Who is still angry that Kerry conceded?

[genius]

Poll question: Who is still angry that Kerry conceded?

His concession has made it very difficult to prove that he won, which he did. It was also the breaking of a campaign promise. I am not wiling to give Bush four more years. Bush is a fascist lunatic.

[robbedvoter]

1. Still crying in my teacup and not getting over it. see my handle.

What exactly would make me change my mind other than a lobotomy?

[Maat]

2. I don't know how much it makes sense...

but I'm still angry.

[saracat]

3. Me too. And I'm not sure of the sense either.

But I hope. And wait.

[Guava Jelly]

4. Why give the media another gore

You cant beat the message when the Message distributors run the media and form the opinions....Damn liberal media...oooh if it were only true.
Raising a big stink wouldnt do any good its better to work from behind the scenes..is kerry doing that..i think in a small covert way he is..
Will it change the outcome..shit i dunno

[genius]

7. I'm proud of Gore for sticking it out 35 days.

If the Democratic Senators had stood up against the Fla electors, I would have been proud of them.

[autorank]

22. You comment shows that You Are A Genius!

Corporate America controls the media and we get manufactured news.
Corporate America now controls the voting machines and we get manufactured elections.

http://www.blackboxvoting.org/

[robbedvoter]

28. Amen to that! Some apologies are in order!

Some of the same people who yelled he didn't resist enough (Will Pitt) are now praising kerry for folding tight away and lashing at us for criticizing St Kerry.
And remember, Gore had no Moveon, AAR, only "no difference" lefties attacking him in the media and everywhere

[ohioan]

37. Gore stuck it out because there was less than a 500 vote margin statewide

In Ohio, Bush's lead is 130,000+ Even if the provisional ballots are 80% for Kerry, Bush STILL is ahead. That's why it's important to do everything possible to whittle down the lead and then wait for the official count, to see where all the numbers shake out, what potential votes are still available. THEN everyone will know whether a recount could result in a change in result.

This is a very different scenario than in 2000.

[sherilocks]

59. I agree

Genius, you are a genius.

[Eric J in MN]

53. Lawsuits include the power of discovery. Kerry should

have filed lawsuits in OH, FL, NH, NC, and NM to find out why voting machines were showing "Bush" on the confirmation page after voters selected "Kerry" and to answer other questions.

While I respect the attempts of the Green Party and Help America Recount and Ralph Nader to find out the truth, Kerry has millions he could have spent on this, which WE gave him.

[ohioan]

70. Lawsuits are not the appropriate tactic for this at this point . . .

Please don't assume that just because Kerry is not running to court or screaming from the rooftops that he is not measuring up to your standard of what a leaders should be doing.

[FloridaPat]

5. The last 3 elections have been stolen. We have been living in a

dictatorship since 2001. We have much bigger problems. Our country is bankrupt. We are on the brink of economic destruction. If Kerry even gets Ohio you can bet he'll never see the White House. We need to fight ALL these jerks. I'm not even sure whose side the Democrats are on - ours or corporations. And I don't know how we're going fight.

[DustMolecule]

6. Unless there's some sort of 'surprising development' soon

regarding the vote counting or some-such....I'm not angry that Kerry conceded, I'm angry that I've been hoodwinked!!!

For those who aren't sure of the definition:
hoodwink - 1. blindfold 2. hide 3. to deceive by false appearances

[genius]

8. If he asked for a full recount of FLA, he would win.

[smurfygirl]

9. how can you not be angry.

i want to just scream at kerry but i can't

[Stew225]

10. Me angry, Kemosabe. Gratified to see

so many other DU'ers who realize that, above and beyond all, he broke a campaign promise. Gee, that's novel! The loser breaking a promise. Then again, you and I believe that he's the winner, so what the hell.

How sad it is that to be a "leader" in this country, you don't have to be a leader; you have to be a good politician. We all know what that encompasses. Yikes! I just realized that we're fucked!

