Why is Kerry still all over the news and sending e-mails?

[TexasSissy]

Is he still running for something, or what's up with all the national press and the e-mails and such from and by Kerry?

Don't get me wrong...I voted for him and was devastated when he (us) didn't win. But it looks like he's still campaigning for something...but what?

[sabra]

1. Shadow Prez...

[kerrygoddess]

71. The Shadow President

The Shadow President
22 January 2005

While others in his shoes have retreated from the public eye, John Kerry still has a job to do in the Senate. He could shrink back from the fray and work quietly for a time until the heat dies down from what has been perhaps the most divisive election in history, but John Kerry has decided to leap into the fire and take a stand.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=255

[ohioliberal]

2. I heard somewhere that he was running in '08?

[DemDogs]

7. Duh (n/t)

[WI_DEM]

3. he is trying to keep his base for a possible '08 run

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. He doesn't want to disappear like Gore

and to be fair, unlike Kerry, Gore immediately had to leave public office. Still, he did not have to leave the public eye.

[paineinthearse]

5. Senators are considered to be national leaders

1. Senators are considered to be national leaders. Ever go to their senat websites? They are open to receiving messages from the entire country. Rep websites require a local 10-character zip code to submit info.

2. In the parlimentarian system, leaders "shadow" their counterparts.

3. Most importantly, do not forget that Kerry won. The rethugs stole the results.

He is entitled.

[rfkrfk]

113. That was a long time ago

Because certain people are refusing to leave the stage,
the leadership shortage will get worse.

[blm]

6. Let ME ask YOU, did the crisis in healthcare go away on Nov.3?

Are you IRRITATED that a candidate really meant what he said in the campaign and that it was SO important he is pursuing what legislation he can from his senate position?

Shouldn't ALL lawmakers make a difference where they can and push legislation they KNOW is right for the American people?

And since WHEN is Kerry all over the national news? Is that supposed to be some kind of twisted joke?

[Laurab]

11. A lot of problems didn't go away

and I hope JK is all over the television, the newspaper, and anywhere he can be working to get them all fixed. Those more cynical than I will say it's for '08. I say he cares about the country, as well.

[blm]

15. Exactly. He's fulfilling his promise for ACTION on important issues.

He's actually being TRUE to his campaign when he made healthcare a prominent issue.

You don't see Bush pushing the gay marriage amendment or trying to make abortion illegal, do you? That's because he only USED those issues to inflame the religious voters to make sure they voted.

[vickie]

73. Kerry is living up to his promise to be a voice for the more than

million citizens who voted for him. He is also living up to his duty to the Bay State residents to serve them, as he is still a United States Senator.

I'm enormously proud of him.

[TexasSissy]

23. Why the hostility to a simple question?

Yes, he is VERY much in the news. He has lately been on C-Span, CNN, other national news networks. I'm also receiving at least one e-mail from him weekly. No, they are not only about health care. They are about a variety of topics.

I repeat - why? Why do I ask? BECAUSE HE DID NOT DO THIS BEFORE. THIS IS NEW FOR HIM. He did not do this before running for Prez. He is running for something. But what?

[cestpaspossible]

30. Because it is obviously disingenuous.

It's pretty funny to see you get all defensive just because the respondants to the thread are able to read between the lines of your posts.

[JI7]

31. because he didn't have the national recognition before

as he has now.

i'm sure he wants to run for President again. but even if he doesn't i'm sure he wants to make a name for himself in the Senate and have more influence rather than just be seen as jr senator in Ted Kennedy's shadow which he has mostly been in the Senate.

when kennedy retires and especially if Democrats are able to gain back control in the Senate he would have more power in the senate than he has had before.

[hollowdweller]

114. Exactly. Despite his long service nobody knew where he stood on stuff

Except gun control, abortion, and the vietnam war.

[karynnj]

32. Grassroots effort

Kerry seems to be trying to speak to people on his email list directly. If you think about it, the Republicans have control of the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. As you saw from the campaign, they also seem to have the most of the media. In a way, it reminds me of when how radio (and later TV) when it was a new media was used to allow a president to go over the heads of the media to talk directly to the American people.

It's interesting to me that Reid has used the same approach for broadcasting the Democratic agenda. If people on the list do sign and if in addition they forward the message, it has the potential of creating populist support for programs. (Also, using the zip codes, they can determine support by Representative and Senator - maybe helping in finding potential Republican votes.

At least it's a very innovative, creative idea - Kerry's Nov email was the first time I ever saw anything like this.

