There's a man who personifies all the problems of the Democratic party and his name is John F. Kerry. He's also known as Dukakis, Al Gore '00 and by a number of other names. Why should we resign ourselves to eat shit-- just because that's all that's on the menu? The Democratic party is destroying itself, it has been for years.
Those who aren't willing to accept Kerry as the nominee are just saying that we're not willing to take it anymore. It's the same reason that people voted for Nader in 2000 (I was not among them, because I actually saw through the BS persona Gore took on to see someone who actually stood for the right things).
This year, it's going to be the same old story. Many people on this site are asking why they should vote for Kerry, and the only reason anyone can give them is that "anyone is better than Bush". I'm sorry, but that phrase is starting to grate on my ears. That's not a reason, it's an excuse. It's the same sorry excuse that we've been hearing for years.
The reason the Democratic party has FAILED as a political party is because it does not look out for the problems of its constituents. Instead it takes them for granted and ships them down the river to try to get the supposed "swing voter".
Now, look at the Republican party in contrast. It absolutely panders to its primary constituencies: the fundamentalist bible thumpers and the big bucks tycoons. The Republican party is not apologetic about it at all. It goes after its voters' interests, even when they're not popular. Apparently they actually believe in trying to achieve political change. They're not willing to run as Democrat-lites, even if it means they'll lose. They go for the throat, and in doing so, they set the debate.
Meanwhile, the Democrats sit back and play defense. They don't fight too hard for anything. If an issue is even slightly unpopular, they sweep it under the rug along with whatever their true beliefs are.
What is the platform of the Democratic party? As far as I can tell it's just that they're not Republicans. They don't stand for anything. They get rolled in Congress and vote for whatever Bush puts before them. They are perfectly willing to eat shit when it's served.
So, how do they represent me, exactly? They don't. And Kerry is just business as usual. He doesn't represent me eithr.
So, tell me again, why should I vote for him? Admit it, all you can think of is, "anyone is better than Bush". Unfortunately, that just doesn't cut it. What does it mean to be a Democrat anymore? No one seems to know anymore. The party leaders certainly don't.
And that's the thing... Outside of ideology there is one defining difference between the Democrats and the Republicans: the Republicans actually nominated Goldwater. Meanwhile, the Democrats are too cowardly and apologetic to ever do the same.
So, you know, when people say Democrats are wimps. They're RIGHT. At some point you get to the point where you can't take it anymore. When people voted for Nader, it wasn't a protest vote. It wasn't because they thought Gore was really the same as Bush-- like all Democrats, Gore made it clear he was not a Republican. It was because they honestly didn't care anymore.
It's like a poor person sleeping in an alleyway. Some people kick him, and others just spit on him. One might be better than the other, but it doesn't matter because neither is acceptable.