Reply #60: He mentioned ALL those things [View All]

[WildEyedLiberal]

There's a REASON you only saw his positions in the debates - that was the only meaningful media coverage he received in the entire campaign. To actually find out what he said at specific rallies and speeches, you had to look it up on the internet or actually be there - and most people didn't. Because the media didn't cover it doesn't mean he didn't say it. Kerry dominated in the three debates - unlike Gore - and criticized far more of Bush's policies in his campaign than Gore did in his 2000 campaign. I specfically recall Gore agreeing with Bush about 30 times in the second debate. Kerry made mistakes in 2004 - the Grand Canyon (where he misheard the question, but reporters were all too eager to report his comments, but not his clarification), and his response to the Swifties (prompted by inept management via Cahill and Shrum), but Gore ran a much, much worse campaign on all levels. Bush should never have won in 2000 - pre 9/11, he couldn't pull out the terror/war/fear card, and everyone made fun of him as a buffoon. 2000 shouldn't have even been close. Also, the Gore smears weren't just invented in 2000 - the "invented the internet" smear and "Love Canal" smear all came from decades-old statements Gore had made.

Kerry could actually run an entire campaign on "I told you so" moments - he was right about Bush giving up on bin Laden at Tora Bora; right about engaging North Korea; and right about the civil war in Iraq, among many other things.

Yes, Kerry made mistakes. But Holy God, so did Gore. And so will any candidate we nominate. If you are on a quixotic quest for the perfect candidate who will run a perfect campaign and make no mistakes, you will be searching for a long time. That is why I trust either Kerry OR Gore, both who have weathered the smears once before and learned and grown and become wiser since their past runs.

Also, I find it highly ironic that you say "Kerry blew his chance" while eagerly embracing Gore - I don't care if it's been 4 or 8 years, they both "had their chance," and it's just not intellectually honest to say that one "blew it" while the other magically is allowed a second try.