Make a case for your candidate: I'm undecided; AZ primary is Tuesday

[blondeatlast]

Try to keep it clean and SPECIFIC--I'm talking issues here.

Edit: I vow Any DEMOCRAT but Bush, even if I have to hold my nose to do so. I can't atake another 4 years of this.

[Zomby Woof]

1. DK

Because I said so! Woof! :hi: ;-)

If ending the occupation of Iraq matters to you, if healthcare for every American matters to you, if job creation matters to you, then DK is a great choice.

I am late for work, so I will leave it at that, lol. :-)

[Desertrose]

6. I agree with Zomby....definitely DK

and he will be in AZ Monday...so if you get a chance...go hear him speak. You will have no trouble making up your mind.

DK is the only one who has stood firm on issues that matter and will make a difference...the only one who is truly the opposite of "booshwa"

go to www.kucinich.us and have a look around.....

:)

Peace
DR

[NNN0LHI]

2. Vote your heart and for the guy that you think has the best chance of...

...kicking Chimpy's butt back to the pig farm in Waco in November. That is what I would do.

Don

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. Kerry

Next to Dennis Kucinich, he's the most progressive of any candidate in the race. And this is across his entire career and his stance on nearly every issue.

Go to this site - www.presidentmatch.com - and compare the candidates yourself issue-by-issue. Kerry will come out on top EVERY time.

[Ninga]

5. Vote for change

if that is a value that is important to you.

I think the two candidates that best represent change are Clark and Dean.

The quality I like best about Clark is the fact that he doesn't own anybody anything. Sort of a clean slate.

The quality that stands out in my mind for Dean that as governor, in an election year, he went against the popular opinion to sign a law he believed was just. He was re-elected.

[blondeatlast]

9. What will "change" do? I hear that every election, and I still don't know

what it means.

Any Democrat is "change," especially with this administration.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

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

[Astarho]

19. Change

Change is altering the course we are on, not just slowing it down. The PNAC crowd is pushing for more wars, which is sucking money away here from those who need it.

I believe Kucinich is the only one who will alter the course we are on. He will:

bring troops home from Iraq,

cut the pentagon budget

give us a healthcare plan that covers everyone without going through insurance companies or HMOs.

He is also the only candidate who takes no corporate donations so he is not beholden to them.

He is also the only one to suggest a living wage, to help the working poor.

[PassingFair]

29. Every Time?

Anglo-American Invasion of Iraq - oooops. nope
Patriot Acts - ooooppps. nope voted for those, too
No Child Left Behind - oooooppps. nope

Not bowling a 300 here...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Results

We need a president who has a proven track record of getting results. Only such a person can show that he knows how to work with a legislature to get the important things done, even if they aren't totally popular.

Howard Dean is such a man.

He balanced the budget in Vermont.

He enacted legislation that resulted in vast majorities of folks having health care insurance.

He brought business to Vermont,and helped keep small business vibrant and alive.

We need a president who can be pragmatic;it is likely that there will still be majorities of Republicans in Congress (though I hope not). The next President has to be one who can propose legislation that is practical and passible.

Howard Dean's health program is one that can pass. MDs and others in the health care field with whom I have spoken are impressed with his ideas to streamline claims forms and to focus on wellness, not illness. They would welcome such reforms; with this kind of backing form the medical community, the chances of making this legislation pass become even greater.

Howard Dean has wisely said that certain issues, such as guns and civil unions, are decisions to be left to the states. This only makes sense, and saves legislative time for things more important to our national interest.

[NNN0LHI]

7. That was really nice. I can tell you really believe in this guy. Thanks nt

[blondeatlast]

10. Health care matters, but Dean did not give it to as many as he'd like

us to believe. He made sure low income CHILDREN ere covered, but that still left many working poor adults uninsured. I want health CARE for everyone--Kucinich is the winner on that issue.

Edit: SL was a little inflammatory; I'm looking for good debate here, so I changed it. I can vote in good consce=ience for any Dem.

[robbedvoter]

14. Actually, Clark's plan covers the most people

The issue part of our website has a comparative table of all plans
http://clark04.com/issues
go to 3rd party comparison

[tmwat]

28. It's not bad but Kucinich's plan will cover everyone

DK's plan was also excluded from the comparison report

http://www.clark04.com/issues/healthcare/comparison.pdf

[KaraokeKarlton]

17. My family wouldn't have insurance if it weren't for Howard Dean

I am a single mother of 4 children. I have a decent job that pays the bills and puts food on the table and leaves enough for a few luxuries beyond the necessities. However, my employer doesn't offer health insurance to employees who work under 40 hours a week. Even if I did work 40 hours, the insurance is far too expensive.

Dean's plans DO cover people like me. His policies took me from someone being trapped on welfare living in the worst apartment building imaginable to a single Mom who is working, providing for her family and living in a very nice 2 story home in a good neighborhood.

If it weren't for all Howard Dean did for poor Vermonters with positive welfare reforms that actually help lift people up and health care services, and a GREAT social support system for people who need it I would still be on the verge of being homeless without knowing where my kids' next meal was coming from.

You have no idea how insulted I get when I hear someone claim that Dean didn't do enough for the poor or needy. Nothing could be further from the truth and I am proof of that.

[blondeatlast]

26. I don't deny he didn't help, but I'm looking at the big picture.

Don't take politics personally; cuase sooner or later, they stick it to you.

[KaraokeKarlton]

27. I don't believe that you are

In fact, your comments lead me to believe that you aren't even open to hearing anything favorable about Howard Dean. You essentially discounted him right at the beginning of this thread. Those weren't the words of someone being open minded.

[frustrated_lefty]

32. KK. you are my hero, and I mean that. (eom)

[PassingFair]

33. Why, blonde?

Did Dennis bring health care to all of Ohio?

