Reposting why Kerry gave a gift to me today, not the Republicans

[LittleClarkie]

It was suggested that I start a new thread with this.

In the original thread, it was suggested that all Kerry has said and done so far re: the election, including not being in D.C. today, gave a gift to the Republicans. Here was my response:

I was able to explain today, as I proudly told a gay, Republican, Bush-voting Barista that the Democrats were contesting the electors in Ohio, that this was not about Kerry, but about the vote.

Matt the barista's first words were "But they can't change the outcome. Bush would still have a majority." I was able to explain calmly that this was not about Kerry or overturning the election, but about recognizing that some things happened this year that were not right, and that have to be made right for the next election. Things like people going to vote where they've been voting for 20 years and being told they were not on the rolls. Things like a paper trail for an auditable vote.

I had him nodding his head and understanding by the end of it, because he too had problems registering where he lives, but instead had to go back to the polling place of a town that he hasn't lived in for 8 months. I said, "That's the sort of thing that needs fixing. It shouldn't be this difficult."

As long as it was about making the system better, he was all for it. If it had been about flipping the election, he would have rolled his eyes and gone back to making mocha.

With Kerry in town, it would have been about him. This way, it was about the vote. I am grateful for the gift he gave me by NOT being in town today.

[fryguy]

1. i agree

heard a similar conversation between a some people at my local coffee house today. they voted for kerry, but were insistent on calling him chicken-shit for not being in DC today and said that after this he didn't deserve to be president. not wishing to interject and acknowledge i was listening into their conversation, i politely packed my bag and left. but now thinking back i wished i had said something like you did.....bravo/brava

[Lauri]

2. Agree! n/t

[Proud_Lefty]

3. Agreed 100%

I've gotten more emails from people disgusted at John Kerry for not planning to be in attendance today, and I continually said to them that this part can't be about Kerry.

On November 2, people were robbed of their votes and their right to vote. While the voters were getting ready to fight, John Kerry conceded which caused a major blow to those loyal supporters. I was one of those supporters and I went a group meeting on Nov. 3. People were in shock and horrified that our democracy was pulled out from underneath us. Someone said that night that those votes that John Kerry decided not to fight for were not his votes, they were ours. In his defense, I believe he pulled out because he was probably threatened.

Every time today that a Republican stood up and said that the Democrats were playing games or whatever other ridiculous they came up with, I kept yelling at the TV that this isn't Boxer's fight or Jones or Kerry's or any others in congress. What happened today happened because the people have been urging and pushing this theft to dealt with. We aren't taking it anymore! How many Senators have you contacted? I can guarantee your answer is you've lost count.

It's time to protect Boxer for hearing us out. It's also up to us, the people to let it be known whose really behind this fight and that we've only just started.

[Starone]

4. Totally Agree

As long as both houses are controlled by Repugs, Dems have to choose creating consensus rather than pushing faster and harder and turning those on the other side of the aisle completely off. It's the only hope for change. Kerry had to be gone and out of the discussion.

[RaulVB]

5. Glad you're happy while the "neocons" plan air strikes against Iran...

And the destruction of social security and the US healthcare system...

[Proud_Lefty]

7. Who said that?

[RaulVB]

Who said what? (n/t)

[Proud_Lefty]

11. That we're happy with the neocons

[LittleClarkie]

12. Sorry you thought today was going to change any of that

It never was. We got what we could hope to get, which was attention. I expected little more realistically.

Meanwhile...

OH YEAH, I'M REAL FUCKIN' HAPPY! DIE, DIE, DIE MUSLIM SCUM! OH SURE, I DON'T NEED HEATH CARE. I DON'T NEED THE MONEY I PAID INTO SOCIAL SECURITY EITHER. KEEP IT. IT HAS REPUBLICAN COOTIES ANYWAY!

Oh please. Being realistic about what was going to happen today does NOT mean I'm happy with the Bush agenda, and by now from seeing me around you should know that!

It is what it is. I'm not beating my tits about it. I've already beaten myself from a size 36 to a size 24 as it is. I don't need to cry anymore, okay? Much as I wanted a President Kerry, I wasn't going to get one. I could see that all along, any messages we got out of the Kerry camp were not about that. No hidden messages. He did and is doing exactly what he said. No more. No less.

Now move out and fight! We're not done fighting yet. This is NOT the end. This is but the beginning.

[RaulVB]

15. Now you're talking!

And no, no need to cry for anything.

I really thought that Kerry would be a leader and the movement was weakened because he didn't.

I'm quite frustrated...

[bunny planet]

16. You tell it sister.

You are so right. We are not done fighting yet.

[Withywindle]

6. Totally agree...

Because Kerry WASN'T there, the cameras and the attention were on other people: Tubbs-Jones and Boxer and all the others, who were able to MAKE THE CASE. Kerry was...well, between Iraq and a hard place! He could NOT have contested this. At best, maybe, he could have been one of the Senators who spoke up--but the minute he opened his mouth, it would have become about HIM and not the VOTERS.

Celebrity politics sux big elephant balls when the issues are even the slightest bit more complicated than "You're a poopyhead!" "No, you are!"

[seito]

8. Thanks for posting this story

It helps to put today's events in terms that we can relate to. I am so grateful to the brave Democrats that took a stand today. I am grateful to John Kerry for stepping out of the spotlight, and allowing this issue to be properly framed.

[RaulVB]

9. Sure...

He didn't intervene because he didn't want to "steal the spotlight..."

Sorry, I disagree.

[seito]

10. Obviously you disagree

Thanks for sharing :hi:

[Proud_Lefty]

13. Being kicked off the computer

So I can't continue with this, but I wish I could. We need to fight these neocons on every level at every turn, with or without Kerry. What they are doing horrifies me to my very being and I am far from pleased with anything they have done or are planning to do. There is a way to fight and there is a way to lose quickly. This is way too important to lose.

[FreepFryer]

14. Much appreciated, LittleClarkie. The Clark folks are very tactical :)

You learn that from a man who's led men in combat.

[Niche]

17. Ah... you guys always do this to me; I'm pissed then you make sense

out of the senseless.

[LittleClarkie]

18. Thanks. Matt is my "what's the matter with Kansas" person

Intelligent, and fully aware that Bush and his ilk are against his very existence, and yet he votes for the fool. I do not get it.

[joevoter]

19. for the last two months I have been talking with people

I am soft spoken and I listen. I have not talked with a Republican yet that has agreed that there were substantial problems with the election and have spoken with many that don't care if there was as long as their guy was the winner. Not a single republican Senator acknowledged that the challenged Ohio vote was a worthwhile endeavor and many said flatly that no disenfranchisement even happened. As far as I am concerned they are all liars and are encouraging fascism and greed under the most criminal, unethical irresponsible administration of my lifetime if not the history of the nation. If Democrats think that they can trust them and compromise they will not survive. The only way to win back the government is to confront them directly with what little legal system that we have left.

If the Democrats as a whole are the party of the people they will do this. I Thank The House members and Barbara Boxer for standing up to this challenge. This event has separated who is for us and who is against (or to compromising).

[LittleClarkie]

20. I wonder if they will feel the same if we ever learn their tricks

say, in the next election.

Oh, the exit polls don't match, Mr. Republican? You don't say. Ain't that a shame. Bwahahahahaha!

[joevoter]

21. Yeh... but I don't want to be like them

Life is shit if you live by "the end justifies the means"

[marcologico]

22. nicely put!

:toast: