Protests may hurt us...

[The Hair in my Nose]

... As a Dennis K supporter I am delighted at the massive protest which was an awesome anti-war display! It would fit well with a Kucinich candidacy but sure appears strange from the same party that nominated a candidate who saluted and told America that his Viet Nam war experience was a primary reason why they should elect him.

What is our strategy? We nominated a candidate who did not articulate an antiwar policy, who has promised to manage the war better. This was, I thought a pragmatic approach to win those in the middle who are undecided.

So now at the RNC when inside the repukes are playing to the center for all they are worth by trotting out their token "moderates" we are on the outside a half million strong shouting an anti-war message. This may excite our base but the undecided vote tuning in could ask, "How are these Kerry suporters?" or "Is this the real soul of the Democratic party?"

Consistent we are not! Sadly.

[ClassWarrior]

1. You mean we're... human??!

Gasp!!

[still_one]

2. The truth is this

For 3 and one half years our voices have NOT been heard, it is about time they were. So far these protests are very well behaved...

[LSK]

4. Look

Millions of people hate this war. Bush was the one who went around crying wolf and convincing everyone we needed the war. Kerry only voted to give Bush authority as a last resort. Bush promptly went to war at the 1st chance he got. Bush is the reason for the war. So if you are angry about the war, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO PROTEST? Bush obviously!!!

[henslee]

6. Day 1 - 500 k protest., 50k del. 50k cops, 35k spectat., 0 fatalities.

This is amazing.

[The Hair in my Nose]

8. I agree we need to be heard...

... but the disjunct between Kerry's Message and the March's Message makes us look either deceptive or confused. Nader's stated views better fit the message of the march than that of Kerry.

[Norquist Nemesis]

15. You're assuming all will be assigned to Kerry supporters

and then state that Nader views are a better fit. That said, how do you know these weren't Nader supporters?

You're falling into the trap of Bush supporters to assign all protestors as Democrats and vis a vis Kerry supporters. I've heard several commentators (thankfully) point out to the Bush brigades that the protestors are just that!...protestors against Bush policies, not necessarily Democrats just because they are consciously choosing to label them as such.

[ClassWarrior]

16. No, it makes us look sensible.

One of two individuals is going to win this. Do we want Bush* or do we want Kerry? The whole Kerry/IWR arguement overlooks the overwhelming power of a little thing called ABB.

Besides, the majority of the protesters aren't there necessarily to support Kerry - in fact, I know a lot of Greens who are there who resent Kerry. The majority of the protesters are there to PROTEST BUSH*. Is that too subtle to understand?

[blondeatlast]

19. Ralph will get us out of Iraq,

if :puke: is elected.

Our ONLY chance is to elect Kerry. Period.

[JI7]

27. that's an odd thing to say, Kerry didn't organize the march

only republicans are associating the march as being about kerry rather than an anti bush thing.

[liberalnurse]

3. They may damn us if we do....but

I will not go down without saying NO......Spineless Democrats have put us behind already.

[The Hair in my Nose]

10. I could not agree more! n/t

[NV1962]

5. pointed out many times here: watch for GOP agent provocateurs, instead

Protesters in NYC knew and know damn well that the GOP is chomping at the bit to seize each and any opportunity of a "violent and/or disgraceful protest" as a weapon against Kerry.

That's why it's important to document every large-scale protest with photos and video, so as to immediately hit back by identifying and denouncing the involved provocating GOP plants for what they are.

Be creative, lucid, and get the message out. And don't be fooled again - one Floridian Mob Job is enough, and it's cost the nation (and the world) dearly!

[no_hypocrisy]

7. May I please offer an argument counter to your premise:

Courtesy of Tom Hayden

Dissent Must Come Alive in New York: Protesters need not Fear that they will be Playing into the Hands of Bush's Campaign Strategy
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0820-07.htm

Scapgoating the Protests
http://www.maxlogan.com/alternet.0827.htm

[demnan]

9. The opposition against the war is growing

Mr. and Mrs. Middle America grew to disagree with the Vietnam war also. That's why Nixon had to do something to stop it.

And yes we should elect Kerry because he went to Vietnam because he's seen war and it's not a game to him.

[ihaveaquestion]

11. Democratic Party has never been disaplined

Republicans have apparently been so since their inception as the anti-slavery party in the 1850s (heard this on NPR this morning). We should probably find a way of playing to our strengths - mainly our inclusiveness - to appeal to a broader group of people.

More organized marches wouldn't hurt, though.

[Cocoa]

12. the protestors are not affiliated with the dems

any news person who tells you they are is lying.

The protests are anti-Bush. Any pro-Kerry sentiment is incidental.

[seabeyond]

13. didnt get past protest may hurt us

with all there might after four yearrs still they are insisting keep youur friggin mouth shut, let us create our illusion our story for people to buy

lordy after 3 years, we havent figured this crap out. keeping the mouth shut is what makes us losers

you dont get to, bush doesnt get to, man doesnt get to

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[gatorboy]

17. It must be feeding time.

Get out the chum!

