My Arguement for Kerry

Ladies and gentlemen of the left, let me be perfectly clear. I was praying Kerry would be the Vice President in 2000 and President in 2008. Thanks to a grotesque campaign run by Al Gore, he got the jump on my schedule and will be President in 2004. The result, at least as far as I'm concerned, is the most environmentally conscious President ever. A President who will appoint Justices of the Supreme Court devoted to choice, to labor, and to civil liberties.

There is a difference between what is good and what sounds good. There is an even more marked decision between what will work and what sounds good. I will tell you something that I've learned in my experience in politics.

John Kerry is no conservative because he doesn't subscribe to reciting a littany of liberal rallying cries. He is not that type of politician. He has core beliefs which are generally liberal, but at times deviate from that stance. He is a Statesman.

Howard Dean is brilliant. He gave a wavering party a spine, but he was not a liberal in any sense of the word. He was a successful governor of a small, rural state. He simply was not able to articulate his position to the American public. He was not forced out by the media. He made numerous gaffes and was not prepared for the nature of media.

Dennis Kucinich is idealistic. He also bothers me. I think a great deal of his policies are based in his idealism, but not in the cruel, harsh reality of American politics. Granted, I am not a progressive, I am an establishment democrat. I just don't think our country is doing so bad that we need a revolutionary change in the way we function. That revolution was forced upon us by Bush, and we shouldn't react in a way that will be equally bad, but in the opposite direction.

A Department of Peace makes us feel good. It also is expensive and does absolutely nothing.

Single payer health care has no basis in American legislative politics in a divided nation. Additionally, it would be impossible to maintain initiative in medicine given that system, as is evident in UK health ministries.

An immediate withdrawl from Iraq will accomplish nothing but a civil war. The UN will not clean up our mess without our hands getting at least a bit dirty. Whether your candidate says we withdraw and replace with UN forces or not, the reality that Americans will be dying in Iraq for months and years can not be skirted.

Legalization of marijuana will not occur now via Federal powers. It is possible through the states, but the drug war will continue. It is not because both the mainstream democrats and republicans are the same, it is simply because the vast majority of Americans do not want legalized drugs.

Political idealism may give us the populist with the firey tongue, Howard Dean. Reactionary politics may give us the antiestablishment candidate with a message of gold for all, Dennis Kucinich.

Political reality gives us John Kerry.

Let Dean serve a role he is uniquely suited for. Stearing the democratic party from the inside, giving it a soul and a backbone.

Let Kucinich serve a role he is uniquely suited for. Serving as a voice for the deep-blue movement, incrementally moving us towards the ideal utopian state with government sponsered health and peace.

But, let Kerry serve a role he too is uniquely suited for.

Let Kerry lead us back to the Whitehouse by being the synthesis of legislative liberalism, fiscal conservativism, and social libertarianism. A man equal parts hero, statesman, and gentleman.




Matt

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