Kerry?!

http://drudgereport.com/

I know some of you are Drudge haters but he does have contacts... Front page right now has a picture of Obama and Kerry and says "No Way?!"

http://wbztv.com/politics/jonkeller/john.kerry.vice.2.796143.html

Of course it is just speculation but I am so sick of hearing about Kaine, Bayh and Biden.

I'm glad that I have more faith in Obama than this.

And there is no way in Hell he would get on board that rollercoaster again. He's still puking from last time.

...and he lost (or didn't have a big enough margin to make it impossible for them to fix the election) because he has zero appeal in rural America.

We need somebody who can't be (certainly somebody who hasn't already been) cast as an elitist snob.

All it takes is complicit pollsters to CLAIM the election is close in the last few days, then to Diebold the election.

Hell, I voted for him but I held my nose when I did.

We need a ticket with a broader-based appeal.

and they seem to hold their nose to vote for the lawmaker who uncovered more government corruption than any lawmaker in modern history because they are ignorant of their nation's actual historic record which when examined finds that if you took Kerry's work out of the last 35 years, this nation would be well into its second decade of Full on Fascism by now - something the history deprived haven't realized. Instead they rely on the caricatures of our most honest lawmakers that corporate media makes of them.

your criticism noted and totally disagreed with.

It seems that Obama's perceived weakness...his only perceived weakness...is with rural voters. Wouldn't it make sense to select a VP that doesn't have a historic problem with rural voters? ...maybe even one that was, dare I say, popular with rural voters?

...Kerry doesn't have a problem with rural voters, rural voters have a problem. :7 Maybe they aren't quite 'average.' ;)

if only I could "rec" it like at dkos.

elitist by many rural voters. I've lived in both large cities and rural areas. The environments are different and both have advantages and disadvantages.

Educated and intelligent people live in both areas as well as poorly educated and people with lower IQ. Many well educated people migrate to urban areas because better paying jobs can be found in the larger cities. On the other hand, many well educated people prefer rural areas because the noise and confusion of the big city irritates them.

The lifestyles are different. As an example, rural areas are more gun friendly. Firearms are items that many rural people are familiar with and grew up with. Many rural people enjoy hunting and prefer the taste of the game they shoot to the meat the urban individual buys at the supermarket. They tend to be far more self reliant than urban dwellers, and they look out for each other. While many people who live in the big cities don't know or ignore their neighbors, rural people are more friendly and helpful to their neighbors.

True, rural areas are more Republican than the big cities. But the Bush administration has causes a lot of rural voters to reconsider their party affiliation.

If, however, they form the the opinion that the big city Democrats look down at them and consider rural people to be illiterate rednecks their reaction will be predictable and not favorable to the Democratic Party. With a little understanding we can convince the red states to consider more Democratic candidates.

Our nation is very diverse. Big city politics, policy and programs fail in rural areas. One size doesn't fit all.

...about that statement. But I also tire of hearing that certain Democrats are considered 'elitist' and hearing that Kerry couldn't relate (like it was all his fault) and that being educated is equated to elitist. I have relatives from rural areas...whom I love...who are biased toward anyone with money (they joke about Kerry's ties to Heinz). I think the stereotyping has gone both ways. And it is time to bring it out in the open and move beyond it. JMHO.

I also agree with this:

"True, rural areas are more Republican than the big cities. But the Bush administration has caused a lot of rural voters to reconsider their party affiliation.

If, however, they form the the opinion that the big city Democrats look down at them and consider rural people to be illiterate rednecks their reaction will be predictable and not favorable to the Democratic Party. With a little understanding we can convince the red states to consider more Democratic candidates.

Our nation is very diverse. Big city politics, policy and programs fail in rural areas. One size doesn't fit all."

I DO think we Democrats...we Americans...need to respect each other. What you suggest above is what I believe. But the misconceptions fueling the debate are on BOTH sides. I think these words reflect bias, as well:

(Describing rural dwellers) "They tend to be far more self reliant than urban dwellers, and they look out for each other. While many people who live in the big cities don't know or ignore their neighbors, rural people are more friendly and helpful to their neighbors."

