Here's a heartwarmer

[sandnsea]

I'm thinking this is an original Kerry blogger. We had a Nancy who was from the Bay area. Sounds like her anyway. It's a wonderful read, be sure and click.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/12/174812/691

"During this exchange I again noticed the deep emotion in John Kerry's face; I'd observed it when Teresa first started speaking, and I could see him fighting back tears as he looked back and forth between Teresa and Ilana. I felt once again what I sensed the times I spoke with him during the campaign, including observing him closely as he spoke with the people before and after me along the rope lines; this is a man with a big heart, reserved New Englander though he may be, and he allowed his heart to be open to all of the thousands and tens of thousands of ordinary Americans he encountered during the course of the campaign. He did in fact carry us with him -- and feel the weight of the loss of the election not just in terms of his own ambition and sense of calling but also on behalf of all of us who were so deeply disappointed. He had so wanted "to bring this one home" for us.

After Teresa, Nancy Pelosi introduced Kerry, saying how impressed she was by the way Americans continued to embrace him -- her flight from DC to SF left a couple of hours after his, and she said that security personnel were still buzzing and had independently at both airports remarked to her on how hordes of people had been drawn to Kerry, wanting to touch him, get his autograph, thank him. (I think here at dKos we sometimes forget the significance of the role of our party's standardbearer, even when the election results in defeat, and how important it is that Kerry has kept out there -- speaking up in Congress, traveling to Iraq, etc. -- as opposed to Gore's disappearing act following the Supreme Court decision.)"

[JohnKleeb]

1. Kerry really has done a great job

If it comes down to Gore and Kerry in a 2008 primary, I will gladly cast my first vote in a presidential primary for one John Kerry, why? well I love that Gore has become more outspoken, I don't feel the same admiration for Gore that I do for Kerry, Kerry has something about him that makes me like him a lot, its all that he's done, Kerry is just a class act all the way, I will love to have him known to all Americans as President John Kerry, sigh I wish that would have been now.

[whometense]

2. Wow,

thanks for the link. I haven't posted on Kos in dog's age, but left a comment tonight. Beautiful, heartfelt post.

You might want to put up a mascara warning. I'd just put on makeup before I read it. Now I have to go redo. ;-)

[sandnsea]

3. heartwarmer

For future reference, that's code for get out the kleenex. It was really wonderful, but I still have a pretty thick wall around that part of my heart. One of these days I will just cry and cry and cry....

[whometense]

6. Thanks for the key to the code.

;-)

I know exactly what you mean. I was in that same walled-off state until that thank-you party in Boston last Friday night. When I came home and started to write about it I fell apart. I feel better now. Threads like the Kos one still make me cry, but not in the same end-of-the-world way. It is strengthening to know how many people there are out there who "get" him.

[muse]

7. good cry

I cried on the day Kerry conceded and am due another good cry very soon. The Gonzales confirmation, the budget cuts, the threats aimed at Iran . . . all of this is pushing me past my limits of sanity!

[ginnyinWI]

4. wonderful story

But how am I ever going to get over this election if I keep reading such beautiful stories about John Kerry? Alas--bittersweet. That big heart of his--that's why we still care--that's it right there.

[TayTay]

8. Because we lost a battle but

the war goes on. And it is heartening to think of all the people who still fight on. It gives you hope and resolve. And it is very heartening to think that some of the people who might have the most reason to be disheartened, aren't. Courage and grit like that have the odd ability to jump from one willing soul to another.

So let it out, have the tears. Then make way in your heart for hope and resolve and courage. It's there, hiding just behind the few teardrops that still need to fall. Let the tears out, they serve no purpose within. Then let other things in as well, strengthening things. It's the Democratic way. And in this way, you heal all the broken places and get ready to move on.

[ginnyinWI]

9. I went back to Kos and read all of those replies

They are overwhelmingly positive. Many may have been angry initially at JK, but now I think they have more of a perspective on the whole thing, and see that he is still out there courageously fighting, and are bolstered up again. I know I am.

I am filled with hope and resolve. But I don't think I'll be able to stop feeling sad over the defeat unless he gets into the White House some day. But JK's example will inspire us to get tough and march forward.

[TayTay]

10. Did you notice how many were definitely

from women. I'm telling ya, in hindsight, the Kerry campaign should have targeted women as a core group. He really has this pull with women. They could have done better and more targeted ads aimed at HealthCare and disability and education instead of sending Big John out with a hunting rifle. (Go for the women's vote, it's theire for the taking. Security moms my butt.)

All we have to do to win next time is pick up 1 in 30 of the Rethug voeters. Just 1 in 30 and a different attitidue takes hold in the White House. Sigh!