[JI7]

20. you are right

look at it's post history.

[gatorboy]

28. How do you do that? Check the post history I mean.

EOM

[JI7]

30. search posts

by author.

since you are a donor you can do it also.

[JohnKleeb]

31. ahh you do search, you got a star you can do it

use archives etc.

[gatorboy]

36. Thanks for the heads up!

I never checked that option out before.

[fujiyama]

18. What is your point?

Most of those that attended yesterday's protest are going to vote for the only man that unseat George W Bush -- and that man is John Kerry.

If you do not like Kerry, there is nothing anyone here can do about it. If you want Bush to stay in power, you can vote for Nader or Cobb or not vote at all. That choice is yours. Kerry wasn't the one that stopped the inspections process and decided to invade Iraq.

The protests had nothing to do with Kerry or the democratic party. It had to do with showing dissatisfaction over the current presidency.

[mimitabby]

21. the world hates smirky

the GOP thought it would be a good idea to have their convention in NYC..
The whole world now knows it was a really dumb idea.
for that reason alone, the protests were a big success.
All over the world newspapers have photos of huge crowds protesting bush at his own convention.
for that reason alone, the protests were a big success.

3 cheers for new york!!!

[Leilani]

22. I thought yesterday s protest was terrific...

The media tried to ignore it, like it was some crazy wingnuts.

Instead, it was a huge, positive demonstration of ALL kinds of Americans, coming together, to voice their opinions.

Today, the media is reporting, because it was too big a story to ignore.

[JI7]

23. RIGHT WING TALKING POINT

"a candidate who saluted and told America that his Viet Nam war experience was a primary reason why they should elect him."

repeating right wing talking points.

[JohnKleeb]

24. right

I wasnt in Iowa but by working hard with Iowans, Kerry got their support, things like the reunition of Rassman etc. Ive some here say "I am sick of hearing about Vietnam", I think by having a dialogue about Vietnam it will enable people who werent alive then to learn the mistakes of that era, Kerry has talked about other things too, I saw his speech to the rainbow coalition the other day and he talked about a living wage and helping the blue collar workers who are indeed the backbone of this country.

[JI7]

25. odd that a Kucinich supporter would assume the protests are pro Kerry

i would think kucinich supporters would know something about protests . that the protests were not organized in support of kerry. many protested kerry also .

these protestors are anti bush.

[JohnKleeb]

29. The protests are anti republican pure and simple

Thats right, many on the left protested Kerry last month.

[The Hair in my Nose]

38. I was talking public perception

that these are pro-Kerry

[JI7]

40. that's weird

you make an accusation of being inconsistent based on right wing talking points yet you now claim you were talking public perception about it being pro kerry.

[robbedvoter]

26. DNC and I are not on the same page. I AM CONSISTENT.

I happen to believe that a lot of ex bush voters would vote Kerry if he'd condemn this war.

[DODI]

32. This was not an Anti-War protest -- it was an Anti-Bush protest

I saw anti-war people, pro-choice people, pro-gay rights people, pro-education people, people who want a better healthcare system, better homeland security, better protection of civil liberties. I didn't really see too much Kerry stuff out there. I did see tons of anti-* & company stuff. This protest did not and will not hurt us. Tom Hayden was on Air America saying the best thing this protest accomplished was to show the world the this administration does not have the backing of the American people. He feels this protest did tons toward stopping attacks. I can agree with that.

[blm]

33. Another Dump on Kerry post from you. How many does this make?

.

[peacetalksforall]

34. It ticks me off that the demonstration is called an anti-war protest...

I wasn't involved in declaring its purpose. However, I thought it was everything anti-bush, cabal, policy - with war just one of the reasons to fight.

It's time only to be legal and civil. It's not time to let anyone think that everyone in this country is content. It was a exemplary act and it had a perfect purpose. Everyone of those protesters who made the effort and spent the money and who stayed within the law is to be commended.

HairNose...please rethink your position.

[jonnyblitz]

35. the native new yorker's I talked to were protesting exploitation

of 9-11. that is how many of them saw it. "How dare they..etc etc."

[Old and In the Way]

37. Here's my strategy.

Ignore your future posts.

[LWolf]

39. I don't think yesterday's march was about Kerry.

It was about disgust with Bush, and determination to evict him. That disgust, and determination, is there no matter who the democratic nominee turned out to be.

[Generic Other]

41. Gee, a sea of Kerry signs was all you could see at the protests

NOT

[Minimus]

42. "his Vietnam experience was a primary reason

why they should elect him" That sure is not what I have gleaned from Kerry. A PRIMARY REASON? I'm as baffled by this statement as I am of the statements of many republicans.

[JI7]

43. well, that statement IS one used by Republicans