Senator John Kerry.
The primary problem facing this country today is that we have a president who cannot see how half the country lives - he refuses to even acknowledge opposing viewpoints and alternative positions. What we need most now is someone who will truly be a uniter, not a divider. Only a uniter - someone who has the balls to entertain opposing viewpoints and make compromises for the good of the country - can earn the public's trust and be a leader we all can be proud of. John Kerry can be that man.
First of all, I recognize that I am not as left-leaning as most Kossians. I am a registered Democrat in NY, and I voted for Nader in 2000, but I consider myself an left-leaning independent who is not afraid to vote Republican if my gut tells me to. I did precisely that in the past three NYC mayoral elections.
I support Kerry because he has the leadership skills to be a strong commander-in-chief, he has the intellectual skills to carve out sensible policy positions, and he has the character to be able to earn the trust and respect of the people. He is also an excellent campaigner (though not a great public speaker) especially in one-on-one situations where his personality can be seen most clearly.
There's been lots of Kerry-bashing on this board and elsewhere. But when I hear Kaus or slade complain so vehemently, I can't help but think their tirades are primarily based on personal hatred and vitriol toward the man. Yes, these critics have some bones to pick on policy, but let's be honest - when was the last time you found a candidate who's positions were identical to yours? We all need to make compromises sometimes, for the best of the country. It's something Democrats and independents have a hard time understanding and its the main reason why Republicans have been so successful in the past decade. They recognize that the perfect is often the enemy of the good.
Of course, all of this would be meaningless if I didn't by-and-large agree with Kerry's positions on policy. And I do. I agree with him on taxes, energy policy and environmental policy. I agree with him on the death penalty, gun control, and trade. I agree with him on Iraq and on foreign policy in general. I agree with him that the "War on Terror" is not a traditional war and must not always be fought with traditional, military means.
Do I agree with him completely on the issues? No. I wish he would be a little tougher on traditionally Democratic special interests (e.g., trial lawyers, AARP, organized labor, etc.). I wish his health care plan were more realistic, and I wish he would be more hawkish about reducing the deficit. But, crucially, I trust that he will be able to forge common ground with his opponents (like me) on these issues. And that is why I believe he has the best chance to destroy the president in November. He can appeal even to voters who don't share his views, since he has shown in the past that he is not an immovable object. He is willing to reach compromises for the benefit of the country. That is the only way to truly make progress.
Senator Kerry is not the perfect candidate. He's not as charismatic as Edwards and he'll never have the good-ole-boy charm that some find in the president. But he's a strong leader and a consensus-builder with the ability to bring the nation together. If you think otherwise, you should try a little harder to see past the Bush/Rove spin machine.