Observing some of the comments on BBC News

[BayouBengal07]

"Kerry is a left-wing senator who supports abortion, gay marriage and gun control. He voted against funding the Iraq war. Kerry is now trying to fool the voters by portraying himself as a moderate. That makes him just another disingenuous Democrat. Bush will win by a much larger margin than commonly believed."

"A good speech, he sounded like he was at the wrong convention though! I am voting for Bush not someone pretending to be Bush!"

"Forget speeches. Actions speak louder than words. You just have to look at his voting record in the senate (most liberal), his disgraceful anti-war behaviour after returning from Vietnam, his support of the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and his continual flip-flop on policy this election season to know that John Kerry is an opportunist and an enemy of freedom."

Could the Kerry administration be a left wing version of the Bush administration? Bush played the likeable moderate through the last campaign ("I don't believe our troops should be used for whats called nation building"), but then gave us the most right wing administration since Reagan.

Could Kerry come across to a lot of voters as moderate, then turn them off he takes office?

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Is this coming from the BBC comments page or the talking head on the news?

--------------------------------------------------------
An open letter to John Kerry, John Edwards, and the DNC:
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/OpenLetter.htm

[Screaming Lord Byron]

7. Comments from Freepers. Here's some better ones.

I have voted for every Republican since Barry Goldwater, but no more. Though some of them may not have actually done what they said they would, George W is different. He simply lies, but I believe he does it with an agenda. Thank God for John Kerry; I will find out how to volunteer today.
Bill Eldridge, Asheville, NC, USA

I feel very comfortable with his nomination. President Bush has alienated many of our world friends and has done a terrible job with the war that should never have occurred. Our economy has gone to pot during his tenure. Nearly three million jobs have been lost and our annual budget is suffering triple digit (billions) deficits. I see only the same misery if Bush is re-elected but great hope with Kerry and Edwards.
Howard Reese, Pensacola, USA

The goals set forward by Kerry are somewhat far fetched. However they are worth aiming for and even if only partially achieved they are worthwhile.
John Culiner, Boca Raton, FL

John Kerry is going to restore my confidence and world confidence. We need our international friends!
Maxine Nieder, Lansing, MI, USA


Thank God for John Kerry; I will find out how to volunteer today

Bill Eldridge, Asheville

I have voted for every Republican since Barry Goldwater, but no more. Though some of them may not have actually done what they said they would, George W is different. He simply lies, but I believe he does it with an agenda. Thank God for John Kerry; I will find out how to volunteer today.
Bill Eldridge, Asheville, NC, USA

I liked it! When he said "I'm John Kerry, and I'm reporting for duty". That said it all, he will never fail to report when the nation needs him.
Sudra, New Delhi, India


Kerry made it clear who the more intelligent, competent and caring candidate is in this race. He made it clear it is a black and white issue. Competence versus incompetence.
Bob Belbeck, MN, USA

I thought that the speech was strong. Kerry was forceful, but not negative. He is gonna win in November because of speeches like this one.
Eric Gordon, United States

I am so tired of hearing that Kerry is Bush bashing. If we disagree with the way this administration is running the country we're not supposed to voice them? So the fiercely negative campaigns against Clinton/Gore by Bush 41 and Bush 43 don't count as bashing? There may be questions about Kerry's plans and whether he will be able to implement them, but we have proof of how poorly Bush has handled the current economy and our foreign policy.
Ellie, Orange, USA

I feel very comfortable with his nomination. President Bush has alienated many of our world friends and has done a terrible job with the war that should never have occurred. Our economy has gone to pot during his tenure. Nearly three million jobs have been lost and our annual budget is suffering triple digit (billions) deficits. I see only the same misery if Bush is re-elected but great hope with Kerry and Edwards.
Howard Reese, Pensacola, USA

The goals set forward by Kerry are somewhat far fetched. However they are worth aiming for and even if only partially achieved they are worthwhile.
John Culiner, Boca Raton, FL

Excellent, Kerry will make a great president not the like of Bush who has turned America into the most mocked country in the world. This man is great in everyway.
Alie, MI, USA

I only heard the end of John Kerry's speech. And I too have gone from an anybody but Bush person to a I love John Kerry person. John Kerry could be better than Clinton. I am live two miles from George Bush. The world needs to know - I live in fear of George Bush and his policies not terrorists. My friend's son just came back from camp to find out that the president of the US said it is okay to chop down all the protected trees. He is not my President - John Kerry is.
Sara, Washington DC

I am an expat working in Hong Kong. It is where my career has taken me since so many US companies have been exporting jobs overseas as a result of the incentives offered to companies by the Bush Administration. I am voting for Kerry. His speech was one of the best ever. "The measure of our character is our willingness to give of ourselves for others and for our country." - will go down as one of the world's great political quotes. Finally, a candidate that is qualified, both politically and morally, for the job.
Larry, Hong Kong

[JHB]

2. Who is making these comments?

Are they interviewing republicans?

[kentuck]

3. was this a call-in show or a news report ??

No link....what's the context?

[Bridget Burke]

4. I saw bbcamerica this morning--nothing like this!

Where did you get this information?

If it's from the "comments" page, why don't you supply a link. I'm sure we've got some folks here who might want to express themselves.

[BayouBengal07]

5. Oh shit, sorry

This is from their write-in segment "Have your say"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/3937939.stm

Sorry bout that.

[gasperc]

6. who's the right wing wacko

making all those quotes, Karl was up late

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. "Have Your Say" on bbc.co.uk

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/default.stm

There's always a handful of wingnut Americans who haunt the comments site to post their wingnut diatribes. There's a few who I'm pretty sure pose as people from Arabic and Muslim countries to falsely portray that wingnut sentiments are actually held with some prevalence in those countries too...

Of course the wingnut viewpoints are in the distinct minority on the bbc's international comments board.

[rumguy]

9. Who gives a fuck?

You cherry pick out a few quotes of pure freeper shit - who gives a flying fuck?

Those are pure unadultered repig talking points. It only shows that those who support Bush are mindless fools.

I ask again: why do you give a fuck? You can go to almost any message board in the world and find idiotic bushbots pushing this same garbage.