Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Kerry to Bush: 'We're coming, you're going'
dallasnews.com ^ | 12:12 AM CST on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 | From Wire Reports

Posted on 01/19/2004 10:55:16 PM PST by Destro

Kerry to Bush: 'We're coming, you're going'

12:12 AM CST on Tuesday, January 20, 2004

From Wire Reports

DES MOINES, Iowa – John Kerry's voice was so hoarse when he woke at 4:45 a.m. Monday that he sent stand-ins to three get-out-the-vote rallies.

But by late afternoon he hopped back on his campaign bus, the Real Deal Express, saying he wanted to see undecided Iowa caucusgoers one last time to "fight for every vote."

Those four words became the Massachusetts senator's political vow in the final weeks before the nation's first presidential caucuses – which Mr. Kerry won easily over his Democratic rivals. At a jubilant victory party, he took aim at the Bush administration and special interests.

"We're coming, you're going, and don't let the door hit you on the way out," he said.

Just two months ago, his presidential bid was in turmoil. He fired his campaign manager but denied it was a sign of distress.

Over the course of a few weeks, his style dramatically changed from appearing aloof and lecturing toward an attitude of displaying a willingness to listen.

In speeches, at town hall meetings and even on the elevator, he asked voters to "test him," "to look into his soul," and to "ask as many questions as it takes" to turn them into committed Kerry backers.

Monday night, as he greeted voters entering Urbandale High School, he stuck to his polite, direct appeals for support.

"I need your help tonight," he told an elderly woman in a knit sweater.

His campaign overhall coincided with growing concerns among some caucusgoers over Howard Dean.

He told a young man wearing a "Dean for America" T-shirt, "I guess I can't get your" vote.

"Well, once you get there, I'll support you over Bush," the man replied.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, who campaigned for Mr. Kerry, called his win "an extraordinary upset" that – using favorite Kerry line – "marks the beginning of the end of the Bush presidency."

"We love Iowa," he said. "Iowa voters found John had the leadership quality, the strength, the trustworthiness, the steeliness, to address the concerns of ordinary, average people, and to offer a vision for the country."


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; bush; camejo; cheney; civilunions; dubya; edwards; election; gay; gaymarriage; gayrights; gays; gwb; homosexual; homosexuality; homosexuals; iowa; kerry; lesbian; lesbians; marriage; marriages; nader; napalminthemorning; wedding; weddings; willandgrace
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-113 next last
To: ambrose
A re-election campaign is really a referendum on the previous four years. Show me a president who has won re-election in the last 100 years who wouldn't have if he had a better opponent.

You're like a port in a storm. You put 'thangs' into their proper perspective. Thank you.

21 posted on 01/20/2004 12:10:38 AM PST by onyx (Your secrets are safe with me and all my friends.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Destro
Let's tally this one up:

Gephardt's gone, Dean is shockingly vulnerable, a patrician, achingly boring Massachusetts Democrat may once again have reached front-runner status, stirring up a matchup between him and a blatantly phony former general in New Hampshire who thought Kosovo was justifiable but Iraq isn't, and the one candidate with a winning personality (Edwards) is probably going to careen head-first into a brick wall in two weeks, despite his surprising showing tonight.

In addition, Kerry is running out of money. Lieberman, meanwhile, may not have been involved in Iowa, but I'm going to take the liberty of declaring his candidacy dead in absentia. From now on, this is going to be a fight amongst the wounded.

The victor, incidentally, gets to take on a popular president with a $200 million war chest.

Ooooh, I'm so scared!
22 posted on 01/20/2004 12:42:03 AM PST by Carthago delenda est (Just say "no" to Democrats.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Comparing military experience:

Clark: Vietnam and Kosovo. Everyone here knows all about Kosovo. Speaking of "Bring the troops home".......Also provided logistical support for the great victory at Waco.

Kerry: Commanded a riverboat for a few months in Vietnam. Judy Woodwhatever on CNN made the brilliant observation that one of the reasons Kerry won was because he is finally comfortable talking about his service in Vietnam. LOL, who knew? John Kerry was in Vietnam. Thanks, CNN. I had no idea.

