Here's a little something I wrote one year ago today - vote for Kerry

[WildEyedLiberal]

Here's a piece I wrote one year ago today.

In some respects it's very depressing; knowing now the outcome of last November 2nd, and seeing since then the constant attempt by those on the left and right to marginalize John Kerry, this piece, so full of hope and optimism, might depress some of you. The right and left are both deeply threatened by Kerry's quiet diligence and his position on the vanguard of American liberalism - his enemies on the right seek to destroy him because he would expose their agenda for what it is, and his enemies on the left, consumed by petty jealousies, want him out of the way of their own ambition. On either side it seems as though Kerry has no friends to call upon in his battle; it seems he is fighting alone.

But we know that is not true. Kerry's email list has grown, nearly doubled in size since this time last year. This Kerry forum, which started a little under a year ago with a dozen or so Kerry-loving stalwarts, has grown into a large, thriving group with nearly 50,000 posts.

Today seems to be a day of sorrow, of rememberence. But it is not for me. Yes, I can remember vividly the optimism I felt, the surge of patriotism in my heart when I looked at Kerry and knew that he was the right man to lead our country back. It is a day for remembrance, but not a day for sorrow, because John Kerry is STILL that man. We know that by rights John Kerry should be in the Oval Office now; perhaps that will even come out in due time. We are watching the Bush house of cards collapse in disgrace, while all this time, rather than retreat into obscurity and leave the public eye, John Kerry has come out swinging, fighting as hard as ever.

This past year has only served to solidify why I support John Kerry. I knew in my heart that he was a man of rare integrity, courage, and honor, and this year has cemented my love and respect for him. Let the summer soldiers and sunshine patriots decry him and attempt to marginalize him; they always have and always will. We, the winter soldiers, will stand with him through thick and thin, fighting for America, fighting for what's right, fighting beside him until, as Max Cleland put it, "the last dog dies."

And that is why I have hope for our country even today - as long as there are those of us willing to stand - even stand alone - against those who would harm our country, I know that we will prevail.

[whometense]

1. Thanks, WEL.

I've actually been kind of sad all day, but that was really inspiring. As was Kerry's eulogy for Rosa Parks. Did you get to hear him speak? It was just beautiful.

[WildEyedLiberal]

2. I read about it

He is my hero in so many ways. I think that speech is part of why I'm in a great mood - I can feel it, more than ever, that he is meant to lead us. It WILL happen - no matter how grim it looks, no matter how many on both sides are out to get him, I feel in my heart that it will happen. I will never stop fighting to make that happen. The freepers, left and right, hate him SO MUCH because they knock him down and knock him down again and again and he just. won't. go. away. One of them today in GD finally broke down and admitted that to me. "I get so sick of Kerry this, Kerry that! He LOST! Get over it! He needs to GO AWAY!" Shit you not, I read that in GD about 10 minutes ago.

I laughed. I laughed at the stupid lefty freeper for exposing her agenda, and I laughed because THEY WILL NEVER WIN. He will NEVER go away because he is a FIGHTER. If he retreats, it's only to regroup, recharge, and come back fighting another day. And I swear I'll be there beside him every step of the way.

I am so optimistic today. I know I was right to trust in John Kerry, and I know that what we want to see, we will see in our lifetimes, because John DOES NOT QUIT. Let the freeps underestimate him; that has always been the undoing of those who seek to take him down.

My, that's certainly a gorgeous picture you've posted. Those ARMS :evilgrin:

Here's my swoonworthy pic o' the day:

[ginnyinWI]

3. I love that pic too

The rain one, I mean.

Kerry is already a leader--leading Dem in the Senate, and a leader for all of us who refuse to recognize * as our leader. My JK sticker is staying stuck tight to my car for the forseeable future!

Of course he should be the leader of the country, and maybe someday he will be. He's overqualified for any other government position! Until then I take comfort in just seeing him around, giving great speeches and appearances and being our moral leader and role model.
I caught Kerry's vision for America, and I won't let go!

By the way, Cspan 2 is going to repeat the funeral coverage at 12 a.m. Eastern. OR somewhere around then--they tend to get sloppy on their times a lot.