Some urban dwellers are pretty darn self-reliant. Many people who live in big cities DO know their neighbors and are very friendly and helpful to them...just like rural dwellers. My neighbors (yes, you guessed it :) I live in a suburban area ) look out for me all the time.

So stereotyping and blanket generalizations and labeling people who are different as 'elitist' as a way of dismissing their concerns is wrong...on both sides.

I apologize for slipping...:7

but unfortunately both political parties try to gain advantage by using it.

One thing that has impressed me about Obama is that he has extended a hand to rural voters and many have been impressed with his ideas.

In 1997, Obama told top adviser Dan Shomon that he had never been south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Shomon told Obama that they should take a road trip to southern Illinois — which they did. They then went to the rural southern reaches of the state, and by both accounts, the trip changed how Obama saw himself in relation to rural whites. This informed his 2004 race, and has clear implications for how he has constructed his presidential campaign.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93478103&ft=1&f=10

Liberals routinely assume small towns are unfailingly desperate places filled with helpless people largely because they can think of no other explanation for people living in them. They project their own values on those communities, mistake proximity to a sushi bar with quality of life, and assume these people must be waiting for someone to rescue them.

But the man who owns a mechanic’s shop or a contracting business with his wife and raises a family in a house of his own on a decent chunk of land is not looking for the government to rescue him from anything. He has troubles, but he is not helpless; he may lack a Ph.D., but he is not stupid, and the suggestion thereof is not appreciated.


****snip****

Obama’s messaging has been a smashing success thus far in his campaign, and even has the potential, on its face, to speak to rural whites in a way other Democratic messages have not. He often sounds more positive about the American dream than Edwards and less cynical about the future than Clinton, which could work well if rural whites actually believed what he said.
http://townhall.com/columnists/MaryKatharineHam/2008/04/15/barack_obama_to_rural_voters_i_can%E2%80%99t_believe_in_you?page=2

Nationally, Bush won almost 60 percent of the rural vote, but Republican John McCain doesn't appear to be doing as well. In an AP-Yahoo News Poll in June, rural voters favored McCain over Obama 40 percent to 34 percent. About 34 percent of rural voters said McCain "shares my values," compared to 27 percent who said Obama did.

Recognizing an opportunity, Obama has opened more offices in rural areas than any other Democratic presidential candidate in years, pushing a message focused on job creation. Neighborhood campaign teams have been going door to door talking about Obama and his economic policies. In Ohio, his campaign recently announced a "Barns for Obama" effort, in which farmers are encouraged to paint their barn with Obama's logo.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20017919&BRD=1817&PAG=461&dept_id=222076&rfi=6

But the Republicans were quick to jump on his comment:

“And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/04/11/obama-draws-fire-for-comments-on-small-town-america/

Obama does need to avoid the typical mistake of saying one thing to one group of people and something different to another group merely to gain their support. While this statement will be used against him during the election, I feel many rural voters will understand the circumstances and the audience that prompted this comment. McCain has suffered similar missteps most recently his comment at the Sturgis, South Dakota, motorcycle rally.

ABC News' Gregory Wallace and Sara Just Report: Sen. John McCain, R-Az., perhaps unknowingly, volunteered his wife for a beauty pageant on Monday that often features contestants topless -- and, occasionally, without any decency -- at the Sturgis, South Dakota, motorcycle rally.

"I was looking at the Sturgis schedule, and noticed that you had a beauty pageant, so I encouraged Cindy to compete," McCain told an audience at the rally. "I told her with a little luck, she could be the only woman to serve as both the First Lady and Miss Buffalo Chip."
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/mccain-voluntee.html

Since many rural voters tend to be very religious (a cheap form of entertainment and socialization) this was definitely a gaffe.

I have a lot of hope that the Democrats can move from their base in the big cities and capture a large percentage of the rural vote. It just takes a little understanding and respect for all the people who live in this country.

...here, for the most part.

You said, "I have a lot of hope that the Democrats can move from their base in the big cities and capture a large percentage of the rural vote. It just takes a little understanding and respect for all the people who live in this country."

