My immediate thoughts regarding John Kerry's supporters ......

[Stinky The Clown]

I address this to the supporters of John Kerry. Of course, the fact is, if anyone, like me, were alive and sentient in '04, we were **all** Kerry supporters. But today, with the announcement of the good Senator's decision not to run for the 08 cycle, I am addressing this to those who specifically supported his '08 bid.

I feel the same sadness as you. The same feeling of feet unsteady on a rug being pulled from beneath them. I endured that very recently in the Senate primary in Maryland. My guy was Kweisi Mfume. He lost to Ben Cardin, who went on to win the seat. I raise this only to underscore the deep talent on our side. When Mfume was out, I did what I was able for Cardin and I am happy and proud to have done so, and more than pleased with him as my new Senator.

And so it is in the presidential bid. It is not nearly so much about beiong 'for' or 'against' a given candidate, but more about supporting the person you see as the best of a truly great group. Given what we know about who is, and who might still be, running in '08, there is not one who I cannot support.

For each of you, today, I feel badly. But I hope you'll turn your efforts and your support to another of our candidates. I don't really care which one. None of them are a 'bad' choice. But in the meantime, I'm with you. Although he was not my personal first choice for this cycle, he is a good man. I shall miss him in the race. I shall miss his take on issues and his influence in 'the debate'.

I am also confident he will not shrink from speaking his mind. That's never been his way.

[xultar]

1. Great post!

[eleny]

2. He's speaking his mind right now in the Senate

And doing one heck of a great job. K&R

[snowbear]

3. When I heard the news today.. my first thought was with our Kerry DU'ers right here...

All of them.. but probably Wisteria the most..

You're right H2S.. At one time we were all Kerry supporters.

Group hug for our '08 Kerry supporters ~~

[karynnj]

35. Thanks

Supporting Kerry is a longshot was more rewarding to me - even as a Presidential run ends before it begins - than being a supporter of someone I could not wholeheartedly believe in. I will still follow what he does in the Senate because I think - even if he will never be President - he has stood for things that were right and is an awesome person.

[LittleClarkie]

37. Thanks larissa

I'm starting to lose it again. Damn.

[patrice]

4. Listening to him now, I believe he will be completely freed to

speak his real thoughts now. I hope he does.

[donkeyotay]

19. That's the word that came to me as I watched his speech: Liberated

He is free to speak his mind, to follow his conscience, and hold the Senate to the task of making amends for their role in unleashing this monster. It was touching, and I feel very happy for him.

[PresidentObama]

5. I'm a very emotional person.

Watching him brought lots of tears to my eyes, and emotion to my heart. My loyalty is still with the Senator all the way in Missouri. I will be watching him very closely, and with great love for the big guy. He's an incredible leader, and I'm deeply saddened by his decision to not run in 2008.

But I, as we all do, respect it. I even understand it! Kerry's actions from here on out will be without the chains of running for higher office, and I know now that the gloves are officially off. Listening to John today, I felt his passion and concern. And I hope and know he'll continue to be that great leader in the Senate, that we knew he'd be in the White House.

[LeahD]

9. Couldn't have said it better.

I'm heartsick that the media swiftboated him with "the joke," and that Repubs and Dems jumped on that bandwagon.

Is the media choosing our candidates..... again???!!!!

[noahmijo]

6. I supported John Kerry for President back in '04 now I want him to be Sec of Defense for the next

Democratic President whomever he (or she) may be.

Kerry always had the right nose for who was up to no good and the will and methods to put a stop to the actions of terrorists and the crooks who support them (Iran-Contra, BCCI)

Another contender for this job I know is Clark but I want Clark for Prez this time around :)

[Stinky The Clown]

7. If a cabinet seat is in the offing for Kerry, I'd change it a bit from what you suggest ......

I'd want him as Attorney General. For pretty much the same reasons you suggest .... BCCI, Iran/Contra ...... etc.

[noahmijo]

12. That works too I just think he belongs somewhere in a position that oversees

national security whether it be domestic or international.

