In order to win my vote in the GE, Kerry must...

[CTLawGuy]

1. Apologize for voting for IWR. He must admit it was the wrong thing to do. He must admit he should have done his duty, which is to keep the president's power in check. Giving the president authority and then blaming him when he screws up is not leadership. True leadership is making sure that this country behaves in a moral, and respectable way. Bush did not go to war, WE ALL went to war, we just allowed Bush to take us there. Kerry, and other Dems in Congress needed to stop him or at least make an effort that is more than speaking platitudes on the Senate floor. Congress is a branch of government that is both co-equal in power to the president, but co-equal in responsiblity. Kerry must admit he should have done more to stop Bush.

2. Apologize to Howard Dean for his months-long dirty campaign against him. Before people whine at me about Dean attacking first, let me say, Dean never questioned Kerry's fitness for office, his temperament, his electability, and never really even singled kerry out for attacks. Dean more attacked the party leadership, and Washington Democrats as a whole. Kerry's entire campaign for months was attacking Dean personally with stuff that would hurt the party in the GE. It will be hard for Dean people to forgive Kerry.

3. Pledge to NEVER tolerate spinelessness in the Democratic Party again. Anyone who does not stand up to the right wing in Congress or anywhere else needs to be convinced to do otherwise or be shown the door. We do NOT need people like Zell Miller in our party. Any Democrat who endorses Bush needs to be divorced from the party immediately. IF this does not happen, our party will cease to have any meaning and it might as well disband.

I support Dean because i have no confidence that any other Dem, save Kucinich, would fix the Democratic party. All you people who support Kerry, I will remember that you did next time you complain about Democratic spinelessness. Think about whether, in supporting Kerry, you are part of the problem or the solution.

[hippiechick]

1. #4 - Come up with an idea that's truly his own

Rather than hemming and hawing and watching how the other candidates' platforms are accepted, then co-opting their words into his speeches.


:hippie:

[Eloriel]

23. Amen, sister!

I'm REALLY tired of Dean's words coming out of Kerry's botoxed mouth.

[bowens43]

2. Get the nomination......

[dolstein]

3. To get my vote, Kerry will have to clean my apartment

Hey, if we're going to be silly about this . . .

[CTLawGuy]

7. nothing silly at all

I expect my party to represent my interests in government. When they don't I have a right to be upset with them. For 3 years democrats in general have not represented our interests. they vote for War, tax cuts, patriot act, no child left behind. etc.

[Eloriel]

24. Silly?

That's damned insulting, dolstein. Did you mean it that way?

In any case, that kind of dismissive, patronizing attitude won't win any votes.

But come to think of it, it does sort of reflect Kerry's general attitude, doesn't it? "Get over it," and all.

[sangh0]

33. I think it was meant to be "honest"

But saying "That's damned insulting, dolstein" is "dismissive" and "patronizing" and "won't win any votes"

[CWebster]

4. Dream on

Kerry hasn't got the gravitas to do it.

[IrateCitizen]

5. In order to win my vote in the GE, Kerry must do only one thing...

Win the nomination.

Seriously, what would my NOT voting for him in the GE prove?

I would also vote for him knowing full well that the fight for progressive reform would NOT end with his being elected. In fact, it would only be the beginning. But I am also enough in possession of my basic faculties to know that progressive reform would have a much greater chance of occuring under a Kerry Presidency than another Bush one.

The only Democrat I would balk at voting for in the GE would be Joe Lieberman -- mostly due to his imperialistic views on foreign policy, in which he even out-PNAC's the PNACers! But if that were indeed the choice, we'd be so screwed that voting really wouldn't matter at all, anyway.

[FreeperSlayer]

14. hear, hear!!!

ABB, PERIOD!

[IrateCitizen]

21. No, that's incorrect.

It's not "ABB, PERIOD." It's ABB, with the recognition that a lot of hard work has to be done to advance a new, progressive vision for America that will not only transform us into the nation we SHOULD be, but will ultimately benefit the rest of the world as well by engaging it in a spirit of true cooperation and understanding.

ABB, PERIOD is a dangerous tactic to take, IMHO. It lacks any sort of long-term planning or even short-term vision. It is dependent on the false assumption that everything will automatically get better again if Bush is ousted from the WH.

Nothing could be further from the truth, IMHO.

[Salviati]

31. Exactly...

The presidency is just the first battle in the campaign to take back our country. The strategic value of the presidency is that with the election of one person, we can effectively put a stop to the PNAC agenda, but in order to go beyond getting our county off of the wrong track, and get it back on the right one, we have two much harder battles in front of us: the House and the Senate, and these will have to be won while our president is undergoing an inevitable constant smear campaign from the right. It's going to be a long hard fight, and this November is just the beginning...

