I supported (voted for):

Clark would have been my second choice, but he was out before Dean.

I came to wholeheartedly support Kerry.  I still think he would have been a great president, and I'm irritated at all the Kerry-slamming since the election.  I think the fatal flaw was our lack of party structure, not his campaign.  We should be organized enough to elect anyone - as the other side is and does.  

I have said before and I say again, I will support our nominee, whomever he or she may be.

That said, I am hoping for General Clark, perhaps because I believe he could take Texas and remake the red map blue.

I saw Senator Kerry here in Austin recently and felt energized by him.  I am looking forward to hearing Governor Dean in two weeks at DemFest.  

We have to all fight on the same team if we are ever going to prevail.

Logic and an open mind are more useful than common sense.

My only regret is that by the time March 2 came around, my vote for Wes was symbolic.  That's what I get for living in the electorally irrelevant state of New York.  Screw ethanol.

Democracy demands discussion, disagreement and dissent. - Wes Clark

Actually before Kucinich even announced his candidacy I read a comment he wrote in The Nation and I wrote him an email asking him to run for President. I think these words still speak for themselves.

Health Care for All
Health Care for All California

Any Body But Bush

I started favoring Gephardt but he fell by the wayside early on. Then I was for Dean (but not a Deaniac, per se). Finally stood behind our guy Kerry, but was not personally enthusiastic. I think he tried too hard to counter Bush's "war on terror" approval ratings on the same turf. Maybe didn't have much choice then. Too bad the country didn't know and recognize then what it is beginning to see now.

By the time the primary rolled around in West Virginia, it was all over but the shouting and balloons.  I voted for Kerry, but I would like to have voted for Clark.  He will be an interesting candidate in '08.

No regrets, voted for Kerry.  Not against Bush.  Interesting that his plans for the military, foreign policy, and especially Iraq are now incorporated into the party line.  That said, I would hesitate to vote for anyone on that list.  the next presidential candidate will need to rise from the ground up, not the top down.  And the party itself needs to stay the hell out of it - in front of, and behind the curtain.

I first got engaged at the time of the debates, and I thought that Kerry did so well in them.  And of course, by comparison, Bush looked like a complete idiot.

If that were the choice....  I would have voted for my Democratic left shoe if it had a chance.  But seriously, I saw a lot to like about Clark, Kerry, Edwards, Dean, and all the others, too.  ABB!  In the end I was proud to vote FOR the Kerry/Edwards ticket.  btw, has anyone else here read Edwards' book "Four Trials"?  I highly recommend it.  It will really show you what good trial lawyers can do for all of us.  I defy anyone to read it without shedding a tear for the injustices done to these particular folks or shouting out a "hooray" when you read how Edwards won these cases.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead

Wesley Clark was my candidate. He knows war well enough to avoid ware if at all possible via diplomacy, because he knows the pain of war. He's more than able to stand up for himself and us, and he can deliver snark with class. His smackdowns are brilliant.

He has to fight the stereotype of "general," but I think he's come a long way. He is a true liberal in his policies, and I just hope people will listen to him.

I believe he really cares about the average joe, but he has the intellect, and I hope the communication skills, to deal with the Orwell-speakers. That seems to scare the party, but at the same time they're learning from him right now.

Bottom line, I think he can capture enough cross-over voters to win.

There are LIVES in the balance. Click here. Watch. Listen.

a little surprised that Edwards is doing so badly in the poll.

My journey through candidates:

Too young to vote:
Dwight D. Eisenhower -1956
Lyndon Johnson - 1960
John F. Kennedy - 1960
Barry Goldwater - 1964

Old enough to vote, did not:
Eugene McCarthy - 1968
Robert F. Kennedy - 1968

Voted:
Edmund Muskie - 1972
George McGovern - 1972

Did not vote:
Jimmy Carter - 1976

Voted:
Jimmy Carter - 1980
Jesse Jackson - 1984
Al Gore - 1988
Bill Clinton - 1992
Bill Clinton - 1996
Al Gore - 2000
John Kerry - 2004

50 states, 210 media market, 435 Congressional Districts, 3080 counties, 192,480 precincts

Pretty much an unreluctant admission:  Kerry supporter.  Was from the start, was a Kerry watcher since his election to the senate.