Dean has done everything within the realm of the possible to cover ALL the people of Vermont. He began with the do-able. The impossible will take him a little longer.

Dean roused me when he said "What I wanna know" regarding the deafening silence and aisle jumping votes of some dems in congress.

He got me on my feet when he cried "I want my country back".

He got me walking door to door when he said "I'm tired of fundamentalist preachers telling us what to do".

He got me to take out my wallet when he said "We OUGHT NOT be ashamed to be Democrats".

His passion is what we need to punch through the veil of hypocracy the BFEE has woven throughout our society.

For God's sake, we ATTACKED another country, blew up THOUSANDS of innocent Iraqi civilians, occupied their country and are allowing hundreds of American soldier/pawns to kill and be killed protecting the Iraqi's stolen oil assets! WAKE UP!

Kerry and Edwards rolled. We need someone who will take a punch and keep getting up. Howard is willing to martyr himself in the cause of the American people.

Just say NO to imperialism...

VOTE FOR HOWARD DEAN

[robbedvoter]

8. Clark. That's why:

Democrats in Iowa and New Hampshire have already told us that the most important quality they are looking for in a Democratic candidate is one who can beat George W. Bush.
Each of the top candidates running possesses a positive trait that can be pitted against Bush in a bid to reclaim the White House in 2004

*
Sen. John Kerry is a military hero and a veteran. Since the nation is at war, this characteristic is important in our nominee.
*
Sen. John Edwards is an affiable Southerner, a characteristic needed to drum up support among many in the "red-state" South.
*
Former Gov. Howard Dean is a Washington outsider who challenges the do-nothings in D.C.
But, there is one candidate who is a military hero and a veteran, an affiable Southerner and a Washington outsider. That candidate is Wes Clark.
Why should Democrats vote for any candidate who only possesses one-third of each of the traits needed to send Bush back to Crawford when they can have a triple-play in one candidate?
Vote for change. Vote for Wesley Clark.

[Carl Spackler]

11. Electability

Complete political neophyte here, but my impression is that Clark, while he is all three of the things you list, says too many goofy things to beat bush. This was reinforced this morning reading that Clark claims to be a victim of racial profiling because he once was singled out for wearing long hair and driving an import. Does he realise how silly that sounds to people perpetually guilty of "driving while black" and who are still fighting the Jim Crow mentality? The meme that is developing is that Clark is kinda nutty.

For electability I go with Edwards. He is a compelling personality, is a Southerner, and a great antithesis of the bush republican "trickle on" culture. My first choice was Gephardt, so maybe it's easier for me now to just vote for who I think can beat bush rather than my heart favorite.

[robbedvoter]

13. Edwards recent gaffes

 
http://www.moderateindependent.com/v2i2scdebate.htm

A LITTLE DIFFERENT WHEN THE FOX IS RUN OUT OF THE HEN HOUSE
and who he really is:

A Populist Make-Over
Meet John Edwards, the Corporate Man  
by Doug Ireland
www.dissidentvoice.org
January 29, 2004
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Jan04/Ireland0129.htm

[Carl Spackler]

24. They don't seem like gaffes to me

They are answers that didn't satisfy the article's author, but they were generally careful statements that are defensible. I'm not saying that Edwards is the progressive messiah, just that I think he's in the strongest position to beat bush.

[mikehiggins]

36. The meme that is developing, Carl, is the same kind of smear

that has become typical of national elections since Lee Atwater's days.

Unfortunately for some, the general public is becoming somewhat resistent to this kind of infestation due to long overexposure to it like certain kinds of diseases.

As to the racial profiling thing, I haven't heard one word of it as yet but I'd suggest you'd be better off reading the original transcript yourself. It mostly likely had to do with looking more like a semite (Clark is partly Jewish) than a black american.

The media, the other candidates and the RNC are adept at taking things out of context and smearing them all over the landscape. That's why so many people, other than Richard Perle, got the impression that Clark testified in front of Congress in support of the Iraq war. Perle, who helped bring the war into existence, had no doubts that Clark did not want us to go there.

Believe half of what you see, and nothing of what you read.

Except this post, of course.

[newyawker99]

39. Hi Carl Spackler!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[robbedvoter]

12. Issues too

http://clark04.com/issues

[KaraokeKarlton]

15. A Vermonter's case for Howard Dean

He is unique in many ways. I have the advantage of being a Vermonter, so I have personally lived under his leadership for over a decade. I have seen what this man can accomplish with my own two eyes...even while having to contend with a Republican majority House.

First of all, he has united Vermont. Who else could have managed to get both Democrats and Republicans to support Civil Unions? Who else could turn far left liberals into budget balancers over tax and spenders? Who else has been able to motivate Democrats and Republicans to sit down once and sort out their differences and come up with a course of action both can live with minus all the pork? Who else has been a true champion for health care for the uninsured...making it a reality for 99% of the children and 92% of adults he leads? Who else has invested in young kids with the forethought of prevention? Who else has already stood up against big drug companies and demanded that they report every "gift" they dole out that exceeds a $20 value? Who actually endorsed a non-profit groups efforts to get prescription drugs from Canada? Who has shown anywhere near the same level of political courage that Dean has shown?

The man is selfless. He's NOT in this race for what he can personally gain. He's in it for what he can GIVE to US. That is what is special and different about Howard Dean and that's why he deserves our respect and support. A polician who is honestly in it for the people is a rarity. They don't come along very often, and especially not at a time when we so desperately need it.

I'm supporting Dean not for Dean. I'm supporting Dean for you and everyone else who hasn't been as fortunate as I have to benefit personally from his wonderful leadership.

