Kerrycrats Rule

[seito]

My, we have grown. It seems that we rule among the DU groups. I just noticed that we have over 15,000 posts. Just in case you were wondering, the Clark group has less than 6000 posts.

You all rock. :yourock: Keep up the good work. :grouphug:

[saracat]

1. We are prolific aren't we?

Maybe that is why none of us were bothered about Kerry "talking too long' We enjoy communicating too!

[angrydemocrat]

2. I have to agree

The Kerrycrats along with our #1 man Mr. John Kerry himself are the greatest! You couldn't ask for a better group of people! :grouphug:

[Pirate Smile]

3. Where do you find that info?

Were the Clarkies #2?

[seito]

4. Here ya go

Just clickon DU Groups on the home page

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=206

[Pirate Smile]

5. Wow. I guess we are the only ones that really use our forum or maybe

we just use it A LOT. Thank God this is here!

[karynnj]

6. Possibly because we need our home

after countering silly arguments on the forums. What I really don't understand is why they spend much less time on issues then on rumors, polls, constructing tickets for 2008, and declaring almost every Democrat I can think of in the Senate a DINO or worse, but Clark is perfect because he didn't vote for anything they don't like. (Today one post was suggesting Clark/Clarke as a ticket - two people never elected to anything.

It's way more fun to come here!

[ginnyinWI]

8. exactly

Since we aren't occupied with ripping each other apart, we have time to post information and articles and actually discuss things. That is when we aren't posting and babbling over pics of JK!! :) :)

As far as GD goes, there are bottom feeders in both parties, people who have nothing real to add but only like to bash others to bolster their own egos. It's so easy to just oppose something; it's a lot harder to actually add something of substance to the debate. I do appreciate all on DU who do that, and will continue to look for them in between the naysayers. But I'm using my Ignore button a lot these days!

[elshiva]

7. We rock because we are a nice, respectful

group of people, like JK.

[ginnyinWI]

9. yup, we are!

I want to be just as decent, positive, smart, and compassionate as he is!


You guys would have been proud of me tonight with my right-wing conservative parents here visiting. Several times my dad tried to steer the conversation to politics; but I've been there and done that before, and it always turns out badly. So I just listened and didn't give out any personal opinions. Finally he'd changed the subject, because I would not take the bait.
He'd say things like, "you know, I don't think it's good for one party to have so much power; I hope Dean can get the Democrats doing something." or "I just don't see how Medicare can keep from going broke if all of these 60 year old immigrants come into this country and start to collect it, when they didn't put any money into it!" And then, "do you think Bush will be able to do any good in Europe?"
But he wanted no real discussion; he wanted to be able to shoot me down.


Sorry Dad--I have "no opinion"! I'd just listen with a look of slight interest on my face. Before I would have launched into a huge debate which would only get both of us mad. ;) I amused myself by being secretly amazed at the huge difference in our world views.

[elshiva]

10. Yeah, ginny I know how you feel.

I have an aunt who is a socialist, maybe a lefty freeper. She knows I am very religious and that I wanted to be a nun. She usually steers the conversation to how religion is ruining the world. I never say anything, though, she just wants to get a rise out of me. She goes on about for about ten minutes and when I don't say anything she goes on to talk about my mom.
It the best defense, I think.

[Firespirit]

11. Good for you for keeping your cool...

If you're sure that the person is not going to listen to you, isn't interested in hearing the other side, wants to get on a soapbox, or just wants to pick a fight, then that's the only way to go. It's not worth the time and emotional energy to get in a heated battle with anyone--left or right--who has such motives for initiating a discussion.

[karynnj]

12. I hadn't thought of it but he does make a great role model

His actions since the election have been incredible.

Ginny, I can't imagine how you were able to not engage in those conversations. It was so wise as you knew how it would end. (I'm just glad that I have a family that will debate anything without animosity, because I don't think I have your willpower.)

[muse]

25. And, we know how to spice things up

Keeps things exciting.

[Laurab]

13. I'm on the fence about being a kerrycrat

Or, I'm not sure if I am one or not. I'd still support him today, I don't have any problem with his actions during and after the election - I understand why he did what he did. I'm impressed with what he's done so far after the election, and I'm delving a little more into his history. I'm a fan, at least. I find it necessary to defend him whenever I find a bashing thread. I basically just think he's a good man, with integrity, who would have made a damn good president, and got robbed. Do I qualify?

