Tonight's Unity Dinner & My Support of John Kerry for President

[David Zephyr]

I must say, after having been a big supporter of Howard Dean's candidacy, that the gracious and honest recognition of Governor Dean's passionate contribution to the Democratic Party in the speeches of Presidents Carter and Bill Clinton and Senator Kerry was moving.

John Kerry's speech also was powerful and uniting. And while I have been pretty hard on the Senator here, I must say that I will be not only voting for him in November, but will work for his campaign, give money to his quest and ask everyone I know to help out, too.

In my over 50 years of life, I have never seen such a wicked government as the one that we are living under today. In fact, I could have never imagined that things could get this bad. The people of the United States are at the very threshold of becoming a permanent cog within a multi-national corporatist nightmare world where individuals are mere consumers and wage-slaves.

Senator Kerry may not be Eugen Debs, but I will stand with him now with every fiber in my body.

I can not tell anyone else here what to do, but I humbly will ask anyone who may still be holding out to join me. We need you, especially those of you on the far left, like me, who are always swimming against the tide and never satisfied with the status quo because you believe that we can and must always try to do better, to be better.

The Republicans now control the House of Representatives, the Senate, the White House, the Courts and the Military. It may even be too late, but I swear I will not sit by idly during this election while perhaps our last chance exists for saving this nation and the planet from a hellish sci-fi future where the world is permanently governed by handful of people like George Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, John Ashcroft, the Saudi "Royal" Family, Oil Conglomerates and a unholy union of fascist dictators and oligarchies around the earth.

Eight months.

They stole our national election in 2000. They will try to steal it again.

Eight months.

I am now 100% behind Senator Kerry.

[LynzM]

1. Amen, brother.

What a moving passage... you should send that around in some emails. It is truly amazing what powers are at work in the world today, and we need to stand up and unite and do something about it! 8 months and counting!!

[i_c_a_White_Ghost]

2. Amen

we need a voice again, dammit i feel like a stranger in my own country

[JI7]

3. thank you, those are great words

kerry has never taken any support for granted and he respects and values every single support he gets. a few weeks ago one might have thought there would be some message on websites saying dean has endorsed kerry, and most would have been satisfied with that and it would have been it. but instead dean and his supporters have gone all out in supporting kerry and helped reach the fundraising goal hours earlier than deadline.

[Kimber Scott]

4. Good for you, and us! Now, about your signature line...

That is sickening. War is just so funny to Bush, isn't it?

[Raenelle]

5. I watched the whole dinner. Clinton was great, and I trust Kerry.

I am so grateful that Dems are united, that we are not demanding 100% ideological purity before we'll support the candidate. Arrogant flatulent pussbag IS dangerous, and I think we have a better shot than ever at getting him.

Really, I do trust Kerry. I trust his values, I trust his judgment, I trust his integrity, and I trust that he has the motivation, the stamina, and the steel balls to fight the Rethug slime machine and corrupt, unethical, criminal regime destroying our country.

When Kerry says he still knows how to fight for his country, I believe him.

[xray s]

6. Excellent post!

We have to get Kerry elected. But lets think beyond winning the Presidency. Even beyond winning the Senate and House. We need to smash all the misconceptions and lies that people have been force fed about economics and foreign policy by the Republicans since 1980.

We have to teach Americans their own history of how their government supported people like Saddam Hussein and the precursors of al Qaeda in Afghanistan. How Hussein invaded Kuwait under the implied indifference of the first Bush administration. We have teach them how the reckless voodoo of "supply side economics" has brought this country to the brink of economic catastrophe. We have to teach them about the real reasons health care costs are skyrocketing and why it is we spend twice as much per person on health care and yet have tens of millions uninsured while other countries spend half as much and insure all their citizens.

I wouldn't count on Kerry to really hit any of these points hard. I think he will go on "safe mode" once he builds a lead in the polls.

But that may be ok, because we now have other ways to get the word out. moveon.org and a host of others ready to take to the airwaves. I hope they just don't focus on defeating Bush, but also focus on changing minds in a much more profound and lasting way.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. Haha! I am watching it now...Gore just spoke

It is amazing...

Thanks, David...We ALL know there is much to do. Getting Kerry elected is simply ONE step in the direction we want to be headed...

You can't get to where you are going unless you ride the horse in that direction.

Gore was fabulous BTW...Carter's up now

[flaminbats]

8. I hope Nader takes Jimmy's friendly advice...

Although I'm still disappointed that Kucinich was not invited to this event, I was impressed when Terry recognized him briefly in his speech. I still believe that Kucinich has a positive contribution to make in this race.

But this dinner demonstrated that no matter how hard the Repukes try in bogus ways to win Democratic votes, that such attempts drive even more citizens into our tent. For every Democrat Zell tries to drive away Jimmy Carter will bring in ten more! And with every right-wing attempt to end the national debate on issues, the Democrats win over more disenchanted Republican and independent voters. This event will give us a needed boost in the polls, we'll see another when Kerry picks a running mate, and Kerry will become the unstoppable front-runner after the convention...so bring it on!

[KoKo]

9. Thanks for the post, David. Some of us have not had a chance to vote

for the Democratic Candidate yet. NC is July. (ROFL..thanks to Repugs in Legislature) but I will take your words to heart.

[Cleita]

10. Hi friend.

We have to stay together.

[Sugarbleus]

11. I'm with you. I was absolutely ECSTATIC tonight..

After watching the DNC unity dinner, I have tears of joy. Kerry was not my first choice but that's water under the bridge now.

I've always been ready to vote for whomever won the nomination, but after tonight I feel a unity thing going on in my heart.

That DNC presentation was out of this world; I say it because my spirit was lagging. I was becoming fearful. But seeing the UNITY at the event made me remember what it's like to have hope. It reminded me of other faithful Dem leaders from our past, their contributions,their class,their compassion, their brilliance.
They put this event together so beautifully; accepting one another, recognizing one another as partakers in this democracy.

I too am over 50. I too recognized this current admin as theee most vile and corrupt and scary thing in my lifetime. I was beginning to think it WAS the end of the world with these thugs in office...

No one is perfect. Mistakes get made and will continue to be made. ALL the issues we wish to see in place may take time to achieve but be that as it may...STILL the Democratic Party is far and away the most compassionate, humble, truthful, sane, and brilliant PARTY OF THE PEOPLE. It gives me hope for my grown children and my grandchildren.
GO KERRY
*getting my checkbook out now* :)
PS: THANK YOU ALL DEM CANDIDATES FOR YOUR FINE CAMPAIGNS...

[proud patriot]

12. As a Dean supporter I was honored by the recognition tonight

Kerry Has my unyielding support .

[AgadorSparticus]

13. I thought this unity dinner was powerful and moving

I, too, felt hope seeing them all on the stage arms raised together. It was a sight for sore eyes. After Clinton's speech, I just wanted to cry. I miss his leadership. But I am now not just hopeful, but excited about the future of the democratic party. I see irreversible changes. I can feel the change coming within the party--if it hasn't already begun. As a dean supporter, I was very glad to see him get the recognition that is due to him. I have never been more proud.

[KharmaTrain]

14. Welcome Deaniacs...Bring Your Friends

I, too, watched the dinner...with my wife. We're both closing in on 5-0 and both felt the warmth and hope in a way we hadn't in a long time. I was critical of the primary system...the front-loading, but the ends appears to be justifying the means. We were able to get some key issues out in the open, finally, and now are joining together to take back our country.

Part of me is thinking the RoveCo. machine is going into meltdown already and can't keep up the lies and attacks non-stop through November...and with each attack it sticks less and less. The "teflon" on this regime is wearing off and the vindictiveness of their attacks are getting noted. Kerry's speech, along with Clinton's...were truely positive. They did offer promise and genuine concern...how government can be a positive agent. Clinton is especially good at this type of tone and Kerry seems to be embracing it as well. What a refreshing contrast to the GOOP sharks and surely it will be noticed.

Democrats have never been monolithic. We have many factions with their own agendas and priorities. The difference is that we are also the party of tolerance and inclusion and our core values are of the good of man, not greed or power.

Thanks to the late primary here in Illinois, I played ABB through the primaries although I like elements of all candidates (except Lieberman) and having them all out as part of this campaign would generate a lot of additional excitement.

To the Dean folks...I'm heartened to see so many who discovered the Democratic party and the political process are staying engaged and working with all of us in a common goal...the elimination of this evil regime. It's not going to be easy and change will take time, but keep your dreams alive and feel good in your core beliefs.

One thing that I really admire about Kerry is his involvement in the Vietnam Veterans Against The War. My wife and I remembered wearing POW-MIA bracelets VVAW and Mothers Against The War put out...and how these brave people gave first on the battlefields of Nam and then on the streets of America. This verve is one I've thrived on all my life...it's the spirit of RFK, MLK, John Lennon and many others that have been an inspiration in my life. Hopefully you have similar ones developing in yours.

Tonight, special honor was paid to George McGovern. Many here will remember that '72 campaign with bittersweet memories. There was the excitement of changing the party...and change it we did! Then the let down of the election, which we know what occured afterwards. McGovern, like Dean, spoke against the "establishment" and was chastised for it...yet he held true to his beliefs and what a loss this country has suffered without his leadership at that crucial time compared to what happened.

Here's hoping Gov. Dean remains active and involved in this campaign, as well as Gen. Clark, Sen. Edwards and others. Each has something to say, and unlike the Repugnicans, Democrats cherish a good, open debate. Now let's focus on removing the cancer that has destroyed the executive!