Senator John Kerry (Democratic Prez Candidate)

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jan 29, 2004

Yep... I'm leaning more and more twd. Kerry myself. He seems very reasonable and trustworthy.

I had initially liked Dean, but the more I watched him, the less I trusted him.. sth. in my gut kept sending alerts ! Don't care for him at all now.. can hardly stand to even look at him... just don't trust him at ALL.

Really like Edwards a LOT, but don't believe it's his time yet. A Kerry-Edwards ticket would be great, however.

Renee, you're right. It's not about the party, it's about the person and the issues. :)

nurse2be in ny · Jan 29, 2004

I'd love to see a Kerry-Edwards ticket myself; I think they'd compliment each other well.

BarbPick · Jan 29, 2004

Originally posted by nurse2be in ny
I'd love to see a Kerry-Edwards ticket myself; I think they'd compliment each other well.

Sounds like the 1960 Dream Team. The Senator from Mass. with the same intiials JFK

And the Gentleman Senator from the south, LBJ , only the name is different it is Senator EDwards.

Owney · Jan 29, 2004

You just hit the jackpot with me!

I hope the REAL people will listen.

I liked Dean until I realized he's another physian bureaucrat, who will solve the health care crisis at NURSES expense.

What barfs me out is the way the media showed endless loops of his rant instead of spending five minutes listening to him They did the exact same thing with Dukakis, showing over and over his Mickey Mouse tank ride.

I remember something my Brother-in-law told me about H. Ross Perot. David was a wheel at Delta and met Ross on an airliner. Dave told me, "He's pretty nutty--he's NOT going to get anywhere, but he DOES have something to say." Sure enough the media spent hours showing us what a nut he was and not two minutes listening. My favorite Perot quote: "If you want somebody to go down to Warshington and do that slow dance, well, I'm not your man. But if you want somebody to go down there to Warshington and CLEAN UP THE MESS, well then I'M YOUR MAN!":chuckle

Another reason that I can see Kerry, Edwards as the dream team is the difference between their experience. Kerry was in Washington for a long time, and he will know best of how to do things. Edwards was in the Senate long enough to establish himself, but not long enough to be in bed with ALL of the insiders.

Yeah! That's a winning team!

:roll :)

mattsmom81 · Jan 29, 2004

I would like to see Kerry choose Lieberman...who is more to the center/conservative...to pull conservative voters towards the Democratic party. It would definitely work for me. :)

I know quite a few Republicans (former Bush voters) who really like Lieberman. :)

If I saw this ticket I would switch sides in a heartbeat..... and my DH is appalled .....:chuckle

Maybe we can make more headway to a more conservative government if we support our Democratic conservatives.....hmmm...ya'll got me thinking now.....

James Huffman · Jan 29, 2004

If the Democrats are unfortunate enough to nominate John Kerry, they are guaranteed to lose, if history is any indication: since 1960, no one has become president who was not from the South or west.

Here is another take on the long-faced senator from Massachusetts. I do not agree with Ann Coulter on everything, but she is one of the few columnists who has the guts to point out that Kerry has spent his life mooching off his wives' money. Do we want someone like this as president?

Just A Gigolo

January 28, 2004

AFTER THE New Hampshire primary, Dennis Kucinich's new slogan is: ".001 Percent of America Can't Be Wrong!" John Edwards' new slogan is: "Vote for Me or We'll See You in Court." Joe Lieberman's new slogan is: "Sixth Place Is Not an Option." (Bumper sticker version: "Ask Me About My Delegate.") Al Sharpton's new slogan is "Hello? Room Service?" Wesley Clark's new slogan is: "Leading America's War on Fetuses." Howard Dean's new slogan is: "I Want to Be Your President ... And So Do I!"

That leaves John Kerry (new slogan: "Nous Sommes Nombre Un!"), who is winning Democratic voters in droves on the basis of his superior ability to taunt George Bush for his lack of combat experience. Like every war hero I've ever met, John Kerry seems content to spend his days bragging about his battlefield exploits. Wait, wait ... Let me correct that last sentence: like no war hero I've ever met ...

As everyone has heard approximately 1 billion times by now, Kerry boasts that he has REAL experience with aircraft carriers, and if Bush wants to run on national security, then ... BRING IT ON!

I note that when George Bush directed that precise phrase at Islamic terrorists who yearn to slaughter American women and children, liberals were enraged at the macho posturing of it. But they feel "Bring it on!" is a perfectly appropriate expression when directed at a dangerous warmonger like George Bush. ("Bring it on!" was deemed better than Kerry's first impulse, "Let's get busy, sister!")

Kerry was indisputably brave in Vietnam, and it's kind of cute to see Democrats pretend to admire military service. Physical courage, like chastity, is something liberals usually deride, but are tickled when it accidentally manifests itself in one of their own. One has to stand in awe of Kerry's military service 33 years ago. Of course, that's where it ends, including with Kerry -- inasmuch as, upon his return from war in 1970, he promptly began trashing his fellow Vietnam vets by calling them genocidal murderers.

But if Bush can't talk to Kerry about the horrors of war, then Kerry sure as hell can't talk to anyone about the plight of the middle class. Kerry's life experience consists of living off other men's money by marrying their wives and daughters.

For over 30 years, Kerry's primary occupation has been stalking lonely heiresses. Not to get back to his combat experience, but Kerry sees a room full of wealthy widows as "a target-rich environment." This is a guy whose experience dealing with tax problems is based on spending his entire adult life being supported by rich women. What does a kept man know about taxes?

In 1970, Kerry married into the family of Julia Thorne -- a family estimated to be worth about $300 million. She got depressed, so he promptly left her and was soon seen catting around with Hollywood starlets, mostly while the cad was still married. (Apparently, JFK really was his mentor.) Thorne is well-bred enough to say nothing ill of her Lothario ex-husband. He is, after all, the father of her children -- a fact that never seemed to constrain him.

When Kerry was about to become the latest Heinz family charity, he sought to have his marriage to Thorne annulled, despite the fact that it had produced two children. It seems his second meal ticket, Teresa Heinz, wanted the first marriage annulled -- and Heinz is worth more than $700 million. Kerry claims he will stand up to powerful interests, but he can't even stand up to his wife.

Heinz made Kerry sign a prenuptial agreement, presumably aware of how careless he is with other people's property, such as other people's Vietnam War medals, which Kerry threw on the ground during a 1971 anti-war demonstration.

At pains to make Kerry sound like a normal American, his campaign has described how Kerry risked everything, mortgaging his home in Boston to help pay for his presidential campaign. Technically, Kerry took out a $6 million mortgage for "his share" of "the family's home" -- which was bought with the Heinz family fortune. (Why should he spend his own money? He didn't throw away his own medals.) I'm sure the average working stiff in Massachusetts can relate to a guy who borrows $6 million against his house to pay for TV ads.

Kerry's campaign has stoutly insisted that he will pay off the mortgage himself, with no help from his rich wife. Let's see: According to tax returns released by his campaign, in 2002, Kerry's income was $144,091. But as The Washington Post recently reported, even a $5 million mortgage paid back over 30 years at favorable interest rates would cost $30,389 a month -- or $364,668 a year.

The Democrats' joy at nominating Kerry is perplexing. To be sure, liberals take a peculiar, wrathful pleasure in supporting pacifist military types. And Kerry's life story is not without a certain feral aggression. But if we're going to determine fitness for office based on life experience, Kerry clearly has no experience dealing with problems of typical Americans since he is a cad and a gigolo living in the lap of other men's money.

Kerry is like some character in a Balzac novel, an adventurer twirling the end of his mustache and preying on rich women. This low-born poseur with his threadbare pseudo-Brahmin family bought a political career with one rich woman's money, dumped her, and made off with another heiress to enable him to run for president. If Democrats want to talk about middle-class tax cuts, couldn't they nominate someone who hasn't been a poodle to rich women for past 33 years?

Gldngrl · Jan 29, 2004

:roll

Owney · Jan 29, 2004

James,

Thank you so much for enlightening me about Kerry. Like most Americans I just looked up one day and there he was.

I hope you share my belief that politics should be enjoyed as stricktly a spectator sport.

I hope you are paying attention to both sides. Kevin Phillips recently released his book about the Bush Dynasty. I haven't read it yet (so much of my time is currently frittered away in finding another nursing job--I scarcely have enough time to play my guitar!) I have seen/heard him in 2 interviews, and he paints a picture of the Bush family as Machiavelllians (sp?) Phillips worked with the Republicans in the 60s and said that other staffers told him that they read Machiavelli at least once a year. His current campaign makes him appear as just another turn-coat, but I do believe he has something to say.

When I got back from the Tonkin Gulf I used my GI bill to get a BA in psychology. So it was in college that I became "liberalized', but I would prefer to say that it opened my eyes and ears. I worked full-time in the McGovern campaign. It was an exciting time to learn in-the-street politics. I was the campus coordinator at my Southern Callifornia junior college, and supervised a phone bank. I got to warm up the crowd while we waited for Jon Voigt to arrive from the airport. When it became evident that Nixon's boys orchestrated the entire Democratic primaries, (to get the man they knew they could beat), I vowed to never again get physically involved.

I always vote, but in most instances I am so disappointed with my choices that I just follow my sister-in-laws advice, "Just like going to the bathroom--hold your nose and FLUSH THE TOILET." Have you ever heard of the "None of the Above" movement? I think that would be a GOOD idea!

It would be pretty easy for me to join the ABB (AnyBody But Bush) movement, but didn't we learn anything from Jimmy Carter?

Who would make the best combination for Bush to beat? Kucinich and Clark. Seriously, Dennis has the only realistic plan for Medicare--scrap it, it's too broke to fix! The only way the world would survive Dennis-the-Menace would be if he had the General at his side 24/7 to keep Dennis" finger OFF THE BUTTON!

The reason that Kerry should be the best candidate on this board is that he would be the best FOR NURSES. You say that he can't win because he's not from the West or the South. Isn't rich-boy Edwards from the South? James, maybe you could enlighten us with the skeletons in JEs closet, and while you're at it, at least mention that you've been paying attention to those in Junior's.

:roll

James Huffman · Jan 30, 2004

Originally posted by Owney
James,

Thank you so much for enlightening me about Kerry. Like most Americans I just looked up one day and there he was.

I hope you share my belief that politics should be enjoyed as stricktly a spectator sport.

I hope you are paying attention to both sides. Kevin Phillips recently released his book about the Bush Dynasty. I haven't read it yet (so much of my time is currently frittered away in finding another nursing job--I scarcely have enough time to play my guitar!) I have seen/heard him in 2 interviews, and he paints a picture of the Bush family as Machiavelllians (sp?) Phillips worked with the Republicans in the 60s and said that other staffers told him that they read Machiavelli at least once a year. His current campaign makes him appear as just another turn-coat, but I do believe he has something to say.

When I got back from the Tonkin Gulf I used my GI bill to get a BA in psychology. So it was in college that I became "liberalized', but I would prefer to say that it opened my eyes and ears. I worked full-time in the McGovern campaign. It was an exciting time to learn in-the-street politics. I was the campus coordinator at my Southern Callifornia junior college, and supervised a phone bank. I got to warm up the crowd while we waited for Jon Voigt to arrive from the airport. When it became evident that Nixon's boys orchestrated the entire Democratic primaries, (to get the man they knew they could beat), I vowed to never again get physically involved.

I always vote, but in most instances I am so disappointed with my choices that I just follow my sister-in-laws advice, "Just like going to the bathroom--hold your nose and FLUSH THE TOILET." Have you ever heard of the "None of the Above" movement? I think that would be a GOOD idea!

It would be pretty easy for me to join the ABB (AnyBody But Bush) movement, but didn't we learn anything from Jimmy Carter?

Who would make the best combination for Bush to beat? Kucinich and Clark. Seriously, Dennis has the only realistic plan for Medicare--scrap it, it's too broke to fix! The only way the world would survive Dennis-the-Menace would be if he had the General at his side 24/7 to keep Dennis" finger OFF THE BUTTON!

The reason that Kerry should be the best candidate on this board is that he would be the best FOR NURSES. You say that he can't win because he's not from the West or the South. Isn't rich-boy Edwards from the South? James, maybe you could enlighten us with the skeletons in JEs closet, and while you're at it, at least mention that you've been paying attention to those in Junior's.

:roll

I'm no fan of Edwards. We have too many lawyers in politics, and that's where Edwards made his millions. I'm not suggesting that he's the best, just that he (or Clark -- from Arkansas) are the ones with a CHANCE of beating Bush. (Neither, regrettably, has much of a chance). At some point, someone will beat this cycle, and be elected from outside the south/west. But not this year. I would even suggest that if Gore had picked Edwards for VP in 2000, he would have won. (Well, it is my humble opinion that he DID win, but that's history, I guess).

I would not argue with Kevin Phillips, who is far more knowledgable about politics than myself, but the idea that the current president has ever Machiavelli (much less once a year) makes me laugh. I view the current White House occupant as a puppet of interests that are truly scary. I don't think he's quite the monster some of his enemies think he is; I think he's just there to sign the checks (or whatever) for his masters. And that's something that scares me a lot.

