level.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

71. Clark's military background can be plus or minus with military

Not the fact the he WAS military, his specific type of military career--the brilliant, rapidly promoted West Point grad. It speaks to a smooth operator backstabber politico type. I am not saying that Wes is this type of person, but this background will raise this kind of suspicion among some in the military. If they were smart they should still prefer a smooth West Pointer to a silver spoon AWOLer.

I spent most of my career as a military officer (medical corps). I trained with people from each of the service academies in the 80's, and, I am sad to say that the academy grads were much more likely (not all of them) to buttsuck our superiors and/or backstab their compatriots to curry favor. Now the competition in the medical field does foster this to some degree anyway, but it led me to conclude that there is something in the corporate culture of the academies that cultivated these values.

That having been said I have been very impressed by Clark's performance so far. I hope he is able to get a fair hearing in this campaign and wind up on the ticket. Going to a meetup on Monday for him.

[bain_sidhe]

73. Thanks for the "insider" view

Those of us who've never been in the military don't really "get" the cultural cues that people like you can provide, so we may have unrealistic expectations of the "power" of Clark's service with the military. All I can remember really hearing about the academy "culture" was when the VMI sex-discrimination case was in the news a few years ago.

BTW, I love your screen name! Are you a fan of DiIulio or Suskind? (Now if {i]that's not a thread-jacking, I don't know what is!)

[bain_sidhe]

55. Oh, and I forgot to say

Thank you for your service in Afghanistan! You people did an outstanding job rousting the Taliban and its al Queda allies. I wish Bush had put the effort/resources into finishing the job though.

[x-g.o.p.er]

59. Thank you

[rumguy]

62. My dad is a pilot for the Montana National Guard

He was an Army chopper pilot in Vietnam. Although he hasn't come right out and said it yet, I'm pretty sure he's leaning ABB, if he isn't already there.

[calimary]

67. Again, dahlink, glad you're here!

Dreadful about your medical trouble. Veterans shouldn't have to struggle for ANY sort of care or post-service support. ANY at all. I'm a longtime peacenik, and I think our veterans should be first in line for EVERYTHING. I see 'em all the time around West L.A., because the VA compound is right near where we live. I see the little old guys in their wheelchairs waiting at the bus stop on the grounds, some of them amputees. I see 'em almost every day, and I say a prayer as I drive past. The Red Cross station on the grounds there is where my son's Boy Scout Troop meets every week, and the National Cemetary on the other side of Wilshire Blvd. has thousands of graves that my kid helped decorate with flags every Memorial Day weekend with all the Cub/Boy/Girl Scouts in the Southland. (Always wondered how all those flags got out there!) My dad and brother were Air Force guys. My dad flew photo-recon during WW2. My father-in-law was an Army doctor stationed in Australia. Intriguing that neither of them ever aimed a gun at his fellow man, even while serving in the military during wartime. My dad always said he was rather proud of that.

There's just sooooooooo many reasons to vote bush out. Especially his willingness to sacrifice you and your brothers/sisters in arms for a lie he trumped up in a powergrab to spread empire throughout the Middle East. Especially his continued attempts to come up with a viable explanation for why we went in - wouldn't you think, lo these many months later, that they'd have figured that one out, firmly, before now? And the fact that he hasn't bothered to make time in his busy schedule to attend ANY of our soldiers' funerals? Say what you will about Clinton - at least he did that. Heck, even Reagan did that much, at least. And on top of everything, he's so gung-ho to plunge our country into an endless war, when he himself was too chicken to go fight back during Vietnam. I find myself wondering how many names of those I saw on the Vietnam Memorial in DC got there because somebody else couldn't pull the strings he did, and had to go into combat in his place. On top of that, if this war is so above-board, why does his White House and Pentagon issue edicts to the media, ordering it NOT to cover the arrivals of our injured or dead soldiers? That bothers me HUGELY as a former reporter. They're telling us (or my former colleagues, that is) what we can cover now.

And while I hope to be magnanimous, and I certainly don't hesitate to sling it back at somebody on our side for flaming and stuff, I see the vast majority of hate-spew coming from the radical right. And as a Catholic, I've shuddered to see some of the most virulent hate coming from those who would call themselves preachers of the Gospel. That said, the feelings I feel in my bone marrow for the squatter in the White House certainly would qualify as pretty darn hate-filled. I just can't come up with a word that better expresses how I feel about him and what he's done to our country.

I'm also a retired journalist, so you can probably imagine how I feel about my former profession and the crappy job they've done as watchdogs of this regime. Watchdogs? Hell! More like lapdogs. I still flash back to what the great Helen Thomas said recently on Bill Moyers' show - she, the Dean of the White House press corps who's covered every President since Kennedy, and ought to know, says the press has been asleep since 9/11 and just doesn't want to question. She, meanwhile, has been moved to the back of the room because she had the temerity during news conferences to ask touchy questions. She's the one who, fairly early-on in this crisis, said bush would be remembered as the worst president in our history. I've always admired Helen Thomas. While I was striving to get into broadcast journalism, she was among those whom I wanted to be like when I grew up. Met her once and she certainly does tell it like it is. She's correct, yet again. I'm sure we on the left have had our share of spew, but in my recollection, especially since the Fairness Doctrine and its Equal Time provisions were dismantled during the Reagan era, broadcasters don't feel bound, at all, to be objective in their reporting, or to properly present opposing points of view. That time also allowed for the rise of Rush Limbaugh, and once he started scoring in the ratings, everybody else piled on with their Rush clones. I still have friends in radio programming and they all vouch for this. If it gets ratings, you're gonna see lots more just like it, spreading all over the place. Kinda like a rash. If we on the left did have our day to spew hate (which kinda seems uncharacteristic of some of us), it's been a long time since we had many vehicles or many time slots in which to do so. It's been pretty much dominated by the rightwing. At least, so it seems from this former radio news gal. I would hope that our side would not stoop to such tactics that Rush has made completely legit by now.

I salute your service and your sacrifice!!! And again, sure glad you're here. Your perspective will be of great value.

[newyawker99]

79. Hi x-g.o.p.er!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Mobius]

41. the better choice would be Clark

I think the things your co worker are upset about are horrendous. But Kerry is a smug jerk and comes from the establishment. He does not represent most Americans , and cannot have the connections to the pulse of whats on the average American's mind. Wes Clark is a self made man, who had nothing given to him. He knows how hard it is to be on the oust side looking in. Kerry does not. Tell your friend to carefully examine Clark's stand on the issues and not take my word for it. Wes Clark takes care of the little guy, he did it for 34 years. Who knows? Clark may even pay for your friend's son's reconstructive surgery. Hearing about mistreated servicemen really chaps Wes's ass.

[AlFrankenFan]

72. Amazing! It's a wave of Republicans for Kerry! Cause...

My very conservative Republican step-father also plans on voting for Kerry, because Bush was not for small businesses and entrepenuers, my step-dad being a small businessman, was outraged by Bush's lack of support for them and astonished of Kerry's support for them.

We are going to take our country back, folks.

[Upfront]

75. If I Were A Republican

and I couldn't have libberman, I would vote for Kerry also.