Help: Convince me and my family that Kerry is worth supporting

[AlFrankenFan]

My step-father is a conservative disgusted with Bush, but skeptical about supporting Kerry.

My mother is a moderate Democrat planning not to vote because she does not believe anyone in the race is good enough.

I share sorta the same thing as my mom. With Kerry the apparent nominee, I pleged I would support him. Yet, something holds me back. I just can't support him.

Your mission: Convince me Kerry is worth fighting for.

Thank You.

[sandnsea]

1. Kerry-Wellstone Campaign Finance Reform

Yucca Mtn. Sierra Blanca. Those were some Paul Wellstone issues. Seems like you shouldn't have any problem supporting Kerry at all.

[JI7]

9. support for mental health care also

both worked in getting help for mental health. john kerry worked with wellstone's wife sheila also on many women's issues. in fact kerry is very good on women's issues and one of the biggest supporters of his in the primary was women voters. especially in the south.

[Frances]

2. The best argument I can think of is that the Bushes could very well

stay in power for 12 more years (4 for this Bush and 8 for his brother; by that time the country would be so corrupt that Neil could take over from Jeb).

That will never happen with Kerry.

It is far better to vote for the lesser of two evils when you know that one will not be permanent and the other could be.

[seventhson]

3. Bush is a genocidal moron and everyone from the CIA to the EU knows it

if you do not vote to throw this asshole out on his ass then you are defying Jesus and all that is good in the whole universe.

my 2 cents

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. Ok. Consider the alternative:

Four more year of, at the very least, this rank madness. If we really hit it big, Chimpy publicly wipes his ass with The Constitution of The United States, during primetime. He already regards it with thinly-veiled public disdain.

Now, don't you really think you need to seriously tweak your sense of perspective? Maybe work to make it rub off on Mummy and Daddy?

Son, this is the single most important election in our lifetimes and perhaps one of the top three most important in the history of this nation. You better look at that .sig picture, reflect, and start to get yourself right with that.

If that .sig picture means anything at all and is not just some clever decoration.

[AlFrankenFan]

6. You're right...gotta keep thinking about the future...

Don't mean to sound mean, but I am a girl :) No offense taken though I get it all the time cause my SN.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

12. Well then, m'dear...

My apologies for the mistake. Sorry if I sounded harsh, too, but damn, I have lived through too many of these repuke cowboy-wannabe administrations that end up screwing the country for a minimum of twenty years, on average. Every time these clowns get into office, the whole thing goes to hell in a handbasket, because they have no allegiance to anything that truly makes this country great and unique, save The Almighty Profit.

Nixon, Reagan, Bush1, now Da' Chimp. All were unmitigated disasters for this nation. All treated the things that make this nation unique amongst nations as vexations to their plans and spirits. All while wrapping themselves, cynically, in the flag and our democratic traditions. They care not a whit about any of that. Money is their one true god. Money and unopposed power.

I have seen too much of it and I am sick to death of it. I tried to ignore it, through denial and alcohol. Now, I am gonna fight it till I have nothing to fight with anymore. So I can contribute to leaving something good and right and true behind. So something that can be looked at and be objectively called "America" is left.

For people just like you.

Sorry to harsh again: Stop waffling. Get to work.

[Senjutsu]

5. Every vote that Kerry doesn't get...

means one less corresponding vote is needed to elect Bush. So not voting for Kerry (who is the only other possibility to assume the presidence; sorry Nader fans, but he can't win) does absolutely nothing but make it easier for Bush to win.

Now maybe Kerry's not your bag, but honestly, if you don't think that he's the lesser of two evils compared to Bush, you took a wrong turn somewhere on the way to freerepublic.

And the concept of "no one in the race being good enough" for her vote? Look at it this way: one of the two is going to be the next president (good enough or not), and wouldn't she like to have some say in which of the two it will be? Surely she'd rather have the lesser of two evils than the greater?

Edit: Easiest way to do it might be to think of it not as a vote for Kerry, but just as a vote for Not Bush.

[AlFrankenFan]

7. Wow I really must've overlooked Kerry...

I thank you guys for helping me realize why to support Kerry, and I will definitely pass it on not only to my parents, but others as well.

[JI7]

8. tell dad about Kerry's goal of balanced budget

tell him kerry supported clinton on many of those things like balanced budget. tell him about kerry's military service. also, tell him about kerry's goal of cleaning up waste in government which will help in balancing the budget while continuing with social programs.

tell your mom about the same things, but also about kerry's excellant environmental record and how bush is destroying the clean air and water act(not enforcing it). and how this will help create jobs.

emphasize the areas where they will agree with kerry on.