I do not regret it.  I think I have a fair veiw of all of our guys and gals.  I saw eveyone of them as problematic, even Kerry. I could list their
pros and cons.

Kerry's cons are even more obvious now, mind you.

But our loss can be blamed on Kerry as well as party problems that have plagued us for a couple of decades.  We let our side become a dirty word, we have been too apologetic about Democratic goals and policies.  Louder and prouder...

"But your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore."--Prine

strictly because of his message. When I heard of Dean I went to him at the time of the Internet Primary. Stuck with him as a first round delegate after he'd deactivated. Voted Kerry of course.

I'm not a Dean "-iac." I will say that his speaking out and the early success it caused were absolutely essential to us having any future at all. But that's not the same as being an ideal candidate.

He's not an ideal candidate in my mind because he talks in terms of ideas and logic, which is alien to most people, because they think mostly in terms of beliefs and feelings.

We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy.... --ML King, "Beyond Vietnam"

I'm a Green in a deep, deep red state.  I would have voted for our candidate, David Cobb, in a heartbeat.  Unfortunately, thanks largely to the Democrats, Oklahoma has the nation's most restrictive ballot access laws and doesn't allow write-ins, so I was unable to vote for the candidate of my choice.

Become a Card-Carrying Green!

In the primaries, I voted for Al Sharpton. I knew Kerry would get the nomination by the time my state got to have its primary -- so it was a symbolic vote. But, honestly, Al Sharpton voiced everything I believe in -- from his belief in the rights of gay people to marry to his belief in a woman's right to choose. There were mostly truths in what Al had to say -- and because he probably didn't have a chance -- he could say the truth -- unlike the white guys who had a chance.

Mosely Braun was also great. Bless her.  

"You can measure the moral character of individuals and institutions by the way they treat defenseless persons. " -- Henlee Barnette

Kucinich or Lieberman - and I would have voted for either over Bush.
No Kucinich - in my intro welcome wagon comment I mentioned that I'm to the right of the average Kossak on foreign policy.  

No Lieberman - There's a difference between being a hawkish democrat and being a shill for the Bush admin.  There's Repubs who have managed to be more critical in spite of party loyalty - whether true blue hawks like McCain or traditional Republican internationalists like Lugar.  Plus I've always hated his tendency to view religiosity as a prerequisite for being considered a proper American.

My favorites in order were Clark, Dean, Kerry, Edwards.

talked myself into supporting Kerry once he got the nom. I concentrated on BCCI and Iran/Contra so I could argue convincingly. It was hard, because he's been a hack since Reagan, but I did it, because I decided to be a partisan that election. I voted Nader in '00 (in NY, a safe blue state).

He sucked. He was a terrible candidate. Now that he's finally released his medical records, all I can think is that he didn't really want to win. He didn't ACHE for it. He didn't care. When he caved so fast, despite what we all saw of the lines in OH, that "I concede" broke my fucking heart. Somtimes I think he took a fall. I'll never forgive him for it, no matter how many emails with children's pictures he sends out.

I will NEVER, no matter how many great speeches he gives, forgive Al Gore for what he did to the CBC, and the voters, the communities, they represent. I stopped supporting him when he named Joe as a running mate, I did vote for Nader, but when the FL fight began, I really hoped he'd step up. No.

What next? Will the party learn to fight. Will the next nominee actually give a fuck and fight? I'm not so sure.

"Whenever a Voice of Moderation addresses liberals, its sole purpose is to stomp out any real sign of life." - James Wolcott

I wish you could vote for two.  Like a Prez. and VP.

~americanEntropy~.
Serving truth addicts since 2004.

Clark supporter here; I thought he was the best opportunity to strike back at the fake "warriors" in the BushCo Administration. I hoped that if he'd gotten the nomination, he would pick Dean as his running mate, or if not then Dean would be Secretary of HHS in a Clark Administration.

When Kerry was the official nominee, I supported him. But it was his failure in the November election that taught me to be very wary of anyone putting the mantle of "electability" on anyone; there is no such animal as "electability", everyone is vulnerable.