Everyone should take an honest look into his accomplishments and where he stands on the issues. You won't find anyone more sincere or with more integrity than Howard Dean. He wants to give the American people all he has to give, and that's not something the voters should pass up in favor of someone who just wants another political notch on their belt who won't change anything at all.

[PassingFair]

34. Bravo, KK

My sentiments exactly!

[Paulie]

18. What are your top issues?

It would be easier if we could tailor our sales pitch that way. :) :) :)

Begin here ---> http://www.kucinich.us/ <---

[blondeatlast]

37. Good question!

Not necessarily in this order, but:

Health Care (not just health insurance)
Jobs, jobs, jobs!
Post-occupation of Iraq
Strengthening unions
Education
Protection of Social Security (I'm on the downhill to retirement)
Civil and Constitutional rights

Edit: my unequivocal number one issue os removing the pretender on the throne. No, I'm not a Dean fan, that's true, but if he's the nominee, I won't hesitate to vote for him (and I won't have to hold my nose for him, either)


Guns (not saying what side of it I'm on, but you can probably guess), gay rights, women's rights, and the environment are important too, but take a backseat with the mess we are in.

[diamondsoul]

43. In that case- Kucinich without a doubt.

Best HealthCARE plan available, already introduced in the House and waiting to be heard.

Jobs- nobody else is proposing a new WPA plan similar to that of FDR, and to withdraw from NAFTA and the WTO to stop the outflow of jobs from the US. (By the way there IS legal precident for his ability to withdraw from NAFTA and the WTO unilaterally, thanks to his lawsuit against G.W. Bush to stop him from withdrawing from the Kyoto Treaty. He lost.)

Post Occupation Iraq- the only man with a set plan and time-frame to work towards. The only man with the reputation and connections to make that plan work, even if it takes a bit longer than anticipated.
**Member of House Ways and Means Committe and Ranking Dem on the Govt. Reform Sub-Committee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations. Frequent speaker for the UN gatherings with a reputation as a man of peace and international cooperation.

Strengthening Unions- wants workers rights and Unionization engraved in law. Proposes to have "A workers White House" if elected, including basing trade agreements on the right to form Unions and strike.

Education- currently has legislation proposing universal Pre-K program, participation optional but always available to those who want to. If elected proposes to make Education universally free to those seeking it, via repeal of Bush's tax cuts, decreases to Pentagon Budget, and increased tax revenues generated by WPA program plus US removal from Iraq.

Protection of Soc. Security- has adamantly and steadfastly opposed the Privatization of Soc. Sec. from the outset. Promises to protect the funds already in the system, lower the retirement age to 65, and has the facts to assert Soc. Sec. is solvent as is for the next 40 years. Increasing the number of people working will keep it solvent beyond that point, hence the positions on WPA program and the withdrawal from NAFTA and WTO.

Civil and Const. Rights- has been constantly working against the Patriot Act, has amended his position on abortion purely because he came to view it as a necessary civil right for women, has introduced the Benjamin Franklin True Patriot Act in the House, again waiting to be heard, and has begun to re-evaluate a previous position in favor of Flag-Burning amendment due to the undermining of civil and constitutional rights currently taking place.

Further reasons to trust Kucinich-

Questions re: ability to fund social programs- Dennis J. Kucinich is the ONLY candidate currently running a debt free campaign. He is THE candidate with experience running in the black with the least available funds, and he knows how to develop the means to garner more funds without hurting people in the process.

Honesty and integrity- has consistantly told the truth about anything he's ever asked, even when that truth might be harmful to his goals i.e. his abortion positions. Has steadfastly maintained there was no evidence of WMDs in Iraq and is the only candidate to publicly discuss the PNAC which lays out a plan to invade countries in the ME well before 9/11 and maintains that military plan was the true basis for the invasion of Iraq.

Has consistantly been fair and truthful in his challenges to other candidates, focusing on issues and questions of integrity in their campaigns rather than all out personal character attacks. Dean supporters may argue with this- I maintain Kucinich's challenge to the Dean misrepresentations on the Iraq War were made with the acceptance that someone other than Governor Dean may have been responsible for the false statements. When Gov. Dean failed for a lengthy period to take any action and then to take the minimum possible action that possibility was laid to rest, imho. Gov. Dean KNEW he was misrepresenting himself and not giving proper credit or respect to another candidate, otherwise he'd have been adamant about changing the statements put forth by his campaign.

Congressman Kucinich has fought not only for the people in Ohio's 10th district who elected him, but for the entire population of this country for the past 8 years. He's earned a bid to be our President because he's consistantly worked for ALL of us.

**on edit- major typo repairs! Bleah! Need more coffee.

[WilliamPitt]

45. I think you covered the waterfront here

Nice work.

Also helps to note that the National Institute of Health (NIH) endorsed Kucinich's health plan while in Iowa.

[HFishbine]

49. "Strengthening unions"

Just a quick hit and run. With Gephardt now out of the race, Dean is head and shoulders above the other candidates on strengthening unions. Here are his positions:

Card Check. Federal labor law should be amended to declare that a union is established whenever a majority of workers have signed cards stating that they wish to unionize. This would avoid protracted and divisive campaigns in which employers use intimidation and coercion to block unionization. Republicans in Congress are proposing to ban even discretionary card-check procedures. As President, I would veto such mean-spirited anti-worker legislation.

{Personal note: As someone who lives in NC, a state where it is very difficult to organize labor, this one position alone would go a long way to helping unions get a foothold in right-to-work states.}

Ban on captive audience / mandatory anti-union meetings. Under current law, employers may schedule meetings that employees MUST attend at which employers advocate against formation of a union. Federal law should ban such practices.

