If you still have doubts about Kerry

[freetobegay]

You would have never voted for him anyway! The door is that away!

[realcountrymusic]

1. Bait and Switch (Brilliant Strategy!)

I am thrilled. For three days they had the pundits lapping up the warm milk of a "kinder, gentler" wimpy convention making nice to the republicans, and had everyone expecting JK to follow suit. Instead he's firing all barrels, driving his swift boat right up onto their shore! Naming names: Ashcroft, Cheney, calling the Resident a misleader. The story will be: Kerry kicks ASS!

RCM


edited for typo

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

2. I heard something on NPR today

About Kerry having a "surprise" for tonight. I don't know who was saying this; some campaign personage, I presume. His fiery attack on Bush must have been the surprise. WOOHOO!! It's ABOUT BLOODY TIME!!!!

[MercutioATC]

3. Wonderful attitude...

I DO still have doubts about Kerry, but I've always been committed to voting for the Dem nominee.

...you want I should walk out the door?

[freetobegay]

4. If you have doubts, yes.

I would never want you to vote for someone you don't believe in. Is that hard to understand?

[MercutioATC]

5. Not at all. Fortunately for you, I don't hold the same beliefs.

...and neither do a LOT of us who are voting for Kerry simply because he's not Bush.

You might want to temper your message a bit...there are a lot of Kerry voters you're going to offend with that attitude.

[freetobegay]

6. Don't need to temper anything

People will either be on the bandwagon or they won't. Plain & simple.

[Myrina]

10. Who made you the arbiter of inclusion ?

:wtf:

[MercutioATC]

12. Hope that works for you. You're alienating a lot of ABB voters.

Best of luck with that.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[freetobegay]

23. You have a nice day also.

Truth hurts.

[saccheradi]

35. what's right...

I'm not saying I don't agree with you from a certain point of view, Kerry has become a far greater nominee in my mind and I now BELIEVE he will be one of the best presidents in the history of this nation... but telling those who are still learning this for themselves to pack their bags is just plain foolish.

[SunDrop23]

7. Yep!

[chelsea0011]

8. Great speech bringing back the Democratic ideals

[George_Bonanza]

9. Blew me away

Kerry's a different kind of man than Clinton or even Obama. He's not exactly the best creator of slogans and catchphrases. Often, he borrows them from others (Bring it on, etc.). But his speech tonight was passionate, fiery, and articulate. I was so happy when he said that the Repugs were saying this and that about his tax votes, and he decisively told the American public that he would NOT raise taxes on the middle class. The bit about the flag and Abe's quote of God was a beautiful counter-attack to the Repugs attempt to trademark patriotism and faith. Overall, a phenomenal job by Kerry who never seemed too hawkish or too "bleeding heart". He strengthened traditional Democratic values but reaffirmed America's need to be alert about dangers in the world.

[graywarrior]

11. MercutioATC, it's ok, dude...

Watch, listen and hear Kerry for awhile. You'll grow into him. You have every right to take your time. You got 3 months. Wait til the debates. You'll like him then.

[MercutioATC]

13. Maybe I will. I'm voting for him either way.

It'd be nice to like him, though.

[Jim Sagle]

15. Yes it would. But I thank you for supporting him even if you have doubts.

[flaminbats]

16. Are we being arrested?

I thought the defining characteristic of swing voters was having doubts about every candidate. If not..then what makes someone a swing voter?

The most effective way to win is by swaying independents, not loyal partisans.

[cyclezealot]

18. Don't agree..

Less than 10 % are undecided..See Michael Moore at the Social Forum in Cambridge..Fact he cited...Many Afro American districts in 2000 had about a 20% turn out... Get the alienated who feel neither party has anyting to offer and you will win the election.Won't do that by pandering to wealthy Repugs...
Moore recommended being bold...I agree...

[flaminbats]

19. I agree..

I didn't state that swing voters are conservatives or even moderates. To me swing voters are those who have doubts about both major candidates, and I believe these votes can be won.

[freetobegay]

24. There are no swing voters at this stage of the game

Everyone knows whats out there. Anyone one who says they are a swing voter in this stage of the game especially here at DU, is just not being honest.

[MercutioATC]

25. It's called voting for the lesser of two evils.

There are planty of Kerry (and Bush) voters who aren't happy with their Party's candidate, but they view the alternative as unacceptable.

They're not swing voters. They're committed to voting for their Party's candidate.

They're just not very happy about it.

[freetobegay]

26. No it's called wanting attention

Oh look at me. :eyes:

[MercutioATC]

27. Hey, I'm not the one who started the flamebait thread...

...WHO'S seeking attention?

[JohnKleeb]

28. on the lesser of the two evil accounts

I am seeing and hearing more cases of people voting for Kerry and against Bush. Especially after that speech last night.

[MercutioATC]

31. I hope that trend continues...

I'm just not one of them yet.