"Mr. Bush, you do not own this country!" -- Keith Olbermann, 1/2/07

I say "Deanocrat" instead of "Deaniac" because it sounds less like being a groupie (no offense, and maybe I am) but mostly because I think it defines me and many others who are only "here" (contributing to and working for the Dem party) because of HD.

I am at the left end of the political spectrum in my fight against the completly corrupt Republican power structure in government.But I am kind of cynical and think that if we throw the rascalls out the Dems who rise to power could be corrupted too.

That's why I want reform, and power to the grassroots. HD is clearly in it for the right reasons. And, God bless him, he tells it like it is. What a concept!

I put up a fundraising page called "Deanocrats United" today to earmark my (and anyone who wants to join me) donations to the DNC as driven by HD. I want to make it clear that I do not support people like Lieberman, and that they better not take me or my money for granted. It's HD's vision I support.

Here it is so kick in if you've a mind to.

http://actblue.com/list/deanocrats+united

Good to see you all here!

Kucinich mostly, for his message. I pretty much liked all of them though, and thought they all had a message to put out there. And I knew I was going to vote for whoever the nominee was (I was never under any illusions it would be Kucinich, lol).

As for Edwards... what I've heard of his message, I like and he seems like a nice guy and somone I would support, but for all that I just can't like him. I've tried... but if he was the nominee i would vote for him.

Human rights, politics, social issues and food!
Human Beams Magazine

By the time we got to vote here in California, Kerry already had the nomination sewed up, so I voted for him so he'd look stronger.

I like Dean and Kucinich, and I thought that Clark might run well against Bush. Kucinich is the only one who is close to as liberal as I am.

I'd like the Democratic party to have some guts and run Barbara Boxer next time.  Our junior senator has been a beacon of light in the Senate, and I think she'd do a great job in the White House. I am tired of hearing that a real liberal can't win a national election, and that this country couldn't deal with a woman president. Are we so far behind India, Israel, and the UK?

I also really liked Gore (our duly elected president in 2000). I mourn the loss of his presidency more than I mourn the loss of Kerry.

    for CLARK, I thought American was ready for a General to help get us out of this mess we were in, but I never had the chance. Once Kerry got the nomination. I was 100% behind him. I made over 400 phone calls from my cell phone, in my own backyard, to Battleground States, I called people in Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Arizona, NV, NM. for the KERRY CAMP. I spoke to the most amazing people. I got them to Knock on doors, I explained why we had to rid America of GW Bush.

     I talked about Healthcare, Bush's War, the Economy, how it was Osama, not Sadam, how there were NO WMDs in Iraq, how Kerry kicked Bush's Ass in the debates....you name it I talked about it. I told all that would listen why John F. Kerry was the best man for the job. I even made it be that some of the people who didn't have transportation to get to the polls to vote..got to the polls through the Kerry Camp.

     I heard the most amazing stories from people of all ages..from 18 to an 85 year old widow in Florida. I heard about how badly people were hurting in our country because of George W. Bush and his stupidity and horrific policies. I heard from Mothers who had lost children in Bush's War. I heard so many stories from average Americas who had lost their jobs..people who had lost or had no health care. I still think of them today...A day doesn't go by where I don't think of some of those poor souls that I called in the months leading up to Nov. 2. They give me the strength to continue the fight.

The Dean campaign brought me back into active political life.  After the Gulf War and the 1992 election, I was convinced that I was an anachronism.  For fifteen years, ages 22-37, I had been heavily involved in activism, in community organizing, issue campaigns, electoral races.  It seemed that both my views, and my grassroots orientation to politics, were disappearing from the scene.  The democratic system was entirely taken over by professionals, there was no room for the citizen any more.  And I was burned out.  Too many years of defeats, too many years since a real win for social justice.  Even among those little local issues that I'd spent so much time fighting.

So I went private.  Worked.  Danced a lot.  Had a band.