Ban on one-on-one anti-union meetings. Current law permits employers to pull individual workers off the job to attend one-on-one anti-union propaganda sessions. Such inherently coercive one-on-one meetings should be banned as an unfair labor practice.

Streamlined NLRB procedures. The process by which the National Labor Relations Board certifies unions is subject to endless appeals and delays. Employers should have only one opportunity to challenge the validity of a new union, and the process must be streamlined so that workers can form a union in a timely way.

New civil penalties for failure to negotiate in good faith. Right now there are no serious consequences if an employer ignores a newly formed union. There should be meaningful financial penalties available to federal regulators when an employer fails to negotiate in good faith with a union.

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?type=page&pagename=policy_statement_labor

[diamondsoul]

51. Credit where it's due-

those are great positions, but would he engrave in law the inherent right of workers to organize, period?

[robbedvoter]

20. Why I support Clark

As my handle  indicates, I am one of those still crying in my teacup over the stolen election (sorry, mr Kerry, democracy matters!)
  I spent the better part of these past 3 years hoping for a rematch Gore vs Bush where justice would prevail.
  Even after Gore's whiny bow out ("I wanna but they wouldn't let me, so I guess Bush is legitimate now") I still insisted in my only hope for the future and attempted to draft him.
      The reality shock came in April, with the moveon primaries. I had voted for Gore in the "other" category, along with 500 other people. meanwhile, in the same category, we got creamed by this unknown named Clark - with 5000 votes. I was pissed.
   Having sworn off CNN after their post coup 2000 coverage, I had no idea who this Clark person was - and how dare he steal our thunder?
As Al Gore kept telling the media how amused he was about our efforts just as his aides were egging us on, I became truly disgusted.
I expressed my disappointment with his more recent  actions in this letter:
http://writers.forclark.com/story/2003/12/10/91341/687
I started reading about Clark and it was this passage from the Esquire profile that first got my attention:

From the Esquire profile:

He was conducting what he calls "Socratic dialogue" that explored every decision the officers made, as well as every mistake. The idea was not to punish officers for their mistakes nor to second-guess their decisions. The idea was not even to hold officers accountable for their mistakes and decisions. The idea was to encourage officers to hold themselves accountable. The idea was to create a culture of accountability in which the Army's enormous investment in training and education could take root and flourish, and in which every soldier counted.

http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2003/030801_mfe_clark_6.html

Wow! A Socratic war hero!
I was immediately hooked, but didn't dare hope that such a brilliant man will enter the race (I just "broke up with a draft relationship)
     So, I quietly hoped, gathered materials, then joined the draft movement on the rebound...what a journey this has been so far!

    Ever since, I KNOW I am part of history. I know that not only am I part of the making of a president, but also paving the way for a future that I am hoping for - the Star Trek vs Star Wars scenario.

   
But as General Wes Clark, former Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe has recently noted, a premature go-it-alone invasion of Iraq "would super-charge recruiting for Al Qaida."
Paul Wellstone
http://www.wellstoneaction.org/news/news_detail.aspx?itemID=1865&catID=298

" seems to be preoccupied, and I'm quoting now, with building legitimacy, with exhausting all diplomatic remedies...  So I think General Clark simply doesn't want to see us use military force and he has thrown out as many reasons as he can develop to that but the bottom line is he just doesn't want to take action. He wants to wait."
Richard Perle, Iraq war-mongerer, before congress Sept. 26, 2002

 He's running for president, and he is not used to losing.  And if he gets the nomination, he'll go up and down this country and beat on President Bush like a drum.  He'll do 2,000 yards every morning; he'll rappel down any cliff he needs to; he will shake off any small-arms fire as if it were a swarm of gnats.  And he'll get better at the game each and every day.
He hates to lose.  And he doesn't run from fights.
And even if he's never played the game, he's never a beginner at anything.
Dismissed."

[in_cog_ni_to]

21. If you want a candidate who can beat Bush,

Clark is the man. If you want someone who can and will go toe to toe with Bush, Wes is the man. If you want a Washington outsider who will make this administration pay for what they have done to this country, Wes is the man. If you want someone who will do everything to keep our country safe, Wes is the man. If you want someone with EXECUTIVE experience who can run our country, Wes is the man. If you want someone who will do the RIGHT thing in Iraq...get the UN and NATO in there, stabilize the region and get our troops home, Wes is the man. If you want someone who has a progressive tax plan that will lower this huge deficit and give us health care and improve our education system, Wes is the man. If you want someone who wants equal rights for EVERYONE, African Americans, Latinos, Whites, Gays, rich and poor, Wes is the man. If you want health care for everyone, Wes is the man. If you want college GRANTS the first 2 years ($6000 each year) of college, Wes is the man. If you want to undo the environmental policies of Bush that will damage our environment, Wes is the man. If you want the 911 investigation report OPENED, Wes is the man. If you want to repair the relationship with our allies that this administration has DESTROYED, Wes is the man. He is LOVED all over the WORLD. He knows heads of states, personally. He is respected all over the entire world! You want to improve our education system, Wes is the man. I could go on and on about why HE is the BEST man to be our president, but why not read it for yourself? All of his policies are at.....

www.clark04.com

He's pro-choice
He's pro-affirmative action
He's pro-environment
He's pro-labor

He also wants to keep jobs in this country by closing the tax loopholes/incentives that are given to companies who outsource jobs. He wants incentives GIVEN to companies who keep jobs HERE.

How does General Wesley Clark compare to legendary West Point Generals? See for yourself.

