Posted on 10/15/2004 4:56:10 PM PDT by Chris_Shugart
I've seen the light and it is Kerry
by Chris Shugart, October 15, 2004
Well, it’s taken until now, but I’ve finally got John Kerry figured out. It hit me like a bolt of lightning during a moment in the third presidential debate. It was one of those things that’s so obvious that you miss it; so crystal clear that you see through it and don’t notice what you’re looking at. But in a matter of seconds on Wednesday night I had a revelation. It was as if John Edwards had laid his hand on my forehead and commanded, “Stand up my son, in the name of stem cell research, and see the light!”
Let me come back to Earth and explain what happened. President Bush had just challenged a statement Kerry had made on his position on Iraq. Kerry responded and said, “No, that’s wrong. In fact I’ve said the opposite.” That’s when it hit me. Kerry was right. He had said the opposite, at least once. Kerry has been on every side of every issue for so long, that he can site for the record whatever position he needs to have for any given moment or situation.
I’ve misevaluated John Kerry. I’d come to believe that his wishy-washy waffling on the issues was merely due to political clumsiness. Now I understand the strategy. Kerry can be anything you want him to be. The Democrats have recognized all along that their best hope for victory is to appeal to the voter who’s dissatisfied with Bush. Senator Kerry doesn’t have to be much in order to do that. He just has to be the Democratic challenger. That could be anybody, as long as it’s a Democrat. And that in a nutshell is the strategy. John Kerry is anybody but Bush.
Throughout the campaign, Kerry has successfully covered all his bases in order to be the “anybody” candidate. In one city he’s publicly declared that the sky is green, but in another city he once acknowledged that the sky is blue. No matter how you try to nail him down on anything, he’s on record somewhere having said something else.
This is the beauty and genius of nuance. You can be all things to all people without having to take a firm stand on anything. This is what the Kerry campaign has accomplished with considerable success. And I’m convinced it’s been done by calculated design from the very beginning.
It's said that an agnostic is just an atheist who's hedging his bets.
In that spirit, I consider all Independents to be Democrats who are hedging their bets.
I was concerned by the title.
Oh please don't. I am a registered Independent. In honor of my fathe who was the same.
I'm not a bad guy or a dem.
bump for good insight!
Sometimes, I have fun with Wafflin' Kerry. When other students mention a comment that impressed them, I tell them they heard it wrong and promise to bring in what he 'really' said. When I show them his contradictions, they are amazed, but then, I do show them a list of his waffling. I keep them in my car. One never knows when they will run to into a Kerry person. :)
But Kerry can't be the one thing we need him to be: Integral.
John Kerry: The Chameleon Candidate.
yeah, kerry is the light all right. the light as in feathers, light as in loafers, light as in brain-mass, light as in ethics, light as in integrity...
It dawned on me during the third debate that the reason Kerry had such a poor attendance record was so he would not have to explain his votes in the future.
Before I had thought that he considered himself too good to vote and his lack of accomplishments as a indicator of a general disinterest in service.
John
One WJ Clinton claimed that as well, somewhere. From somewhere floats the phrase, "I'll be anything you want me to be" or words to very similar effect.
A politician should have a principles and a policy deriving therefrom. Anyone can change his mind when the preponderance of evidence for what is the right thing to do changes. That's just being a sane person living in the real world.
The problem arises if one day, no announcement and no explanation, you are suddenly saying something different from what you said yesterday. That's a very Kerry/Clinton thing to do, and I can't stand that. If you have to change your mind, you have to say publicly what changed, where you messed up, SOMETHING. At any given time, where you stand should not be a question mark.
I appreciate your candor. I hope others share your theophany and come to the light. May God bless you. Go your way and waffle no more.
Ahh but Kerry did agree with the president on one thing and complemented him on it. Kerry agreed with the Presidents handling of 911...
The biggest flaw in the Kerry Campaign is that 911 changed everything. It even changed the President and it has been the basis for every decision since. That is why Kerry's arguments and everyone elses don't stand up... because everything the president has done since 911 he has done because of 911 and people will remember that on election day... It should be easy... Kerry = all talk Bush = Action
You decide.
Glad it finally "hit" you. The rest of us FReepers have known this all along. The question is, with this "revelation", for whom do you intend to vote? Another question, does this fact bother you? Yet another, Do you find Kerry clever enough to have it translate to presidential?
Yeah, like the 'moderate' who Rush spoke to today.
Voted for Clinton twice and Gore once. What a jackass. imho
> ... all things to all people without having
> to take a firm stand on anything.
As long as it's all talk and "promises".
When you look at Kerry's history of votes and actions,
it is quite consistent and predictable - and is the
only indicator that anyone can count on.
What the DNC really wanted this year (plan A) was a
"nominee to be named after the election who is not Bush".
Unfortunately, the Constitution doesn't really allow that.
So what they got was John Kerry, but they are still
trying to position him as plan A.
It's downright hilarious....
Those of Us "Devoid of Principles" are Unable To Define (in our Own Minds) ANY DISTINCTION between "Right & Wrong!"
Mr Kerry has FAILED TO DEFINE the "Limits if Civilized Human Behavior!!"
Doc
Light, as in "Lucifer".
Says anything, "By any means neccesary", makes deals with anyone, even France, with loyalty to none.
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