Then the stolen election, the white collar rent a riot.  The eerily science fiction like day of 9-11. As the drumbeat toward Iraq began, I took my first overtly political act in a decade, renewing my long-lapsed membership in Veterans for Peace.  Wrote fruitlessly to my Democratic US Rep.  Was less than stunned when my junior Senator John Kerry voted for the war.  Since his return to politics in the 80s, it had struck me far too often that he would put his ambition ahead of principles.  I wouldn't be voting for him.  Didn't know who I'd be voting for, until in May of 2003 I started reading about how the Dean campaign was giving groups of local supporters the freedom to run their own operations and build their own organizations.  My community organizing soul couldn't help wanting a peak at this, so I found and went to a local Meetup that summer, and damn if that room didn't feel just about like Mass. Fair Share, it was like coming home.  Three months later I was hosting that Meetup.  We did wonderful things, tabling at the Big E (Eastern States Exposition), Balloons for Dean at the Thanksgiving Day parade, many trips to New Hampshire.

By the time I voted on Super Tuesday, it was a bittersweet exercise.  It was, Thank You, Howard Dean.

Hi everyone, Part 12 of the Welcome Wagon Diaries is up.  Recommmends are appreciated as well as handing out mojo to the new BooTribbers.  

Please Unrecommend Parts 10 and 11 to make room for diaries on the Rec. List.  Thanks for your help!

(I voted for Dean)

Latino Político | "We are condemned to kill time, thus we die bit by bit." - Octavio Paz

Like others here, I would have voted for a brick before I voted for Bush.  I still think it would have been a better vote.  

I gave up on politics when Bush was ordained.  I completely dropped out.  But when he was ordained for a second time, I just couldn't stand away again.  I had to get involved.  Hence, my being here.  I have called my senator more times this year than I have ever called her in all the years prior combined.  

So, that said, it really didn't matter to me.  I did a questionnaire that said Kucinich most represented my ideas, but I knew he had no chance.  So I backed Kerry and was luke warm towards him until the debates.  I think he really came back in the debates.  He was reasonable, honest and someone I could support.  

This last election was the first time I donated to any political cause.  It won't be the last.

There's a sense that people in America aren't getting the truth. - George W. Bush (Gee, ya think?)

Feingold, if he runs.

"If Adolph Hitler flew in today, they'd send a limousine anyway" -- Joe Strummer

Click here to step into the Village Blue2

Though I swear, I was still wavering back and forth between him and the Greens all the way through the "Help" pages of the damnable electronic voting machine...I am not convinced my vote was counted, don't think anyone will ever be able to convince me one way or another.

In the primaries, I would have voted for Kucinich...not that I thought he had a chance in hell, but damn, it would have been nice to cast a vote for someone who so closely represented my interests and passions...never been able to do that (I was born in 1966).

I am very ambivelent right now about the "Democratic Party" and voting for "D" no matter what and who and where and when....yes, I would like these slimeballs out of office, but it ocurrs to me over and over again that Nixon and Regan and Bush I (well, Sr., not so much...) went away, but their administration's structure never did...(we even have many of the EXACT same people running around doing the same old shit)

Negroponte
Cheney
oh, I could go on, but am tired and laptop running out of battery...

They have been the same fucking people in power my entire life....

I want something else, to get me through this, semi-charmed kinda life..
Third Eye Blind

I voted for Kerry but im really so far out of mainstream that i can't find anybody that really suits my fancy. Kucinich comes closest but i wasn't too thrilled with him for some reason.

Hermaphrodite with attitude!

Voted Kucinich in the WI primary, tho that was less a vote for Dennis, than an attempt at a message to Kerry, regarding the DrugWar.

Philosophically I fall more at the leftmost edge of the Libertarians. I couldn't relate to the LP's Presidential ticket in '96 and '00, when I was too steamed at the Clinton record to vote Dem, so Nader was the default. '92 and '04 were ABB years, and I actually liked the John Kerry of Contra/Coke (where's he hiding?) and Theresa from our conversation in Feb. '04.

I'm running for the US Senate again, Wisconsin 2012.

I supported and voted Lionel Jospin at the last presidential election... in France!

Alas, Chirac won, and we are paying it dearly: it is an important cause for the rejection of the European constitutional treaty...

"ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

IMO, us netizens (and maybe Dems in general) spend too much time identifying with pols or candidates rather than the ideas or issues that really matter in politics.

So count me as a vote against cults of personality, whomever the personality may be.