Why Are You Voting For Kerry?

[BPSCG]

Note the question carefully. It is not, "Why are you voting against Bush?" I am hard-pressed to think of a reason that anyone has given for why they are voting for Kerry.

So, if you are voting for Kerry, please share your reasons with the rest of us. "Bush is a screwup", "Bush lied about Iraq", "Bush is the Antichrist" are not reasons you are voting for Kerry; they are reasons you are voting against Bush, and we all know those reasons too well by now. Please explain what Kerry has said he would do that has won your vote.

 

[Zep]

I ain't. We nonUSAians don't get to vote for either of them. Mind you, it would probably be a far different story if we did...

 

[Rob Lister]

I ain't. We nonUSAians don't get to vote for either of them. Mind you, it would probably be a far different story if we did...

I think you should expand on that a bit. Even though you can't vote you can still express your opinions as to why you would vote for Kerry if you could vote. Just do it in accordance with BPSCG's request.

I'd be interested.

 

[HarryKeogh]

I summed up my reasons in another thread a while back...

http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45743

1. His last name doesn't make me snicker.

2. When called to war he went. If he didn't get bloodied enough for you while he was in Vietnam I'm sure he's sorry.

3. Very good chance one, and quite possibly two, justices will retire. Bush would obviously place two pro-lifers on the bench.

4. Bush apparently doesn't realize those precious embryos are going to be thrown away anyway. Kerry is for stem cell research.

5. While not for gay marriage (unfortunately) Kerry would never call for a constitutional ban on it.

6. May actually create a job or two.

7. Will end Ashcroft's reign and appoint someone who has more respect for our constitution and civil liberties.

8. Will roll back tax cuts on the rich. Tax cuts are nice but not when you have to pay for them in the future. Deficits DO make a difference. We can't spend money like a college student who just got his first credit card.

9. Hopefully will go after terrorists instead of Iraqis.

10. Health care and Education...no child left behind is a joke. Kerry's plans for reforming the health care system are impressive.

11. Kerry winning will ruin Limbaugh's, O'Reilly's and Hannity's day.

12. The rest of the world can't stand Bush. We need a leader who could work with other countries.


and later in that thread I backed up my points with facts as per Merphe's request.

And in hindsight I can add to my list: Kerry beat him in all 3 debates (my opinion of course), Iraq situation hasn't improved (arguably worse), job reports released since my original post showed more jobs lost.

but to more directly answer your question: What Kerry has said about abortion, stem cell research, tax cuts and how to tackle terrorism are why I am voting for Kerry.

 

[Zep]

I think you should expand on that a bit. Even though you can't vote you can still express your opinions as to why you would vote for Kerry if you could vote. Just do it in accordance with BPSCG's request.

I'd be interested.

Basically because Kerry is the best of a bad bunch. At worst, he would be ineffectual, which is a darn sight better than the alternative who has proven downright mad, bad and dangerous. Maybe Kerry might even make some progress domestically and rebuild some trust internationally, who knows - we'd give him a chance. The other guy can go take a long walk on a short pier.

Actually, I discussed in detail in another thread that the best available candidate, who would walk it in with daylight second and these two as far distant non-placers, is not actually standing. And he is a Republican. Go figure!

 

[ManfredVonRichthoffen]

Because I like to eat baby fetuses.

 

[richardm]

If I was able to vote, I'd choose Kerry on his health plans alone. That, and his aim of rolling back the tax breaks and acting to do something about the deficit.

He has some good ideas which make him worth voting for on his own merits, quite apart from my opinion that the best thing for America would be to launch Bush as soon as possible.

 

[Tmy]

Whats wrong with "he's not Bush".

I think of this vote as firing Bush for doing a poor job. When you hire a new guys its not because you know hes going to do a super job, its really about replacing the ineffective loser that you want out.

I do think Kerry will beable to repair international ties. (which helps the war on terror), he will better manage the deficet, he's not a religious nut, hes not stubborn, he wont be quick to throw us into war, he'll be better with the enviornment, hes for stem cell research.

 

[DavidJames]

I'm voting for Kerry because (not in any particular order):

1. He is pro choice
2. His economic ideas are more aligned with mine.
3. His health care ideas are more aligned with mine.
4. His environmental ideas are more aligned with mine.
5. His views of foreign policy are more aligned with mine.
6. He will not stack the courts with right wing ideologues.
7. His views on labor are more aligned with mine.
8. His views on giving public funds to religious organizations are more aligned with mine.
9. His will not fvck with the constitution to support his religion.

Note - you should not discount voting against Bush as a reason to vote for Kerry. As I indicate above that while Kerry does not share my exact views, his ideas are "more aligned with mine" then Bush.

 

[corplinx]

I'm voting for Kerry so that in 4 years people will elect Badnarik as a reaction to having an outright Socialist as president.

 

[DavidJames]

I'm voting for Kerry so that in 4 years people will elect Badnarik as a reaction to having an outright Socialist as president.

Where are your manners? You could at least say "excuse me" after farting on a thread.

 

[hgc]

I'm voting for Kerry so that in 4 years people will elect Badnarik as a reaction to having an outright Socialist as president.

With that logic, you'd think that after 4 years of Bush, people would be running the other way. But still over 50 million people will vote for him.

 

[Upchurch]

I'm voting for Kerry so that in 4 years people will elect Badnarik as a reaction to having an outright Socialist as president.

Absolutely. Over the past four years, Bush has done a great deal to move us way from socialism by desolving both Social Security and Medicare, which are inherently socialist in nature.

...what? He didn't? Well, I'm sure it's part of his 2004 campaign platform that he promises to remove these socialist institutions from our capitalist nation.

...what?