[Fla Dem]

11. You need a 3rd option..Upset he conceded, but did the right thing.

This may sound contradictory, but I am VERY UPSET HE HAD TO CONCEDE. I believe he won, that the election was stolen. However, I do not think the country could have gone through a repeat of 2000. We are so torn apart as it is. I think he looked at the bigger picture. Whether he would have eventually pulled it out, the negative reaction would have been so great, it would have damaged the climate even more than it is now. The RW media (TV & Radio) would had been a hate spewing campaign probably worse than when Clinton was in office. Kerry would not have been able to get ANYTHING accomplished with the Repug congress. Actually, in a sadistic way, I'm almost glad Bush has to serve out a 2nd term. I don't think anything will go right for him, (after all it didn't in his 1st 4 years) and it will be ALL THEIR FAULT!! I just grieve for our Country in the meantime.

[Ardee]

12. Errr not quite

You assume that Kerry would have sparked some massively divisive event had he simply stated that he would withold any action pending the answers to some rather relevent questions about vote counts in Ohio and Florida.....what the hell is wrong with doing that?

[stinkeefresh]

14. what's wrong is:

It allows the Rovebots to immediately accuse Kerry of not yeilding to the will of the public, etc. A few weeks of that as the major MSM spin, and any proof in the world will start to look partisan to the average viewer.

It's a media war we're fighting, and the best strategies are often counter-intuitive.

[Ardee]

17. media war my flabby behind!

Kerry and the Dem's couldn't get a fair shake on most of the news sources that middle America watches.

All your (well meaning I'm sure) defeatisms foster is the continued decline of the Democratic Party. Again and again we see this neoconservative mantra trundled out at the slightest hint of rebellion in the ranks.What you are basically saying is that Kerry conceded defeat in order to win ....what?

Unless and until you folks understand that Rove will do what Rove does, regardless of the Democratic Party's actions, that the more you pander to Bush the more you come out looking foolish and the more you attempt bipartisan efforts the more Bush will betray you. You just lost an election in which the message was," we will do the same freaking things that Bush is doing but we will do it better." Yet you lost by a scant margin, really, and with a message as ridiculous as that too!

The American public is not as stupid as you seem to think they are, they understand your cowardice and will not vote for it, they are begging for a hero and follow one as pathetic as Bush because there simply is no one else acting the part.

[Ardee]

48. broken record syndrome?

Yeah thats what you said in your first response.You need to open a window and take a long hard look outside. All you are doing is internalizing what you should be externalizing.

Stop making decisions based on your own world view and try to understand the world view of others. This same exaxct crappy logic is what has cost your party election after election...preach to yourself the electorate isnt listening to you!

[stinkeefresh]

13. I agree on some level

I don't particularly care about "pulling the country apart"- that isn't what we're doing. But I do think that Rove and the gang profiled Kerry, saw that he was a fighter, and prepared accordingly. I believe they were quite surprised that Kerry conceeded, and that the investigations are happening in the background, by non-partisan groups like BBV.

They wanted to demonize any statements that the elections were rigged by tying it directly to partisan ol' John Kerry. He's not letting them. He is wisely waiting until proof is in the bag.

I think it's the best viable strategy, and not at all what the Bushies were expecting.

And I might agree with your statement that you are almost glad Bush has to deal with this mess, until I think of all the people dying.

[cidliz2004]

33. Are you thinking straight????

When someone STEALS something you say - just to not start an upheaval
let things be???? Isn't that what Bush is hoping for? A country full of people that think like that?

How do you call on the thieves, unless you "over turn the money table"? Somebody has to stand up for our Democracy!!! Did you forget that there are young men and women in Iraq getting killed and
or maimed daily because of this administration? Yet, you would have
us use the "Miss Manners" approach? We have to fight back dammit!!!!! Did you forget the Swift Boaters? Do you remember the
slime that they used at Kerry. THAT IS THEIR TACTICS and they are
winning by lying and stealing and your answer is to sit back and be nice???????