1. General Robert E. Lee - Class of 1829 #2 in class of 46
(Civil War)
2. General Ulysses S. Grant - Class of 1843 #21 in class of 39
(Civil War)
3. General John J. Pershing - Class of 1886 #30 in class of 76
(World War I)
4. General Douglas MacArthur - Class of 1903 #1 in class of 94
(World War II + Korea)
5. General George S. Patton -Class of 1909 #46 in class of 153
(World War II)
6. General Dwight Eisenhower - Class of 1915 #61 in class of 164
(World War II)
7. General William Westmoreland - Class of 1936 #112 in class of 276
(Vietnam)
8. General Norman Schwarzkopf - Class of 1956 #43 in class of 480
(Dessert Storm)
9. General Wesley Clark - Class of 1966 #1 in class of 579
(NATO/Kosovo)

Definitely one of the smartest generals in U.S. history.

General Wesley K. Clark
• West Point Valedictorian
• Oxford University Masters Degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
• Rhodes Scholar
• Vietnam Veteran
• Four Star General
• NATO Supreme Allied Commander (SACEUR) - Kosovo
• Board Chairman Wavecrest
Technologies
• CNN Analyst
• Author

[For PaisAn]

48. yea

what he/she said. Clark is a progressive visionary and can best stand toe to toe and head to head against Bush. Clark is Bush's worst nightmare and he is strong on all progressive issues.

[Duder]

22. Ask a few questions...

1. Where did the other candidates stand on key votes such as the War, the Patriot Act, and No Child Left Behind?

2. Where do the other candidates get their campaign contributions? How much of their money comes from small donors? How much of it comes from large donors?

3. What is the voting record of the other candidates? Will it play well in the general election?

4. How much leadership have the other candidates shown in elective office?

I'll be voting for Howard Dean in the primary this Tuesday.

[WilliamPitt]

23. In the cause of Dennis Kucinich

I give you two bits of reading material:

http://kucinich.us/DennisKucinichWasRight.pdf

and

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/012604A.shtml

Any further questions, just ask.

[diamondsoul]

44. Hey Will,

Have a look at post 43 and give me a bit of feedback, would you please? No rush, whenever you have a minute. Bear in mind it's a response based on the issues the original poster put forth as their most important ones.

I keep feeling like I left something out and can't quite figure out what it is.

[LWolf]

25. Dennis Kucinich

If you have any questions about Dennis at all, after reading over the links Will gave you, and the issues section of his website, go meet him.

He's coming to AZ; DR can give you more specific info. Go meet him.

I promise that you will be glad you did.

[frustrated_lefty]

30. Dean's record:

This was originally posted in response to another thread ages and ages ago. Maybe even a few weeks! But the issues still hold true, and these things make me hopeful. These are issues which touch our daily lives in real ways that mean something. If you're on the fence, you may want to give this some thought.

Regarding slashing of social programs, what exactly did Dean do in his 11 years in office?

1) as of the year 2000, Vermont was rated 2nd best in the nation for the quality of medical care provided to Medicare beneficiaries
2) as of the year 2003, Vermont was ranked 3rd best in the nation for prescription benefits provided to Medicare beneficiaries
3) signed into law managed care consumer protections that are among the toughest in the nation
4) established the "Success by Six" program, in which Health care providers, social service agencies and others cooperate to connect parents with resources ranging from job training to parenting classes
5) overhauled Vermont's traditional system of paying for public schools with local property taxes, shifting funds from rich towns to poor towns through a "sharing pool," sparking an explosion in education spending,which has been up by 40% since 1997
6) ensured that virtually every child under 18 and more than 90 percent of adults are eligible for health coverage.
7) created the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee to identify strengths and weaknesses in the community response to domestic violence
8) established initiatives which included mandatory work requirements and lifetime maximum benefits, but were balanced by their support of children and their working parents with health care, child care, and job training (more at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ofa/ngachn/child~36.htm)
9) increased investment on Child Care Services by 176% since 1991
10) instituted the first state protocol for abuse investigations. In return, Vermont saw a 45% decline in physical and sexual abuse of children. This included a 64% decline in physical abuse victims ages 0-3 and a 43% decline in physical abuse victims ages 0-6.
11) increased human services funding by 33%, and education funding by 25%

I could go on. Based on a record like this, I find it hard to perceive him as a bungling idiot who intends to randomly slash social programs. What he HAS done consistently is show a willingness to tighten the budget for a purpose: balancing it. We're not talking about "starving the beast" here, or making efforts to permanently cut programs. If anything, it seems to me he has a record for making short-term sacrifice in order to achieve a sustainable economy with adequate funding for social programs.

A few specific claims were made in the original post: "Throughout the 1990s, Dean's cuts in state aid to education ($6 million), retirement funds for teachers and state employees ($7 million), health care ($4 million), welfare programs earmarked for the aged, blind and disabled ($2 million), Medicaid benefits ($1.2 million) and more, amounted to roughly $30 million."

Did the cuts in state funding for education coincide with #5 posted above, for example? Or was it a short term cut made which he later corrected for starting in 1997? Either way, spending on education is up 40% since 1997. The author states he cut retirement funds for teachers and state employees. On the other hand, he signed into law agency fee protection for the state employees union, thereby providing union security for state employees. (http://www.nwaforchange.org/nwa/downloads/Election_Guide/09dean.pdf)

In any event, based on these observations, I think it fair to predict Dean would not run rampant slashing and burning social programs in the presidency.

Regarding "regressive" taxation:

1) again, when Dean entered office, the highest tax bracket in Vermont was paying the highest state income taxes in the country.
2) he cut income tax twice, removed the sales tax on most clothing, and reduced the state's long-term debt.
3) he raised the state's minimum wage twice during 11 years in office.
4) he created tax incentives to attract and keep new companies.
5) he created 41,000 jobs

In effect, he did one hell of a remarkable job for Vermont's economy, and tax breaks like eliminating the sales tax on most clothing is the sort of thing that helps the average working man. Some of the benefits he offered to the average working man aren¡¦t necessarily apparent at first glance.

On Roe v Wade and Women¡¦s Issues, during his governorship:

1) he appointed more women to office than any other state governor
2) he signed an executive order enhancing state assistance to victims of domestic violence
3) he challenged the term "partial birth abortion" from a medical perspective, saying that it is a "code word" for extremism
4) pregnancy rates for young teens dropped 49%.
5) Vermont was the first state to institute a statewide protocol for abuse investigations. In return, Vermont saw a 45% decline in physical and sexual abuse of children. This included a 64% decline in physical abuse victims ages 0-3 and a 43% decline in physical abuse victims ages 0-6
6) He has consistently, irrefutably argued that what a woman does with her body is her own decision and none of the government¡¦s business.

So, Roe v Wade may not be the litmus test he relies on, but it seems he is willing to fight for women¡¦s issues in ways that actually work. What about this is there to criticize? One poster did raise an important issue, concern that stance on Roe v Wade should be the litmus test for judicial appointments. That's valid. Unfortunately, I've had little luck tracking down info on his judicial appointments, other than their names (Jeffrey L. Amestoy 1997, Marilyn S. Skoglund 1997) and un-related issues.


Lastly, concern was raised that he flip-flops. Probably so, although it's not unusual to find a person revising their opinion upon further consideration.

Anyway, those are more thoughts. Hopefully, they are non-inflammatory. :)

And the urls where all of this came from, for those who care to peruse the data and sources for themselves, are as follows:

http://ventura.fordean.org/ventura/
http://fordean.org/aa/issues/environment1.htm
http://www.nwaforchange.org/nwa/downloads/Election_Guide/09dean.pdf
http://www.ajs.org/js/VT_methods.htm
http://www.women.state.vt.us/legalrtw.html
http://www.politicsus.com/presidential%20press%20releases/Dean/112403b.htm

[bushwakker]

31. John Kerry - intelligent, articulate, courageous, electable

:thumbsup:

[sandnsea]

35. Kerry - tough fights, at the forefront

That's what it is about John Kerry, he's at always at the forefront of problems. And he takes on the tough fights.

He was working on acid rain when he was Lt. Gov of Mass, way back in the early 80's. Before that, he implemented a rape victim's unit when he was a prosecutor, one of the first in the nation. He made a point to hire women attorneys. He saw the problems of drug running and bank laws and crime back in the 80s, Iran/Contra, which directly relates to terrorism today. Even the 1992 Affirmative Action speech, he was talking about the perceptions white america has and the problems it was creating and here we are fighting AA in court today. He introduced the first GLBT legislation back in 1985. Leading the country to understanding why AIDS is OUR problem, right now in this campaign. People laughed that he was talking about Global AIDS to Iowans, but by the time he was done, they got it.

He's a natural leader, a natural fighter, and he sees problems coming and implements real solutions WAY ahead of everybody else.

My personal reason. I have an 18 year old son. We are in dangerous times and who knows what military actions might be necessary. There simply isn't any other candidate I trust his life to. Because he was measured in his response to Iraq. He has been consistent on it and isn't trying to say he was anti-war all along, which is only true of Kucinich. He had a concise plan unlike anybody else, except Clark who had the same plan but now says he was anti-war. I know he'd never send my son to war unless he absolutely had to and then I know he'd have a plan to make sure the mission was successful. That's the lesson of Vietnam that alot of people still don't get. If a war isn't worth fighting to the last man, it isn't worth fighting at all.

Tough decision this year!

[frustrated_lefty]

38. It says something to me that only a few people

are addressing the original post. He asked for replies to be "clean and specific." Most of these posts have been clean, very few have been specific. There are less than half a dozen which promote specifics about any candidate without slamming an opponent. It heartens me to note that the majority of the posts which promote a candidate without taking a jab at another come from Dean people.

It's time for a change, and I want my country back.

[blondeatlast]

40. "She" asked for clean and specific, but no worries!

:hi:

[DrFunkenstein]

41. Kerry Is A Man With Big Ideas - And Drive And Know-How To Get Them Passed

John Kerry can radically change the course of the 21st century. Think about that. Here is a man with a real sense of vision - not dreams or hopes (we all have them), but an ability to see with great scope and depth AND the ability to create real action. Kerry knows that you have to keep your eyes on the prize in the face of powerful opposition and invariable setbacks, and keep a sense of short and long-term goals.

If one thing can be said of Kerry, he is a driven man. He has a qualities befitting his career as a prosecutor - hard-nosed and tireless. Time and again, he has proven himself willing to take on the thankless jobs that make real change actually occur. And his voluntary refusal to take PAC money his entire career as Senator has left him with the rare clean nose in Washington. He is not beholden to any special interests, and you can't be if you are actually going to do something as President.

Kerry has the talent and character to be one of those once-in-a-generation Presidents like Roosevelt and Kennedy. Kerry is one of the only people in recent history that could actually stand his ground with the Founding Fathers. His standards are Jefferson and Hamilton, not CNN and FoxNews.

He has some wonderful positions to speak of, but I really want to get to his Big Ideas and why they separate him from the pack. Here are just three of his major visions for America, any one of which would radically change the landscape of our democracy:

1. Energy Independence - From baby-steps to moon steps. Many candidates have "moonshot" energy plans, but most range from pie-in-the-sky to empty campaign slogans. With a LIFETIME (18 years!) rating of 96.5% from the League of Conservation Voters, and a presence at EVERY major environmental conference, Kerry's experiences at the forefront have led him to create a DETAILED plan to actually transform the fundamental nature of U.S. energy, leaving fossil fuels the way of whale oil lamps.