Bush/Cheney: Successfully prosecuted two wars in two years, both on the other side of the world. Commanded the 1.2(maybe more) million members of armed forces to an uninterrupted string of victories. Yeah, I can see how winning a war in the graveyard of empires compares unfavorably to commanding a riverine patrol craft for a couple of months.

23 posted on 01/20/2004 1:02:00 AM PST by Belisaurius ("Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, Ted" - Joseph Kennedy 1958)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Destro
Yeah, but does anyone think for a second (I'd be really surprised) that Hillary would allow a dem, any dem (except her, that is), to win the White House come November? If that happened, she can kiss her dream of being First Lady Prez goodbye--2012 is an eternity from now, and it would be so turn-off ballsy (from a woman like Hillary) to challenge a sitting president from her own party in 08.
24 posted on 01/20/2004 1:09:41 AM PST by gop_gene
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: america-rules
Edwards is the only threat. He doesn't have any record to go against and he's taken the high road. If he makes it in the the top 2 in NH he's trouble !

Maybe I'm being confident, but I'm not THAT worried about Edwards, at least now yet. For goodness sakes, the guy looks like he was just weaned! Sure he's a fresh, attractive baby-face, but will that kind of tabula rasa prettiness inspire confidence in a nation worried about war and terrorist attacks? And he may be taking the high road now, but how long will that last now that he KNOWS he has a chance at actually getting the nomination? Plus, he's pretty green.

I'd be more worried about Kerry--he has the Vietnam-combat background, he's experienced, he has that craggy-faced serious contemplative, depthful look about him, plus he's tall (sounds silly, but unfortunately height, just like looks as in Edwards case, can sway a lot of voters). Also, he has a Hispanic wife and I know a lot of (Hispanic) people who'd vote for him just because of that, notwithstanding that she's supposedly nuttier than a fruitcake.

25 posted on 01/20/2004 1:17:12 AM PST by gop_gene
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Destro
I think you're right, either one of these "goons" would make a race. Compare either of them up against Al Gore and they appear almost "animate". I think they'd pose a real threat in the race. Not that either one of them is worth a cent.
26 posted on 01/20/2004 2:49:21 AM PST by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Destro
The meat grinder has only made a quarter turn. We will have no less than 3 candidates on their home turf in New Hampshire: Dean, Lieberman, and Kerry, and then Clark who skipped Iowa for NH and is strong in the polls. We could see a totally different 1-2-3 there, leaving Mini Tuesday up for grabs because of no clear leader and the geographic spread of those states.

I question all the candidates' ability right now to gel nationwide momentum. None seems to have consistent support outside their own base. Therefore if Mini Tuesday and following primaries produce no clear leader, Super Tuesday's vote could come out fractured as well. It may take till Illinois to produce a clear leader. Not likely, but not impossible.

The only scenario I can see negate this is for Edwards to take the top 3 in NH, and ride victories in the southern states + a top 3 in Arizona to victory in Mini Tuesday. That would give him incredible momentum. Despite his liberal failings he has been a class act so far, and that could allow him to rise to the top.

Unless the Edwards scenario happens, the confusion could last awhile, the longer it goes the more it aids Bush.
27 posted on 01/20/2004 2:58:22 AM PST by Free Vulcan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gop_gene
I don't think she's Hispanic.
Irish maybe?
28 posted on 01/20/2004 3:00:09 AM PST by Ramcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: gop_gene
You have it right: Kerry will be nominated.

Dean finished himself with his outburst. Lieberman has a fatal charisma gap and has no chance. Clark will be easilly finished off in New Hampahire for much the same reasons Dean lost Iowa but Clark will go out with a wimper, not in bombast. Kerry will quickly pick up all the money he needs now.