I absolutely believe that. One of the reasons I am for Obama is that I think he has the skills to make that happen. All of us have more in common than that which divides us. Obama's message of unity is VERY important for the country. I just think it's important to remember that it is a two-way street. While we urban/suburban dwellers need to be more empathetic to the situation of rural folks, rural folks need to open their minds, as well, about urban problems (gun control comes to mind, but it is by no means the only issue). That is the only way we will successfully move forward.

Bill Clinton used to say (paraphrasing) that our differences and diversity should be viewed as a source of strength in our country. He said we need to come to a place where we can honor our differences, but realize that our common humanity matters more.

I think he was EXACTLY right.

As Bill Clinton said:

“For too long we've been told about "us" and "them." Each and every election we see a new slate of arguments and ads telling us that "they" are the problem, not "us." But there can be no "them" in America. There's only us.”
http://www3.thinkexist.com/quotes/bill_clinton/3.html

...spin.:pals:

It's always nice to have a friendly discussion. I see great hope for this country if more people will show respect for others whose views may be different and through discourse will find compromises that solve the problems we face.

Diversity is the great strength of our country. Not only ethnic diversity, but diversity in opinions and ideas.


Traveling through the world produces a marvelous clarity in the judgment of men. We are all of us confined and enclosed within ourselves, and see no farther than the end of our nose. This great world is a mirror where we must see ourselves in order to know ourselves. There are so many different tempers, so many different points of view, judgments, opinions, laws and customs to teach us to judge wisely on our own, and to teach our judgment to recognize its imperfection and natural weakness.”
Michel de Montaigne
http://thinkexist.com/quotes/michel_de_montaigne/4.html

...and opens the door to solutions! :)

better than Obama. including in states he ran against Edwards , Clark and others in.

The GOP slime machine isnt having much success swiftboating Obama, so they would love to see Kerry on the ticket.

The corpmedia got you and many other Dems to buy into the swifts being the reason Bush stayed in office - nice distraction from election fraud.

Besides, Kerry is needed in the senate to investigate BushInc with a cooperative Dem president in the WH this time. Plus, Obama will rely n Durbin and Kerry to be his go to guys in the senate for anything he wants to get done.

ZI think it's gonna be Daschle or Biden. Outside chance it will be Roemer.

so it is a possibility.

He can't see past the end of his nose.

if he would pull his head out of his ass.

:rofl:

At the very least he'd be going around blinking a lot for the first month or so. I guess I was overly optimistic in my first post.

There's a special Visine product for just that, head-in-ass disease. I believe it can be found at any local drugstore along the beltway. Of course, they may be in short supply as the McCain Camp buys up that stuff in preparation for the GE debates.

and I ain't gonna today.

Please.

get more votes than any democratic presidential candidate in history, that's valuable baby. I like Kerry and since the swift boating he's been pretty aggressive. And another point if it wasn't for Kerry allowing Obama to be the key note speaker in 04, Obama would be an unknown.

2. Kerry folded the day after the election, while the votes were still being counted.

We need someone trust worthy and reliable.

will be to assist and backup Barack, I think Kerry is capable of handling that task.

That worked out well, don'tcha think?

a fantastic statesman, and someone who has worked very hard for the party.

Are you proud of trashing a far better person than you will ever be?

Lieberman is a no good traitor who will sell out his State, his Party and his Country to protect another nation. Kerry is proud and reliable democrat who surrounded himself with bad advisors in 04, trust me he has learned his lesson. The Kerry today is not the Kerry of 04.

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Explain how that makes a difference to ANYTHING at all.

I'm not crazy about him or the three most-mentioned guys, but I'll accept whoever Obama chooses as his running mate.

Because he, you know... lost. And 4 years ago at that.

I'd like to think the Obama camp planted this so the Reich would have yet another thing about which they'd look foolish, later.

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when you've already run for prez, why would you want VP?

AG, maybe.

Sec of State?

He's worthless.

Don't care about his shit.

Senate seat.

In the event Obama asked hiim to serve as Vice President the nation would have two absolutely sure-footed souls at the control panel.

I would be deliriously pleased.

by Jerome Corsi to sell books.