I come here when I can't stand the petty arguing and bickering anymore, to regain my sanity!

Kerry people are NICE.

[angrydemocrat]

14. Sounds Like A Kerrycrat To Me

I think you qualify just as much as anyone else around here does. So I would call you one of the Kerrycrats fighting for the man with plan!

[TayTay]

15. I think part of it is the nice atmosphere

We had a discusssion on how to talk about abortion and everyone got heard and I think everyone felt like they were taken seriously and not dismissed, on both sides. This is pretty rare in the poisonous atmosphere of political blogs. (All of them, not just DU.)

I think we have made this, by force of will, a safe place to come to discuss whatever is on our collective minds. So many political discussions become a clash of wills and a pointless exercise because people talk past each other and no real info is exchanged and no minds are changed (or even challenged.)

Congrats to all here. This is a rare and wonderful thing. Politics is aobut passions and deep feelings (well sometimes it is) and to discuss closely held ideas with others, hear dissent and still retain repsect and cilvil discourse is amazing.

[ginnyinWI]

17. well we have this one thing in common--

We are behind JK. And if anything gets me mad, it is people dissing him. So anything else "on the table" in this group is fine with me! :)

Like I was saying earlier, I can keep my mouth shut when my conservative dad baits me with political opinions--but if he were to start directly insulting John Kerry, I think I would have said something. Don't diss my president!!

Ok, I wouldn't have said that, but that's what I would be thinking. Even my arrogant and condescending dad, I think, knows instinctively not to "go there" with me. Because we had a few major blow-ups last fall, and he must have a sense that it is still there under the surface somewhere.

And another thing: I don't think he really likes Bush! That's the heartbreak of this whole election. I don't think that a lot of people who voted for the Chimpinator actually had that much confidence in him or liked him. It was more like "anybody but a Democrat" for them. And now his approval rating is what, 49%? It's got to be the most unfair, unjust, nonsensical (not to mention fraudulent)election of my lifetime.

[whometense]

18. On this subject, a little story

;-)

An old friend who is a wiseass but a liberal was over the other day, and happened to notice my Kerry button, still proudly displayed on my bag. He made an offhand comment about me still backing a loser.

Well, my husband turned around and said, "Better watch what you say about Kerry around her." He was smiling, but he was serious. And so am I. No one talks trash about JK when I'm around. NO ONE.

[ginnyinWI]

19. You go girl!!! n/t

[angrydemocrat]

20. I know how you feel

I can talk to people and be civil about anything until you run across some asshole that is just trying to pick a fight. Like the bitch I ran into in the store and she seen me with my John Kerry shirt on and started her shit. Needless to say the bitch was picking her ass up off the floor and had it not been for a elderly woman that heard everything and seen me flog the bitch(she lied for me and said the bitch deserved what she got) I would have went to jail. I'm not for violence but some bitch I don't even know standing in a store screaming at me and making nasty ass remarks about JK was just too damn much. But most of the time when someone says something about John I try to ask them where they get those ideas from and talk from there. If it is a damn asshole that just wants to be a hater then I just turn the tables and show them what a asshole I can be and how I feel about * sorry ass and for good reasons and they STFU. But NOBODY is going to say something nasty about John around me and get away with NOBODY!!

[TayTay]

21. Oooh, I like that Whome, you go girl!

Well, I got the MA e-mail saying go get involved in state politics and I did and there ya go! I am looking forward to the State Convention and I am even more looking forward to seeing what they do with the new feel for the grassroots. I think this is an exciting time. (Okay, I am terminally optimistic, so sue me.) And I am collecting more Kerry stories. I am going to do my part next time by also telling better and more human stories about the guy. I think that was missing. If you eliminate the human element, then you also eliminate one of the most compelling cases for the guy. (Go to war, then opposing it was not opportunisitic, but very compelling. The learning curve when he got the Senate is also fascinating; he had to learn how to incorporate the idealism into realistic action. And so forth.)

[whometense]

23. So how was your weekend?

How were the other people? Maybe you should start a thread and tell us some stories!!!