[ohioan]

39. His concession didn't change a thing

If the votes are there for him, he will be sworn is as our next president, his concession notwithstanding. And by conceding early, yet allowing (and encouraging on the qt) the efforts to count the votes to continue, he will avoid the appearance of dragging this out or being a sore loser who pathetically refused to let go until he had beaten the system into submission. This has to be a bottom up process, not a top down process. It can't appear as if Kerry wanted this so bad that he forced the localities into finding him enough votes to win. It has to appear that local people, on the ground, quietly did their jobs and made sure their votes were counted and - "lo and behold! lookee here! We counted the votes and it looks like Kerry won, after all, by God!"

Conceding was the right thing to do.

[htuttle]

42. His concession changed a lot of things

Don't you think it would be a heck of a lot easier to audit the election results if the full weight and resources of the Democratic party were on board?

As it is, we are relying on an underfunded and undermanned third party, and three empoverished heroes driving around Florida in a car to save the world. It isn't likely it's all going to happen in time to change the results at this point, but if we had the resources, something might have changed. If any fraud can ultimately be proved, the best I think we can hope for at this date is to tarnish monkeyboy's 'mandate' and put some of his henchmen in jail. And with any luck, accomplish the really important task of getting the public to push for cleaning up our elections.

[ohioan]

45. No - it wouldn't be any easier to audit the results

Everything that can be done is being done right now. Added pressure from the national level would only impede the process.

Remember, the people doing the counting are local, county officials, Democrats and Republicans who, for the most part, are just doing the best they can. Having the glare of national attention on them would just turn things into a circus, which is the last thing we need (remember the "bourgeousie riots" in Florida?). And publicly accusing them of being crooks and thieves and in cahoots with a political coup will NOT help one bit.

The kind of pressure that's being brought to bear is being done quietly and effectively. While it may be emotionally satisfying to some segments of the party to have an all-out war while the votes are being counted, this would actually be hugely counter-productive.

And, no - we're not only depending upon a couple of under-funded people. The fact that you're not personally aware of what's being done does not mean that nothing is happening. Kerry's and state party's lawyers are all over the state watching everything that's being done, fighting in lawsuits against Blackwell, documenting everything. They are working with countless other civil rights and community groups and individuals to make sure that the votes are being counted. And there are even more lawyers and observers monitoring and coordinating efforts from outside of the state.

Please STOP attacking Kerry and the Democrats for "not doing enough." They're doing everything humanly possible. They're just not running everything they're doing up the flagpole for the world to see, which is exactly right.

I know you guys mean well, but you're not helping by doing this.

[LittleClarkie]

50. Do I have enough rope

To watch the "consensus" of the Dem Party as self-declared in another thread hang itself with its half, and the Bush Co. hang itself with its half.

Meanwhile I'll just watch as the consensus "McGoverns" itself.

I too needed a third option. I'm between "right thing" and "damned upset at the outcome." Part of me is still in mourning. The rest of me is remaining loyal to the guy who captured my heart this election season. It took me a while to get here, and I ain't goin' nowhere now.

[Fla Dem]

52. Thanks for this note. It was what I needed.

Not sure what position you are in to know what is really going on, but your note sounded credible. It gives me back some hope.

I have wanted to believe ever since JK conceded that there were back channel efforts to get to the bottom of the voting irregularities. It has made me very disappointed to see the contempt many of our DU'ers have toward Kerry. This man spent the better part of 2 years traveling back and forth across America for the privilege of being the President. I believed in him and worked on GOTV in Fl. Was so sure we had turned the corner. If nothing comes up re: the vote, and the situation stands as is, I hope to God he runs again in '08.

It is understandable that given the toxic climate on talk radio and punditry cable, there is no effort to publicize ongoing activity. But it has been over 2 weeks and many are losing hope. Someone, somewhere with connections needs to assure groups like DU that all is not lost.

