John Kerry to run for president

[Guest bob_barron]

From Reuters-

 

Sen. John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, said on Sunday he had taken the first step toward a run for president in 2004, forming an exploratory committee ahead of a formal announcement next spring.

 

Kerry, a Vietnam veteran who won an unchallenged race this month for a fourth Senate term, told NBC television's "Meet the Press" program that he sensed a "deep anxiety" in Americans over the security of their jobs, income, retirement, health care and education as well as over the security of the nation.

 

 

"I think on almost every issue facing the country, I believe there is a better choice for this nation," Kerry said. "I think the country is in a very different place than many people in Washington think it is and certainly than this administration believes it is."

 

 

President Bush (news - web sites), who enjoys soaring approval and whose Republican party made gains in Congress in mid-term elections last month, has made national security and a war on terrorism the watchwords of his administration.

 

 

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES START LINING UP

 

 

Kerry's announcement was widely expected and will allow him to start raising money.

 

 

"I'm going to begin the process of organizing a national campaign," Kerry said. "It's an enormous step. It's not one I take lightly but it's one I'm excited about."

 

 

His move comes just weeks after U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri stepped aside as Democratic leader of the House of Representatives amid expectations that he also will decide soon whether to run for president.

 

 

Another likely Democratic presidential hopeful is former Vice President Al Gore (news - web sites), who lost to Bush in 2000 after the hotly contested recount of votes in Florida.

 

 

Three other frequently mentioned names on the list of Democrats who may vie for the White House in 2004 are Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who was Gore's running mate in 2000, Democratic Leader Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota, and North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

 

 

A Washington Post poll on Saturday showed 49 percent of Democrats surveyed said they favored Gore for the nomination, with 10 percent opting for Lieberman. Kerry and Daschle each had the support of 6 percent while Gephardt was in fifth place with 4 percent.

 

But Kerry said he was encouraged by his standing in that and other polls that also show Gore would have an edge if he chose to run. "I'm delighted to be within striking distance," Kerry said.

 

Tackling the president's domestic record, which Democrats disappointed with the results of the mid-term elections admit they have so far failed to do effectively, Kerry said Bush's phased, 10-year income tax cuts passed last year helped the wealthy at the expense of education and healthcare priorities.

 

He said he would freeze future steps under the $1.35 trillion package and push instead for a break on payroll taxes paid by all wage earners to fund social security (news - web sites). He said that would benefit average citizens more than Bush's income tax cut and give a quick shot in the arm to the weak economy.

 

"It doesn't tie us into a 10-year reduction of our ability to ... strengthen America for the long run," Kerry said. "We have to do more today than just focusing on the war on terrorism."

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Puppet on the left, puppet on the right, nothings gonna make any real difference.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

Unless Gore gives up, I sadly see Gore running in 2004 and getting the nomination, so he'll probably lose again to Bush meaning 4 more years of Bush which is so not good.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Kerry is too liberal to win the presidency. He can put on a front has a moderate but his true colors will come out like they did yesterday on Meet the Press.

[Guest Ozymandias]

Actually, Kerry isn't liberal enough to win the Presidency. It'll be his downfall. He ain't winning.

 

Fuck John Kerry anyway. Here's a guy who was one of the first Vietnam veterans to speak out against the war, but now he votes to give George Bush's Son the power to declare an unprovoked war on Iraq, because he's scared it'll look bad when he runs for President if it comes out that he voted agaisnt it. FUCK HIM. There is nothing worse than some demagogue piece of shit who votes whichever way suits HIM the best.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Actually, Kerry isn't liberal enough to win the Presidency. It'll be his downfall. He ain't winning.

You think a liberal can campaign as a liberal and win the presidency? The same thing could be said for a conservative. The candidates who wins the campaign in the middle. Bush and Clinton did, although I think Bush is less conservative than Clinton is liberal.

[Guest Ozymandias]

Absolutely. It's not that there aren't enough Liberals to get one in the White House, it's just that they aren't voting because they're alienated by all the Democrats moving to the right (see also: Elections of 2002, The).