[ginnyinWI]

49. if you think about it, it would be very depressing for him if

he were to just go back and do the same old thing in the Senate. He'd be wasting the huge base of people he built during the campaign.
As a minority party, it must be extremely frustrating to propose bill after bill and have them go nowhere. Kerry, Reid, and others are taking a new tack, and I think it's great. Take it to the people--now easier than ever with email and the internet. Communications are quick and easy. Things are changing for the better.

[blm]

33. Yes he did. You just never saw it in the news.

And Kerry is HARDLY all over the news. Maybe 30 seconds here and there. Very little for a former presidential candidate.

Why don't YOU answer my question? Why SHOULDN'T Kerry put up legislation he has always believed in? He has done so for 20 years already, Why would you expect him to stop?

[sandnsea]

53. Your agenda is obvious

The only thing that's new is the email lists, but that's new for alot of politicians. Boxer is sending them out too, what's her angle?

Kerry was on news shows all the time. He was a favorite and everybody liked him and respected him. Early in the year, the echo chamber was afraid to say anything negative about his military record. He will get more C-Span coverage because he just ran for President for pete's sake.

What's your agenda? Why do you want to sew seeds of discord implying that Kerry isn't sincere? Why do you help spread garbage to discredit Kerry? Who does that help in the long run? What's in it for you?

[Vektor]

106. I got email from him almost daily during the campaign...

He's just doing his job as a senator.
It's fine. I'd expect him to be contacting people. He should be.
If you have more questions about what he's doing, write his Senate office.

[SnoopDog]

8. Isn't it nice to see a Dem Senator doing his job?

And promoting and acting on our beliefs.

Health care for children speech today - did you read/see it?

We got to support those you support our democratic ways.

[Darknyte7]

14. Exactly...

He's doing his f*cking job!

[Just Me]

18. And, I might add, he's doing a damn fine job!!!

GOOOO KERRY!!!

:yourock:

[pinto]

9. As a Senator he is pursuing a national goal for kids' health care...and

sponsoring a bill to help provide health care to the millions of uninsured kids nation wide.

[TexasSissy]

24. He sends out e-mails on a variety of topics. I'm not talking about the

latest e-mail.

[cestpaspossible]

29. If you don't want to receive them, unsubscribe.

lol

[TexasSissy]

116. Why the hostility to a simple question?

Did I say or even hint I disapproved? Is no one now allowed to ask questions of Dem. leaders? I thought that was a Republican method.

[blm]

36. And WHY should it offend you that Kerry is back to working for the people

of this country?

You expect a Senator to go away and not do the job expected of him? Absurd...especially now that he has the hopes of more of us across this nation than he had 4 years ago.

[TexasSissy]

117. Please post the part of my post that says I'm offended.

I would like to see it.

[blm]

119. The tone of your post certainly sounds as if you resent Kerry's work.

Of course, it's masked with "mystery" as if a Senator doing the work he promised is incomprehensible to you.

[pinto]

43. I don't know. I assume he's doing so because he has an email list now.

His website contact people may have an answer for you....thanks.

[ginnyinWI]

10. He's fulfilling campaign promises

He meant them! He isn't doing this for political reasons, but because he really cares. I know it is hard not to be cynical about politicians, but he truly cares about people, and it isn't about him. He remains the real deal--and even though he's not president, he's using his political capital to make as much of a difference as he can as senator.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

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

[babylonsister]

13. No, he's trying to follow through on

what he promised during the campaigning, which is more than I can say for the blivet.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

17. Personal ambition and public service are not exclusive

with Kerry this kind of thing is natural.

[ginnyinWI]

50. I know, but I'm saying it isn't only for politcal reasons. n/t

[ynksnewyork2]

16. Sure..

Well let's see, Al Gore made a multitude of campaign promises but faded away and never followed through. He wasn't going to run again. Kerry made promises and lost. Do you really think that if he was not going to run, he'd be out there campaigning like he is??? I think it probably has alot to do with the fact he's running again. Hey, I voted for him. I like the guy. But fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, not gonna happen. It's someone else's turn for me.

[blm]

20. Surely you understand that Kerry still has a Senate position, and Gore had

no platform to pursue legislation after 2000.

Surely folks at DU are smart enough to know that difference. Why dis Gore and Kerry using such an inaccurate basis for your attack?

I don't think the position that brilliant men like Gore and Kerry should just go away is a legitimate one - or even a rational one for any Democrat.

