The POSITIVE THREAD - Post your fave's record - the votes and the issues

the nominations and the battles he/she chose to lead on while in the WH, congress, or senate.

I hope people choose to embrace their candidate for their real records and post all the positives about their favorites instead of attacking other Democrats as a way of pushing another forward.

Try POSITIVITY - and let the records speak for themselves.

In praise of ... Al Gore


Wednesday May 24, 2006
The Guardian

F Scott Fitzgerald's principle that "there are no second acts in American lives" does not apply to Al Gore.

The man who had the most powerful job in the world wrested from his grasp by an ill-designed ballot paper and a capricious supreme court is making a comeback almost unheard of in a country where second place is nowhere. Having recently appeared on the front covers of Vanity Fair, Time and Wired, and with his documentary on climate change, An Inconvenient Truth, opening nationwide in the US this week, Mr Gore is in the limelight and, it seems, in the running for the White House.

So far Mr Gore's responses to questions of whether or not he will run have been inconclusive: "I have no plans" and "Politics is behind me" are two of his recent formulations. But his new-found celebrity and relaxed manner have made many think a "Gore 2008" campaign might be the antidote to Hillary Clinton's inevitable run for the presidency. Mr Gore may be the only candidate who could deny Mrs Clinton the Democratic nomination - and it would make for a riveting primary campaign.

Even if he does not run, Mr Gore's record as a pioneering campaigner on global warming is admirable: next week he brings the show to Britain with an appearance at the Hay festival. In a sign of how far Mr Gore's arguments have moved into the mainstream, remember that in the 1992 election President Bush (senior) could parody him as "Ozone Man". That's a joke no one would find funny today.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/leaders/story/0,,1781483,00.html

Investigated Iran Contra even while most Dem lawmakers were supporting Reagan/Bush's Contra policies.

For five years investigated BCCI even with most of DC trying to stop his pursuit of the corruption trail.

Advocated for public financing of campaigns and wrote the Clean Money, Clean Elections bill submitted to the senate in 1997. Several states have adapted that bill for their own state elections.

Submitted the first ever senate bill that sought protection specifically for gays.

Advocated for and testified to congress to allow gays to serve openly in the military.

Investigated and exposed illegal wars in Central America.

Investigated and exposed CIA drugrunning.

Wrote a book published in 1997, The New War, warning about the growing strength of global terrorism and its funding by international financiers involved with drugrunning, arms dealing and money laundering.

Wrote legislation to track the terror finance networks - years before 9-11.

Worked with other world leaders to help draft language for Kyoto Protocol.

As District Attorney of Middlesex County, Massachuetts prosecuted corporate crooks, mobsters, and violent criminals.

With John McCain, Bob Kerrey normalized relations between the US and Vietnam.

Helped get funding for victims of Agent Orange.

of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings deficit reduction measure when still a newcomer to the Senate in 1985. He shocked other liberals like Teddy and Chris Dodd--but they came around to his way of thinking in the end.

State Children's Health Insurance Program. Kerry's bill didn't get passed but it was folded into the S-CHIP bill sponsored by Kennedy in the following session.

He doesn't have campaign consultants.
He openly says he is going to raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations to fund his programs.
He fought Schwartznegger when no one else in office would and he won.
He started running for governor back when no Democrat thought Schwartznegger could be beaten.
He supports immigrants' rights, universal health care, and universal preschool.
He , along with Lockyear and Spitzer and others, sued Enron and Worldcom corporations to recover losses, toughened mutual fund laws in California and required greater transparency and disclosure with investment banks.
He closed loopholes that allowed businesses contracting with the state from incorporating offshore. He divested the state's assets from tobacco stocks and convinced the CALPERS board to do the same.

in government. No flash - just real.

I hope he wins.

Kucinich Draws the Line Against War
By Rep. Dennis Kucinich, The Progressive. Posted October 29, 2002.

Unilateral military action by the U.S. against Iraq is unjustified, unwarranted and illegal. The Administration has failed to make the case that Iraq poses an imminent threat to the United States. There is no credible evidence linking Iraq to 9/11. There is no credible evidence linking Iraq to Al Qaeda. Nor is there any credible evidence that Iraq possesses deliverable weapons of mass destruction, or that it intends to deliver them against the United States.
snip---
America cannot and should not be the world's policeman. America cannot and should not try to pick the leaders of other nations. Nor should America and the American people be pressed into the service of international oil interests and arms dealers.

We must work to bring Iraq back into the community of nations, not through destruction, but through constructive action worldwide. We can help negotiate a resolution with Iraq that encompasses unfettered inspections, the end of sanctions and the cessation of the regime-change policy.

If the U.S. proceeds with a first strike policy, then we will have taken upon our nation a historic burden of committing a violation of international law, and we would then forfeit any moral high ground we could hope to hold.

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/14417/

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=272&topic_id=123&mesg_id=123

He was scorned by business leaders there and forced out of office. And many Clevelanders soon came to realize that Dennis' actions SAVED them from being victimized by ruthless energy traders.

KERRY'S CONTRA COCAINE INVESTIGATION

In early 1986, the 42-year-old Massachusetts Democrat stood almost alone in the U.S. Senate demanding answers about the emerging evidence that CIA-backed Contras were filling their coffers by collaborating with drug traffickers then flooding U.S. borders with cocaine from South America.
http://www.albionmonitor.com/0411a/kerrycontracocaine.html


THE SENATOR WHO EXPOSED THE CRIMINAL BANKERS

Against the opposition of powerful Republicans and Democrats, and in light of a lack of cooperation from a very politicized Justice Department and stonewalling by the CIA, John Kerry worked with investigators and ran Senate hearings that exposed BCCI's shadowy multi-billion-dollar scams.
http://www.albionmonitor.com/0411a/kerrybcci.html

.