[fedupinBushcountry]

4. Great write up

Today I thought of John Kerry and how humbled and honored he probably was to speak at Rosa Parks funeral, he just didn't show up somebody wanted him there.

He has never disappointed me, and I am very proud to be one of his supporters.

[beachmom]

5. Thanks WEL! I feel the same way as you. n/t

[jillan]

6. 1 year ago today, at this very moment

Kerry was leading in the polls.

I'm feeling sad, empty.
But at the same time, hopeful.

I am hopeful because the dems have finally crossed that line and have become unified. Because they all say "America can do better". Because the bushiters are going down. And hopeful, because with everyday we are one day closer to John Kerry being our president.

[TayTay]

7. Great post, you sweetie pie you

I remember seeing that video last year that Sen. Kerry did after the loss. He was obviously disappointed, but the first thing he did was reach out to his supporters and assure them that everything he promised to fight for as President, he would continue to fight for as Senator. That was really good.

I saw Sen. Kerry in Boston in April and he started to call for citizen action to put pressure on the government to formulate an agenda that worked for the people. He announced a series of 'felt needs' that the country could not avoid forever. True to his public service roots, Kerry called for direct action by the people to take back the government and make elected officials responsible again. That was also really good.

I saw Sen. Kerry take on Condiliar Rice and her ongoing support for a foreign policy based on lies and deception in Jan. I saw Kerry fight like hell to get the John Bolton nomination derailed in committee and on the floor of the Senate. They won that one. Bolton had to take power through 'sleight of hand' after all. Nice work.

Sen. Kerry fought to stop drilling in the ANWR region in Alaska. (Twice this year he has sent out notices on this to the e-mail list.) He has fought for health care for kids as a prelude to health care for all. He has fought for small business owners and for an effort to get them affordable health care coverage so they can cover their employees. I saw him fight, repeatedly and tirelessly, for veterans rights and for funding veteran's health care needs and for taking care of the families of those wounded and killed in military action. I gotta tell you, this is really outstanding work.

We all know about what Sen. Kerry has tried to do to help those hurt by hurricane Katrina in the Gulf area. He went down there himself to try and help disperse aid to those in need. He fought (and continues to fight) to get help to get small businesses back on their feet. He is trying (repeatedly and tirelessly) to get help for the poor so that they don't freeze to death this winter when the heating bills prove to be too much.

I also saw someone who went back to Iraq and re-assessed his position on that war. (* never reconsiders anything. He thinks an honest assessment of policy and where it might have gone wrong is a sign of weakness. It is not. It is a sign of a strong person and a strong mind and conscience.) That one was really, really wonderful.

This last week I saw Sen. Kerry deliver that Iraq speech and a doable plan that would start to end this misconceived war. (Gawd I was so proud of that. Great, great speech.) Then I saw him this weekend in his element, marching and taking direct action to put some focus on the ongoing need for America to fulfill it's commitment to civil rights and to voting rights for all Americans. (He was so relaxed and happy to be there. It was just a great moment.) And I saw Sen. Kerry today pay tribute to Mrs. Parks and basically promise her that actions would follow words and the best way to honor her brave memory would be to stand up, like she did, and refuse to back down. Wow!

So yeah, I'm a little sad at this anniversary. But tell me, did he keep the video promise he made to people after that loss last year? I think he did. I think he hasn't forgotten all the people he met on the campaign trail last year and he didn't forget how great the needs are in America right now. And I think he has been somewhat re-energized. I really do. This past week has been just awesome. I saw that renewal of energy, renewal of cause and the renewal of the will to fight over this last year. I can ask no more of the guy, cuz it's just what he promised me. Nice job Senator, nice job.

[jillan]

8. No doubt about it, Kerry has kept his promise.

He has stood up for the American people in every pile of crap that this administration has thrown out at us.

He has been across this nation, and he knows what this country needs, and what the people want.

I have said this many times, and I will continue to say it -
I am more impressed with John Kerry now than I was one year ago.
He may have lost(?) the election, but he never broke his campaign promises to us, which someone else can't say, even tho that person has more power. hmmmmm. What a year it has been.