Kerry rally for Webb

[whometense]

post up on dkos: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/6/12/18253/1729

[JohnKleeb]

1. It's the day before the primary and

neither Webb or Miller's campaign has given me reason to vote for em.

[fedupinBushcountry]

2. Some photos

These are from the Webb for Senate site.

[JohnKleeb]

3. Neat

Have you and beachmom decided who you guys are going to vote for yet because as I said I still don't have a clue in hell.

[fedupinBushcountry]

4. As I said to Beachmom

this was one of the hardest decisions I have made, even choosing who I was going to support for President did not compare to this one.

Like you there are things that I don't agree with in each of them. But I think what really got me to swing my decision was that I did not like Miller's stand that IT workers don't need a union because they have a good pay package. That is not the only reason you need a union. Also I still don't know what way he would vote concerning voting machines. Also I think he went a bit overboard on the cartoon statement, and lastly he has not said why he himself gave money to Hastert several times, if you are going to say the same about the other candidate then you better be able to answer on the same.

My main objection to Webb was what he had said about Kerry. I would love to have known what was said in their meeting, but Kerry was satisfied and I'm sure they talked more about the issues.

So I came to this conclusion, I trust John Kerry, I do think Iraq is going to be in many minds of voters and Webb does have the knowledge and the experience and finally JK has always said he has our backs, so my vote will go to Webb tomorrow.

Kleeb this is your vote and you will have to decide, do what your heart and gut tells you to do.

[JohnKleeb]

5. Miller's views on unions disgusted me

which why more than anything, more than the Hasert donation, more than the hypocrisy, more than the outsourcing have made it very hard for me to support him for senator. Yet it's similiar with Webb. Some of the statements Webb made on protesters of Vietnam including Kerry outraged me, his backing of Allen six years ago, etc. It's so hard to decide honestly.

[sandnsea]

11. Miller gave money to Hastert???

I missed that. How does he try to excuse that??

In one of those links, Webb is quoted as saying he believes government should stay out of people's private business, so maybe that means he's going to take that approach on abortion and gay marriage. If so, that was one of the big things I was worried about, that he'd pull the party to the right on social issues. Although I do still worry about someone who doesn't get that Vietnam was the same as Iraq and he still doesn't seem willing to say that. Or that the 80's proxy wars are what led us to this place with Afghanistan and Iraq and Somalia, etc. Tough choice.

[beachmom]

14. A couple of answers

Miller did donate to some Republicans because of he was a lobbyist. Remember the K Street project? If you were a Democratic lobbyist you got black balled. So he gave to some Republicans, but he gave a lot more to Democrats.

Webb is half/half on gay issues: he is for Don't Ask Don't Tell, but he is opposed to the FMA. He is pro-choice. But . . . he approaches all of this in a Libertarian/state's rights sort of way. He doesn't come across as a bleeding heart lib (which is good in Virginia).

[sandnsea]

15. I remember now

Gads, I just read another article. Webb endorsing Allen and Bush, refusing to call for Rumsfeld to be fired, support for nuclear power. Gads. I'm glad I don't have to vote. A lobbyist or a Reagan supporter. Ick. I'll let you guys hash it out.

[beachmom]

17. That's why I went with the brand "Reagan Democrat"

Neither are great on the issues. Miller is certainly trying to SAY the right things but his past actions reflect something different than his words. Webb doesn't even try to bulls*** -- you know what you're getting, and it ain't perfect, that's for sure.

On Rumsfeld -- not as bad as you think. What he's saying is Rumsfeld = Bush Administration. Even if you fired Rumsfeld, the same flawed thinking and leadership would still be in place. This is good because a LOT of Republicans/conservatives have called for Rumsfeld's resignation, like it's ALL his fault, when it's really Bush/Cheney. They've been using him as the fall guy -- like the war would have been oh so wonderful had Rumsfeld hadn't f***ed it up so bad. Well, I think even if we had been 100% perfect, there still is no guarantee both the insurgency and the civil war wouldn't have happened anyway. With Kerry it's different -- he can call for Rumsfeld to be fired AND criticize the administration. Don't get me wrong -- I don't agree with Webb on this, but on the basic issue of Iraq, I do indeed agree with him. He was against the war from the beginning, and came out with an op-ed in Sept. 2002 saying so much. And at that time, he was still a Republican and a former Reagan official. So that took guts.

I am comfortable with this vote. Really.

[beachmom]

7. I'm voting for Webb

In the end, it comes down to trust. If you read everything Webb has written and what he has said, you realize he's somebody who tells the truth, even if it hurts, even if you don't agree. He said he's a "Reagan Democrat", and that's a brand I think that can sell. Miller has been less than truthful at times; he also has changed his positions on things literally 180 degrees; most notably the Diebold machines. He's a corporate Dem, which isn't the worst (there are many already in the Senate), but I think Webb has a more compelling story. Nevertheless, if Miller wins the nomination, then I will wholeheartedly support him, too, against Allen.