[cyclezealot]

17. You will push away ABB voters with threats like that.

I am one...Not impressed with Kerry..Why , I believe his solutions for Trade, Health Care, and the War are wrong, band aids, and will eventually result in alienation from the party when they are not inacted or won't work...
Wm. Greider recent article in the Nation about a Kerry Administration credits Kerry with timidity, a likely stagnant economy, and betrayl.. I will take the predictions of Greider over any irrational party rah rah..
Do we have a choice over Kerry. No, he will get my vote. Should we badger him to come up with a workable plan to save the party and country from future embarrasment and hopefully make Democratic rule a success and come to terms with its aspirations...That is the role of a critic...
Remember after the failure of the Clinton Health care plan in 1993, that was the unraveling of a Democratic Congress...I mean for this to be positive...Can't get excited about what I disagree with..
Does not Kerry say he values diversity appreciates hearing others' opinions.

[ibegurpard]

20. Call me crazy...

...but I cannot see any possible reason why a rational person would want to threaten the tentative support someone who might not have liked Kerry in the past would be willing to give him after tonight by behaving like such a boorish asshat, as you are doing.
It's times like these that I really miss the FU icon.

[MaggieSwanson]

29. Much appreciated, ibegurpard n/t

[NV1962]

21. Freetobegay, I think you're overlooking something here

Not everybody follows events as intently as many here on DU do. If one has followed the whole thing, from announcements before the primaries to the Convention, and paid a reasonable amount of attention of what was on offer along the way -- by candidates and commentators on this forum alike -- then yes, I'd agree that it's hard to expect that in the last three months a significant of undecided voters will be wooed.

However...

As this discussion exemplifies, Kerry has a tendency to "grow" on you. I surely took my time to like him, myself, too.

Besides, it's patently absurd to expect each and everybody to follow relevant current events and ingest / digest information at the same time and at the same rate as you do. To expect synchronicity of others to a generally similar degree is at the very least foolish, if not arrogant.

We're not all alike. That's one of the things that "we" progressives keep in mind as a key factor to ensure that opportunity, equity and empowerment are available to as many people as possible, wherever and in as much as necessary, while respecting everybody's rights and freedoms. Because we acknowledge and appreciate that we're not all alike, we should equally respect each other and each other's varying opinions, just as much as we shouldn't impose cookie cutter demands on speed, heading or particular position at a given moment in an individual's development of ideas. And what's the rush anyway? Elections are three months away, no less. In elections that's almost eternity.

Don't confound your own enthusiasm with an ideological marching band. That's the didactical approach of choice among those on the other side of the fence - and its desastrous results are plenty of reason to roll a big welcome mat out for fellow travelers towards sanity, going at their leisure. Honey, not vinegar, remember.

We're not simply getting rid of Bush - that's the trap of narrowingly interpreting ABB. We want to replace him with a good guy who does the right thing. For all of us - warts, differences and all.

Let's send John Kerry - with as many supporters as we can.

And let's act as his ambassadors, not his henchmen.

[seventhson]

22. Anybody who doesn't have SOME doubts about politicians

would be a fool.

But NY1962 - you have put it very well!

But when it comes to doubts about whether Kerry would be a better Commander in Chief and CEO pf the United States I tend to agree with the original poster.

It depends on what doubts we are talking about.

Like Michael Moore - I support Kerry over Bush 1000%, but the day after his inauguration we will ALL need to make SURE he sticks to our democratic ideals and progressive agenda on every issue.

BUT - telling people who have doubts to leave is NOT the way to encourage those who, like me, are concerned that Kerry will not be progressive enough. Clinton was way too centrist for me and harmed america badly in many ways in my opinion. But he was WAAAAAYYYY better than the alternative.

[George_Bonanza]

32. Agreed

Kerry is a great man but political power always corrupts, even the best. We the people need to keep those snakes from hissing in his ear too much.

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

30. I have doubts that Kerry will be worse than Bush

In any matter

[LWolf]

33. Bullshit.

A voter can be filled with doubt about Kerry and still vote for him; it's a hell of a lot easier to doubt Kerry than it is to doubt the mindless destruction of GWB.

I don't doubt the man, by the way. I do oppose some of his policies. I won't be discussing those here on DU or in other publicly available forums until after the election. I will be communicating, regularly, with the Kerry campaign about them.

I'm sure you mean well. But the "The door is that away" comment mirrors the right-wing "love it or leave it" rhetoric too closely for comfort. My back is toward your door. I'm here to stay. Get over it.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Greedy Oil Puritan]

36. I have my doubts...

But he really impressed me in the Convention, and for all my misgivings with the Democratic Party, it's vital to America's future that the Democrats win the presidency.

4 more years of Bush will lead to 40 years of judicial tyranny from the religious reich.

[Zhade]

37. Nein.

I think I'll exercise my right to free speech and dissent without your approval, thanks.

I'm surprised this total flamebait thread hasn't yet been locked.