When in doubt, go with seniority (Kerry)- why not?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

There is no substitute for experience. None. I know that is one of the reasons I back Kerry, and it is a legitimate determinant for anyone's decision.
Agree or not?

[AP]

1. Maybe America needs a clean break with the past?

Maybe it's time to look forward? Maybe we need a major symbol of that break with the past?

Or maybe not.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

35. the swing voters will just vote for Bush, since he has seniority

I mean, why change horses in midstream? :eyes:

[LuminousX]

2. Between two people with similar qualifications... seniority breaks the tie

[AP]

4. That would be Bush. He's the only one with seniority in the job for

which these people are applying. Clinton has seniority over Bush, but we have a law that says we don't like Presidents with too much seniority.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. Not this blind man in the room full of deaf people

His job has been to fly back and forth to Camp David and deliver plastic turkeys to the grunts etc...

[LuminousX]

19. Are you saying Bush has similar qualifications as Kerry? Shyah, right.

[AP]

34. I'm saying 'seniority' is what? age? years on the job? I presume latter.

None of these candidates has seniority. None of them have done the job. Bush has done the job.

Furthermore, we don't really value seniority with the presidency -- we term-limit them. We value turnover so that nobody gets too entrenched. That's why people voted for Bush, partly.

3. All things being equal

...there is no substitute for experience, but they never are.
I'd say experience is an excellent factor to consider. Determinant?
nope

[poopyjr]

5. Kerry, Edwards or Clark would all be fine choices.

I believe two of them will be the ticket.

[Nay]

6. I will vote for the Democrat who gets the nomination, but Kerry

really disappointed me when he did not show up to vote today against the Omnibus bill. He could have SHOWN the way today, and he didn't. I really don't care if he thought his vote would not make a difference -- after all, aren't we, as voters, always told to vote even if we think our individual vote would not do much?

As far as seniority, that is only worth a little in my book. Some people have one year's of experience repeated for 30 years. I'm not saying Kerry is that way, but just because he's been there a long time -- well, maybe that's part of the problem, not part of the solution.

[windansea]

8. when in doubt....look at electoral map

and figure who can WIN

that would be Clark

[lastknowngood]

9. He missed the vote today on overtime pay

both Kerry and Edwards missed the vote today along with 4 other Dem's
How are they going to say to those 8 mil. Americans who just lost o/t to take the time out of their busy schedules to vote for them when they didn't take the time out of their schedule to vote to protect their o/t?

[poopyjr]

11. What was the vote?

[Walt Starr]

10. Well it worked out so well for Bob Dole in '96!

It would work the same for Kerry in '04.

[poopyjr]

23. Is Bush also like a '96 Clinton??

:eyes:

[fudge stripe cookays]

12. Because...

he was push polling in Iowa and didn't vote for half the stuff he says he has?

Yeah...that's the ticket....

[JVS]

29. Welcome to DU.

Awesome oddtodd reference!

[digno dave]

13. thanks, but no doubt here

Clark

[bobbyboucher]

14. I like Kerry alot,

your ridiculous attacks on his opponents for the past month notwithstanding. Are we going to continue to see them now that your boy has moved to the top? Or are you going to take a more civil tone? I got an idea, why don't you make a sweeping statement denouncing negative/attack posts? The timing would be brilliant.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. Ridiculous?

Results so far seem to back me up. And I don't believe I am any exemplar of negative/attack posting anyway. But let me guess who you're backing.....

[Forkboy]

20. I think he's right

guess who I'm backing.Hint,it ain't Dean.

[bobbyboucher]

21. As per usual,

you immediately try to pidgeon-hole me as a Dean supporter so that you can attack me. Nice try tough guy. I like almost all of them quite alot, Dean included. Even your boy Kerry. I like his experience too, very much.

But you pal, you are no gentleman and even less a positive spokesman for John Kerry. He deserves better, he is a fine candidate.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

25. Please consider that perhaps I have only responded to the climate

which Dean himself so charmingly graced with terms like 'cockroaches' etc... personally I know I can be quite civil and fair. Sorry you seem to have picked up on only negatives.

[bobbyboucher]

31. I propose a truce. I cannot fault your zeal

for your guy. He is, again, a deserving candidate. One thing is for sure, there has been a bunch of attacking going on from all sides. It is unfortunate. At least with you I don't have a notion that you are just here to cause trouble. You believe in your candidate and have been consistent throughout.

So I say from here forward I will only engage NewYorkerfromMass in a positive fashion and commit my one vote to John Kerry should he be the man.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

32. Good.

I will also try to stay more positive.

[mitchum]

33. Wrong, NYfromM is not a vicious Kerry supporter...

I am (hey, I know it)
The other gentleman is gracious and...well...a gentleman

[morgan2]

15. when in doubt go with the most honest

There is no substitution to someone who has continually stood up for everyone in society. From his fight with MUNY-LIGHT in Cleveland, to his fight against the patriot act and the IWR, Dennis Kucinich is the best candidate.

[HFishbine]

22. Kucinich lost that high ground

when he encouraged his supporters to back an unapologetic warmonger.

[morgan2]

26. oh get over it

He did nothing wrong and he's by far the best candidate out there. He's going to do a few things you don't agree with but who isn't? I don't like many of the things he does either, but he would be by far a better president than anyone else in the democratic field.

[Exgeneral]

17. I have to ask: Where has he been since 2000?

Even before that ? Experience? Isn't that a problem with inside the beltway? They get a taste of the good life and let all of us down time after time, only to arise like a phoenix from the ashes and throw on the hairshirt of populism.

What can ANY democratic senator claim that he did to give voice to our outrage against a illegally appointed president who proceeded to act like he was swept in by a majority?

And worse yet, these same Senators acted like that too? Where was the fight against every odious thing the republicans put up in '01, '02 and '03? How did they give voice to our outrage over the PNAC driven war agenda with Iraq? How did they do when the medicare bill was on the line? Headstart? The safety net? That ludicrous proposal of faith based funding?

Did they lecture at private institutes for large honorariums while their constituents faced a hellstorm of agenda driven economics and downsized pensions? Did they speak out when we wanted, long often and passionately against the horrible record of the republicans in the '02 elections?

The truth is "experience" is to blame for these failures. Between them, I bet you could count on one hand the number of public comments and speeches against al of this either senator made prior to them announcing for the presidency. At least when Howard Dean announced, I didn't turn and look at my wife and say "who?" S

Same with general Clark. These guys have been pitching in for us, representing while the others were still dining in their private congressional lunchrooms. I don't have to worry aboput any back room deals with these guys, because they haven't made any.

No, I think "expreience", when you refer to anyone currently serving in Washington DC, is a strike against them, not a persuasive argument.

As far as I'm concerned, Kerry and Edwards both have one strike against them. I'm not some guy from the midwest so easily fooled by flashy media and populist talk. Too bad my primary's so late in the game; I'd show them what the prevailing sentiment in my town is: it's time for new blood.

Throw the bums out.All of the bums.

[HFishbine]

24. Add to your list

the attempt by members of the Congressional Black Caucus in January 2001 to challenge the certification of the Florida election results in the House of Representatives. Their motion needed the support of one senator, just one. None came forward. Kerry didn't. Edwards didn't. Lieberman didn't.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

27. Wellstone didn't etc....

there was a good reason no Senator signed on. They didn't have a case.

[HFishbine]

18. Agree completely

Executive experience.

[windansea]

28. Senators are not executives

but Governors and Generals are

[NewYorkerfromMass]

30. Kerry is executive of his campaign right now

and he's doing a great job.