Earlier, in a comment here, I mentioned I was considering opening up a discussion where people could give solid, positive reasons why one should vote for John Kerry. It got some positive response (I think one), so I figured “what the hell” and decided to go ahead with it.
But first, a couple ground rules.
1) Only serious, positive statements about John Kerry will be tolerated. Sarcastic or cynical “positives” will be edited or deleted, as the mood suits me. (Unless, of course, I find them way too funny to mess with.)
2) Absolutely no mention of President Bush will be tolerated. This is to limit the discussion to “why vote FOR John Kerry,” and not “why to vote AGAINST Bush.” If you want to discuss that, there are a couple zillion web sites out there you can do that. You might want to start with Democratic Underground, the site so dedicated to free speech they TWICE banned me for not toeing their party line finely enough.
3) This will be a watched and moderated discussion. Although I am loath to do so normally, I will be exercising my authority to edit and/or delete comments. And by “edit,” I mean I might remove words, sentences, or even completely rewrite postings as the whim strikes me. For example, “I’m gonna vote for John Kerry because Bushitler is an evil, stupid, drunk cokehead who has wet dreams of global tyranny and apocalypse” might get edited into “I’m gonna vote for John Kerry because I’m too stupid to read the rules and think they apply to me, and Kerry will make sure there’s plenty of social funding programs to keep me happy and drugged and well-fed while I continue my existence as a waste of oxygen.” Consider yourselves warned. (And before you ask, Rodney and McGehee, yes, I had you two in mind here.)
So, there you are. Any John Kerry supporters out there willing to step up and take the challenge? And remember, bonus points will be awarded to those who can actually look beyond vague promises and plans and show evidence indicating Kerry will actually achieve them.
J.
Update: It’s just after 3 in the morning, and I just spent over half an hour cleaning up the various and sundry messes others left behind here. That’ll teach me to set a time bomb like this, then go to sleep less than an hour later.
To those who played along and took my challenge seriously, my thanks. You’ve taken steps to improve the level of discourse of this campaign, and I appreciate it. And to those who took the opportunity to engage in rants and slams and sarcasm, I offer a collective “get stuffed” to friends and foes alike.
J.
Update 2: I’ve done the final housecleaning and closed comments on this thread. The next time I do anything like this (IF there is a next time) it’ll be when I have time to babysit the thread properly.
For the record: Only a few people’s comments were edited, and then later deleted. Despite some stated concerns, no one had their piece rewritten to change the sense of it (despite my semi-serious threats to do so). And while I had to delete a LOT of comments that broke my rules, I am impressed with both the quality and quantity of the responses. My thanks to all you fine people — even the ones I had to delete. It reminded me of the danger of making promises I’m not fully qualified to keep.
One final note: Simon over at The Blogging Of The Presidency done stole my idea, reversed it, and made many other sundry improvements on it. I’d recommend going over there and expressing why you are supporting President Bush. I intend to this evening, when I get home from work.
J.
Jeez, Doug, thanks! Before coffee in the morning I’m an awful dumbass. I’m so glad you could come around and correct me while still confirming my intended statement.
Kerry is flat out smarter, better educated, and more persuasive in his arguments (useful for negotiating with foreign leaders). Oh, and his wife isn’t on anti-depressants 24 hours a day.
Kerry does have a senate record, he did a great job investigating BCCI. He’s smart enough to understand that level of complexity, but for some reason leaves it out.
One thing I noticed during the debates is that while the president understands the media better, Kerry understands the issues.
I want a president smarter than me. I fail to see the value of “My Next Door Neighbor” as President.
Thx for a decent thread! We’re destroying our country with the current level of polarity. Bopnews.com is offering the same style pro-Bush thread and I will make a similar post there to help keep objectivity alive.
Not sure if I am breaking the rules here but Deb’s first reason was:
“1. Kerry will separate church from state, appropriately reducing the mixing of politics with religion. The two do not mesh.”
Is it just me or was that John Kerry who was campaigning in two black churches in Miami just this past Sunday?
Marty,
“Is it just me or was that John Kerry who was campaigning in two black churches in Miami just this past Sunday?”
The separation of church and state does not mean that a President should not talk or appeal to Christians (or members of any other religion). It does not mean that a President should be an atheist. It means that government policy should not be tied to the doctrines or membership of a given religion. “Faith-Based Initiatives,” for example, are violations of the separation of church and state. School prayers, which the sitting president supports, are a violation of the separation of church and state.
But, uh–you knew this, right? You aren’t dumb enough to believe that talking to Christians is a violation of that fundamental principle in the Constitution. You were just trying to muddy the waters, to obfuscate the political issues, and hope to make it unclear just how Kerry is not just the Democratic candidate (with a capital D) but a more democratic candidate as well. Right?
Kerry is willing to engage with the promise of democracy by speaking to audiences composed of citizens and strangers, unlike Jerry Falwell.
Granted, Kerry’s neoliberal robes are a cause for concern, but that is simply a historical-political reality that must be negotiated and challenged and not simply sneered at.
Also I would like to second the recommendation of “Going Upriver” which shows a man remarkably prescient, mature and courageous for his years, at a time in this country that haunts the present perhaps more than any other, the lessons of which remain to be ap-plied.
Cheers, PBA.
Where to start?
(1) John Kerry has a proven record of public service, and I’m not just talking about Vietnam. As a Prosecuting Attorney and as a Senator, he has demonstrated a willingness to serve his community and his country. In all instances, he has done so honorably.
(2) John Kerry look ahead – the best example of this is his work to shut down BCCI, a money-laundering bank used by terrorist groups and drug lords, among others. This was accomplished despite pressure on him by both Democratic and Republican leadership in the late 1980s.
(3) John Kerry is a man of conscience. He served his nation in Vietnam, specifically requesting Swift Boat service, because he felt it was his duty to do so. When he returned from Vietnam, his conscience dictated that he speak out honestly as to what he saw while he was there, and to speak out against the war and its effects on both the Vietnamese and the young men sent to fight and die there. After the war, he and John McCain both worked to bridge the gap between the US and Vietnam and heal some of the wounds the war left in the psyches of two nations.
(4) John Kerry is not afraid to examine his beliefs against the evidence before him, and he is not afraid to change his policies as a result of this examination.