Jim Huffman, RN

Owney · Jan 30, 2004

Jim,

No, Phillips never suggested that Junior ever READ Machiavelli. Hell, they guy proudly admits that he never even picks up a newspaper! :chuckle

What Kevin said was that back in the day he used to work for Nixon, and other Republican staffers used to say that they'd read it annually. The thesis of his book it that the Bushes, for three generations, fit the Machiavellian model. I do believe there may be at least SOME soundness to his theory.

No I don't think Junior's really a bad guy. In fact I think he's pretty cool. After all, some folks think he tooted a few lines with his brothers, IN THE WHITE HOUSE, while Papa was running the shop. :roll

Thanks for the post. Stay in touch.

pickledpepperRN · Jan 30, 2004

http://www.michaeljacksontalkradio.com/Michael_Jackson_Journal.html

Wednesday, January 28, 2004

I've always respected Sen. John Kerry and felt that he had all the attributes to make a chief executive of the United States, save for one thing. I sum it up in a comment I made in jest a couple of decades ago to a much younger Sen. Edward Kennedy. He'd been kidding me about my name and "the other" Michael Jackson, I responded with, "Sir, aren't you the Kennedy who had the charisma-bypass operation." Senator Edward Kennedy has been something of a mentor to John Kerry ever since the latter was a truly heroic member of our armed forces in Vietnam. I never viewed his Lincolnesque stature as being appealing to the masses beyond Massachusetts. We will see as more and more Democrats and Independents and Republicans and undecideds get to hear his message and watch him in action.

"Charisma" has several dictionary definitions but the appropriate one politically might well be,"a personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or enthusiasm." The moment a candidate takes a commanding lead or becomes the choice of his party, the image machines whirl at full tilt. Kerry's oft used line "bring it on," when referring to President Bush, is one of many a battle cry that'll be heard between now and the time Democrats make their selection. To date he has 13 delegates in his bid to capture the party's nomination and it will be a long hard road ahead. The campaign has already turned to next Tuesday's almost national primary, with contests in 7 states stretching from South Carolina to New Mexico. This will be the proving ground, a long way from home territory, with voters who are more appropriately a cross-section of the make-up of the American population at large.

The Iowa caucuses reshaped the landscape of the Democratic primary and the New Hampshire primary reasserted Sen. John F. Kerry's claim to be the party's front-runner, but the race is far from over. The man was written-off by most pundits less than a month ago, but he managed to reinvigorate himself as a candidate and reorganize his campaign. He must have surprised the hell out of the political advisors to the Republican president. More and more of those being asked why they voted for Kerry are saying simply, "he's a man who can beat Bush and that's our prime goal."

I'd add a note of caution, he has not, as yet, truly articulated a message popular with voters. That could leave him open to charges he is not as committed to change as many Democratic voters would like.

And then there is Sen. Edwards ...wouldn't he make a powerful part of the team!

There is so much they can run on and against. Taking just one issue, the nation's fiscal outlook. It has become so bad that some analysts believe President Bush may be starting to scale back parts of his domestic spending agenda. (Did you notice in the State of the Union address, he didn't mention Mars and the costs of his proposed adventures in the future.) He has only redoubled his calls to make his tax cuts permanent, and he's going to halve the deficit by 2009? In three years he has taken this country from the healthiest of surpluses to massive and growing, gloomy deficits. This year's deficit will be a record in dollar terms, $477 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That's something like 4.5% of the nation's gross domestic product.

There are so many other issues which will be front-and-center during this campaign and whether the candidate is Kerry or Edwards or Clark or Dean ..."bring it on" and get him out.

Michael

Hardknox · Jan 31, 2004

Kerry has been my senator for the last 20 years. I've voted for him in the past but do NOT endorse him for president. What can you tell me that you know about him? Any significant legislation passed? What achievements? Where's he been that you're only seeing him now? He's not done much. Kennedy has done it all..I am no fan of Anne Coulter but she's right about Kerry. As for his appearances in the primaries--it's amazing what a good speech writer, a billionaire wife and botox injections can do for him!

And what, pray tell, has he done for nurses? Tell me, please! Helping negotiate with Brockton Hospital administration during the strike is all I remember. As for the MNA endorsement--do you know that they ALWAYS endorse the democratic candidate?

And, Cheerfuldoer, maybe you'll ask him why he voted AGAINST the partial birth abortion bill??? Also ask him why, during the VietNam protests, he threw someone else's war medals over the White House fence, letting people think they were his. Meanwhile his sit in his office.

I like Leiberman but think he is not electable. I am leaning toward Edwards.