 

It wouldn't be easy (because you'd have to hurdle over all the Republicratic leadership in the way), but a Liberal Democrat could run as a Liberal and win.

 

Kerry, Daschle, Gephardt, or Gore won't win. They're so moderate that the average voter might as well just vote Republican and get the real thing.

 

The Dems are fucked until they realize that actually presenting an alternative to the GOP (instead of their current course of trying to jump on the bandwagon) is the only way to acheive the power they once held.

[Guest Some Guy]

Well another one of our Mass Democrats is going to run. How'd it work out for the last few? Ted Kennedy and Dukakis. Good news for Bush.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

God, I hope Gore doesn't get the nod again. He's the only politician right now I'd vote to Boy George over. Talk about making the whole party look like fools with your recounts and whining. Augh.

 

As for Kerry, now that's what I'm talking about. Who you more likely to vote for, a real war hero or a Daddy's Boy who made a war so he could be one?

[Guest Choken One]

Just BUY somebody famous and popular and tell him to read off the cue cards...And ya Shall beat Georgie Porgie.

 

List of People whom could beat Bush

 

McCain

Rudy

Ventura

Clinton

Clinton II

Carrot Top.

[Guest Kingpk]

Kerry has two faults:

 

1) He's from Massachusetts

2) He's a Massachusetts Liberal

 

When was the last time THAT combination worked? Might as well put Tom Finneran in the Treasury, or the IRS. (Some Guy should get that joke)

[Guest Mad Dog]

McCain's been beaten by Bush once already. And he's pissed a lot of voters such as myself off with his campaign fiance reform that ended up being unconstitutional.

 

The Clintons lost all their popularity once they got out of office.

[Guest bob_barron]

John McCain definetly isn't running again

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Eh, I'll still gladly throw my vote away (Green Party! what what!) rather than vote for someone who speaks the truth but certainly isn't going to act on it. Then again, I suppose that's still better than someone who speaks lies and DOES act on them...

[Guest bob_barron]

Does anyone know if Hillary plans on running?

[Guest Mad Dog]

I'm not sure. I don't think she's the Democratic darling that she was.

[Guest bob_barron]

I don't think they appreciated her posing with George Pataki the week before the election

[Guest Some Guy]

Just BUY somebody famous and popular and tell him to read off the cue cards...And ya Shall beat Georgie Porgie.

 

List of People whom could beat Bush

 

McCain

Rudy

Ventura

Clinton

Clinton II

Carrot Top.

McCain already lost to Bush in the GOP primary

Rudy was the Mayor of a city, he has never run a state or been in Congress. Presidents generally need to do one or teh other before being elected.

ventura can't win re-election in Minn for Governor, how could he win teh Presidency?

Virtually everywhere that Bill Clinton campaigned for the Dems in teh last election the Dems lost, virtually everywhere Bush went for the GOP they won.

Hilary won't even get the Dem nomination. She's too liberal and turns a lot of people off with her arrogance.

Carrot Top might stand a chance a getting the Dem nomination though. There's no sense in wasting a real candidate in a losing effort in '04.

[Guest Ozymandias]

Carrot Top might stand a chance a getting the Dem nomination though.  There's no sense in wasting a real candidate in a losing effort in '04.

*whispers in SG's ear*

They don't have a real candidate for 2004, unless a Liberal Democrat comes out of left field and goes for the nom.

 

 

And as far as Hillary goes, the party's over. People realize now how useless she is. She'll just sit out her remaining term and wonder what went wrong.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Kerry will catchup to win..

 

(lame pun.. Kerry has alot of money from the Heinz widow)

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Eh, I'll still gladly throw my vote away (Green Party! what what!) rather than vote for someone who speaks the truth but certainly isn't going to act on it. Then again, I suppose that's still better than someone who speaks lies and DOES act on them...

Good idea. I urge all liberals to vote for the Green Party candiate. It doesn't look like Bush will need it, but you never no.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

ventura can't win re-election in Minn for Governor, how could he win teh Presidency?

 

Not true. He decided not to run for re-election.

Had he ran, he probably would have lost, but there is a difference.

 

I could see Ventura running as a VP candidate for an Independent party in the election.