[JohnKleeb]

8. Its Miller's corporate shit that makes me feel weary voting for him

Its gonna be hard honestly. When I get home from the polls tommorow, I'll tell who I voted for. How do you do write in when you have a touch screen anyhow?

[jillan]

21. Great pics :)

[beachmom]

6. From a WP blog:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/06/va_senate_kerry_and_webb_mend.html

Va. Senate: Kerry and Webb Mend Fences

Sen. John Kerry and Virginia Senate candidate Jim Webb put more than 30 years of ill will behind them today as they appeared together at an Arlington, Va., rally on the eve of the state's congressional primary.

Although Kerry had already formally endorsed Webb over former technology lobbyist Harris Miller, the Webb campaign was clearly hoping to use the event as a high-profile testament to Webb's Democratic bona fides, which Miller has attacked relentlessly on the radio. (Webb served in the administration of former president Ronald Reagan and supported Sen. George Allen over incumbent Chuck Robb, a Democrat, in 2000.)

For one attendee, the Kerry appearance seemed to work. "If John Kerry doesn't have a problem with it, I don't know why anyone should," said Ken Bernstein, a Webb supporter and active political blogger who attended the Arlington event.

snip

Webb said the Republican attacks on Kerry's military credentials during the 2004 campaign played a major part in their rapprochement. "Why do we keep trying to nitpick the service of someone 35 years ago when we are not holding people accountable for what they are doing today?" Webb asked. The crowd responded with roars of applause. Kerry said that even in during their long estrangement, he always had "tremendous respect" for Webb.

Edited to add: it also mentions that Kerry raised $32,000 for Webb from his e-mail, and that Miller donated $1 million of his own money to fund his campaign. If Webb wins, that will show people that a) the blogosphere has grown in power and b) Kerry is still a Democratic force to contend with.

[beachmom]

9. Another diary on Raising Kaine (maybe on Kos, too?)

Here it is. I haven't read it all, but so far it's GREAT:

http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3038

Edited to add:

Yes, it's on Kos:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/6/12/204135/406

Consider rec'ing even if you don't like Webb, because it contains a great picture of Kerry, and Lowell says it's the best speech he's even seen EITHER of them make. Another words, this is VERY nice publicity for Kerry, but in a selfless way. Lowell claims that it was a tearjerker moment. He tends to exaggerate, but I do hope the emotions were there and real.

[JI7]

18. i hope they stop bashing Kerry now

for a while i thought raisingkaine was a freeper site based on the shit they spewed about KErry. i don't expect them to support him if he runs for national office again. but i can't stand the right wing crap they used against him.

[beachmom]

19. Don't worry -- I now have a login there, and they courted me for the

Webb vote, and damn well know that if Webb wins, it will be in part due to the Kerry endorsement. If they go too far with something freeperish, I'll politely remind them of what kind of man Kerry is. But, you know, to the real Webb supporters on that site, I seriously don't think they'll forget what Kerry did here for a long time. In all likelihood, they'll support Warner for '08 (which is understandable), but all I'll be asking for is civility.

[beachmom]

10. These Webb supporters have indeed provided us with a gold mine

of pics.

Here's a diary of pictures:

http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3039

And check out the comment section from that previous RK diary I linked to. One guy (Corey) gives a Pickle.com link (his second link, not the first) which provides a slide show. Awesome pictures, I think.

[beachmom]

12. I like this comment since it's from normally a Kerry whiner

Say what you will about Kerry (6+ / 0-)
Recommended by: beachmom, dwellscho, ParaHammer, jamfan, Harkov311, DemocraticLuntz
He's a true gentleman for campaigning for someone who probably hated his guts not more than 5 years ago or so.

I hope Webb wins tomorrow. I'll be at work (as usual), but I'll be waiting for the results to come in. I loathe George Allen, and sending him and Santorum - two of the leading wingnuts in the Senate - would be sweet in the fall of '06.

Deny My Freedom
"Inconvenient truths do not go away just because they are not seen." -Al Gore

by PsiFighter37 on Mon Jun 12, 2006 at 04:51:55 PM PDT

[ProSense]

13. Great photos! Thanks! n/t

[JI7]

16. Webb lacks the cuddly factor

at first i thought it had to do with just Kerry and Webb's personal relationship. but seeing from all the pics including with others, it just seems that Webb probably isn't the hugs and kisses type.

of course we can see JK is which i love.

[karynnj]

20. Seems true - and there's even a picture with kids!

Great pictures - Thanks