I am worried…can i support Kerry?

[Gustaf]

Ben,

I am not goig to tell you who to vote for.  Just let me ask you a few questions to help you decide for yourself.

Would you be proud to have John Kerry as President?

Are you proud right now that George Bush is President?

If something terrrible happened a few months into 2005, who would you rather have in charge?

Does John Kerry really care about people like you?  Does George Bush really care?

Which candidate do you believe is more likely to do something great, I mean really great for the country/world?

Which candidate is more likely do to something truly awful that hurts the country/world?

I hope this is helpful.

Now, let's not be partisan.

I concur with KEmperor.

[Gustaf]

Ben,

I am not goig to tell you who to vote for.  Just let me ask you a few questions to help you decide for yourself.

Would you be proud to have John Kerry as President?

Are you proud right now that George Bush is President?

If something terrrible happened a few months into 2005, who would you rather have in charge?

Does John Kerry really care about people like you?  Does George Bush really care?

Which candidate do you believe is more likely to do something great, I mean really great for the country/world?

Which candidate is more likely do to something truly awful that hurts the country/world?

I hope this is helpful.

Now, let's not be partisan.

I concur with KEmperor.

Well probably the economy... and on that basis I lean towards Kerry, looking at things as they presently are I'm less concerned about the uber-liberals in congress ( I was probably spending too long on Democratic underground! ) ...  now it appears to me as though the "blue dogs" and "DLC" are going to be stronger in the next congress than they presently are... looking at things as they now are I'm far less worried about the liberals (and I mean people to the left of Kerry here, impractical and ill-informed people not bad or immoral people) ... Kerry's spending pledges still worry me... he needs to say that these spending proposals would have to come in a second Kerry term but apart from these earlier spending pledges (which the conservative democrats in congress would help keep in check) ... on the basis now of how much stronger the DLC and the "Blue Dogs" now appear to be and the fact that the prospect of the "Jerry Brown/ Nancy Pelosi/ Denis Kucinich" wing taking control of the drafting of the party platform or dominating the congressional leadership of the party now seems very remote, so it looks like I'm back in the Kerry camp, I mean what ever my reservations about Kerry's "liberalism" I'm not sure (How ever much i personally warm to Bush) that this country should have another four more year of him... I still think Kerry is not the best candidate however i reckon that I'll be backing him in November now... ahh… back in the fold… even if I am out on the right of the party on foreign policy (being a “Scoop Jackson” Democrat) and to a lesser extent on social issues…      

I am that as well, and I'm probably to the right of hte party on economy as well. Doesn't bother me, shouldn't bother you.

[Gustaf]

Ben,

I am not goig to tell you who to vote for.  Just let me ask you a few questions to help you decide for yourself.

Would you be proud to have John Kerry as President?

Are you proud right now that George Bush is President?

If something terrrible happened a few months into 2005, who would you rather have in charge?

Does John Kerry really care about people like you?  Does George Bush really care?

Which candidate do you believe is more likely to do something great, I mean really great for the country/world?

Which candidate is more likely do to something truly awful that hurts the country/world?

I hope this is helpful.

Now, let's not be partisan.

I concur with KEmperor.

Well probably the economy... and on that basis I lean towards Kerry, looking at things as they presently are I'm less concerned about the uber-liberals in congress ( I was probably spending too long on Democratic underground! ) ...  now it appears to me as though the "blue dogs" and "DLC" are going to be stronger in the next congress than they presently are... looking at things as they now are I'm far less worried about the liberals (and I mean people to the left of Kerry here, impractical and ill-informed people not bad or immoral people) ... Kerry's spending pledges still worry me... he needs to say that these spending proposals would have to come in a second Kerry term but apart from these earlier spending pledges (which the conservative democrats in congress would help keep in check) ... on the basis now of how much stronger the DLC and the "Blue Dogs" now appear to be and the fact that the prospect of the "Jerry Brown/ Nancy Pelosi/ Denis Kucinich" wing taking control of the drafting of the party platform or dominating the congressional leadership of the party now seems very remote, so it looks like I'm back in the Kerry camp, I mean what ever my reservations about Kerry's "liberalism" I'm not sure (How ever much i personally warm to Bush) that this country should have another four more year of him... I still think Kerry is not the best candidate however i reckon that I'll be backing him in November now... ahh… back in the fold… even if I am out on the right of the party on foreign policy (being a “Scoop Jackson” Democrat) and to a lesser extent on social issues…      

I am that as well, and I'm probably to the right of hte party on economy as well. Doesn't bother me, shouldn't bother you.

I have to admit i was in a "black mood" when i started this thread but i expect you and i gustaf agree a great deal on politics... I think of myself as a moderate dem on foreign policy and social issues, however unlike you seem to be I'm more of a populist on economic issues (but i like to think I'm a responsible populist ) ... you seem rather like Lieberman on the issue while I'm proably somwhere between Lieberman and Edwards...

I am sure we do agree on a lot.

And, yes, I probably was fairly close to Lieberman. I sometimes actually think of myself as jhaving some populist traits, but I am essentially a moderate right-winger.

[Gustaf]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I never said I was a left-winger.

[Gustaf]

there will be a republican, a democrat, a libertarian, a socialist, probably a reform party candidate and maybe a green and a commie.  And an independent with whom I know you are familiar from previous rants.  

don't limit your mind friend

I don't quite understand what you mean by this.

Don't think for a minute that I'm alienated from the process.  I will vote for *some* Democrats (the Honorable Russell Feingold, to name one), and *some* Republicans.  I may very well vote Kerry this November.  I'm just not about to become a party loyalist for either side.

Hmm... Just took a look at Feingold's record.  I really like the guy, but his record on abortion sucks.  But I really like the guy.  I can understand what Ben is going through.

sorry.  that bit was for Ben.  I see that wasn't clear.  It was just a reminder to anyone who doesn't want to vote for kerry or bush not to fret, as typically you'll have seven or eight choices.  Surely you can find one of those who you can vote for.

Beef,
sure, I'll vote differently for different offices too, of course.  For AG, I often vote libertarian, since individual liberty is important to me.  For state treasurer, I vote GOP, undoubtedly, or whomever is the bigger tightwad.  For gov, well, for gov in this state you get many opportunities to vote, and my own record is all over the map, for Congress I'll vote to reelect the incumbent democrat, for pres I'll vote to reelect the incumbent Republican.  etc.  

I have 7 MAJOR parties to choose between and I don't want to vote fo rany of them.