Fictional Presidents, Candidates, and Honor shared by Kerry

[Dr Ron]

I have two posts at The Democratic Daily on fictional presidents and candidates, showing some parallels to reality:

Presidents Logan and Bush–One Fictional, one Real; Both Implicated in Crimes
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2597

The West Wing Election and A Lession For Real Candidates
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2598

The West Wing post concludes with comments on concessions, as I suspect that they were resonding to those who want to fight elections in the courts by having both Vinick and Santos resisting advice to use the courts in a close election. They were portrayed as being honorable in this--a trait shared by John Kerry in 2004.

[ginnyinWI]

1. I noticed that message on Sunday's episode

That to try to fight it out wouldn't change anything, and is political suicide. Two good reasons Kerry could have chosen not to fight it.

The one thing he probably shouldn't have done is make all those statements about "counting every vote" which led people to believe that he would contest the election quite readily, if the results were at all close. People were expecting it would be a scenario like 2000, except this time we'd beat them and throw the rascals out. So I can understand their feelings of disappointment.

I was disappointed too--but it only lasted until the next day when I was able to reason it all out, and I decided that if I trusted him to be president, I should trust him on this decision too, not knowing everything that went on behind the scenes. I have a big problem with DUers who pretend they have a right to sit in judgment of the man, even though they only know what's known to the public, and some of them have little more than RNC talking points at that.

[TayTay]

2. I seriously think that the time for this issue is coming

I think he must be re-visited by the Dems. I also think that there has to be a coalition of Dems that form to support it. I think this is coming later on in the summer and will co-incide with the renewal of the Voting Rights Act.

[ProSense]

3. I think it would have

been worse without the statements. And he had reason to make those statements, he was following through with trying to get the recounts done, filing legal motions and joining lawsuits to get to the facts. Some people don't want to acknowlegde these actions, but they happened. People also forget that Boxer was the only Senator to vote against certifying the election.

[Dr Ron]

4. Counting All The Votes

I think these statements were in preparation for a Florida 2000 like situation when he would have fought the results.

Kerry did have contingency plans if things were that close and it really was a contested election, such as to not concede and start forming a government so he wouldn't look like the loser trying to change the results as Gore did. (The West Wing message applies to 2004, but I wouldn't take it to extremes and oppose fighting if the result really was unfair and there was a real chance of changing it.)

Kerry tookt the night and realized the situation he was in was not as close as 2000. Unfortuantely many people don't see the differences between 2000 and 2004 leading to the attacks on Kerry for caving in.