It starts off small, and he is clear that we must be honest about how slowly things will start and the upfront costs of investment (always a crowd pleaser), but that we will work our way through car, home, and business efficiencies while reversing the $1.8 BILLION lavished on Big Oil pork vs. the $24 MILLION ($0.024 billion) on alternatives.

Kerry would make a push for clean, domestic renewables a hallmark - not an afterthought - of his Presidency. This would open up a vast, untapped motherlode of jobs in design, engineering, production, maintenence, etc. Kerry would reconcile business and environment at long last, paving the way for what Time called "The Green Century."

Learn more from this speech:

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2002_0122.html

2. PASSABLE, Damn-Near-Universal Health Coverage. Kerry's plan is incredible on many levels, but it has two things going for it that make it much more likely to pass Congress. 1. It is simple and catchy - Let all Americans opt into Congressional coverage. Period -end of story. 2. It makes cost control its primary focus - Congress will have its feet to the fire when Americans realize how cost-effective the plan is. And I'll throw in reason #3 - it will cover all children (aw, shucks).

Perhaps the most impressive idea is taking catastrophic cases out of the insurance pool, lowering premiums up to 10% in one shot. Kerry will also emphasize upfront preventative care (Teresa is big on this!) before expensive procedures become necessary. He'll cut out prescription price-skimming by corporate middlemen, and cut bureaucratic waste by up to 50% through upfront technology purchases and digital record-keeping (reducing medical errors up to 88%!). He'll also provide targeted tax credits so small businesses can afford Congressional coverage.

Learn more here:

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2003_0516.html

3. The "Porkchop" Commission. Kerry has an amazing plan for eliminating tremendous amounts of government pork projects by creating a rigorous bi-partisan commission (ostensibly tied to the GAO) to recognize wasteful and redundant programs. That commission will then bring their findings to Congress for a straight up-and-down, yes-or-no vote. No amendments, no shenanigans from special interests.

Every member of Congress will be put into a high-profile spotlight and forced to vote for or against a wasteful, pork-laden government. Beyond the bi-partisan commission, he will also create a Presidential line-item veto to eliminate wasteful spending in another up-and-down vote.

In addition, Kerry will refuse government contracts to corporations that use off-shore tax shelters, accounting fraud, and other corporate "excesses." And he will finally give the SEC and the Accounting Oversight Board some real teeth to take on corporate crooks.

He'll cut the Federal government’s administrative costs by five percent; cut the number of political appointees and ban providing bonuses for political appointees; cut fraud and abuse in government programs – fraud and abuse is estimated to cost $12 billion in Medicare alone and end rules that prevent the Federal government from having the same purchasing authority as the private sector.

Finally, he'll balance 1/2 of the national debt in 4 years while maintaining tax breaks for the middle class.

Learn more here:

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2003_0828.html

[democratreformed]

42. Links to information on your issues

from the candidate I support - Wesley Clark.
There is too much info to post it all here, so I am providing you with links.

Health Care: http://clark04.com/issues/healthcare/
http://clark04.com/issues/improvinghealthcare/
http://clark04.com/issues/prescription/

Jobs: http://clark04.com/issues/jobcreation/
http://clark04.com/issues/americanjobs/
http://clark04.com/issues/manufacturing/

Iraq: http://clark04.com/issues/iraqstrategy/

Strengthening Unions: Not sure exactly what you are looking for and
if I assume, I might offend you.

Education: http://clark04.com/issues/education/
http://clark04.com/issues/preschool/
http://clark04.com/issues/highereducation/
http://clark04.com/issues/schoolequity/
http://clark04.com/issues/arts/

Protecting Social Security: I don't think there is a specific issue
paper on this.

Civil and Constitutional Rights: http://clark04.com/issues/patriotact/


Link to main issues page: http://clark04.com/issues/

Other topics include: Global AIDS Security Strategy, Domestic AIDS Security Strategy, Stem Cell Research, Protecting the Environment,
Revitalizing Rural America: Creating Opportunity In Rural Communities,
and many more.

If you choose not to visit and look at each topic, hopefully, this will at least show that Wes Clark is concerned about a variety of issues facing Americans. He does have the necessary leadership skills to work toward a solution to many problems. He does have the sincerity and the caring to address many issues that affect citizen't lives in a variety of ways.

[Nashyra]

46. Since the post above me gave specifics

I'll give a personal experience. I went to NH to volunteer and took my father with me who is a Korean war veteran. After the rally we attended in Portsmouth we ended up the street where Mr. Clark was getting a bite to eat. When he exited to leave he took the time to talk to my dad and when my dad told him what division he had been with in Korea Mr. Clark was so knowledgeable about my dads division, where they were, what equipment they used their goals and objectives. He was so respectful to my dad, even when his people urged him to leave he stayed on and took pictures with my dad and my son (me too). He thanked my dad for his service to his country in a way that my dad came away thinking for the first time the sacrifice he had made for his country was appreciated. My dad saw a lot of hard combat. Later on Tues. nite we were at the polling station holding signs and Clark showed up to ask voters for last minute support, he remembered my dad and he brought all of us with all the campagins hot chocolate and thanked all of us for participating in American Democracy. He is the candidate that really connects with the regular guy and gal. This was all away from the bright lites, he was just being himself.

[democratreformed]

47. I love stories like this

and there are many of them. Thanks for sharing yours.

[diamondsoul]

52. Clark is a wonderful man, no question about it.

I'm glad he made your Dad feel good, and you as well. Even so, your Dad should know that people who don't always approve of military action appreciate his service too.

Dennis Kucinich would have thanked him profusely, even without knowing all the details. Why? Because it takes courage to go out there and fight, knowing you may not come out alive.

I guess you all didn't run across the cocoa for Kucinich efforts. Same idea but done purely through a volunteer effort, and distributed to anyone out working, canvassing etc.

