Along with always having been ABB, I was ABK most of the early part of the year, and even for some time after he had the nomination locked up. As late as this afternoon my worry was that Kerry would re-run Gore 2000 and forget about running Dean 2003/4 which to my mind is certain death for the Dems (and the country).
Kerry changed my mind tonight.
I'm not interested in whether Kerry stepped on applause lines, rushed the speech, was sweating too much, or anything else along those lines. I watched the speech for its content, and I couldn't be happier.
Kerry talked as much or more about results than about program specifics. He gave enough specifics to convince me of the plausability of his positions but what I wanted to hear were his goals. The candidate or President should be setting the agenda, focusing on the outcomes, in short leading the country. Congressmen and committees and agencies will fill in the details and the President has less control there anyway.
I didn't keep a checklist, but Kerry must've hit nearly every point I wanted to hear, down to dissing Rumsfeld, Ashcroft and the Saudi Royal Family (and I loved the lines about not wearing his religion on his sleeve and that rather than claiming God is on our side, we should be concerned about whether we're on God's side). He was dead on about technology, outsourcing, energy, foreign policy, terrorism, wages, even the oblique reference to the Gay Hate Amendment (Bush using the Constitution rather than upholding it). If this continues, he'll be taking the fight to Bush, but with a positive, optimistic tone that I find engaging.
I'm not an easy sell when it comes to Kerry and sure, I'd like to see him much farther to the left, but I'd like him to get elected too. I have to say though that I was amazed at how much this speech focused on traditional Democratic themes and values - FDR, HST, JFK, or LBJ could have given this speech proudly. He wasn't as engaging or electrifying as Clinton (either one - I've seen them both speak in person and they're phenomenal), but I didn't much care for Clinton as President anyway (but in comparison ... ).
I've been waiting since November 1963 or June 1968 at the latest for someone with a real vision and real leadership ability to actually lead this country in the direction I think it needs to go. After this speech I have the same feeling about this JFK that I had about the first JFK, plus I'm convinced he has way more knowledge and political skill to actually accomplish his agenda.
Maybe it's because I'm just naturally optimistic, but the Edwards speech last night set me up to be forward looking and even more optimistic than usual and Kerry followed through on that. In some political wrangling with winger friends today, I found myself arguing for the future and what this country could be, after endless months of my bitching about the past and what this country is becoming.
I like that feeling much better and I'm on board for Kerry's election and for positive reasons. I want this guy in the White House.
George W. who?