[ms liberty]

8. You've said it well...

Senator Kerry just finished speaking. I know it was hard for him to come to this decision. He is a brave and principled man, an American hero. He is an honorable and respected Senator, and a public servant we can be proud of. He'll continue to serve our country well in the future.

[asjr]

10. Thank the media. They ruined Dean's chances and

now they have ruined Kerry's. Never mind either would have made a wonderful president; the media have become the kingmakers.

[sallyseven]

11. My heart is broken. I know he would have

the best candidate for the presidency. But I at least still have him for my senator. I wish for all the democrats that they keep their mouths shut and support the democratic nominee when chosen. Don't rag on anyone until the choice is made. Pretend your not republican. We can all get the next president elected and go on to better things.

[Stand and Fight]

29. Well said.

That's the way I'm handling things. I refuse to speak ill of another Democrat in public. A Party united is a party of strength.

[MethuenProgressive]

13. You thought Kerry supporters would go GOP or something?

For each of you, today, I feel badly. But I hope you'll turn your efforts and your support to another of our candidates.

Was that intentionally condescending, or just poorly thought out?

[Stinky The Clown]

16. You know ......

..... sometimes things are exactly what they appear to be ..... but there's always someone who will parse them.

[MethuenProgressive]

20. True.

..... sometimes things are exactly what they appear to be

So, "condescending" it is...

[Stinky The Clown]

23. Be clearer ......

... do you honestly think this post was condescending?

If so ...... why?

[MethuenProgressive]

25. "Clearer"??

You typed: "But I hope you'll turn your efforts and your support to another of our candidates."
You hope that Kerry supporters will support another of our candidates?
You thought they might not?

[Stinky The Clown]

30. Okay, I'll leave the ........

..... masturbatory parsing to others ...... clearly you have some burr under your saddle and that prevents you from seeing things in the spirit in which they were written. Feel free to keep posting here or anywhere else .... but I'm done with this.

[patrice]

26. To you.

Or do you represent all Kerry supporters and if so isn't THAT condescending?

[MethuenProgressive]

28. You assume too much

I support Wes Clark.

[patrice]

31. It will seem condescending to *some* Kerry supporters.

Others will take it for what it is, an attempt to help people stay connected to what matters: the issues.

[Apollo11]

14. Open invitation to Kerry supporters

Please take your time before you decide who to support for the nomination.

Al Gore is doing great work -- raising awareness about the climate crisis.

He spoke to an audience of 10 000 in Boise on Monday, and is still on Tour! :)

His movie "An Inconvenient Truth" is nominated for an Academy Award.

He is working on his next book "The Assault on Reason" -- due out in May.

He has not ruled out running again and is keeping his options open.

Kerry fans -- come and join us in the pro-Gore Community! :)

Let's all find ways to show our support for Al Gore!

In Gore We Trust
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com - Sign the petition!
www.draftgore2008.org
www.patriotsforgore.com

[zulchzulu]

15. I really hope Al runs...but....

...I fear he won't run. One of the reasons is money, which HRC apparently has grabbed a lot of. THe window is certainly closing quickly.

He'd have my support if he ran, but for the time being, I'm probably going to go with Obama.

[Dr Fate]

34. I have always wanted him in the primaries, even as a Kerry supporter.

I hope he runs- his take on the issues is very much welcome.

[Old and In the Way]

17. I think every Kerry supporter here will happily back whoever the nominee is.

We are Democrats first, Kerry supporters second. While I'm disappointed, I won't lose any sleep over his decision. I know JK is in this fight to take back this country from the Republican Syndicate. If I were Bush or Cheney, I wouldn't be hitting the bubbly too hard tonight. Without the Presidential calculus, Kerry might be more dangerous to the BFEE.

[MethuenProgressive]

21. Of course they will! Why would anyone imply they wouldn't??

A bizzare OP, in my opinion.

[Tigress DEM]

18. Rethugs think having 8 viable candidates for prez makes us weak.

That's like thinking a team with 8 Heismann Trophy Winners is surely going to lose.