 

[Brown]

Kerry has the following strong points:

He has long and exceptionally distinguished record in Washington. Regardless of the mud thrown by the Bush camp during the campaign, he has built a reputation as being a "straight-shooter." He has also built a reputation of being able to work in bi-partisan fashion.

He is a thoughtful, intelligent individual who listens to the points of view of others. He wants to know different points of view.

He respects science.

He separates obligations imposed by religion from obligations that ought to be imposed by government action. Government actions have to stand on their merits, not upon religious justification.

He has renounced cronyism.

He will not consider ideology to be the most important factor bearing upon judicial appointments. He will be restrained by the Senate to appoint extremely well qualified individuals who will probably be labeled as "moderates," but who would prefer the label of "good judge."

He respects the environment.

He can seek the counsel of Bill Clinton, whose economic policies were largely successful.

He is in a position to reverse the alienation of our allies. He is more mindful of the international reputation of the United States.

He is presidential. He carries himself like a president. He speaks like a president. He is articulate and good on his feet. He is knowledgeable, as a president should be. He has the stature and experience to be taken seriously both on the domestic and international fronts.

He has a reputation as a hard worker who will read his briefings and do his homework.

 

[Dorian Gray]

I disagree with #11 above. A Kerry victory will provide material for conservative talk radio for 4 years. A Bush victory will provide material for conservative talk radio IN 4 years.

Speaking of which, I heard a really woo-woo theory put forth by a conservative talk show - not one of the big three or four, though.

Goes like this: Kerry loses. Clinton is made head of the UN, gets consensus, puts UN troops in Iraq, gets US troops down to proportion. Hillary runs in 2008. Wins by a landslide because Bill is a 'savior' of America. The Clintons dominate politics around the world. New World Order happens, with global socialism, zones like the EU imitated in Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East.

Nutty stuff.

 

[Kerberos]

I disagree with #11 above. A Kerry victory will provide material for conservative talk radio for 4 years. A Bush victory will provide material for conservative talk radio IN 4 years.

Speaking of which, I heard a really woo-woo theory put forth by a conservative talk show - not one of the big three or four, though.

Goes like this: Kerry loses. Clinton is made head of the UN, gets consensus, puts UN troops in Iraq, gets US troops down to proportion. Hillary runs in 2008. Wins by a landslide because Bill is a 'savior' of America. The Clintons dominate politics around the world. New World Order happens, with global socialism, zones like the EU imitated in Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East.

Nutty stuff.

Damn they're onto us. Quick tell us which talk show, so we can send the black helicopters.

 

[epepke]

Note the question carefully. It is not, "Why are you voting against Bush?" I am hard-pressed to think of a reason that anyone has given for why they are voting for Kerry.

Because he's undistinguished.

He's had a solid but unremarkable history in Congress; you may find things you like or things you don't, but it evens out. I don't expect a lot of drama from Kerry. I expect him to appoint moderate SCOTUS judges. I expect him to push some right issues and some left issues. He's not going to be an FDR or a Kennedy or a Johnson or a Reagan or a George W. Bush or even a Clinton. He's going to be more like a Ford or a George Bush Sr. or an Eisenhower, just keeping things ticking along in a more-or-less satisfactory manner with minor adjustments while the nation starts to heal. Kerry isn't going to be day-trading riches or slash-and-burn capitalism. He's going to be the safe but unexciting savings account.

Frankly, I think the US has been wounded enough. I think we've had enough Grand Plans that are Supposed to Fix Everything but Somehow Never Do for the time being. I think as a nation we really need some time to rest and mellow out.

Unfortunately, I think that many people are not voting for Kerry for exactly the same reasons: they don't find enough about him to get worked up about.

 

[DavidJames]

Note the question carefully. It is not, "Why are you voting against Bush?" I am hard-pressed to think of a reason that anyone has given for why they are voting for Kerry.

In addition to all the reasons to vote for Kerry and against Bush, the thing that really set the tone for this administration is the fact that even though Bush claimed he was "a uniter, not a divider" and that fact that more people voted for Gore then him, he still rode into Washington as though he had a mandate for all his policies. He acted like the nation was 100% behind him and his right wing and neocon friends. He started out his term with a lie and it's been downhill since then.

 

[corplinx]

My wife is anti gay-marriage, pro-military, anti-socialism, and voted for Kerry yesterday because Bush robbed us to give tax cuts to rich people.

She didn't vote for anyone else on the ballot either, just president.

Congratulations Senator Kerry, this is the kind of voter you have earned.

She also has a traumatic brain injury which affects her gullibility and judgement. I guess she could just as easily be voting for Bush because Saddam was behind 911.

I have helped my wife get to the point where she can recognize pyramind schemes posted as jobs in the paper and where she doesn't buy Deepak Chopra anymore. However, the mass distortion these political parties engage in angers me just as much.

Hi, my name is corplinx and my wife just voted for a guy who wrote a bill for a nuclear freeze during the cold war because she believes a lie his party told about the other guy.

 

[DavidJames]

My wife is anti gay-marriage, pro-military, anti-socialism, and voted for Kerry yesterday because Bush robbed us to give tax cuts to rich people.

She didn't vote for anyone else on the ballot either, just president.

Congratulations Senator Kerry, this is the kind of voter you have earned.

She also has a traumatic brain injury which affects her gullibility and judgement. I guess she could just as easily be voting for Bush because Saddam was behind 911.

I have helped my wife get to the point where she can recognize pyramind schemes posted as jobs in the paper and where she doesn't buy Deepak Chopra anymore. However, the mass distortion these political parties engage in angers me just as much.

Hi, my name is corplinx and my wife just voted for a guy who wrote a bill for a nuclear freeze during the cold war because she believes a lie his party told about the other guy.

She also continues to be your wife. Think about that.