[ibegurpard]

34. I think you're mistaken

The fight for progressive reform, while it might not end, would be SERIOUSLY set back. His win would be a vindication to the DLC and other Democratic Party power-brokers who see nothing wrong with disenfranchising the people the are supposed to represent at the expense of chasing big donor and corporate dollars.

[paulk]

41. nonsense

John Kerry has the second most progressive voting record in the Senate, behind Paul Wellstone. John Kerry as president would be a giant step forward for liberal causes.

Since when has Kerry been the "DLC" candidate? Do you have any proof of this? Or are you just smearing him because you support another candidate?

[IrateCitizen]

42. John Kerry is a solid liberal, but he is NOT a progressive

Read THIS to find out what it means to be a "progressive" as opposed to a "liberal", and explain to me how John Kerry can be described as a progressive.

Of all the candidates out there, only Dennis Kucinich comes close to representing this kind of a progressive legacy. That is why I back him first. I also recognize that "liberal" is much closer to "progressive" than "reactionary right wing" is, so that's why I have no problem pulling the lever in the GE for a liberal like Kerry.

[IrateCitizen]

43. And another Bush presidency would advance reform how?

If you can acceptably describe to me how another Bush term would help advance a progressive agenda in the short and long term, I'm all ears.

[CWebster]

36. used to admire your progressive commitment.

What the hell.

[IrateCitizen]

44. My commitment to progressivism is still alive and well

For example, I don't delude myself about what I would be voting for in any of the front-runners. I'd be voting for a long, hard slog against the forces of corporatism. And I would not suddenly come to support further warmongering or imperialism around the world. Rather, I would continue to work and speak against it.

However, I also realize that inflexibility would not help my committment to progressivism. Looking for purity in politics is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Every once in a while you stumble upon a noble soul -- but they're few and far between. So, like most things in life, you're forced to work with what you've got.

I don't think that very many, let alone all, of our problems will be solved with a Democratic administration. But I also look at my long-term goal of furthering a progressive vision for America, and look realistically at what outcome in 2004 will help most in achieving that goal.

I still am not satisfied on Kerry's IWR vote. I never will be, either. But I'm not going to hold a grudge on it -- because I realize that there's enough of a difference between Bush and Kerry in this area.

Just as political calculation without ideals is spinelessness, idealism without realization of political reality is foolishness. Instead of looking solely for the one big win, we need to look at winning choice battles and picking up momentum. Only in that instance will the big win take care of itself.

[CWebster]

50. And we were all being so hopeful

and pragmatically unpure by supporting Dean...or was that Kucinich, Irate Citizen?

[Larkspur]

6. If Kerry wins the nomination he gets my GE vote, because Bush has got to

go, but Kerry does not get my enthusiasm or money. Both go to Dean and MoveOn.org.

[creativelcro]

9. Kerry, the war hero, is too much of a coward to apologize and admit

he was wrong.

[Bad Thoughts]

8. #5 Pay back his loans ...

... and run his campaign on donations.

[CTLawGuy]

11. why isnt your guy hitting Kerry more?

I mean the man fleeced all Clark's supporters away from him. I want Kerry to get the same vetting that Dean got, and BEFORE the GE

[Bad Thoughts]

16. He wants to appear as the uniter

Clark's "positive campaign" has done nothing but draw differences between the candidates and their experiences. He has done little to dig up dirt on the others. Instead, he has concentrated on being a defender of the traditions of the party.

Chris Lehane's presence has caused tension in the campaign, and whenever it appears that Lehane has something up his sleeve, the supporters get on line to criticize him.

One of the things that has kept Clark volunteers dedicated is that he has restrained himself from overt attacks. There have been a few quips, but nothing that has been said more than once. The volunteers are inspired by his example and tend to restrain themselves from overtly attacking other candidates when speaking to voters. More than once I have heard someone commend Clark for his ethics.

[D G]

10. Suggestions are one thing... demands are another

Politicians can't please all people all of the time, no matter how hard they try.

If Kerry gets the nomination (which I do not believe is a done deal by any means), will you be able to argue that Bush is a better president than Kerry would be?

[CTLawGuy]

12. I dislike both of them

with one option, you get horrible repbulican policy. with the other, you send the message that you dont have to represent your base. We send the message that you can ignore us and we'll forgive you.

If we elect Kerry, What will Dems do next time theres an IWR-type resolution? Will they vote against it and save 500+ troops and thousands of civilians? Probably not. they'll know their base wont do anything about it.