As an aside......

500th post woohoo!!

:party:

[bunny planet]

55. Thank you, I totally agree with your post.

I believe John Kerry is doing the right thing by remaining under the radar and I really believe that is what he is doing. I think I heard within the last hour that someone in the Ohio Democratic party has filed a lawsuit about the election. Anybody hear anything about that?

[Steely_Dan]

44. I want to believe...

...in the idea that they are lying in wait and that a rash of activity is going on behind the scenes. My "wishful thinking" side wants to believe...but my practical side remains doubtful.

-Paige

[ohioan]

46. This is not an "idea." It's a fact. It's happening.

[IndianaGreen]

65. "the Kerry campaign: It has left us with the hole in the doughnut."

Shoot the goose, carry the goose.

Published on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 by the New York Observer
Now Is Not the Time For National Unity!
by Nicholas von Hoffman

A little disunity, please. Let’s get divisive, gang. No national healing—raw wounds, anger and resentment. This is the moment for accusations and recriminations.

As per the routine used by countless other defeated politicians, John Kerry wrapped up a quavering call for unity and oneness inside his tardy concession speech. "In the days ahead, we must find common cause. We must join in common effort," quoth the fallen leader of the failed effort. Yeah, yeah, yeah, link arms with George W. Bush and … and what? Mr. Kerry’s answer was forget politics and take it up with the local divinity.

"I leave this campaign with a prayer that has even greater meaning to me now that I’ve come to know our vast country so much better thanks to all of you, and what a privilege it has been to do so," he said. "And that prayer is very simple: God bless America."

Unity and prayer. I cannot think of a less helpful farewell sentiment to leave the many thousands of first-time Democratic volunteers with. Let’s talk about unity and prayer.

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1117-28.htm

[jzodda]

15. The election seems like ages ago now

I have gone back to my life and will lay low from politics for awhile. I am not watching the news, reading the NYT only 2-3 times a week now and generally taking a break from politics.

I went from despair, skipped angry, and went straight to "gotten over it"

[dmac]

16. lucky you.

i am still stuck in despair.

[Ardee]

18. bye bye

I think we need folks who refuse to "get over it", refuse to "lay low" people who will continue to fight on two fronts; one, fight this awful administration with every means necessary people are dying for cripes sake! Two, fight for a return of the Democratic Party to its once proud idealisms, its inclusiveness, its battle for the rights of the powerless, the disenfranchised, the working folks and the rest of the once numerous party base.

[THUNDER HANDS]

19. now I'm upset, I wasn't before

I think he conceeded because he wants to run in 2008 so he looked at this year as "no big deal."

Its becomming more and more apparent that this is the case.

If Tom Vilsack becomes the chairman, it confirms it to me.

[AntiCoup2K4]

24. If Vil-suck becomes the DNC chairman it confirms to me....

...that this party has been completely neutered by corporatist neocon appeasing cowards.

[bunny planet]

56. That is wrong on so many levels!!!!!!!!

Anybody who gave up two years of his life, fought hard, and wanted to be president despite the fact that it meant having to clean up the elephant shit disaster that Bush has left behind in this country is a brave, patriotic man, period. It would have been an intensely difficult, thankless job and he still wanted to give it a shot. Kerry definitely did not think this election didn't count because he could always run in 2008! Get real please. He loves this country and he really wanted to try and help us get it back from the bastards that stole it from us in 2000, and he still might. I still believe he will be inaugurated on 1/20/05.