[TexasSissy]

25. Surely you realize that Kerry has been a senator for 20 years,

and never did this before (the weekly e-mails, the appearances on CSPAN and CNN, etc.). The reason I asked the question is that it is NEW behavior for him.

Calling him a politician is not an attack. He is a politician. In order to survive as a politician, your first concern must be votes. Otherwise, you are not a politician. No shame in that. So for someone to say that included in noble efforts would be political reasons is not an attack. It is a reality.

Dean's a politician. Bush is a politician. Clark was a politician. Kerry is a politician. Kennedy is a politician. If they don't put votes at the head of their list of concerns, they cease existence as politicians. Nothing wrong with that. That's what a politician must do.

[blm]

37. He has a NETWORK now that became more sophisticated because of campaigning

so why SHOULDN'T he use it to fulfill positive progressive legislation?

Where's the mystery? Do you think it would be wiser to NOT use that network that is already in place?

[TexasSissy]

115. I just asked a question....why. Your answer seems hostile to me.

You gave an answer. Fine. No need to be hostile. Re-read my post, please. I did not say I disapproved. I didn't even hint at it. I merely asked.

But I tend to agree with the other posters who think he's still considering running again in '08. He's as much as said so, if I recall correctly.

[blm]

118. Reread your own post. It doesn't sound disingenuous to you? Especially now

that Kerry has come out to face down Bush and the GOP issue by issue, it sure seems strange that anyone would show incredulity to any degree.

Kerry's 20 year record in the Senate shows he always took on the toughest issues against GOP administrations. Any Democrat who acts incredulous now, sure seems strange.

[pinto]

21. He's sponsoring a bill before the Senate, this session.

regardless what he does in '08...this is his job, now.

And the bill, from the few specifics I've read, sounds like a good start in building a health care safety net for uninsured kids in the country. Thanks.

[Laurab]

22. Call me naive

but I think he'd do it whether he was going to run again or not. He loves his country, and he has integrity. He has a history of fighting for what he believed in, whether it was "popular" or not. Besides which, he's doing his job. He's more in the public eye because of the election, and he's using that to his advantage.

He "lost" a stolen election. I feel like we got screwed, but certainly not by him. He can "fool" me again all he wants, as long as he's accomplishing positive things.

[cestpaspossible]

34. You are naive

just kidding -- I couldn't help myself.

[Laurab]

91. After reading your posts....

you're cracking me up! Sheesh you're the only one who did what I told you to, too!

[DearAbby]

42. campaigning like he is???

Just what TV MSM outlet is showing Kerry campaigning??? Just where in hell is all this coverage of Kerry?

He made promises in his campaign, he intends to keep those promises. I don't find one bit of fault in that. Children in poverty, children who are under insured will benefit from this. Isn't that important? Why read more into it than that?

Thinking Kerry would only do this, to gain favor for 08? Well so be it, at least the children of this country will be better off for it.

Why is it so hard that some people do things, because it is the right thing to do? why would you see ulterior motives in each and every action?

Kerry has reported for Duty...Kerry on!

[robbedvoter]

45. Did you miss ALL GORE's speeches? ANTI_WAR?

Before the IWR vote? I am tired of this BS. The guy who fought, who at least made it clear in the national psyche that the 2000 election was stolen is being unfairly attacked on behalf of Mr Concession.

[LittleClarkie]

52. Gore didn't have a position to go back to

Why would one of the senators from Massachusetts be expected to just fade away like Gore.

Of all the candidates in recent memory, very few have still had a public position after their run.

And I'm sorry, but I don't actually give a tinker's damn who anybody plans to support in 2008. This is 2005, and we have other things to be doing with our time than perpetual primary battles. Support the ACTION, not the politician! If you see positive action coming out of a Dem, go get it! Sic em! Club the Bush Co. over the head with the thing. Write letters, call Congress people, go nuts. Never mind who's doing it. Unless they're asking for money. Then I can see being cautious. We're poor Dems, after all.

We'll worry about who's running for prez in earnest after the 2006 elections. The picture should be clearer about then anyway.

As for your question, yes, I believe Kerry would be out and about regardless. As a letter writer to the NYT said, if he disappeared then popped up just in time for the primaries, THEN I'd think he was politicking. Now, I think he's fighting and being a leader. But then I'm not seeing every sneeze out of the guy through a "Campaigning for 2008" distortion filter.

