Does anyone here share my sentiment with regard....

[AndyHammond1970]

to Kerry surging ahead in the primary. I'm not here to diss Kerry, and I will almost certainly support him in November should he win the nomination. But, I just have this general malaise about a long time Washington insider winning. I also readily recognize that any of the Main field of candidates would be a tremendous improvement over Bush. Still I am really hoping for someone to push forward a real and substantial progressive agenda. I just can help but feeling that the DLC and the more centrist candidates will result in only minor tinkering to a system that needs real change. Anyway I want to have hope but sometimes its hard to see any.

[blm]

1. Your perception of Kerry is WAY off.

Kerry has always been a THORN to the Dem establishment.

They ostracized him during his BCCI investigations and added obstacles to his IranContra investigations. He pursued them throughout even with other Dems coming to him and asking him to back off.

He worked on the Kyoto Protocol for 10 years, much to the disapproval of the corporatist types like Dean who were more inclined to deregulate industry, including the energy industry.

I'd say you have much to learn about Kerry and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

He was in Washington doing GREAT things for this nation and for history. Exposing more government corruption than any lawmaker in modern history should be considered laudable by any fairminded person.

[jeffsurfus]

2. Have you checked Kerry's positions?

Although I have not fully decided which candidate to support in my upcoming Michigan caucus, I have looked at all their positions on various issues.

I challenge you to go to Kerry's website and look at his position on issues and his record. He is no centrist on most issues.

Yada, Yada, Yada on the IWR, but look, for example, at his environmental record and positions. No one is more of a true progressive on the environment than Kerry.

All candidates have their pros and cons, but based on his long record in the Senate, I don't see how Kerry can be considered, with few exceptions, anything but a good liberal Democrat.

[jpgray]

3. One of the most liberal Senate records after Wellstone

He's fairly unique, and hardly your average insider.

[displacedtexan]

4. I want an "insider" who knows where the bodies are buried!

I want someone to stand up and tell the world all of the sleazy antics of BugBoy DeLay et al.
I want someone to explain to the nation how their tax dollars got squandered by the republican congress during the last decade.
I want Bushco to squirm for a change.

[molly]

5. Who did you have in mind?

we need someone STRONG and with a solid public record to beat Bush.

[bobbieinok]

6. I first supported Kerry, but then kept reading neg stuff here

about his manner being stiff and standoffish.

I have always admired Kerry; he's been a long-time activist progressive liberal.

Anybody who has been in national office is an 'insider'. The two recent presidents who were NOT insiders - Carter and Clinton - had a very difficult time getting their programs through. They were both constantly ridiculed in the 'lighter' media for their 'country hick' ways.

It could be argued that the most successful recent liberal president was LBJ. He had been senate majority leader for years and knew how to work the system. He also knew just where to put the pressure on reluctant senators and representatives - 'he knew about most of the skeletons in the closet.'

[OKNancy]

8. But we have a problem bobbieinok

First I agree, Kerry is a great guy, but Kerry is not going to get 15% here. He has never been to Oklahoma, has no ads, and I don't think he even has an office here.

We Okies have to stop Lieberman. My advise: vote for Clark or Edwards.

[indigo32]

7. My opinion of this is that

NONE of them are gonna be able to create "real change"... whatever that means to you or me, I'm not sure what people really expect these people are gonna do, honestly. Kerry is a smart guy, a good guy with good ideas... my concern with him has ALWAYS been the nagging feeling about the concept of a long term Senator winning the GE, the vision of Mondale, Dole and others dances in my mind. Sorry fellow Dean supporters, I worked like hell against the war but we still need to get Bush out. I should also ad that it does appear certain high up members of the Dem party don't want Dean to win, and I've got an obstinant streak ;-)

[AndyHammond1970]

9. Thanks for all your inputs. I am definitely going to read up

on Kerry more and of course I will support the candidate whoever it may be against Bush.

thanks

[HereSince1628]

10. Change requires control of the legislature.

Work to choose someone who'll represent your interests there in addition to looking for a presidential candidate.

Kerry can be characterized as a Washington insider, but he can also be characterized as a survivor. He was around before the DLC, I expect he'll be around after it's eclipsed. I have no doubt Kennedy's support involved more than being from the same state.