My 3 favorites.

Kerry lead the filibuster and has not stopped digging in since...

Finegold is trying to get DEMs to censure Bush (Kerry- little help for Russ?)

Gore- champion of the environment...And RIGHT on Iraq from day one.

I look forward to seeing them all shine in the primaries.

I think they're looking to re-energize issue, so I expect more will be coming on board.

!!!!!

Either way, I knew he would be on it sooner or later, or I would not have listed him.

.

The following excerpt about Senator John Kerry is from a speech given by his friend and colleague, Senator Russ Feingold on June, 12, 2004:

I especially like his comments on Kerry being able to speak on anything, without notes or preparation - that's a great thing to be able to say about anyone.

This was a bit diffrent from your usual "let's vote for the Democrat" speech. It was personal and you can tell from it the great respect Feingold has for Kerry's ability.

I really liked this part too: "intelligently and effectively about every single situation in the world."

That is why I like Kerry so much and was is great to read these words from Russ Feingold.

These two Democratic senators certainly seem to have each other's back lately. I wish all Dems would do the same.

of other Dems. And private meetings he's been having with some bloggers have been played up as negative towards other Dems. Even one of his supporters posted yesterday that Feingold was too progressive to compromise himself for a centrist Kerry administration.

I think there is a definite disconnect from the Feingold who knows what a strong progressive leader Kerry is and the toughness of Kerry's battles in the senate, and those supporters of his who assume there is a huge policy chasm between the two senators and make impossible accusations against Kerry. That policy chasm just doesn't exist.


I am hoping his supporters put up a post full of pride for Feingold's accomplishments and his battles for Dem issues over his career in the senate, and embrace his record POSITIVELY instead of making unfounded slaps at others.

Democratic ideals. Supporters who are ready to pounce on anything that can remotely be construed as negative toward another Democrat do Senator Feingold a disservice. They are, in effect, swiftboating him by taking his statements out of context and blowing them out of proportion.

Kerry and Feingold are colleagues and they are on the same page on many issues. They have different approaches sometimes but they always seem to come to an understanding and support each other.

Wouldn't it be great to start talking about all the good work all our Dems are doing instead of sounding like a bunch of cutthroat Republicans?

Restore Democratic Representation to the Ninth District

"Our country is approaching a crossroads. Our choice is to keep going straight, in the direction that has taken most Americans, by almost every measure, to a point where they are worse off than they were five years ago, or choose a new direction. Our government has a responsibility to its citizens, to provide conditions for greater security and prosperity; a responsibility that the Republicans, and those Democrats who have supported Republican policies, have failed to provide.

The incumbent fails to represent the will of his constituents, fails to represent the platform of his party, and, most importantly, fails to offer the vision needed to correct our course."


I really like what he says on the issues:

The war

"No single act of this government in the past five years has been more destructive to our children's future than the War in Iraq. For many there will be no future, others will face the future physically and/or emotionally impaired. And all our children will pay for this war for the rest of their lives.

Setting a disengagement plan is the best way to 'support our troops' and 'stop the bleeding' from this 'disastrous blunder.' I therefore support the McGovern bill which stops all funding for our direct involvement in the Iraq war and the Murtha Bill which requires the immediate redeployment of our troops.

The incumbent does not support either bill and, contrary to 7 of the 10 Members of the Massachusetts delegation, voted on March 16th to continue full funding for the war. George Bush said that there will be no end to the Iraq war until a new president is elected. The only way to end the war sooner is to elect other real Democrats like me to Congress this fall."

Fear

As we approach the mid-terms, when the United States will again define itself, those in power are keenly aware of the disaffection abroad in the land. With their power and authority threatened, this cabal, has turned once again to its spokesman Karl Rove, and to its most effective means of persuasion ... fear.

The only question remains, will the Democrats permit the Republicans to frame the debate on Republican terms or will they, at long last, challenge the American people to look beyond the fear mongering and to insist on practical, common sense approaches to solving problems and averting threats. It is important to recognize that those seeking to hold on to power usually have an interest in preserving conflict and hatred, and in their constituency feeling threatened. The easiest way to do this is to create bogey men, most conveniently racial, ethnic, or religious adversaries, and convince people that those adversaries are demonic and will continue to threaten their safety and well being, unless those in power are not only maintained in power, but given more power. History is replete with demagogues and tyrants whose ship has risen on a tide of hatred and fear.

Privacy

"In truth, just increasing limitations on personal freedom and privacy will not address the challenge of improving our safety or security. The government has no business in our bank, phone, or library records, nor has it any right to intrude in how we make our most difficult family decisions. In the end, what makes us "free" is the restriction of our government from regulating personal, spiritual, intellectual, and health decisions, which define us as individuals."

The incumbent's record on personal privacy issues is contrary to the position of the State Democratic Platform, and contrary to the views of a majority of his constituents. It is what truly defines him as a "Republican Wannabe". He voted for the "Patriot Act", allowing the government to snoop in our bank, phone and library records. He has consistently taken positions against personal choice. And, perhaps most astounding, he was the only Massachusetts "Democrat" to vote with Tom Delay, involving the government in the Shiavo case.

When it comes to a choice between trusting in individuals or trusting in government, the incumbent has chosen the government. When it comes to a choice between who decides, individuals with their spiritual and medical advisors or the government, the most difficult family questions of whether to bring a new member into this world, or let an old member leave in dignity, the incumbent has chosen the government.



Dunkelbarger is running in the primary against Stephen F. (I-like-war) Lynch. I have my fingers crossed.......