[pinto]

19. Kerry's health care speech, from ealier today, is included in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1538263

[Generator]

26. Kerry and

Conyers and now Boxer remain bright spots for me in a very dark world.

And they actually are inside the system. Godspeed that they can hold the tide back and do something good at the least or ultimately be a part of bringing the Bushies down.

Or let's put it this way those names and a few others ARE THE OPPOSITION PARTY. They alone.

It seems they are all we've got..that and each other.

[cestpaspossible]

27. Why are DUers posting flamebait in the form of disingenuous questions?

lol

[alexisfree]

28. at least I know he is not sitting down..

and doing nothing...I will love to see an investigation going on bushgate...

[rainy]

35. He knows what is coming down from Ohio and is acting

presidential knowing that shortly he will take his place as the elected president. Big news from Rawstory today, smoking gun proof of election fraud. This is not over.

[YvonneCa]

78. Hope! Hope! Hope!

[zann725]

103. That's EXACTLY what I was thinking!

Keep the faith!

[LittleClarkie]

38. A letter today in the New York Times had a good point

The letter was commenting on the editorial in Sunday's paper about Kerry not going away.

The writer disagreed with the idea that Kerry had to be careful about how much noise he made about things like Condi Rice and his other activities, because otherwise it would come off as partisan and campaigning. The writer suggested instead that if Kerry buggered off for 3 years and then suddenly popped up somewhere around election time, THAT would be politicking. What he's doing now is being a leader. The writer of the letter said they hoped, rather than going away, that he keep up the fight.

Other pundits have said that as the last canidate, he is the Democrat's defacto leader until somebody comes to knock him off that perch. So maybe he's just acting like it.

As for campaigning, right now I think he's campaigning for the Kid's First bill, if nothing else.

[Lexingtonian]

39. How about this-

He just might be putting it all together so that Democrats unify themselves and Republicans run out of the things they persuade swing voters with. Running swing voters out of their bad and unwarranted Republican biases.

Yeah, it's hard to believe, but Kerry might actually be running a campaign to make the Party a winning one with a majority and mandate. The easiest to way to do the PR part is to appear to be running for President.

People doing stuff out of a sense of duty and love of country and not for themselves alone...that's Communism or socialism or something, and that's Just So Immoral and So Wrong. </Eighties paymeoff egocentric political Meme>

Actually, this OP really is pretty depressing- it's not just the posting person, people these days can't even imagine that there are practical and daring people who do stuff in public that probably won't benefit them personally.

Our past generation or two have been so devoid of them that Nobility and Altruism are virtues common people usually no longer even recognize at first glance or even second look. I admit, the Yankee kind has internal rules of not being overt or particularly intelligible- real charity has to be as anonymous as possible to do its work, after all.

(Yeah, yeah, I guess I'm turning into a small c conservative scold. But isn't being a Liberal about knowing what really is important and appreciating what is best in people, knowing it for what it is. Liberals are the true conservatives- people who understand history and people properly, who know what (that is: what little and what truly) is worth cherishing of the Past. -Huh.)

[LittleClarkie]

41. Sadly, the RW press is going to say that

about any critic right now. They're saying it about Hagel and McCain, and Kerry. I don't know if they're doing the "just running for president" thing with Boxer yet too. But I don't know that she's made any noises for herself in that regard.

That's the easy answer. Not that there is anything wrong with Bush Co., but instead that the critics are just serving themselves, so pay no attention to them. Like when Kerry opened his mouth about the election on MLK day, he was just whining about the outcome, some pundits said. And as he, and 12 others, voted against Condi -- that was because of the election too, doncha know.

Spin, spin, spin. I'd like to believe that people aren't buying it as much as they used to. And I sure don't like seeing our side repeating the same spin. It seems counter-productive to me.

[Lexingtonian]

44. true

But there's the thing that beats spin- being indisputably right, and so broadly right that it undercuts the oblique biases and halftruths and delusions the spinners appeal to.

The 'running for President' spin is an appeal that presently works on people who supported Bush but are having severe doubts- it appeals to their defensiveness, the way they can't yet admit to themselves that Bush was a bad choice. It reflects these supporters' weakness of faith and need to cling to a delusion.

Right now the essential delusion about Bush revolves around an idea that his ratcheting up the violence in the Middle East in fact suppresses terrorism committed domestically. It's magical thinking, of course. But until the opposite is demonstrated to be true they'll cling to that one last straw desperately and inanely.