[D G]

15. I dislike most politicians

But I can tell the difference between bad and much, much worse.

[Beer Snob-50]

13. I think that in the General Election

we must all fall behind the democratic candidate otherwise we will end up with 4 more years of the chimp. Your points are good but harmful to the country in that we will end up with four more.

[CTLawGuy]

18. if Democrats had spines

Bush would have been hindered significantly, and this country would not be so poorly off.

[quinnox]

17. Sounds like Nader will be your guy (if he runs)

Or a Dean write-in.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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

[CTLawGuy]

22. thank you for calling me a republican

anyone with a brain knows that actions speak louder than words. kerry can plead with bush not to go to war all he wants, but if he votes to allow him to go to war without exercising proper control over him, he is failing us.

Kerry's strategy was, vote for resolution while speaking against it, so you can take either side when it is convenient.

[Eloriel]

27. And failing the Constitution too n/t

[sangh0]

28. "actions speak louder than words."

he said while calling on Kerry to say certain words (ie "I'm sorry")

[CTLawGuy]

29. the words are a start

I figure if I can get that out of him, there's hope.

[sangh0]

32. And how's that working out?

Make any progress?

[CTLawGuy]

39. dobutful

the John Kerry who spoke out against Vietnam and who fought against reagan is gone. The John kerry who is paralyzed by fear of being called "liberal" is what we have now. He will never do what I ask.

[markus]

30. And demonstrated extremely poor judgement in doing so

Either he took the safe vote knowing it was wrong, or he actually trusted Bush. Neither is an impressive argument.

[in_cog_ni_to]

37. The POINT IS

Kerry knew damn good and well that the chimp WAS going to war. His vote for that resolution cannot not be apologized for. He can't just take it back. He can't continue to lie about his reasons for voting for it. Too many people have died because of his vote. He needs to OWN IT.

[sangh0]

49. If the chimp WAS going to war

then why do people here say "Kerry enabled Bush*"? Why do you say "people have died because of his vote" when the truth is that Bush* WAS going to war no matter how Kerry voted?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. Kerry lacks the courage to do what is right.

As proven by his pro-war vote. Fat chance that he would have the nerve to do what you demand now.

[LiberalBushFan]

25. If the nominee loses to Bush

it'll hurt most of us much more than it would hurt him. Kerry will do just fine under four more years of Bush. It'd be like strapping a dynamite pack to yourself and blowing yourself up so that a piece of shrapnel flies into Kerry's thumb and severs it.

[CTLawGuy]

26. well,

i guess i better get used to being ignored by my party, because my views are not convenient for them. Opposing an illegal war is not "mainstream". opposing the Patriot Act is "radical".

tell me why I should I be a part of a party that doesnt represent my views?

Its questionable which is better, 4 years of bush, or complete disenfranchisement within my own party.

If kerry is elected, the RW will probably still control Congress. Do you think kerry will stand up to them and for us, with reelection hanging over his head? Will he fight for people who will just forgive him if he doesnt do so?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

35. Sounds like you won't be voting for Kerry!

Bye. :hi:

[CTLawGuy]

38. bye to you too

I guess I wont be hearing you complain about spineless Dems any more...

[Feanorcurufinwe]

45. What you wont be hearing from me

is some rant about why I wont vote Democratic. lol

[libview]

40. #6

spank me baby!!

[Lexingtonian]

46. ah, Bargaining

the one of the Kuebler-Ross stages of grieving between Bitterness and Depression.

Denial
Bargaining <
Bitterness
Depression
Acceptance

I'll be happy to demand the same things of Kerry once you demand the same measure of integrity from Dean. Dean has to 1) come clean on his distortions of his Iraq positions 2) apologize for the 'Bush lite' prattle and his dereliction in controlling his supporters' smears, especially of the Clintons, and 3) abrogate the many spineless and principle-lacking Bandwagonocrats (McGreevey, Harkin, Gore, the whole slew of NYC sludge) he took on board.

As for your illusions that the Democratic Party can represent the interests of 150+ million people and remain virginal, good luck. There's nothing The People soon hates as much as a group of people that wants to rule them and asserts itself as Virtue Incarnate. Ask Jimmy Carter about that one. Let's settle for improving the lives of people and letting their lack of virtue not be a holdup.

[oasis]

47. You have a list for Kerry. Falwell and Pat Robertson have a list for Bush.

Packing the Supreme Court with right wingers.

[tryanhas]

48. Skull and Bones will not get my vote.

I will not vote in a fluke election between two Skull and Bones elitists.