[rpannier]

10. OK Try These..

1. Kerry has a beter grasp of the international picture. He is much more knowledgeable about the world and he is far more diplomatic -- even John Mc Cain agrees.
2. If Bush gets re-elected Bush will probably get to appoint 3 US Supreme Court justices, not to mention a plethera of lower court federal judges.
3. Bush's envoy to China has recently begun sabre-rattling with North Korea again. God knows who else he'll start going at it with
next.
4. Kerry is more committed to ending tax-breaks to corporations that are moving jobs off-shore.
5. Bush would increase the influence of the christian right even more
into our personal lives.
6. Kerry knows how to say "Nuclear."

[AlFrankenFan]

11. hehe that last one's great....really great points :)

n/t

[zulchzulu]

13. Two words: Supreme Court

There is a whole lot that is worth backing Kerry, but one of the most critical is the possible assassination of justice if Bush gets to name up to three Supreme Court justices.

So goodbye to a lot if stuff if that happens. And count on a ultra-right wing Supreme Court for at least 30 years. I can't emphasize how important that issue is.

Simply though, look at the issues you care about and ask if you are better off than 4 years ago.

If you do some homework on the issue differences, it's a no-brainer.

If you care about the environment, healthcare reform, women's rights, workers rights, children's support or finding a way back to getting respect from the World community in terms of the Iraq war and bringing in the UN, then it's...um...duh.

If you're too lazy to do your homework on the differences, then please sit out the election.

We don't another tweaker schmuck to vote for St. Ralph.

[OHdem10]

14. Very simple

ask them do they support war after war and discontinuation of social safety net in this country. If yes, Vote Bush.
With all the bruhaha going on in Iraq right now--ther are those pushing the original plan. Syria next, Iran. Remember Ideologues
never stop. PNAC ers are on TV regularly getting their message out even if subltle. Pure and simple this is what this election is about
Jjust last night , infact every day for last 3 days"Syria" is being
set up in publics' mind as our next enemy. Generals explaining how easy it would be to take them down.

[Onlooker]

15. Think of those people who are directly affected by the Presidency

Who is more likely to pursue:
- Discrimination against Arabs?
- Discrimination against gays?
- Cutbacks to programs that feed poor people?
- The end to a women's right to choose?
- The elimination of programs that give inner city people a chance to go to college?
- Military exploits that risk our soldiers' lives?
- Cutbacks to programs that protect our environment?
Bush, obviously. Voting for Bush will genuinely hurt some groups of people. The risk is far less with Kerry.

Kerry, quite frankly, has very good liberal record, and we was very brave to oppose the Vietnam war at the time that he did so. Right now, he has no choice but to play to the center. Winning over people like you is not as important as winning over independents. You will not vote for Bush, but an independent who votes for Kerry instead of Bush represents a 2 vote gain for Kerry.

Give Kerry the benefit of the doubt, and trust his overall history to see that whatever he says now he will interpret in more progressive way once he reaches the White House.

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. If your step-father is disgusted now

give the chimp another 4 years and we'll be living under a fascist regime. The world hates us....Kerry will repair the damage and "hopefully" regain our country some respect. Medicare and SS...OMG. If Bush has another 4 years, it will be GONE. Abortion. We've already had the partial birth abortion bill and the Connor's Law passed. We'll be in back alleys with coat hangers again if Bush is re-elected. The deficit? Shit! We HAVE to take back his stupid tax cuts! If he's re-elected, it will only get worse with more tax cuts! The environment? Bush has undone Clinton's environmental policies and he WILL continue to favor the corporate polluters. Warmongering? We will attack Korea, Iran, Syria.......it will never stop with that man in office. Jobs? My g-d, how many do we have to lose before it matters? Education? He's ROBBED our schools of the funds needed and that is exactly what he will continue to do. Keep the people uneducated so they won't be smart enough to figure out that he's a fucking idiot! They also won't be employed and will join his army.
:( The economy? Need I say more? Bush has GOT TO GO! He is destroying our country. Oh ya....plan on a reinstatement of the draft. I hope you don't have any children.....I do and he WILL NOT serve in the military under the Bush regime. Kerry is 100 times more favorable than Bush. Just compare the 2....it's an easy choice. IMCPO

[LWolf]

17. Here's one reason.

George W. Bush.

You, and your family, may not agree with John Kerry on many issues. I don't. But I would vote for my cat if I thought it would be the best way to ensure a single term for GWB. And my cat would do a better job in the WH than that whistle-ass.

A man that we support and vote for has more reason to listen and to work with us than a man that we voted against.