The dims have actually gotten something right, they are underway toward nominating their most formidable option in Kerry. He will make no big mistakes - especially on TV. He is insulated by his war record from being labelled soft on defense. He will sucessfully straddle (not for us but for the bulk of the electorate) both sides of the war issue. He will operate much the same on spending; complaining that Bush has failed to fund education while also failing to balance the budget. He will also straddle the tax cut issue. He will be difficult to burlesque (sorry, calling him Ketchup Boy just doesn't do it).

He might well select Gebhardt as VP to aid him in the midwest or Edwards for the south and more likely the border states.

Look for a difficult race with the media doing everything to elect Kerry short of actually stuffing ballot boxes. They know, as does the rat party, that the liberals face years in the wilderness if they lose this one. I predict that within one month Kerry's river boat in Nam will be represented as a vessel at least as sacred as PT 109.
29 posted on 01/20/2004 4:11:55 AM PST by nathanbedford
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Destro
Anyone have the skinny on this guy: Michael Whouley. Apparently he's Kerry's secret weapon.
30 posted on 01/20/2004 4:15:28 AM PST by mewzilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Destro
Well, I just answered my own question :)

Check this out. He's a Clintonoid, too. Figgers.

31 posted on 01/20/2004 4:18:19 AM PST by mewzilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Destro; My2Cents; Howlin
Kerry to Bush: 'We're coming, you're going'

Nah, you're not coming!! -- Wait 'til Bush tells America that you, Johnboy, didn't even have the balls to throw away YOUR OWN military medals! Charade.

32 posted on 01/20/2004 4:22:33 AM PST by thesummerwind (Like painted kites, those days and nights, they went flyin' by)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ambrose
"Bob Dole's heroic military experience in WWII wasn't much use against Slick Willie, a draft dodging traitor."

Good point!
33 posted on 01/20/2004 4:23:39 AM PST by Arpege92
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla
Hey, lookee here.

Could Kerry's Michael Whouley have an Enron problem?

34 posted on 01/20/2004 4:25:53 AM PST by mewzilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Destro
Kerry and Clark both SUPPORTED the war. They can't take that back.
35 posted on 01/20/2004 4:29:15 AM PST by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ambrose
Lieberman was essentially a Florida native son for all intents and purposes, given the demographics in Palm Beach. Florida is lost to the Rats for sure, unless they put a Floridian on the ticket.

Graham is seeking the VP slot, which is why he got out early on. Look for him to be the VP candidate regardless of who gets the Prez nomination. The Dems figure if they can get Florida, they will win.

36 posted on 01/20/2004 4:32:26 AM PST by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: america-rules
Edwards is the only threat. He doesn't have any record to go against and he's taken the high road.

I can see why he won the big legal cases. That deal with Kucinich was smart. Did Kucinich get a few delegates out of it?

So now Dean, who was already the joke on SNL, is ready for the funny farm, Gephardt and Braun are out, and I can't see Lieberman lasting very long. Sharpton and Kucinich (prediction) will go to the convention with their small number of delegates, and if it's split, have some say in the deals.

Ahhhh....Survivor Island, political style.

37 posted on 01/20/2004 4:33:41 AM PST by grania ("Won't get fooled again")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla
So, Kerry's got Mary Beth Cahill and Michael Whouley working for him...

And people think Howie's nuts...

38 posted on 01/20/2004 4:34:03 AM PST by mewzilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: nathanbedford
A liberal from Massachusetts will win zero southern states, even with La Breck as his VP. Edwards will have to work hard just to win his home state. Right now, he would not win his Senate seat back in NC. Kerry is unimaginative, and cliche in everything he does. Bush has more charisma in his pinky toe than this wanker.
39 posted on 01/20/2004 4:35:01 AM PST by ilgipper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy
Yeah, but Kerry only "thought" Bush would use his war powers to "scare" Saddam, not actually attack him. We haven't had somebody this stupid in the Presidential spotlight since Algore.
40 posted on 01/20/2004 4:35:09 AM PST by anoldafvet (Democrats: Making the world safe for terrorists one lie at a time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-113 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson