Some advice, ideas, or suggestions?

[politicasista]

We all are aware the the 08 race is in full gear, but after reading wisteria's sentiments and observations about the presidential race, I can understand the hurt, pain, if not anger about all this. Kerry not running this time (in the end, he made the right decision) and focusing on his re-election bid, putting a Democrat in the WH, increasing the numbers in the Senate, and the work he has done since 2005, it is hard not to think about what might have been, (especially Momma T as First Lady). In fact, beachmom pretty much nails it right here.

I know I haven't been much help at all here the last couple of months or so, but I have just come to a conclusion: that people (not counting pundits, cause they have their own agendas) will always criticize the good senator and/or his campaign, so it's no use for me to complain about it anymore. Hopefully, one day, people will understand how difficult it was to unseat a wartime, criminal president and give him credit for at least trying when others were opting out for 08, and the truth (that he won) will finally come out. True, the "losses" of 2000 and 2004 made the road easier for a Democrat to win this year, but it will be very hard to block out all the hindsight talk from the past.

Getting back to the topic, I have left primary war talk in GD/GDP, or in candidates' groups (only if it isn't Kerry related), but I was wondering if there could be a way for us to still post and discuss Kerry 411 here? I know there is lots of 08 noise, and some of us have, or will at some point, or not at all, choose a candidate to support for the Dem nomination, but I hope we can still have some good, fun, and civil discussions here. I hope that those who want to leave (or feel alienated) will reconsider. It's been a nice group since late November of 2004 and would miss if it were to fade away after this year.



Ideas and everything else are all welcome. :grouphug: :hi:
























edit for punctuation

[Luftmensch067]

1. We will all continue to feel sad about "what might have been"

But, for me, discussing JK and the work he has never stopped doing to bring this nation back on course and to move us into the future, helping in any way I can, will continue to be my proudest obligation as a citizen. Whether he's running for President or working in the Senate, I know his thoughts on our path forward will always be a reliable guide for me.

I'm here to stay!

[politicasista]

2. Thanks for your input

:hi:

[beachmom]

3. Yep. Me, too. I think part of the problem is that the Senate isn't

in session. :( "Too much of nothing" can be a problem sometimes, which makes us wander onto the topic of the primaries which IS a big story after all. I did put up an Iraqi blog news roundup during this slow time, because I actually like the wonky side of this group which enjoys talking about policy and ideas. I hope we continue to discuss those kinds of things, too.

In the end, my #1 priority is still following what Kerry is up to, and helping him out any way I can to further his agenda (provided I agree with it, which I do 99% of the time). I think that is probably true for most of the folks here.

[MBS]

11. me, too!

.. for all the reasons you said.
Plus, I do feel the mission of setting the record straight on JK: who he is, and how much good he has done, and continues to do. Even if he can't be our president, I want at least for people to understand what a treasure he is. Since the press continues to do such a lousy (and, really, irresponsible) job in covering him, someone has to get the truth out there .

[JI7]

4. i'm not hurting, in pain or angry

it hurts seomtimes when i think back and how Kerry should be President now. but watching and listening to Kerry he always makes me feel better in that everything he campaigned for is not over. there are many ways you can do things.

i want JK to be able to get the things he supports passed and have the President sign it into law. there is no way Democrats are going to win enough seats to easily override the veto.

even when i watch Kerry and think how he should be President it's not in a bad way, but makes me feel good i voted for someone like that.

[sandnsea]

5. I think we should just stick to JK

And I expect that's what will happen.

[cadmium]

6. Speaking for myself, I am not away from here

just when I get to blog trying to focus on a local blog and a couple other areas off DU occass. Still very much on JK's side.

[politicasista]

7. Thanks for the ideas

:)

[TayTay]

8. This is a continuation from 04

Seriously, it is. I watched the debate tonight from Nh and I heard Democratic candidates talking about a health care plan that is, at it's base, Sen. Kerry's health care plan from 2004. I heard Democrats all agree that we need a timetable for a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq and they used the same points that Sen. Kerry has used in advancing this view. There was a question or two about the environment and energy. Damn, but if those answers weren't flavored with replies that I know I have heard somewhere before. ;)

Elections don't have start and stop points. You never truly win and you never truly lose. You step in the line, do what you can to advance your goals knowing that you are part of a progressive line that goes back to before you were born and will continue after you leave the stage. What truly, truly matters is what you do when opportunity for action arrives at your doorstep. Do you seize it or complain because it didn't arrive at the right time?

There are issues being advanced, finally, in this election cycle that Senator Kerry has spent his public life working toward. We have the opportunity in 2009 to enact historic change that will define the goals for this nation for a generation. I believe that Sen. Kerry is energized in this fight and will do whatever he can to secure those goals.

In Dec of 06 we brought a lot of people to Boston to meet the Senator and Mrs. Heinz-Kerry. We had a couple of people who could speak for this large group and talk about what becoming politically active meant to them. Beachmom told her story about getting involved, going to work on Sen. Webb's campaign and working to make sure the election process was run fairly and right. Ah, beachmom, did the good Senator not react to that? It meant something to him.

There are all kinds of legacies. You good people are a legacy of that 04 race. Every time you join a campaign and work for some candidate who inspires you, you carry on what 04 meant to you. Every time you engage in a discussion over policy and over what you want to see happen in the country, you carry on what 04 meant. Nothing died in 04, it lives on in the actions of people who want to see this country live up to it's ideals.

Don't you know this? This is why you are so important, this is why the good Senator is trying to do an internet outreach. This is, in many ways, the only legacy that matters. Little pieces of the world did change because of 04. And through you and the efforts of others, they will keep on changing. You showed up, you took these goals to heart and to your friends, neighbors, co-workers and family. You still do, daily. Yeah, it hasn't changed the world overnight. But real change takes time.

This is why it is an honor for me to come here. But you know that, right?

[politicasista]

9. Thanks for the complement

It doesn't hurt once in a while to remember why I am here, why we are here.


I am going offline for a day or two, maybe lurk and be back until after Super Tuesday (breaks are really good :)).

I am 100% for putting a Democrat in the WH, but the double standard here (not in this forum :)) is so tiresome that I am becoming disenchanted posting here. I guess I am just sick of the tearing down of good people like the senator, (and Gore) while promoting 08 candidates; and the same people that bashed him in 04 and still (i.e. election reform, war, etc.), are supporting 08 candidates with glee. And this is coming from someone that has thick skin. Really.

As I said above, it won't be any good to complain about this anymore because it's going to get worse during February and beyond, but the only thing that should matter is supporting a Democrat, because the Repukes are a hot, boring mess, and I don't want another Clarence "Fathead" Thomas on the SCOTUS.


Again, thanks for the words of encouragement. :hi:

[hibiscus]

10. Thank you for saying so well...

I have learned so much from this group and I am not leaving this group no matter what happens. I do not write much here but I will continue to read everyday and be a part of all of you. :grouphug:

As of today, the JK group has a grand total of 143,969 messages. Just imagine, even when JK is not a candidate for the presidential race in 2008, we still beat all the other candidate groups combined together in terms of number of messages posted. That says a lot about us, doesn't it? :applause:

It still hurts me whenever I think of what would have been if JK could be a presidential candidate this year. One thing for sure, the number of messages for this group would be far more than the present 143,969 messages! We will continue to treasure this group because we have all been inspired in one way or another by JK. :patriot:

[ray of light]

12. You're right in so many ways.

For one thing all the candidate's platforms are based on Kerry and all of us pushing the issues forward in the last few years. Thnings that the media tried to ignore but we've made headway with people out here by talking about it. Here's my short list of what we've accomplished, no matter which candidate in 08 gets the nod, they are ALL Kerry supported issues:

1. Media Reform--in 04, most people didn't know that they were being spoonfed lies. I think at least 70% of the people now understand this.

2. Election Reform (even if that one has bitterness involved, it's true. All of us became much more knowledgable and protective of peoples' rights and abilities to vote after witnessing how it was suppressed and fraudulently abused in 2000 and 2004.)

3. Environmental standards. And the Kerry's book TMOE. Many of you (us) here were instrumental in making sure it made the top seller's list. That deserves a huge pat on the back!!!