[Piperay]

20. Pissed. nt

:mad:

[MoonRiver]

21. Still angry, and

I think Kerry has done incalculable damage to the Dem Party. Our morale is shot to smithereens and he might have actually won if he'd gotten on the case immediately and challenged the voting anomalies. Instead we had to wait for the Greens and Nader to do something. Meanwhile all the evidence has probably been thoroughly scrubbed. :puke:

[JaneEyrez]

23. I just sent this e-mail to Senator Kerry...

advising how many of us feel about his lack of apparent interest in helping us fight the fraud in this election:

We worked out hearts out for you and we're still here waiting for you to examine the very real evidence of wholesale fraud in this election. Many people think you conceded quickly so you could continue to examine the voting irregularities without the pressure Gore had in 2000, while others go so far as to think you were part of a huge plot (you know, being a Skull & Bones man like Bu$h) to campaign convincingly and then lose.

I chose Civil Rights as the category for this letter because of the numerous accounts of voter intimidation and suppression practiced by the Republicans in this election. This was a horrible return to the Jim Crow days of voter disenfranchisement. I would think there would be Constitutional remedies for overturning the vote, at least in Ohio, for that very reason.

For your own sake, you need to read three things: "The Theft of the 2004 Presidential Election" by James Paterson,; "The Unexplained Exit Poll Discrepancy" by Steven Freeman, Ph.D. (both readily available on the "internets") and a heartbreaking account of election day in Ohio at http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2004/850.

Believe me, if you don't convince your supporters that you're with us in this fight, you will never again have their support for the presidency. The time is now. It is not too late yet. Bev Harris of BlackBoxVoting.org is in Volusia County, Florida (where I live), right now finding discrepancies in poll tapes. In order to get a 3 and a half million vote mandate, you have to skim everywhere, and we think they did. We believe that a full audit will uncover enough anomalies to lead to a complete recount.

We're tired and fearful; we're afraid our democracy is dead, stolen by arrogant men in power who would stop at nothing to prevail. I felt the need to let you know how those of us who've worked so hard for you and still pray that you will be our next President really feel. We are afraid that you have betrayed us, and yourself, by not using the substantial funds you have available to help those of us who are still trying to find the evidence to overturn this charade of an election. Please don't desert us now.

Your friend and supporter, JaneEyrez

[Piperay]

27. Great letter

:thumbsup: I will he will give some deep thought.

[proudbluestater]

25. Still not over it, still not convinced he lost

I have been willing to give him and his team of lawyers a pass while I suspect that they may be working on this behind the scenes. We all remember the fiasco when they recounted votes in Florida and Tom Delay's plane few a bunch of Republican operatives down to bang on the doors like screaming banshees, all claiming to be Democrats. No, we do not need publiclity like that. We don't even need publicity at all.

But as more and more time passes and we hear David Cobb of the Greens along with the libertarian candidate are funding the Ohio recount and Nader is funding the New Hampshire one, one begins to wonder, does the DNC or John Kerry even give a shit?

I am still dealing with a deep feeling of loss. I hear Christmas music in the mall and the furthest thing from my mind is Christmas. We are killing thousands in an illegal war. Many of our own are dying. Many others will come sick as they did from Gulf War I.

John Kerry did not just break a promise to us. You know, I could care less if somebody says I'm getting a tax cut and circumstances change and it's no longer possible.

He said, and we BELIEVED, this was THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION OF OUR LIFETIME! A chance to rid ourselves of the thief who stole the last election and plunged this country into fascism through his adherence to the principles of the neocons.

He got us energized. He got us believing in him. We registered MORE new voters than ever before! More 18-29 year olds voted than any time since 1972!

And for what? For him to say, oh, I guess I didn't win. Go back to your sordid life with the dictator. I will go back to the Senate. At least my job will never be outsourced. Carry on as usual, and hey, don't forget to contribute to the DNC.

[SammyWinstonJack]

26. Still angry here

I don't understand why he gave up without so much as an hour's worth of fight? I guess we don't deserve to know the real truth. :-(

[robbedvoter]

29. Angrier and angrier....in my teacup!

Famous last words
He is impatient with Democratic oratory about the "stolen" election.
"Stop crying in your teacups, It isn't going to
change. Get over it."