[LittleClarkie]

46. And then when the opposite IS proven

The meme will be something equally as inane about the Dems weakening national security with their opposition, or something about not being able to recover from the terrible, terrible things Clinton did to our army.

Hopefully this line of bull will be bought less and less as we go along. Reminds me of the 49ers as the dynasty was in decline. We called them the "40-whiners." How long will the American people put up with Republicans who don't take their own advice re: personal responsibility. Own it -- the mistake, that is.

[Lexingtonian]

59. Naw

The 'Dems weak on national security' line isn't really credible to the people who swing. It's a residue of the politics of the Vietnam War, which was completely revisited and used up politically by this past election.

The memes and resentments of the past have been fully exploited on That Side up to the early Seventies. We're pretty much looking at dealing with memes stemming from Watergate (Republican entitlement to pettiness and meanness and illegal actions for The Greater Good) and the Carter Presidency ('Democrats are weak leaders') during the next year or two- but Democrats are getting to the point where these will not do much for them or even backfire.

Oh, Republicans don't actually believe in 'personal responsibility'. It's code for hiding and suppressing status-degrading stuff inside the patriarchal family unit as best as possible, i.e. patriarchal punishment and string-pulling to get the guilty off (with a public humiliation ritual, if necessary).

[semillama]

40. Why not take it as a sign that Dem leaders

are waking up to the power of the grassroots? The old guard ignored us at their peril and see how many elections that won them.

Hey, even if it is politicking, if it ends up with a positive effect, who cares?

And since he's a Senator, isn't his job decription doing just that? I wish that all our leaders were as engaged with their constituents and the general American public.

[Withywindle]

47. Where is this media that Kerry's all over? I'd love to watch it!

Seriously, I'm getting his emails too, and I'm glad. Who cares what he might or might not run for 4 years from now? I don't, not much. What's important right now is that we have a real opposition party, with real leaders--on every issue. I think he's doing a good job in that role right now--along with others like Conyers and Boxer--and it's exactly what we need.

He's a Senator, and he has less of a national platform media-wise than he did as a Presidential candidate...but he has potentially more real power to affect change over the long term (having "lost" and all). As a member of his Presidential-campaign mailing list, I'm damn glad to get updates and info about what he's doing in the Senate and how I can help. I'm glad he's interested in keeping all of us posted and engaged. If he dropped off the radar, slunk off into the sunset, like some people inexplicably seem to want him to do, THEN I would feel betrayed. Then I would feel that his campaign promises were hot air. It's quite the contrary now, he's still fighting, and I'm behind him on it, I think it's great, and I wish we had 10 more of him. If he was one of our best and brightest on November 1, then he still is the same man 3 months later, isn't he? What possible advantage is there in discarding our best thinkers like garbage?

[KeireG]

48. Simple answer.

He's doing it because he cares about his country.

[consciousobjector]

51. Meet The Press - on Sunday

I heard an advertisement for an interview with Kerry to be broadcast this Sunday!

I'm with you, Withywindle, Kerry is doing his job and I'm happy to still receive updates from him.

I for one hope he does run in '08 (if * isn't sent to prison before then and Kerry given his rightful elected office of President before the next election).

[TheDonkey]

56. Sweet, didn't know about that

def. going to tune it. Kerry is kickin ass lately.

[Malva Zebrina]

54. Beats me

It is all advertising. So easy to do now that one is back in one's senatorial mode and occupies a desk in the good old boy Senate.

I am sick of being jerked around by it all.

Kerry will be in the news and will be recorded for all his wisdom--AFTER HE LOST TO THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER!

No way will I ever throw my vote to a loser who refuses to admit he made some horrific mistakes in his campaign. Instead we are to believe that he just simply lost to religious people who had single issues and voted for that and etc, etc. HE LOST.

and HE LOST TO THE WORST PREDIDENT EVER.

Keep being a Senator, Mr. Kerry. You only represent the state of Massachusetts now. Forgedda bout another run.

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

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

[Malva Zebrina]

63. Excuse me

but in a democracy and on a board that calls itself a Democratic Underground, all views if presented within the rules, have as much right to present their views as others who may have a different take and who may disagree.

Excuse me, but your post is personally insulting and is flaming.

I do not think I am wasting my time because I do not agree with you and have the unmitigated nerve to say so. Perhaps, you would like to join in with the black and white, my way or the highway, freeper forum rather than put up with those who have a different take on this forum.

[cestpaspossible]

67. You have a right to your opinion and I to mine.

I don't respect your opinion, or your method of expressing it, but I did not say, and I did not imply, and I do not believe that you don't have a right to express it.

