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[blm]

1. Nixon's thugs planted the stories that Kerry is a "phony" over 30 yrs ago

and Bush ramped them up in the 80s to distract from Kerry's investigations of BCCI, IranContra, CIA drugrunning and the illegal wars in Central America. They needed Kerry's credibility to be diminished in the public eye. He was even labeled a "conspiracy theory nut" and a "grandstander".....and all the while he pursued them doggedly.

It's a shame that so many Democrats, even today, repeat the GOP operative spin against Kerry.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Here's what Nixon and his bunch really thought

From "Tour of Duty," on the day after Kerry's Senate testimony against the Vietnam War:

"Even President Nixon, who had tried to shut down the VVAW march, couldn't help but be impressed by this bright young troublemaker with the impeccable credentials. In an Oval Office meeting the next day, the President noted Kerry's distinctiveness from the other 'beearded weirdos.' He had been the 'real star' of the hearing, Nixon told his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, and his national security adviser, Henry Kissinger.

"'He did a hell of a great job,' Haldeman said.

"'He was extremely effective, ' Nixon agreed.

"'He did a superb job on it at the Foreign Relations Committee yesterday,' Haldeman repeated. 'A Kennedy-type guy; he looks like a Kennedy and he talks exactly like a Kennedy.'"

[blm]

13. And so they had to try to bury him with a mountain of lies

about him, some of which are still being parroted to this day.

[curse10]

2. Exactly Pete

I've met Kerry on two occasions and have met his brother Cam, and daughter, Vanessa. They are wonderful, decent, people. Likeable. Funny.

I know Kerry will make a great president.

[F.Gordon]

4. I was "motivated" from day one as well

When he didn't even come up on radar. When he was just an annoying fly buzzing around the "real" candidates...Dean and Clark.

How did I come up with Kerry? Simple. I asked myself which candidate could actually get things done in Washington if elected. I considered the difficulty of the task a Democrat in the White House would face, with the Repukes most likely still holding a majority in the houses.

This is why I couldn't get behind Dean. Dean said all the right things, but he would have made a terrible President. IMO.

For this time and place, we need an "insider" in the White House. We need someone who can put together a powerful Cabinet. We need someone who can work "both sides of the fence". We need someone who can get things done and repair the damage this Country has suffered under 4 years of Bush*.

Does Kerry support all the issues that are important to me? Fuck no. If I held out for a candidate that represented my own personal agenda, I'd never vote. For me, the difference between being a Democrat and a Repuke, in very simple terms....a Democrat represents the needs of the many...while a Repuke represents the needs of the few. The very few. And using this simple definition....those that call me "Republican-Lite" for supporting Kerry are actually.. (No, I won't say it...)

[JI7]

5. hey pete, those who know him love him

and i'm not just talking about relatives and very close friends. but even people like the firefighters who kerry supported and recognized as important to our country far before 9/11. i saw how strongly those who know him for years supported him like his military buddies. they didn't have to do any of this, bu tthey did it, even when he wasn't doing well, they went on supporting him.

[fishnfla]

6. Pete, I appreciate your position, but it doesn't mean crap!

it didnt mean any thing for Al Gore, for Max Cleland, the late Paul Welstone,etc. The fact that JFK is a nice guy will not prevent the GOP from savaging him as a waffler, liberal, whatever label they can stick on the guy. Substantive issues and true character are brushed aside and replaced with shallowness and sleaze. Its gonna be 'Gore invented the internet' all over again.

One only has to look around this forum to see an example of this. People are attacking each other(and the candidates indirectly) over personality issues, while true deeper concerns, like, oh I dont know...the future of our country are at stake. Ach, I dont wanna go there...

You and I know that Kerry is a good, decent man. Lets not forget it, because come Nov., the GOP and their 150 mill will have the media claiming he is the devil incarnate.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. Because the GOP is evil, we shouldn't be proud of ourselves?

or our candidate?

I don't follow that reasoning. I don't mean to diminish the challenge we have ahead of us. But it doesn't make sense to me to focus on how bad things might get instead of on the advantages we have.


When the GOP attacks we will both defend and counterattack. That doesn't mean the positive qualities of our candidate 'don't mean crap'

[fishnfla]

9. Perception does not equal reality unfortunatly

Just look at the last election. Al Gore, another basically nice decent guy, was bombasted time and again over FALSE perceptions of himself, the internet story, the 'love story' There were a gazzilion references to these and other shallow issues. There were 41 references to shrub being AWOL, which given the reality now on the ground was a more examplary issue of character.

Again, its pretty clear to everyone, myself included, that Kerry is a good man. Hell, I love the guy and I'm proud of our candidate. But we cant be naive. In politics,especially, nice guys finish last.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. You are welcome to believe we are doomed if you want.

However, I disagree, and I'm gonna keep saying so.

You obviously want to keep talking about Al Gore and the election of 4 years ago. You are welcome to do so, and I will continue to point out that you are practicing nothing but backwards-looking negativity. I just don't agree with your conclusions and I think you are spending your energy in an effort that is counterproductive to our shared goals.

[flpoljunkie]

11. Fishnfla, there ain't enough money on earth to put lipstick on the pig

of George W. Bush's record as President. His failed leadership at home and abroad is apparent to all but the most partisan Rethugs, and his recent PR ads are a desperate attempt to change the subject--along with using the empty threat of a Constitutional amendment to spark a despicable culture war in this election year.

That dog won't hunt, as we say in the South.

[zulchzulu]

7. I've met JK on a number of occasions and he is a very cool dude

I've met him in Iowa, Wisconsin and Chicago once last August. I even drove him around one day when he was in Madison for some events. He's witty, funny, extremely intelligent and shall I say, cool.

It's hard to imagine someone like Kerry being President for the mere fact that he indeed gets it and will be such a breath of fresh air not only for the US but for the World. I'm used to not liking Presidents.

There is a world of difference between only knowing someone from the TV tube of pixels or the radio vs. seeing that person in real life. I fell very lucky tp have had the chance to meet John and hope everyone gets the chance at some point.

[flpoljunkie]

12. Your real life testimonial ought to mean something to us DUers.

It certainly means a lot to me. Thank you for giving us your strongly held positive views of John Kerry..."a very cool dude"--can't beat that!