John Kerry, campaign July2003
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/129019_joel02.html

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. I am mad as hell that I fell for his line. That I was duped (in my opinion

I took time away from my family to canvass for a fraud, phonecalls for a farce...Yeah, that's about how I feel today.

[The Flaming Red Head]

31. In the words of Matthew Rothschild. Kerry, how dare you!

And I was thinking the same thing as I watched it on TV while at work.

http://www.progressive.org/webex04/wx1103a04.html

[Fifth of Five]

32. I voted that it was the right thing, but

that does not mean that I am not upset by the concession.

I am much more upset that either we live in a country of "morans," or we live in a country where elections can be easily stolen.

Neither of those options is attractive to me. I fear that both might be true.

Do I wish Kerry was more visibly and vocally fighting? Sure.

Is he a politician? Yes, so I am not surprised by his tactics. Live to fight another day.

[chyjo]

34. I'm more heartbroken than anything else

n/t

[Cheswick2.0]

35. other... I am not the least bit surprised and so what is to be angry about

The democratic party had coniptions because Gore fought in 2000. They would much rather lose than be branded as conspiracy theorists (the republicans are the opposite which is why they win).

[ohioan]

36. The concession DOESN'T make it more difficult

In fact, it makes it much easier.

Remember, a concession is not anything official. If Kerry hadn't conceded, everything he said or did and everything his campaign and surrogates said and did (including digging in and getting the votes counted in Ohio, which is happening in full force right now) would be drowned out by the media circus we know would arise: WHEN WILL KERRY CONCEDE? Blah, blah blah. And, if it turns out that the close-to-the-ground efforts result in a Kerry majority, the entire narrative would have been - SORE LOSER KERRY UPENDED THE ELECTION!

Frankly, I don't understand what people think Kerry is supposed to be doing about getting the votes counted that he's not doing. His lawyers and campaign operatives are working hand-in-hand in the key states, particularly Ohio, to track down, verify, document all of the irregularities. They're having public hearings across the state. And they're parked in every one of the 88 Boards of Elections in the state watching the counting like hawks. They're even suing Ken Blackwell, for damn sake - did you know that? Because of their efforts, Bush's lead in Ohio has already been pared down and will likely be pared down even further - maybe even eliminated - in the hand recounts that will take place in a couple of weeks or so.

What in the hell else does anyone expect Kerry to do at this point - break into the Board of Elections, grab the ballots and run back to his house with them and count them himself? Jeez!

People need to understand that screaming and yelling - while it makes some people feel better - is not always the best way to accomplish a goal. Sometimes the smartest and most effective thing to do is quietly set about getting the job done.

[Eric J in MN]

54. Kerry should have filed a lawsuit wherever people pressed "Kerry"

and got "Bush" on the confirmation-screen.

[ohioan]

71. And gotten tossed out on his ass before the ink was dry . . .

Are you a lawyer? If not, perhaps you should leave the legal strategy to the people who actually know the election laws of the respective states and have a much clearer understanding of the big picture that is not apparent to those of us who are looking at this from our narrow points of view.

If you are a lawyer, then I'm really surprised you would make such a suggestion. You should know better.

[Rhiannon12866]

38. You couldn't have stated it better. n/t

[Tom Rinaldo]

40. I am more angry that he did not call attention to major irregularities

There was absolutely no excuse for that. Part of me understands pragmatic politics. That part understands that Kerry felt "conceding" was the right move at the time so as not to appear too partisan and/or out of the mainstream or whatever. A concession is not legally binding. Kerry could have struck his gracious noble pose "for the good of the country". He could have said that it appears Bush's margin of victory was sufficiently large that it was improbable that any further investigation would over turn it (Note: This is NOT what I believe). THEN he could have called on the nation and the media to take whatever steps were necessary to ensure that the sanctity of our votes is protected. He could have mentioned some of the irregularities that were then coming to light. He could have said his staff was prepared to assist all efforts to ensure Americans that voter fraud would never be tolerated etc.