That said, my advice still stands: There is a simple solution to your problem. If you don't want to receive Kerry's emails, simply unsubscribe from his email list.

Then, you won't have to waste our time with your petty rants on the subject.

[Malva Zebrina]

72. and I said nothing about you expressing your opinion nor did I

flame you for it nor did I say I do not respect your opinion. I think it simply too bad if you do not like my opinion or my method of expressing it. LOL. I am simply stating mine and it is rather petty to offer as a response, an ad hominem.

Is this thread a private club or something that I stumbled into and had the nerve to offer a different opinion?

[cestpaspossible]

74. Your self contradictory post refutes itself. nt

[Malva Zebrina]

76. ce n'est pas possible

LOL

[pinto]

68. in all respect, he's not asking for your vote, he's asking your support of

a bill aimed at providing health care access to uninsured kids in America. Let's support that for now, what do you think?

We can debate 2004 or pre-debate 2008 later.

:hi:

Health care is an immediate issue for a lot of Americans. Thanks.


(ed, poorly, for syntax)

[TheDonkey]

55. He's speaking out for half of America... the Blue Patriots

I'm very happy he isn't going disappear. I don't think he plans on running in 08 or if he could even get the nom. But I do know that he wants to be remembered in a positve light and help the Democratic Party with his new position.

[politicasista]

69. I am sorry he won't be running

He would have made an good president.:cry:

[LittleClarkie]

70. I don't think anything will be decided in that regard for a year or two

Depends upon the climate as we get past the 2006 elections I reckon.

[YvonneCa]

80. And he needs us to fight along side him, and "stand firm."

From an earlier post:

In John Kerry's email (way back in November) to his 3,000,000,000 on line supporters he included a videotape with the words, "They hope you will just go away...they are counting on it." When I first listened to his words, they seemed very "out-of-context" to me. I've listened to them several times since, and they fit the context of January, 2005 perfectly. While it was very disappointing to me that he seemed to be looking beyond Election 2004 and telling us (his base)what he wants us to do, after yesterday, I now see that he is right. We Democrats, liberal or moderate, are TOTALLY out of power. We have little say in Congress or in the courts, and no say in the executive branch. The only way we will be able to accomplish anything within this government, especially considering we have a broken election system, is if we do not just go away like the Republicans are counting on us to do. John Kerry said we must "stand firm" and he is right. In his most recent email to supporters (the one where he asked us to call Speaker Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Frist and then LET HIM KNOW WHEN WE HAD DONE SO ) Kerry has begun the fight. If we, his on line supporters, go away, Congressional Democrats will have even less success in this fight. I believe we must stay engaged and support John Kerry and Democrats (who spoke so eloquently yesterday) in their efforts.
I don't know who I'll vote for in 2008. I still think Wesley Clark is great. I like John Edwards' enthusiasm. If Al Gore ran again, I've always thought he would make a great president. Maybe John Kerry, with our support will yet surprise us all (I REALLY hope so!). But I do know I'll never vote for a Republican, and I do know I want my vote counted this time. I think Kerry IS still fighting for us and there IS something to hang on to. So no matter who I decide on for 2008, Kerry has my support until this election reform fight is won!



:hi:

[mvd]

57. I'm glad - let's keep reminding Bush of Kerry's

at least 48% of the vote. It makes me feel just a bit better to hear him involved. He's been around all along - just not as forcefully as I'd like. He shouldn't have been so gracious/naive in that concession phone call.

[karynnj]

60. concession speech

It's tough to ever criticize a concession speech. I can't imagine how tough it is to have to make a speech at a time when all your dreams have crashed around you. Especially in an election when only hours earlier all signs were that you pulled it off.

Kerry's speech was, for me, the most moving and emotional I ever heard. He genuinely seemed almost as sad because he failed people as that he had lost something he dreamed of all his life. I never cried before watching a concession speech - but there was something genuine that I responded to.

Also, I don't remember any concession speech that so clearly talked about continuing to fight for the goals of the campaign. Considering that the election was less than 3 months ago, he's actually done a lot and I'm glad he's trying to be a leader in the Senate. Even if he never becomes president, he has done an enormous amount for his country.

[mvd]

61. Well, it didn't hit me that way

I thought Edwards had a good balance of sadness and anger in his speech. Certainly, there was no way the country would heal, so Kerry should have just dropped that part. After the sleaze in that campaign from Bush, I wanted something stronger.