4. JK and JRE had a populist agenda in 04, remember? They were going to help college age kids work and pay for college. They had a healthcare plan that would have included all children and were attempting to add adults as the funds became available. They were going to end the occupation in a realistic and logical way. They were going to reform NCLB. They were going to take away the tax cuts on those 2% millionaires and fund some populist programs with them. I'm sure the list goes on about those programs that were able to be pushed forward in 2004 but people couldn't hear it past the terror alerts and hyper-PTSD symptoms that the Republican party and the media used. That noise machine in 04 was so loud that people couldn't hear their own internal pain or that of their friends or family.

BUT all those plans are the basis of the ones being pushed forward in 08. And perhaps in 04, people hadn't had enough pain yet to realize that they had to tune out the noise and start thinking about how they had to fight back to overcome the corporations.

5. Another legacy of 04 and 06 is that we actually have good progressives running for office! Ned Lamont, the Iraq Vets who Kerry supported and with our help were able to take office.

And I propose that everyone here in this forum learned how to defend/promote a candidate or an issue without resorting to the abusive curses that you often see out in the other forums. So many of you have reasoned with people out there, and presented facts, that I've seen people actually change their notions about JK and what he's done. (I have to admit I tend to say "You" instead of including me in the sentences, because I pop in and out as my real-world situation allows me. But many of you have been here consistantly battling for JK and for JK's issues.)

Anyways, Tay is right in that it's a continuum of events and emotions that now lead us to this moment in time. We do have the potential to create some long lasting change. We do have the opportunity to weed out the corrupt people that Bush has placed throughout the system.

THAT'S one reason why any of those 'front runners' on the D- side are important to elect. Can you see Huckabee getting rid of the people who have corrupted the Voter's rights division? Can you see Huckabee reforming the media consolidation? Can you see McCain reforming the election laws? Can you see McCain ending the war?

My hope is that when/if we get all three branches controlled by the Democrats that they will have learned from their previous mistakes of budgetting and overspending and will present a well-rounded, pay-go, like reform throughout our whole system. The damage Bush and these Repubs have done is long term, and there will be pain in trying to repair it. The Dems need to be honest about that.

[ginnyinWI]

13. very well put, TayTay, and I heartily agree.

JK's efforts have allowed our Dem candidates to pick up from where he left off--the torch has been handed off, in a way--although JK is still there working in whatever way he can. It's a team effort, after all.

[semie_21]

14. I agree. Very well said.

After the elections in 2002/2003 in my state, I wanted nothing to do with politics/public service. Watching and listening to the Kerry's in 2003/2004 inspired me to get involved again and make a difference. I think I have finally figured out how I can make a difference and that is part of the legacy from 2004.

As TayTay said, "it is an honor for me to come here." :7

[ProSense]

15. Hi semie_21

Welcome, and thanks for brightening the up the place by joining us.

[ray of light]

16. Welcome semie_21. It's wonderful to see you in this group.

It's an honor to have you here too.

I have to say, that although I pop in and out as I can, I am awfully proud of everyone else in here who has fought so hard to continue supporting Kerry and his policies. And I can often come in here to get facts, the nonspin zone, when I get lost in the rest of the news spin.

[MH1]

17. Hi semie

My story is similar to yours, except for me it was the 2000 election and the aftermath, when I saw that Americans didn't seem to care at all about the (blatantly obvious) stolen election, and the activist groups that were ostensibly trying to address it, were so disorganized and ineffective. Politics seemed like such a hopeless waste of time.

When I finally woke up to what was happening in 2004, the promise of such a man as John Kerry becoming president, it gave me new hope and recognition that there were ways I could contribute, that will be valuable no matter who wins the next election.

Like you said, that is part of the legacy of 2004, and it something this group and John Kerry himself can be very proud of.

[JI7]

18. welcome

so nice to read that.

[semie_21]

20. Thanks!

Thanks for the welcome everyone!!:hi:

[ladym55]

19. Very well put

As much as I would have liked to see JK in the White House RIGHT NOW and since January 2005 or the presidential candidate in 2008, I always come back to all the good he did BEFORE 2004, IN 2004, and all he continues to do from his position in the Senate. Kerry lit a fire under Progressives in 2004 and got so many people involved in the process who had NEVER done it before. And they continue to work and learn and promote progressive causes.

And this is a great place to come. I visit almost every day to keep up with what JK is doing and what you all are thinking. This group is full of smart, eloquent people who do their homework on the issues.

You keep me coming back to DU when everything annoys the heck out me. :grouphug: