A liberal friend sent me this claiming he cannot now vote for Kerry

[graywarrior]

Chasing the SUV Vote
by Derrick Z. Jackson

SPORT UTILITY vehicles roared into stump speeches this month, flattening all common sense. At a speech last week introducing President Bush, Virginia's Governor George Allen juiced the crowd by asking how many people arrived there in their SUVs and pickup trucks. After a show of hands, Allen was quoted by The Washington Post as saying, "Heck, John Kerry doesn't even like what you drive."

Allen was wrong. Only three days before in Missouri, out of the earshot of the environmental think tanks in Washington and California, Kerry said: "I want Americans to drive. You want to drive a great big SUV? Terrific. That's America."

No kidding that's America, as sure as his environmentalist wife Teresa Heinz Kerry has three SUVs. SUVs now hold so much symbolism that Allen tried to use them against Kerry even while Kerry cuddles up to them out of fear of becoming road kill on Election Day. It's OK if Kerry says he understands how SUVs came to be so popular, but he just looks plain ridiculous telling SUV owners their lifestyle is "terrific." Kerry threw in, of course, that he would push for better gas mileage on SUVs and how he and running mate John Edwards are going to buy a hybrid gas-electric SUV.

The reflexive rush to win the SUV vote is no laughing matter on several fronts. Heinz Kerry, like many Americans, says SUVs represent "safety first." Yet studies show they do not. Figures released this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show the fatality gap in rollover-prone SUVs to be widening over regular cars and minivans.

The agency also released data last week indicating that the chances of a rollover were more than four times higher for a Ford Explorer Sport Trac than a four-door Mazda RX-8 sedan. The worst-rated car for rollovers, the Subaru Outback wagon, is still only about half as risky as the Chevrolet Tahoe, the Ford Explorer, the Mercury Mountaineer, and the GMC Yukon.

Besides the mirage of safety, the SUV, with its horrific gas mileage and proven negative effects on the air we breathe, remains a potent symbol of how Americans refuse to rethink their place in the world, let alone sacrifice, in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the retaliatory war in Afghanistan, and the unprovoked invasion of Iraq.



http://64.4.46.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=93cb95f4587fdca7b3871bd164448fea&lat=1092934985&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecommondreams%2eorg%2fviews04%2f0818%2d02%2ehtm

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. Tell You Friend Not To The Let The Door Hit Him Where The Good Lord Split

Him

[geek tragedy]

2. If this persuaded your friend, he is a damn fool.

He must believe that drilling in ANWAR is the solution.

[WilliamPitt]

3. A single-issue voter whose single issue is SUVs

:shaking head:

[swag]

4. Don't mean to be crass, but before this turns into a big honkin' thread

what state does your friend live in?

[zbdent]

Denial?

n/t

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Again, this is just one of many FRINGE issues that must not be....

...allowed to distract us from our primary goal of removing the NeoCons from power.

Think about what will happen if Kerry is NOT elected President.

[Killarney]

6. tell your friend I said he/she can fuck off and die

I'm sick of stupid asshat naive ideologue idiot fuckheads begging and digging for excuses not to vote for Kerry. Go ahead then, enable Bush. Because not voting for Kerry (whether you vote for someone else or stay home) IS a vote for Bush in my book. Kerry was in Missouri and told people this is America and they can drive SUV's. OH MY GOD! HE'S SATAN! AHHHHH!

God, these people piss me off. Fuckheads.

[mstrsplinter326]

12. ummm, you need a chill pill

There are two sides to every coin, and the email makes a valid point. Weighed with everything else, the emailer should still vote for kerry, but you should take some critisism of Kerry a little better.

While he may not be satan, he's no saint either.

[Killarney]

14. Oh please.

This person is going to not vote for Kerry because of this one thing he said in a speech. And you're lecturing me????

I'm sick of people like this that will use any little excuse not to vote for Kerry and this is one of the dumbest excuses I've read so far.

I can take criticism of Kerry fine, thank you very much. I've criticized him myself and he was not my choice in the primaries. But I never said I wouldn't support him for some dumbass reason like this.

Maybe you're not out there as much as I am and reading as much as I am about the naive people who are liberals but will enable Bush back into office by not voting for Kerry. If you were, you'd be pissed at these people, too, for their short-sightedness and naivety.

[mstrsplinter326]

27. you would feel great if someone used the tiniest excuse

not to vote for BushCO.

It's all perspective. I know about your 'enablers', the ralphy supporters included. But you still missed the point - just chill a little, the cursing was unnecessary - that's all I intended.

I understand being mad, but using curse words makes your vocabulary seemed diminished as well as you reasoning skills. If you want to convince these 'enablers' to vote for kerry, you cannot scream curse words at them.

It's obvious you have the debating skills to dethrone these people from their highhorses. I'm merely suggesting that you do it in a civil manner.

[TheFarseer]

33. I agree

if you really think that Bush is going to better about passing higher cafe standards, developing alternative fuels, taxing SUV's like they should be taxes, etc. then you are a real dumbass. You simply can't believe everything these candidates say is exactly what they will do. You've got to be sensible about it. Bush says he's going to do alot of great things for example and I don't believe any of it!

[Kanary]

30. And your wishing death to a liberal is so much better than RWs threatening

death to liberals.

Talk about thinking.

:crazy:

Kanary, who knows this hothead will only defend his threat, and include me in it, too.

[Killarney]

39. Ugh.

I don't want this person to die. And I did not threaten to kill them. Please don't compare me to freepers who threaten to kill liberals with their guns. That's untrue and unfair. I used a figure of speech "fuck off and die" that people often use when they are angry.

Forgive me for caring, forgive me for expressing my anger and frustration with curse words. I did not know this was family values day at DU where I had to censor myself. Love how the fellow liberals here adore free speech. :rolleyes:

I can't believe I have to defend myself this much for getting angry at this person, here on DU of all places. You'd think that fellow DUers would understand my anger and frustration with people that obviously know what's best for the country (by being a self-proclaimed liberal) yet throw their powerful vote away for stupid reasons.

Sorry I care so much.

Have a nice day.

[enigmatic]

41. Don't worry about it...

I share your frustration; I came close a few times this morning to snapping myself. This was a great morning to see exactly what the Kerry campaign has been planning the past few weeks, and watching others still not get it almost put me over the edge, too.

No worries.

[Killarney]

42. thanks

I'm not usually this angry, but this is one of the things that sets me off. When someone is a liberal and should know better! We should be united this year more than any other and people like this really piss me off.

Hopefully his/her mind will be changed now that we have the full quote.

Anyway, thanks for your post. :) :toast:

[mstrsplinter326]

54. listen or your tongue will keep you deaf

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=636226&mesg_id=636342&page=

[Kanary]

65. Actually, it *is* what you said.

Giving the excuse "everyone says it" doesn't make it any better. Many people use the "N" word too..... that doesn't make it right.

Language is powerful, and a responsible person is willing to look at what they're saying with their words.

Peace. Don't leave home without it.

Kanary

[mcar]

62. What you said

:)

[Moderator]

7. Hi graywarrior!

Can you please edit your post to four paragraphs and provide a link to the article? Thanks so much!
DU Moderator

[mstrsplinter326]

13. I can't speak for him

But it was an email, so he may not know of any URL.

Just a thought

[mstrsplinter326]

8. That's not an argument against Kerry, it's an argument for

Environmentalism. Something Bush cant even pronounce.

If you want to make that fight, do it after november 2.

The judicial nominees are too important this time around.

[yardwork]

9. For Crying Out Loud

I hope your friend enjoys four more years of BushCo and a lifetime of being ruled by BushCo's Supreme Court. He can comfort himself with the knowledge that he voted his conscience on SUVs.

While the world was falling apart around him, your friend tilted at the windmill of SUVs while Rove applauded.

[michigandem2]

10. THIS is what swayed someone?

PUUULLLEEEAAASEEEE...bigger issues here...and this is right out of the Sean Hannity talking points....STUPID I tell ya....he wasn't going to vote for Kerry anyway then, because this is Bullshit!

[Parche]

11. SUV's

Why do people HAVE to drive stupid utility vehicles?
It is just a silly fad, they are gas guzzling fools
that is why oil prices are so high right now
SUV's waste over 1million gallons of gas per day

[TexasBushwhacker]

58. SUV's are this years minivans

and minivans where the replacements for station wagons. Remember stations wagons? I learned how to drive in one back in 1973. A big fucking land barge. I think it got 15 miles per gallon, which wasn't THAT big a deal back when gas cost 15 cents a gallon.

Families have always driven big vehicles that they could pile all the kids and their friends and their stuff(sports equipment, etc.) into. The SUV is just the vehicle that families like to have now and, FWIW, you can get the following SUV's as FFV's (Flex Fuel Vehicles) that can run on regular gasoline or E85 (85% Ethanol-15% Gasoline Mix) if it's available:

Ford Explorer
GM Suburban
GM Tahoe
GM Yukon
Mercury Mountaineer

There are also many FFV trucks. The problem is that E85 is not yet available in all states, however it is VERY available in some parts of the country - Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and others - and new stations are being added all the time. Though hardly a solution to ALL our problems, the widespread use of E85 would reduce our dependence on foreign oil and is somewhat cleaner burning than gasoline.

[MUSTANG_2004]

63. We had reasons for ours

We bought our first Jeep Cherokee almost 15 years ago when we lived on a dirt road in the country. It didn't get stuck in the mud, and we could take friends to go hiking and still have room to carry the dogs in the back. Eventually we moved to the city and didn't go hiking as much, but the Cherokee had been such a reliable vehicle (and convenient to have all the cargo space) that we bought another when it was time to replace it.

We don't have one anymore, but I don't think people who buy and drive SUV's are fools. As one poster already said, they aren't that different from the station wagon of the 60's and 70's.

While environmental issues play a role in our purchases (all fluorescent lighting at home, no-chemical gardening, high-efficiency appliances, etc), fuel consumption isn't the only criteria - usefulness and price also play roles.

[bowens43]

15. This is the most dumb ass reason I have heard yet

not to vote for Kerry. Your friend is a fool.

[LynzM]

16. Oh goody...

I drive the worst-rated car for rollovers. Good to know...

I think that conservation in general should be an issue, but the fact that Kerry acknowledges that people want to drive SUVs is small beans compared to the other issues we are facing, as a country. Yes, we absolutely need to work on alternative fuel/transportation. But changing your vote on the basis of these comments just indicates a lack of depth of knowledge on other issues, to me. JMHO.

[skygazer]

17. That's as stupid as

voting for Bush because you're against abortion. Same thing, one issue and ignore every other issue out there. Our civil liberties get taken away, our military men and women get sent around the globe to "bring freedom", our economy goes in the tank but I TOOK A STAND AGAINST SUV'S!! How terribly noble...........

[Stuckinthebush]

18. Some people can't see the big picture

It is a problem with many on both sides of the political spectrum.

Alas, your friend is one of these individual who just don't seem to have the innate ability to understand that a campaign is bigger than their little issues.

Oh, well...all of our friends can't be intelligent. Just pat him on the head and tell him that he is cute.

[DrFunkenstein]

19. Kerry-McCain And SUVs

WASHINGTON, March 13--Senator John F. Kerry's pet project died in the Senate yesterday, after the Massachusetts Democrat's colleagues rejected his tough vehicle fuel-economy standards in favor of a more auto industry-friendly proposal.

"It was the most extraordinary spending on phony advertising I've seen since the tobacco debate," Kerry said.

If the plan Kerry had co-sponsored with Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., had passed, it would have required automobile manufacturers to increase their fleet-wide fuel economy to 35 miles per gallon by 2015, an increase of about 50 percent. Instead, the Senate passed a plan that would direct the Transportation Department to develop new fuel-economy rules but set no specific increase for the automakers to meet.

In comments before the vote, Bond appealed directly to "soccer moms," evoking the image of a "string of subcompacts and golf carts towing kids to soccer practice." During debate, he and other Senators referred repeatedly to a poster of a two-seater, bubble-like European subcompact they called the "purple people eater," warning that Kerry's plan would convert all cars into "plastic coffins."

A Virginia mother who challenged Kerry to "come drive a mile in my minivan" said his proposal would be "very bad for the mom business."

"I can't fit all six kids in a Yugo; it would look like a clown car," said Martha Gaudet in a press conference before the debate.

Kerry dismissed these assertions as "extraordinary, ridiculous scare tactics," promising that "no American will be forced to drive any different vehicle." Calling the ads "insulting to the intelligence of Americans," he cited a National Academy of Sciences study last year concluding that significant fuel-efficiency improvements are possible without reductions in car size and weight.

http://www.bu.edu/com/jo/washjocenter/Spring_2002_Stories/newswire_field_cafe0313.htm

Kerry-McCain Proposal is Breakthrough in CAFE Debate

Environmental Defense today praised a new bipartisan fuel economy proposal, unveiled late Thursday by U.S. Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and John McCain (R-AZ), as an innovative way to save oil and address air pollution, while at the same time providing automakers with important flexibility in meeting those goals.

"This innovative bipartisan proposal not only mandates more efficient vehicles but also will harness the power of the market to reduce automotive emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief global warming pollutant," said Environmental Defense senior attorney Joseph Goffman. "Now is the time for both political parties to come together and support legislation that will help protect America's economy by lessening our nation's dependence on oil, and help protect the global climate by targeting carbon dioxide emissions from cars."

"We are very pleased that this bipartisan bill will deliver significant energy savings, while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas pollution," said Environmental Defense legislative director Elizabeth Thompson. "This package also provides important flexibility in how fuel economy standards are met that will allow manufacturers to continue to make their own decisions on how to design and market their vehicles in response to the public's demand for safety and performance."

http://www.charitywire.com/charity61/03169.html

[graywarrior]

23. My friend lives in Maine

[JI7]

24. if this person actually cared that much about the issue

they would have known most of this and would not be deciding whether to vote for someone based on some words in a speech.

[EST]

49. Bravo, doc. cudna said it better m'self.

n/t

[fishface]

20. Lemme guess... he's madly in love with Nader?

He's already a lost cause.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

21. see posts 28 and 38

see posts 28 and 38

[FreakinDJ]

22. He is not your friend

just another ratpublican dupe

[graywarrior]

29. This guy is a total environmentalist bordering obsessive-compulsive

I just emailed a response of my disbelief about his E over I decision. I told him he had 3 coices: Vote for a murdering liar, a certified lunatic, or a gas guzzler. No one will be driving ANYTHING when peak oil happens anyway.

[mzmolly]

25. Gimme a break. Who's he voting for Christ?

Buddah? The Dahli Lama?

:eyes:

Kerry want's to invest in alternative energy and I'd like to add that most SUV's are American made, so it's a liberal trade off isn't it?

Accord ... SUV .... Accord ... SUV ...

Support slave labor ... support unions ... support slave labor ...

eenie f'n meenie ...

[Cuban_Liberal]

26. Virginia's governor is MARK WARNER, not George Allen.

:wtf:

[Hippo_Tron]

46. I was about to say, Virginia's governor is a democrat

I was more alarmed for a sec that a democrat besides Zell Miller was campaigning for Bush.

[Cuban_Liberal]

51. Yeah, some 'journalist' this guy is, huh?

:eyes:

[never cry wolf]

28. Google is our friend (THE ANSWER THAT SATISFIES!)

Read the entire quote as well as the context. Another classic example of snipping words short to create a false impression. here's the full quote:

"I want Americans to drive -- you want to drive a great big SUV? Terrific, terrific. That's America. But don't you think it makes sense to drive one that gets better fuel mileage and is more efficient? That's what we're going to do," Kerry said.

Which he said at this event:

Kerry touts new hybrid SUV

By Patrick Healy, Globe Staff | August 7, 2004

SMITHVILLE, Mo. -- Outlining his new $20 billion plan to build fuel-efficient cars, Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry said yesterday that Americans should feel free to buy "a great big SUV" but they should follow him and running mate John Edwards in buying a kind that runs on electricity as well as gasoline.

Before of a crowd of 150 seated on bales of hay at a family farm in this electoral battleground state, Kerry disclosed that he and Edwards have signed up for a waiting list to buy Ford Motor Co.'s new hybrid-powered sport-utility vehicle, the Escape, which has a mileage rating of 33 miles per gallon and goes on sale next month at a starting price of $26,970.

Kerry, whose energy plan includes tax credits of as much as $5,000 for Americans who buy fuel-efficient cars to help decrease US reliance on Middle East oil, used an America-first message to address parents' exasperations with children who drive to football games or cruise around town in gas-guzzling cars in spite of the price of oil reaching record levels.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2004/08/07/kerry_touts_new_hybrid_suv/

This should straighten things out!

[Zorra]

31. Bravo, steviet!

Caught another one.
:toast:

[graywarrior]

32. Thank you thank you thank you

I will email this now

[DrFunkenstein]

35. This Needs To Become A Commercial

Americans want bad ass cars. Hell, I want a bad ass car. Speed, acceleration, safety, design - these things don't need to be compromised by fuel efficiency if we put American ingenuity behind it.

Kerry should have a commercial shwing some bad ass cars, some pimp wagons, some noisy Harleys and ask why can't we get power and 70 miles to the gallon?

Surely NASCAR fans would want cars that can go further and faster.

[noahmijo]

36. Dude that's the one I want!!

That new Escape!.

So now Kerry and I share tastes in vehicles and motorcycles!!

This makes up for him being a Red Sox fan, NOW I can vote for him! :)

::bein sarcastic here::

[fob]

44. STOP MAKING SENSE!! You'll only open someone's eyes and

the light may hurt them. :evilgrin:

Now I have a general question about SUV's. How many people were transported to this event in the SUV? Chevy Tahoe seats 9 and get's a combined 17MPG (2WD)per Chevy website.

Now instead of the SUV they choose to travel by Prius (forget that's not an AMerican brand at this time, for this point) and it get's 55MPG, per Toyota website. The Prius seats 4, so realistically with all the gear they would need 3 Prius' to transport to the same function.

So let's say they drove 55 miles to get to the event. Let's compare gas usage;
Tahoe 55 miles/17 MPG = 3.24 gallons
Prius 55 miles/55 MPG = 1 gallon x 3 vehicles = 3 gallons

The point is there is NOT one choice for all situations. In this case your friend would be most wise to vote Kerry so he can get his CAFE legislation passed and then in the above scenario it takes only a 1.33 MPG gain for the SUV to equal the Prius and anything more makes the Tahoe the GREENER choice!!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

48. Also, it's silly

to criticize Teresa for having a big 4WD at her mountain home. But it is typical of the knee-jerk, disingenuous RW attacks on environmentalists. Similar to accusing someone who wants restrictions on old-growth logging of being a hypocrite for living in a wood house, or being 'against all logging' or accusing someone who is in favor of reforming the 1872 Mining Law of being 'against all mining'.

Being for higher fuel efficiency and alternative energy doesn't mean I can't choose whatever vehicle I want. The fact is, I live in the deep woods, in a mountain canyon, up an unplowed dirt road. If I didn't have a big 4WD truck to get in and out, I'd have to stay here for 4 months straight in the winter. But I don't drive much and weather permitting, I use a small car.

Does that mean I am a hypocrite if I am in favor of higher CAFE standards and renewable energy? :eyes:

[fob]

55. Critical thinking exercise!! AGGGHAHGHGHAGGHHG!!

No, you are NOT a hypocrite, however, I cannot vouch that you are not, a purple hippo.

[noahmijo]

34. My father drives a Chevy Avalanche

But I despise gas guzzling SUV's and the only SUV I will drive is one that's hybrid.

Does this mean now that if I ever run for some kind of office on a pro-environmental platform I shall be labeled as a hater of the ozone because I don't chain myself to my dad's SUV every day?

[DU GrovelBot]

37. ## PLEASE DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

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This week is our third quarter 2004 fund drive. Democratic
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[Feanorcurufinwe]

38. Jackson's selective quoting is dishonest and deceptive

Jackson's Boston Globe column: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/08/18/chasing_the_suv_vote

The original article:

Kerry Plan Seeks Fuel Efficiency, Stability
The Democratic hopeful unveils his $30-billion, 20-year proposal for energy independence.


With petroleum prices surging to record heights, Sen. John F. Kerry outlined an ambitious plan Friday to lessen the nation's dependence on foreign oil in the next 20 years and put Americans in more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. "Folks, we can do better," the Democratic presidential hopeful said, unveiling his $30-billion plan before a crowd seated on hay bales at a family farm outside Kansas City, Mo.

Kerry's proposal sets twin goals: that 20% of the nation's electricity and 20% of its motor fuel come from alternative sources such as wind, solar power, soy-based diesel and corn-based ethanol by the year 2020. To achieve that, he called for spending $1 billion a year over the next 10 years to help U.S. automakers retool their factories to build cleaner-burning vehicles. His plan would also provide tax breaks of as much as $5,000 for consumers who purchase those cars and trucks. Anticipating criticism, the Massachusetts senator said he was not trying to forcibly downsize America's motor pool.

"You want to drive a great big SUV? Terrific. Terrific. That's America," said Kerry, whose fleet of family cars includes sport utility vehicles. "But don't you think it makes sense to be able to drive one that gets better fuel mileage and is more efficient and saves you money? That's all. That's all we're trying to do."
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/complete/la-na-kerry7aug07,1,3523077.story?coll=la-elect2004-complete

[never cry wolf]

40. Jackson's email address

Wouldn't hurt to let him know he's off base.

Derrick Z. Jackson's e-mail address is [e-mail] .
To submit a letter for publication in the Globe, write to [e-mail]

[Killarney]

43. I'll definitely do this. Thanks.

Maybe he'll print a one line retraction or re-statement. Normally, he's one of the good guys. Don't know why he distorted Kerry so badly in this particular column.

[kwolf68]

45. Removed

Removed.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

47. It will be easier to persuade people if you get your facts straight

see posts 28 and 38

[kwolf68]

50. My Bad

Why does this shit get dissimenated?

I feel totally pissed at myself. Kerry has been a stalwart for environmental issues his entire career.

He won my support LONG before he was anything more than a "also-ran" in the Democratic race.

I see one quote and instead of investigating (which I normally do), I knee-jerk about the issue.

*Must stay focused Must Stay focused*

[nickinSTL]

52. the SUV, with its horrific gas mileage

This is really shortsighted.

The Toyota RAV4 has better gas mileage than many family sedans.

Ford is coming out (or just did) with a hybrid Escape, Toyota is coming out with a hybrid Highlander and a hybrid Lexus RX330.

There are SUVs that are terrible with gas mileage (Hummer and others) but they aren't all equal.

[qwlauren35]

53. Please tell me if I'm getting this right.

Are you saying that your friend is now going to vote for Nader because Kerry is not a strong enough environmentalist?

And what state is your friend in? (Hopefully NOT a swing state...)

If your friend is in Massachusetts or DC, please go ahead and let him/her vote for Nader.

If, because of this editorial, your friend is now going to vote for BUSH, then I suspect that there are other concerns at stake.

[Vladimir]

56. Of all the fucking reasons

this guy could have picked, of all the fucking reasons, an S-U-motherfucking-V???! I mean, fuck me, its not like there are tens of thousands of dead Iraqi civilians, the little matters of gay and abortion rights, a budget deficit the size of an elephant's cock, no, no, its the SUVs. I haven't read anything this stupid in my goddamn life. OK, I have, but then I read too much Derida for my own good. Look, I can sympathise more than most with people who are so fed up with both parties that they can't go and vote anymore, people who have lost all faith and don't care. I mean, if your friend refused on principle to vote for anyone who wouldn't pull out of Iraq for example, I'd disagre with him, I'd find his position naive, but I would have to respect it. You think I like Kerry? You think any left-winger worth their name this side of the Atlantic genuinely "likes" Kerry? Well, maybe there are a few. By and large we are too busy to hope that he wins and we don't end up with WW3 on our doorsteps to care.

Fuck the issues. Vote Kerry. THEN your friend and the rest of us can whinge - when this insane retard currently occupying the White House is not near any red buttons any more.

[liontamer]

57. if your friend is so SUV obsessed

encourage him to still vote for kerry while at the same time lobbying for enforcement of existing anti- SUV statutes. SUVs are technically illegal in most residential neighborhoods because they're too heavy. Give him something concrete to do with his passion and encourage him to continue to support Kerry.

[lukasahero]

59. Some links for your "liberal" friend

I am not a single issue voter however the environment is extremely important to me. It's very important to these folks too and John Kerry is our man.

League of Conservation Voters: http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=2701&c=4

Sierra Club: http://www.sierraclub.org/endorsements/2004/
The Sierra Club fact sheet: http://www.sierraclubvotes.org/resources/bushkerryfact.pdf

If someone is a single issue voter, THIS is the issue Kerry has ALL over dumya. (And sorry, Nader doesn't count - he ain't gonna win so that's simply a vote for dumya.)

[tedzbear]

60. I applaud your friend for his letter!

It is important to note how both candidates end up moving toward each other on the issues while trying to win the center's vote. It's politics as usual and not really a big deal.

What is a big deal is Democrats (like many here at DU) who become livid at any mention of cynical political maneuvering by Kerry. When I post at DU it is in the spirit of promoting a lively political debate, not nasty flaming without regard to any sense of fairness. I wish the DU mods would be more efficient at patrolling this nastiness.

I don't' mind debating but I don't like being insulted, patronized, or ridiculed. Instead, it would be nice to battle using the facts, not jingoist put-downs.

[oasis]

61. Is Nader a key player in your friend's dreamworld?

[adolf batwing]

64. WHAT ABOUT THE UAW?

don't they deserve political support, after all they make the suvs.

[alcuno]

66. The future of the world is at stake.

Right now, SUV's are pretty far down on the list.

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

67. Hm.

aggrovating, but then again, I can't vote.

[hatrack]

68. I can sort of see your friend's point, BUT . . . . .

Setting aside questions of context (deftly excised by Jackson in a fundamentally dishonest op-ed), I'm as obsessive-compulsive as anyone I've ever met on environmental issues (as a quick visit to the Environment board will show), and I'm sure as shit voting for Kerry.

In fact, I've donated money to Kerry - more than for any other candidate in my lifetime - and am now an active Kerry campaign volunteer. There are about 10,000 reasons I could list for selecting Kerry over the Simian Dauphin, but I don't have that kind of time. Suffice to say that your friend needs to pull his head out (to be perfectly blunt) and look at the alternatives:

A) - Another four years of ChimpCo, in which we'll invade as many countries as necessary to provide the necessary financial dick-splints to Exxon/Mobil and Detroit so as to prevent undue consternation to the stockholders, followed by an irreversible peak and decline in world oil production and $75/bl oil, the most likely results of which will be more invasions of other oppressed and/or oil-rich nations OR:

B) - At least four years of a president who might be able to point out a few elementary facts of global oil geography, thermodyamics and politics to a general public who might not quite get Hubbert Curve analysis but who will undoubtedly understand the ramifications of $75/bl oil and all that will flow from that.

At least with Kerry we might have a chance to begin the process of adjusting, and if he's not "pure" enough for your friend, then tough shit for him. It's like suggesting that by using this computer, driving to work or failing to slaughter my own cattle and tan their hides for my shoes, I am somehow unfit to comment on environmental matters because of the HORRID HORRID HYPOCRISY my lifestyle represents. Feh.