In other words Kerry could have had most of his cake and eaten it too. He could have conceded while still expressing concern that insufficient protections were in place to ensure everyone's votes get counted the way they were intended. That would have at least kept voter fraud alive as a front page issue. The way I see it Kerry was too concerned about looking moderate and reasonable to position himself for another run in 2008. No way. He got away with that once with his IWR vote. Never again.

[Cocoa]

41. I save my anger for the republicans

of course, the republicans would love for us to stay permanently angry at ourselves.

[Truthbeknown]

43. This is from Randi Rhodes board

This might explain his silence. http://forum.therandirhodesshow.com/index.php?act=ST&f=88&t=37622

[ohioan]

47. Bingo!

But at the same time, he is still just as free to look into any voting irregularities as he would have been had he not conceded. Even better, he could do it without the press going insane and the nation being kept on tension-creating edge. All of the lawyers he could have sent to look into things still could be sent to look into things, and if the election is truly called into question, he could then, with ample justification so as to make it legitimate, come out publicly and retract his concession. It is the prosecutor, also one of Kerry’s previous jobs, who knows well enough to thoroughly prepare and investigate his case be leveling charges. You may have a real hunch that someone is responsible for a murder, but until you believe you can win that case in court, you do not make the allegation.

This is called fighting smart. And the Bushies, in the same way they failed to plan for the subtleties of doing battle in Iraq, haven’t even caught on yet that this is what is occurring, that they are, in fact, being outflanked and attacked after being tricked into looking the other way.

[Tom Rinaldo]

49. It might, and it might not. It is at best informed conjecture.

I stick to the point I made a few posts above. I wrote an earlier post here that I called "My Pet Vote". I ended it by pointing to the danger of "striking when the iron is cold". There was more than one "third choice" between absolute surrender and shouting "Fraud!" Concern should have been publicly stated about the questions raised about our voting systems WHILE Kerry conceded. Kerry could have said he did not have reason to believe that irregularities occurred on a scale that would have changed the outcome of this election, so he was conceding. But he could then have emphasized that the World's oldest Democracy shouldn't need to worry about questions of possible fraud, that not enough has been done to reassure every American that they get their fair chance to vote, and that the sanctity of their vote will be protected against possible fraud. That would have kept Voter Fraud alive as a topical issue. Now we will have to fight back to be viewed as serious skeptics rather than wacko conspiracy theorists.

[DeminGa]

51. Hello...

I'm new here, 1st post. I hope its coherent!
DeminGa means just that, a Dem in Georgia, unfortunately in a very 'red' suburb of Atlanta. Glad to find a site of like-minded individuals! I need a place to vent

IMO, Kerry is playing this 'smart'
I agree with many of the statements above that a very public fight would have only created chaos and would have been counter productive

All the party needs is give the repubs more fuel for their fire. How easy it would have been for them to label the Dems as sore losers or unpatriotic, spoilers, madmen, etc etc

Kerry would have gotten so much bad press over a refusal to concede and the following battles that he would have no support from the nation even if he did prove he won the election! The Repubs would have cried foul and their would have been a real sense of hatred for Kerry

By being a little inconspicuous about it all, he can still go on to find the evidence needed without drawing unneeded attention. If he finds the smoking gun (or better yet, Nader finds it) Kerry can step back in, with the proof and say, "in light of newfound information I have no choice but to retract my concession"

And Bam.
I think its a win win situation for us and him

Anyway..thanks for the space to rant!