[mvd]

62. BTW..

I'm not saying that Kerry isn't mad or broken up. I believe he is more broken up than we'll ever know, yet he's still standing and fighting for his vision. He's a good man with perhaps too much honor to run against Bush. I just didn't feel it in his speech. Neither one of us is wrong here, I guess.

[karynnj]

65. Totally agree

[karynnj]

64. See what you mean

I just took that as in character for Kerry from all that was said about him in the past.

[LittleClarkie]

95. The genuine thing that I responded to was that he almost broke down

I don't think he normally does that in public. Not at all.

Just that break in his voice got me.

Edwards didn't get me until his goodbye to the Senate speech, and then he only clicked into "sincere" mode during the part where he praised Kerry as a true patriot, then clicked back out again for the rest of his speech. Often Edwards didn't reach me when he spoke. He usually sounded like just what he was, a lawyer. So I noticed when he sounded like he really meant what he said. I started bawling then.

I don't think Kerry's speech itself made me cry. I was crying anway. Like somebody died. Still do, here and there. Blah, it sucks to be an emotional girlie.

[ginnyinWI]

99. I think many of us cried that day

and with good reason. Such a shocking thing--we all thought he would win. Even my repub mom thought he would. Then a few days later the election fraud stuff started circulating, and I thought, yeah, he probably did. More will become known--it ain't over yet. The truth has a funny way of leaking out one way or another.

[earth mom]

110. Kerrys concession speech really got to me...

and I cried too because it was genuine and heartfelt. Afterwards, when he disappeared and was so silent about the fraud, I steadily became disillusioned with him and had pretty much given up on him on Jan 6th. But the past couple of weeks, he's slowly started to win me back and like someone else said-I see him as one of the few lights in the pitch black darkness we're enduring right now.

I hope Kerry continues to shine.

[Steely_Dan]

66. Funny...

It wasn't that long ago that everyone was saying "Where is Kerry?"

-P

[cindyw]

75. Who cares why. Why do we have to be upset when our leaders are doing a

good job. Let's not be hipocrits, criticizing our leaders when they do nothing and acting suspicious when they actually work on our behalf.

[LittleClarkie]

79. Content be damned. We want style.

He's just not in vogue at the moment, poor fellow. Now if one of the more fashonable Dems was behind this, perhaps we could get on board. But alas. I have to look out for my interests three years from now. No time for a looosssser. Now excuse me, I have to catch the 12:40 herd back to HQ.

(/sarcasm)

[cindyw]

123. haha

[YvonneCa]

77. Hey DU....

...Remember when some of us wondered where Kerry supporters had gone and why they had moved on? I think they're coming back!!! :D

[ginnyinWI]

83. no, we've been here all along

just not listened to so much :)

[LittleClarkie]

84. Cocooned in our little DU group

Only to emerge as a beautiful butterfly.

(okay, I just made myself sick here -- saccharine shock!)

[YvonneCa]

89. Not you...

...ginnyinWI and LittleClarkie. I'm a fan of both of you. :-)


All the OTHERS!!! :hi:

[ginnyinWI]

90. ok then!

:pals:

[IronLionZion]

81. did you crawl into a hole on Nov. 3?

No? Neither did Kerry. Our problems didn't go anywhere. Bush said to bring em on, so lets bring it!

[NAO]

82. He is still a Senator and MORE IMPORTANTLY, an American Citizen Activist

Many people see the obvious fact that he is still a US Senator. His critics complain and say he should keep his nose in MASS.

But...he is still an American Citizen, and a Progressive Political Activist. He has one of the largest email/mailing lists ever, and a huge organization to help him achieve his progressive goals.

It would be a real shame for all the momentum, all the progressive organization, all the energy that went into the 2004 election to just dissipate into cold, black entropy.

I admire Kerry tremendously, and although I was devastated by the results of the election , I am inspired by the fact that he has chosen to remain active and to try to use what we built to achieve change and exert a political force despite the fact that he lost the election.

It displays persistence and determination in the face of what many would consider a humiliating defeat.

Gore put up a tremendous, full blown fight - but after he was finally forced to give up he went into seclusion. Kerry did just the opposite - a quick concession (and I think it was based on his best analysis of the outcome, not any kind of weakness or pre-arrangement) followed by a forceful effective presence in the progressive community.

