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

dallasnews.com ^ | 12:12 AM CST on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 | From Wire Reports

[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."

[kabar]

Edwards, on the other hand, could be a whole 'nother story.

Edwards has hit his high water mark in Iowa. He will finish fourth in NH, barely beating Liberman. The rest is downhill including South Carolina. Kerry and Clark should run well there. Look for Sharpton to be something of a spoiler as well. With half the registered dems in SC being black, it will be Al's moment in the sun. A southerner will not win the Dem nomination this year.

[johnb838]

I expect Kerry is going to get some money now. Clark is a Southerner In Name Only -- He looks and acts more like a patrician New Englander. Clark thought Iraq was eminently justified. He calls the testimony before Congress the "evolution of a position", but that's kind of flimsy.

[bushfamfan]

I disagree due to Kerry's record on military matters. And they are the party of Clintoon, whom they embraced, so they have no case now when they say it is required. Cheney was war hero George HW Bush's pick for Sec. of Defense and commended by many veterans, so what's the turn now in saying he's not great on those matters? Clark has his own problems with his mindlessness and having character and integrity issues and being despised. They aren't leaders and other matters will come into the campaign to continue to show it.

[eyespysomething]

re:Edwards

Yes, he seems very "kennedy-esque" (even though I am too young for all that)


But then I heard his talking points afterwards, and he's so young and has lofty ideas but no solutions.,

[bushfamfan]

That's Kerry's record on military matters in the Senate.

[johnb838]

Kerry voted FOR the war, and AGAINST the $87 billion in the second funding round. That should be spotlightable. Besides, he's had plenty of stupid photo ops --Kerry surfing, Kerry playing Hockey, Kerry on the motorcycle, F'in Kerry.

[JackDanielsOldNo7]

Heck,

The only thing elections are for nowadays is to trade big spender for big spender.

[KantianBurke]

None of them should! This is really a BROKEN GLASS GOP VOTER kind of election; unfortunately, the UNAPPEASABLES,here, are in full throttle and it's only going to get worse.:-(

Excuse me but it was Bush who made the decision to be a "compassionate" conservative with all its analogous wild spending and freebie programs. I'm not unappeaseable. Don't f$%^ with the Constitution, reduce the size of govt and keep Islamonazis from killing me and he's got my vote. Not a tall order by any means. Now that there's the possibility he won't be facing a psycho, he'd better start courting those who elected him in the first place. If he loses, he should blame no one but himself.

[Piquaboy]

Wasn't Kerry accused of some atrocity committed in Vietnam? It seems I heard something about this quite some time ago.

[J. L. Chamberlain]

The Iowa vote means nothing. No one has ever taken them seriously except the media idiots. At best they garner 6-7% of the electorate and it really says nothing.

The Ketchup King even had to fork over 6 million of his wife's own cash just to carry him through, as did the cheap ambulance chaser and Breck Boy, Edwards.

It all goes to show what I've said before about my neighbors to the south; If stupidity grew in the open fields, it would surely grow in Iowa!

J

[section9]

Excuse me but it was Bush who made the decision to be a "compassionate" conservative with all its analogous wild spending and freebie programs. I'm not unappeaseable. Don't f$%^ with the Constitution, reduce the size of govt and keep Islamonazis from killing me and he's got my vote. Not a tall order by any means. Now that there's the possibility he won't be facing a psycho, he'd better start courting those who elected him in the first place. If he loses, he should blame no one but himself.

Sorry, you'll have to do better than that.

You can't keep the Islamic Fascists at bay and reduce the size of government. That's just stupid. War is the health of the State, as everyone knows here. Bush can be blamed for domestic spending increases, but all that pales in comparison to the war we are in.

I excuse no one for sitting out this, the most important election of our time. People like Kerry still think of terrorism as a police problem; people such as his wife think it's partly our fault. None of them understands the civilizational stakes except, perhaps, Lieberman.

Howard Dean reflects the activist base of the Party far more than the Kerry or Edwards crowd do. Their anger is unappeaseable, so to speak.

For any conservative to sit out this election when the stakes are so high is inexcusable. For any conservative to vote for nonsense outfits such as the Constitution Party or Harry Brown's people is beneath contempt.

Bush isn't a liberal, and it's time that Conservatives quit treating him as one.

We're in a global war. Act like it.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[eyespysomething]

Bush isn't a liberal, and it's time that Conservatives quit treating him as one.

We're in a global war. Act like it.

bump

Best I've heard in a while!

[nathanbedford]

Kerry will not be looking to win much in the south but in the midwest to add to the two coasts.

He might have hopes for Florida, Louisana, Arkansas. He could hope for some crumbs in the border states: West Va. Tenn. Mo.

But for the most part I think he wants Ohio, and maybe Colo. and Az.

These are from the states Gore took. Of Course he will hope to retain Gore's states which will not be easy in places like N. Mex. and MN. and maybe even Pa.

But I think this will be his strategy: Hold what you got and cherry pick a couple more states to edge through the College. For this reason I do not believe he will pick Edwards who, as you rightly point out, will not help him much even in his own state much less in the rest of the South. So Kerry will adopt not a southern strategy but an upper midwest and Mo. strategy and this is where Gebhardt might provide more help.

[jim35]

Brilliant! Spot on.

[.cnI redruM]

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

In an earlier campaign stop, Kerry asked his audience. "Can you feel the surge?" Ketchup Boy no longer suffices to describe this low-grade cheese byproduct. We could be on our way to the first Liesure Suit Presidency. Clinton was a mere cheddar cheese puff compared to "Can you feel the surge?"

[KantianBurke]

"You can't keep the Islamic Fascists at bay and reduce the size of government."

And the farm bill, the Ted Kennedy education bill and the free pills for granny bill will prevent future Mohammed Attas how exactly?

"Bush isn't a liberal, and it's time that Conservatives quit treating him as one."

I'm not a bot and Bush better quit treating his base as if we all were if he wants our votes. Good day Section.

[section9]

Although I strongly suspect that nothing less than bringing back the Rope wouldn't get you to go out and vote for Bush, I believe that given the fact that we are at war, you will, in the end, have no choice but to vote for Bush.

Your argument is a legion of straw men. The vast majority of government increases can be traced directly to defense and DHS spending. You are correct about the Ed bill and the farm bill. We are not disagreeing here. But you are incorrect as to their importance in the great scheme of things.

There is nothing more important than winning this war. Voting for Bush helps to win that war.

Any other vote is a non-starter.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[KantianBurke]

Alright I can see your perspective. In the grand scheme of things ect ect. I don't agree with it however as Bush's spending policies pose a long term danger to this country's fiscal foundations. What is the point of winning a war on terror only to have our economy collapse under the weight of govt "freebies?" That's just MHO. Good day Section.

And FWIW, I did vote for the man though more out of a sense of vengence for Bubba getting away with all his antics than Bush's "compassionate conservatism."

[The KG9 Kid]

They was Bob Kerrey, former Senator.

[CMClay]

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

That is a most telling statement.
The Dems, despite all the candidates, want Bush out.
With no nader in the race, Bushes declining support among some conservatives, and the Dems who will vote for whomever gets the nomination, Bush is in Big Trouble.