[The Wielding Truth]

58. Your clear head is welcome. Very earnest and thoughtful post .Thanks.

So glad to have you with us @DU.:hi:

[newyawker99]

72. Hi DeminGa!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[bunny planet]

57. Thank you, I saw this yesterday.

Ever wonder why Randi, who loves to scream and yell when she sees injustice, is not mad at Kerry or tearing him down. She saw first hand what happened in Florida in 2000, knows that Kerry has to play this smart. There would have been no recount anywhere if Kerry had been the one paying for it, and how do you know that there isn't someway that he is helping monetarily albeit on the QT. It is unusually quiet on the Dem front, not just with the DNC who we all love to hate, but with the rebels, the Congressional Black Caucus has not made a peep. Don't you find that a bit strange. Is it just possible that all of the people we would expect to be vocal are being quiet for a reason? Perhaps they have a plan. If ultimately something does not happen to change this, then you can hate everybody, OK. Just hold off on the backstabbing a bit, please.

[ohioan]

67. Nah - unless they're screaming and yelling like some DUers say

the CBC members can't possibly be as dedicated to the cause as the people here are and are all just a bunch of DLC-loving repukes in blackface.

Seriously - Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the firebrand from Cleveland, Ohio, hasn't uttered a word of criticism about how Kerry is handling things in Ohio. Shouldn't that tell folks something? Or is she just a sellout?

[rhite5]

60. Kick

[willysnout]

61. Wow, Three-Quarters of DUers ...

... appear to have a political suicide wish.

[JVS]

62. Disappointed, but not at all surprised

[Truthbeknown]

63. Kerry speaks of recount in Ohio

I found this over at Dems.com blog.


Kerry Says He's Not Ruling Out Another Run



On his first workday back in the Senate
since losing his White House bid, Kerry remained far from the
spotlight, granting interviews to hometown reporters and joining the
depleted corps of Democrats as they elected the party's new Senate
leaders.



In his first extensive interview since
his Nov. 2 defeat, Kerry was asked by the Fox News affiliate in Boston
about running again in 2008 and reminded the questioner that Ohio is
still counting votes from 2004.




What does this say about Kerry's view of the Ohio recount?

[DeadHead67]

64. Run Again ? SURELY YOU JEST !!! . . . .

. . .I'm not sure he ran this time!!! WTF!! He conceded before the next day dawned!!! The Green Party and the Libertarian Party had to beg, borrow and steal the money for a fucking recount in Ohio. WHERE'S THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE $50MILLION SET ASIDE FOR RECOUNTS?!!! If they aren't going to make ANY EFFORT to straighten this mess out why should WE support them?

[ohioan]

68. Maybe when you calm down and take a breath, you'll do some research

and learn something about what's really going on in Ohio.

[jsw_81]

66. Kerry did the right thing

The sad fact is that there was simply no way Kerry could have won a recount or legal challenge in Republican-dominated Ohio. Period. It's one thing to call for recounts when you're "losing" by .001 percent like Gore was in Florida four years ago, but it's quite another when you're down by 100,000 votes in the key state and down by more than 3,500,000 nationwide.

By conceding, Kerry not only spared the country a painful, nightmarish legal battle -- one that would have been much, much worse than Florida -- but he also preserved his political viability for 2008. Clearly the fanatical left-wing partisans on this site and others are upset by Kerry's decision, and I'm sure that they would have loved weeks or months of legal wrangling in Ohio and elsewhere, but I think it's safe to say that the vast majority of Democrats, myself included, have come to terms with this disappointing election and are ready to move on. I would suggest that others here do likewise.

I know that it hurts to face the truth, especially now that we have lost to someone as despicable, pathetic and incompetent as Bush, but sometimes, unfortunately, life sucks and the bad guys win. We should all work hard and redouble our efforts so that we don't find ourselves in this same situation four years from now.

[ohioan]

69. Bam!

[DemGirl7]

73. I'm still upset about the whole election

I've been so snappy to everyone these last couple of weeks, it's not even funny, all I think about is how bad the next four years may be like. I'm really afraid that this nation is going to be so deep in a hole, that if, and when Democrats are in charge again, that the US may never been the same again, and have deep wounds from this administration's polices for the rest of the future.

[Snivi Yllom]

74. at first I was but reality has sobered me up. He lost.

Kerry did the right thing by not trying to drag out a race he did not win.