Sigh.

Love Kerry, but I think he sees the writing on the wall is leaning toward making more history, like first woman prez or first black prez.

[snowbear]

22. Or.........

The first Hispanic President!

[Tom Rinaldo]

24. I wish Kerry's supporters some quiet within which to feel their loss

I hope supporters of other Presidential candidates back off and let those who supported John Kerry simply feel now what has to be painful to them, and come to grips with it on their own terms before being courted by others.

Johm Kerry is a fine man and a good leader who would make a great President I have no doubt. I felt this type of loss in 2004 when the man who I wanted to be Presdient said it wasn't going to happen that year. It's a hollow sense that something vital is missing and can't be replaced.

I have looked to and counted on John Kerry to be a progressive leader for the Democratic Party in the United States Senate since returning to it after the 2004 election. He is doing excellent and important work there, and I know he will continue to do so now, unburdened by the time constraints that running for President brings with it. We need strong leadership in the Senate now that we are in the majority, and I count on John Kerry to help provide that, especially with so many other Senators now focused on the White House. I hope John Kerry's dedicated and numerous supporters on Democratic Underground and elsewhere will take some solace and comfort from that.

[Stand and Fight]

27. This saddens me...

A great deal. Not nearly as much as it did back in '04, as I was supporting a Kerry bid for 2008. I simply have wanted to avoid the infighting that has gone on here. Nonetheless, I agree with you that there is not a Democratic candidate whom I will not support if they get the nomination. Either way, Senator Kerry will be sorely missed by me.

[karynnj]

32. Most of us were in awe of JK's ability

to continue to fight after 2004. He also asked us to fight. Not for him, but for various people and various goals. He is at heart an activist - it's where he started and who he is. It was always an unusual combination for a Presidential candidate.

I can think of no other nominee or Presidential candidate who had the activist roots and the political career of fighting corruption even in the highest ranks of government. (Gore was always involved with global warming, but only became an activist AFTER he ran - he tried to advancve it via a more normal path before hand.) In fact, in 2004 when I read of BCCI and Contra drug running, it amazed me that he had done these things - I was shocked he still won the nominatiomn. (and that was all in addition to Vietnam.)

All of that was hidden underneath a Presidential candidate who spoke with eloquence and knowledge on seemingly everything. Reading those things, I had the feeling that he was a stealth reform candidate who would in office challange the standard quo. It's clear he flew under the radar to win in 2004. It's impossible to do that twice.

But, given who he was - how can we give up. That would betray what we got from him. I may spend my energies on issues, not a candidate, but I will not drop out.

[Dr Fate]

33. Thanks for having some class!- A1!! You rock!!!

I will probably throw my support to Edwards now- or Clark or Gore if they run.

I will also miss Kerry's take on the issues in a prinary setting- but we will still have him fighting in the Senate- maybe even harder.

[pacalo]

36. Thanks, Husb2Sparkly, for your very kind thoughts.

My first choice for '04 was Clark, but I grew to admire & love Kerry. I'll always love Kerry in any role he takes serving our country.

I'll gladly give my support to whoever gets the Democratic nomination because I'm voting for Democratic ideals. I'm just hoping the nominee has loads of experience 'cause we're going to need some fantastic, intelligent, wise leadership to correct Bush's mess. I cross my fingers that it will be either Clark or Gore.

[TankLV]

38. I would also like to extend my condolences to his supporters.

I know how passionate you all are and how this must be just awful for you.

I am lucky - I don't find myself strongly attracted to ANY candidate yet - and doubt that I will. In order for that to happen I have to take stock of what it is exactly that I want and expect, and so far I am just to tired of it all.

But I can appreciate your sincerity and energy and emotional energy and attachment...

I hope you never tire of these strengths - we will surely need them in the comming days.

I just wish it all didn't happen just HOURS after the LAST election - I want a "breather" so recharge and enjoy life for awhile - I should think a YEAR off between elections is much needed...