And I think you're right about mobilizing people with positive JK stories - like that one Mark Shields published AFTER THE ELECTION (don't get me started). We have a million of them - we need more people out there spreading the good word. But you know, here's one page we can take from the Rove playbook. The election isn't for four more years, but no time like the present to start talking up John. No harm, even if in the end he decides not to run.

[TayTay]

24. I agree, I'm going to ask around at the other convention in May

for more JK stories. There are a lot of bread-and-butter Dems who have good stories about him.

The weekend was great geeky heaven. I learned a lot. Lots about history, horror films and publishing in the Romance novel field. I had no idea that Romance novels were so interesting. I always thought of them as no-brainer Barbara Cartland things. Boy, was I wrong. First of all, 55-60% of all paperbacks sold in the US are in this genre. Second, nobody in Academia is paying any attention at all to this genre, so they can write anything they want without getting all tangled up in rules and conventions. There is a lot of creativity and conformity breaking going on. Fascinating!

Obviously, I spent time at the Crossover panel and the Writing Great Sex & Romance Panel and the Romance & SF panel. Wonderful stuff. I was actually amazed. Wonderful new gay & bi titles in romance. Fascinating discussion of why women het writers want to write bi & gay male characters. (Yeah, what is up with that. - Ah, long story.) And boy, do those people do crossovers. Wow! If anybody is looking to sell some fiction, try the Romance market. They are so open to whatever the hell it is you want to write. Anybody here ever read J.D. Robb (or the same author publishing as Nora Roberts, I think.) Great analytical pieces on that. Oh, and there seem to be a lot of pirate books on the market. Who knew?

But I digress. I could be wonky on this all night. Also had a great Mardi Gras night on Saturday, had my Tarot cards read and, ahm, forture telling by Hamster (Don't ask.) I had a very refresing time. I picked up some fiction books (I have been reading way too much non-fiction lately) and had a wonderful time.

Now, how was the visit with your son? He was up for a concert, right? Well, spill.....

[whometense]

27. That sounds like fun.

The concert went well, and they pulled in a pretty good-sized crowd. He's been living in NY for 3 1/2 years, but I still have trouble adjusting to his comings-and-goings. He was home for literally less than 36 hours, and about half of that time he was either rehearsing or performing. It was wildly hectic, but it's always wonderful to have him home, even for a short time.

I just miss him a lot. But we'll be going to NY at least a few times this spring to see him perform, and he has a few things scheduled up here as well. (You must go through similar pangs with your daughter.)

[ginnyinWI]

16. yes you certainly are!

I feel the same way. I've got this loyalty to John Kerry, and I don't forsee anything changing it. I came to believe in him during the campaign, and still see him as the standard-bearer for what I believe is important going forward. I respect his intelligence, experience, and his high ideals. I keep watching what he does and listening to what he says, and he's still saying the same things--it wasn't just campaign rhetoric. He's keeping faith with everyone who voted for him.

George Lakoff says that people vote for someone primarily because they identify with the person's core values, not just for what they say they are going to do, policy-wise, or because of an argument they make for why they are the better candidate. And I guess that's true for me, too. I believe JK shares my core values and that can trust him to fight for what I feel is important.

All of our Dem candidates need to shift focus from just making a case for change on the stump, to conveying what their core values and principles are, and getting people to trust in them, before anything else. Like JK did in his acceptance speech at the convention. He told us where he was truly coming from. That speech brought tears to my eyes, it was so compelling.

Another thing really apparent to anyone who really pays attention: although JK is a tough fighter politically, it's because he's got a big heart. He wants to make things better for people. And that makes people trust him even more.

[pauliedee]

22. Kerry is a GREAT man!!

You are 100% right. Keep fighting for him. America needs him more than ever!

[Laurab]

28. Well I thought I was - Thanks!

I believe he IS a great man. I just bumped into another bashing post on an Edwards thread, about how Kerry let us down, and I get SO frustrated with these people. I want to ignore them, but I can't help myself, especially when they think they're speaking for everyone who worked and donated. I mean, excuse me, but I worked and donated, too, and he didn't let ME down. They're just not rational - I have yet to get an answer as to what they would have liked him to do, either.

Anyway, I'm proud to be a Kerrycrat, and glad someone (I think it was Faye), directed me to this group because sometimes it gets tough out there...

[Vektor]

26. Glad to be part of the group.

Yay Kerrycrats!