John Kerry: The Anti-Bush
Make no mistake, Liberals, Independents, and just plain ol’ Democrats are going to vote for Kerry... but it seems to me that the only reason they are is that he is running against Bush. The Kerry blog is full of spirited defenses of the candidate against the distortions of his record by the Republicans. God knows they’re needed. There are plenty of distortions and the Kerry record is complex and nuanced.
What seems to be lacking is any passionate commitment to Kerry the man, a commitment that flows from a belief in a Kerry vision of what we ought to be as a nation in the 21st Century. I hate "the vision thing" but I know no other way of handily talking about what Kerry lacks.
Is there anything more to "The Real Deal" than adjustments and corrections? Suppose for a moment that Kerry were running against Wilkie (if you remember him) or Dewey or Rockefeller? Would we be as passionately committed to Kerry, the Democratic contender as we are to Kerry, The Anti-Bush? I doubt it.
First Name Basis
I am flattered to be on a first name basis with Hillary, Howard, Ben, and other important folks from the progressive establishment. They’ve all been e-mailing "Dear Arthur" letters assuring me that my past participation in the campaign has been responsible for its success and asking for money, now, to fight lies and distortions about the candidate.
Dean For Vice President
Howard dean is the guy I’d like to see just a heartbeat from the Presidency. He’s also something that Kerry isn’t: A riveting public speaker.