[karynnj]

11. Targeting women

Maybe with the Kids first Health care proposal he's moving in that direction.

As a side benefit the ads could show lots of pictures or video of Kerry with kids. - the picture someone posted on this group sometime this week of a laughing Kerry reading a book to a classroom of totally engaged kids would have spoken millions of words by itself. He looked like he was enjoying the book as much as the kids. (and definitely not aloof)

[TayTay]

12. I agree

The growth sector for Dem votes is in women. We lost some of them slightly last time because of 9/11. But women know that security also means fire and police and infrastructure and all that funding for 'soft' social programs that itsn't really so soft after all.

Sigh! Well, at least we learned something. Next time lovely pics of kids with Kerry, because he seems to be actually and naturally at ease with them and lovely pics of his eyes so we can determine whether or not they are blue or green or hazel. (A woman's topic if ever I heard one.)

[karynnj]

13. Regardless of color, his eyes are just so expressive

kind, soulful, caring, intelligent. In the picture, Little Clarkie has in her signature his eyes look sad, honest, and intense - all at the same time.

[TayTay]

14. I agree, those eyes are killer

killah, I say. Just so soulful.

I just found out that Kerry was on the fencing team at Yale. http://www.vietnamwar.com/JohnKerryPhotoHistory.htm And with thos eeyes. I am going to have a major daydream later. Sigh! (Fencing is so cool. My friend taught me some andwell, nevermind.)

[karynnj]

15. Fencing, hum

That is cool - knowing nothing about fencing, his long arms should really have given him an advantage. How many sports was he on - Ice Hockey, soccer, AND fencing. When you add schoolwork, debating and the political union, he seems to operate at a different speed than the rest of us!

He could have challanged Bush to a fencing duel (fun to imagine in your mind) or a bike race for that matter.

[TayTay]

16. Didn't * fall off his bike

and get a boo-boo. I seem to remember some lies that his minions told about him wiping out on a mud puddle or something. (And when real reporters went back to check, there had been no rain and no puddles for days. He is just the incompetent Boy King. Tripping over his own evil shadow, no doubt.)

And yes, fencing would be awesome. Sigh! I have a thing about fencing. 'nuff said.

[karynnj]

17. Bush rides at Lance Armstrong level of intensity

In a very timely PR move, *'s PR people are touting his cycling prowess. I think they forgot the number of times he fell off the bike. Can't the RNC donate some training wheels.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3104179&mesg_id=3104179

[JI7]

19. that's how he won the Primary

he kept winning women's votes and since especially in the Democratic party most members are women, it pretty much sealed it up for it. winning the women's votes was also how he did well in the southern states against southerners like Clark and Edwards.

the problem was the general election with mostly married white women with children who the Bush people scared into voting for Bush. Kerry had actually led among this group after the debates but in the end the Bush assholes kept scaring them about how if Kerry is elected there will be another 9/11 and it will be the fault of those who voted for Kerry.

and they specifically targeted this group also with this fear mongering. they used the russian school hostage thing also by making them think their kids will be killed by terrorists if Kerry becomes president.

many of these women don't have the economic troubles that many younger or single women have so i think that's why they were targeted by Republicans.

[karynnj]

20. Breslan Hostage Thing

probably was more devastating because it was not Moscow (translates to NYC, D.C, etc) but a small town. The terror reason had not made sense to me as the votes lost (to terror fears) were not in the urban areas - the more likely targets of terror. But the Breslan thing might have caused new anxiety for people living in the heartland.

I live in a NJ county that lost people in 911 and Kerry actually did better than Gore did in the county. The reason is that some long time Republicans voted for Kerry. (due to some Republicans being quite uneasy with Bush's social agenda)

[angrydemocrat]

5. Thanks

That is a wonderful story to read. It's also great to see that many people post and be very positive. I seen a couple of naysayer post (screw them) but the rest were very positve and many are coming back around. That is what I enjoy reading. When it is a bunch of asshole naysayers you just get pissed. I hope to start seeing more and more post just like that one with all the positive comments.

[karynnj]

18. Environment

Although the diary dealt mainly with the emotional reaction between Kerry and his supporters, one interesting thing was that Teresa talked about being involved for the last 2 months with a new project (too new to talk about) although it then mentioned Environmantal science. Interesting to hear after reading Kerry's speech last week on the environment.

They are an incredible couple. Why did our stupid media have no comunctions about repeating negative comments about two such well meaning people?

[elshiva]

21. Often the media portrays the couple

as a sort of "Battling Bickersons," only because Teresa has her own opinions unlike Pickles. She (gasp!) sometimes disagrees with her husband and political wives aren't supposed to do that.