[ginnyinWI]

85. I think he's an activist before all else.

He became one in 1971, and hasn't given up yet. Here is what he said in April, 1971 in a speech on the Capitol steps. It is so inspiring, and he was still only 27 years old:

"...This is not the struggle of one day, or one month, or one year, or of one war: it's a struggle, and an effort, and a sacrifice, and a contribution which we make for the rest of our lives. And though men of small mind and less character may project themselves onto their fellow citizens, and suggest that an America that admits its mistakes will turn into a craven, hollow place, we will continue this struggle because this country is bigger than they are, and it's bigger than any of us here."

[LeahD]

87. Thank you for the quote.

Kerry is showing us that he still has our backs!

[JerseygirlCT]

86. 08

[LittleClarkie]

94. 06

06

[JerseygirlCT]

122. I'd think that was pretty safe, don't you?

[marcologico]

88. Anybody ever tell you to start early? Try it sometime, it helps! n/t

[sendero]

92. 2008

2008

[ChiciB1]

93. I'm still getting emails

so I think he's just staying in touch to see what's up. I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't monitoring D.U. himself. You know Chris Heinz is and I know Elizabeth Edwards was connected too.

Perhaps there are more that we don't know about, or those who post for them.

Seems plausible to me... and I'm sure if Kerry has been monitoring, then he's gotten quite an earful!

But I still left a little of my heart with him! Can't help it, known about him for far too long. The climate in America has changed so much since I first started watching him so I can't blame him alone.

[Vektor]

96. He's still a working senator -

JohnKerry.com is no longer a campaign site but is now a progressive action site, and those emails he sends are to encourage people to sponsor bills such as health care for kids -

all in a day's work.

[muse]

97. And as such, he is being a leader on the issues he campaigned for.

From what I read, it looks like all of those issues are now a part of the democratic agenda in the senate this congressional year. He created a base of democratic followers by virtue of being the democratic candidate. He's keeping that base fired up on the issues that are crucial to move our country in the right direction. It's all about leadership, regardless of whether or not he runs in 08. I would expect no less of him.

[Vektor]

102. Nor would I!

:hi:

And you are absolutely right - there is no reason why he should just drop the crucial issues he championed so hard for.

Any plans to visit S.F. again?

[HumblePiRSquared]

98. He simply wants to know if it was ABB or JFK that got the votes

We can't blame him for wanting to know.

[angel54321]

100. Senator Kerry, I want more email videos from you

I love getting emails from him and I support everything he has been doing. It's time for another email video from him again :bounce:

I hope he is on tv more often...like someone said..he is our shadow President. :kick:

Another video email, please!!

[Vektor]

105. Me too, love the guy!

Can't stand the withdrawal - I'd like to see him all the time.

[LittleClarkie]

107. John Kerry gives good vid, apparently

Heh.

[Vektor]

108. Mmmm-hmmmmm.....

Scandalously good.

[angel54321]

109. I second that

:beer:

[Vektor]

111. woo-hoo!

I'd like a beer too.
:beer:

[Vektor]

104. JFK FOR ME!

Without a shadow of a doubt.
And are you sure that's what this person is asking? He (or she) actually asked why he's still sending out correspondence. I don't think anyone mentioned ABB.

[Dr Fate]

101. I think its good that he stays in touch with folks who worked for him...

Lets give John a break on this one.

[Califooyah Operative]

112. uhm,

he's a politician, he's probably got a political agenda. Lets see, he's got his child health care bill he's trying to push. What else, he had a call for election reform, uhm, he had a petition to replace donald rumsfield. Well, it sounds like political activism to me. Ofcourse he's running for 2008 also, but he's also trying to get some things done politically. He obviously wants to stay involved and keep his support/base to do stuff, we'll have to wait and see what...

[cyn2]

120. This letter from NYT yesterday says it pretty well...

Keep Fighting, Mr. Kerry

Published: January 27, 2005

To the Editor:

Re "For Kerry, a Strategic Return to the Limelight" (Week in Review, Jan. 23):

Commenting on John Kerry's visibility during inauguration week when he voted against confirming Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state, the Republican strategist Charles Black says, "He's got to be very careful not to overdo it or he'll just look political."

I strongly disagree with Mr. Black. To the contrary, politicians who lose elections and disappear until the next campaign are the ones who look calculating and political. Real leaders keep overdoing it, fighting for the issues that they care about, and not just at campaign time.

Susan Bienen Johnson
Brookline, Mass., Jan. 24, 2005

[Freddie Stubbs]

121. The Iowa Caucuses are less than three years away