[Jack_Dawson]

54. Great Clark Post! I've heard innumerable stories like that.

[For PaisAn]

50. One more for Clark

He is the only candidate who has the experience to get us out of the mess in Iraq, repair our international relationships and get our troops home.

[1971]

55. Bark for Clark!

(Hey, with a grassroots supporter like "Bark for Clark" - who can resist to enlist?)

http://www.barkforclark.com/

Really, tho. It's gotta be Wes Clark.
Clark will decimate Bush in the Presidential debates.
If you want a doctor to run the White House, elect a doctor. If you want a lawyer as President, elect a lawyer. But if you want a leader, Wes Clark is the only choice in this horse race. He breathes homeland security and international policy. He eats domestic policy for breakfast and will make sure we all get our recommended daily allowance of jobs, healthcare, and civil rights.

I'm trying to be light here, but this is not an election-lite issue.

The Bush Administration fears a Clark nomination. No wonder Clark doesn't get as much air time from the corporate-controlled media.

DU'er Donna Zen gives a great reason why they fear Clark, too:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=248547#248821

Clark is a true blue American hero, and the only way to keep him down in the polls is to unjustly smear him or to simply not talk about him.
But people cast their ballots, and can speak for Wes Clark that way. People can speak to each other, too, and votes will grow for Clark like rumors do, by word-of-mouth. Damn the media. As for the internet, not everybody logs on to DU or any other website... so spread the word... sound off for Wes Clark!

We've been handed a great leader in Wes Clark, and if we're too gun-shy or jaded to recognize it, then pity us all.


EDIT: Here's another post you should read.

The Man for all Reasons
http://cris.forclark.com/story/2003/11/18/185117/66

[Jack_Dawson]

53. Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark

Because he is the one republicans and their media machine fear the most. He's the most principled of candidates, refusing to lower himself to personal attacks. He's never run for office, so he is uncorrupted by special interests and legislative compromises over the years. He was a 4-star general, which means he has commanded huge battalions of men and women, and has executive leadership experience. He is not a professional politican which means he makes mistakes on the campaign trail, but he's also the brightest, most articulate and thoughtful candidate running. I've studied them all, and General Clark is indeed The Man.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

56. Dean

The way I came to support Dean was that I did a lot of research on his website for his positions on the issues I cared about the most. I also compared with the other candidates. Dean came out way ahead in my book --- I agreed with almost everything he said and every position he took.

This may sound like a cop-out, but I've really found that the best way to figure out which candidate to support is to read their literature and do your own research into their positions on the issues that matter most to you. You may be surprised at the results.

We have a lot of good people running this year, but unfortunately all of the candidates have at least one MAJOR achilles' heel, Dean included. So I encourage you to research the candidates and the issues on your own and come to your own decision about who you like the best.

Good luck.

[SW FL Dem]

57. I'm voting for Clark

I posted this on another thread.


I don't live in AZ but I was raised there. My mom and sister live in Chandler and are both voting for Clark.

My reasons (in no particular order):

1. Clark is clearly one of the most intelligent men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He graduated first in his class from West Point and is a Rhodes scholar.

2. I honestly believe Clark has the best chance of beating Bush. There are many unhappy Republicans and Independents. In my area, which is heavily Republican, our Clark meetups and houseparties are filled with people who have never voted for a Democrat in their life. These people are actively working for and donating to Wesley Clark. They like his military experience, lack of political experience and his integrity. I don't see these people voting for any other Democrat, especially Kerry or Dean.

3. Wes Clark has held positions of incredible responsiblity. He has been "under fire" and has stood up to the pressure.

4. Clark is widely respected in Europe and has good relationships with many of the European leaders. He is in the best position to heal the wounds caused by the current administration.

5. Clark is actually quite liberal in his social and economic positions. He is pro-choice, very concerned with the environment, supports current gun laws but can't be considered "anti-gun" with his military experience and his hunting background. He has an incredible tax proposal that will really help working families. Even though,I will end up paying more under his tax plan, I would be happy to give back my tax cuts to help provide funding for education, Social Security and healthcare. I encourage you to visit the ClarkO4 website for more details on his positions.

6. I think that it will be very difficult for Karl Rove to come up with an effective campaign against Clark. The ONLY thing they can say is about his "firing" from his post as Allied Supreme Commander. This issue can easily be countered. Furthermore, it opens up the door to questions about Bush's military career (or lack thereof).

7. Wes Clark genuinely cares about this country and its people. He isn't a career politician and running for President wasn't his idea. He was drafted by millions. He has a strong record of standing up for those people he was in charge of. He supports affirmative action and actively practiced that in the military. I would also encourage you to watch the video American Son from his website, I've seen it at least 3 times and it still gives me goosebumps.

8. The world isn't the same as it was a few years ago. As a mother, I think it is really important to have someone with military and international experience leading and protecting us. I am truly afraid for my son, if Bush is re-elected and continues his nation building. Our armed forces are inadequate to continue as we are. Our troops don't have enough support or the right equipment. Troops are not reelisting and the drain on our reservists is getting worse. If we allow Bush to continue his nation building, I am afraid he will reinstate the draft. The Selective Service is already gearing up.

9. Wes Clark inspires me. I used to be involved in politics, but then life and family took precedence. I always voted, but didn't do more than that. This is the first time I have ever donated to a campaign. The last time I volunteered for a campaign was in 1976. I know I am not alone.

I know I have missed something. Hope my fellow Clark supporters will add to this (and add links to the website - I don't know how to do that!)



SW FL Dem

[mandyky]

58. Dean has spoken about the media "Fairness Doctrine"

I saw your posts in the thread in GD about the media lawsuit. We need an outsider who will work on issues like this.