Kerry Ends Vacation, Sets to Unite Party

Yahoo! News ^ | 3/24/04 | Mike Glover - AP

[NormsRevenge]

KETCHUM, Idaho -

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) wrapped up his nearly weeklong vacation in Sun Valley on Wednesday and was flying back to Washington to accept a key union endorsement and rally former rival Howard Dean (news - web sites) and other party leaders behind his candidacy.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will endorse Kerry on Thursday in a meeting of the union's executive council, Democratic officials said. AFSCME, with 1.3 million members, is the second-largest union in the AFL-CIO.

Kerry is meeting privately Thursday with members of the Democratic National Committee (news - web sites), then speaking to the National Newspaper Publishers Association. He has a private meeting with Dean's congressional supporters and donors, then plans to accept Dean's endorsement during a rally at George Washington University, followed by the AFSCME endorsement.

The Democratic chiefs come together Thursday night to recognize Kerry as the new leader of the party and raise more than $10 million for the DNC's effort to defeat President Bush (news - web sites). Kerry will be joined by former Presidents Carter and Clinton, 2000 Democratic nominee Al Gore (news - web sites), Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe and all his primary rivals except Dennis Kucinich (news - web sites) and Carol Moseley Braun (news - web sites).

In a message posted on the Web site for his new organization, Democracy For America, Dean urged his supporters to back Kerry's campaign. "The primary goal throughout my campaign was to send George Bush back to Texas," Dean wrote. "John Kerry shares this goal and is the only person with a chance of doing just that."

Dean also tried to persuade his supporters not to back a third-party candidate who might siphon votes away from Kerry. "The future of our country depends on defeating this president, so this election is much too important to support any effort by any third candidate," he said.

AFSCME had endorsed Dean last fall and helped propel his candidacy to front-runner status for a while. AFSCME President Gerald McEntee yanked the endorsement last month after Dean had failed to win any of the first 11 Democatic primaries yet insisted he would stay in the race.

AFSCME, which spends more on politics than any other union, wanted to immediately stem the bleeding of manpower and campaign coffers to a losing campaign. Its political action committee spent $847,120, including $583,366 in independent expenditures in support of Dean in February, according to a Federal Election Commission (news - web sites) report.

McEntee is a major player in Democratic Party politics, and his early endorsement of Bill Clinton (news - web sites) helped propel the former Arkansas governor to the presidency. He had flirted with backing Kerry and Wesley Clark (news - web sites) before jumping on Dean's bandwagon when the former Vermont governor was leading in polls and fund raising.

_____

Associated Press Writers Ross Sneyd in Montpelier, Vt., and Leigh Strope in Washington contributed to this report.

[NormsRevenge]

In a message posted on the Web site for his new organization, Democracy For America, Dean urged his supporters to back Kerry's campaign. "The primary goal throughout my campaign was to send George Bush back to Texas," Dean wrote. "John Kerry shares this goal and is the only person with a chance of doing just that."

Dean also tried to persuade his supporters not to back a third-party candidate who might siphon votes away from Kerry. "The future of our country depends on defeating this president, so this election is much too important to support any effort by any third candidate," he said.

---

The theme song for the Dem convention should be Looney Tunes

[binger]

[Fiddlstix]

The theme song for the Dem convention should be Looney Tunes

Here Ya Go J

(Ask and ye shall receive. Just click the link above. J )

[holyscroller]

Meanwhile, Zell Miller didn't get the message and started "Democrats for Bush". HaHa.

[Joy Angela]

from http://www.hilldabeast.com -

Recent events show the ugly similarities between Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.

They share many of the disgusting traits from the underbelly of liberal bottom dwellers.

Both, Hillary and John have the following in common:

• Socialist/extreme left agenda.
• Contradict themselves regularly.
• Want to raise taxes and distribute wealth.
• Could care less about the country due to their own power hungry plans of destruction.
• Not easy on the eyes.
• Look horrible in a skirt.

Just to name a few.

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

"Meanwhile, Zell Miller didn't get the message and started "Democrats for Bush". HaHa"

LOL good point! I am hoping Joe L. will jump ship and wake up in the land of the sane. I think Joe could be a good Republican with a few adjustments. If Zell can see the light then there is still hope for Joe.

[NormsRevenge]

Maybe we could trade Joe for McCainiac

Sorry to see Zell having to be the lightning rod but.. His mama would be proud of him.

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

"Maybe we could trade Joe for McCainiac "

I'm for it! Sad thing is that I was once taken in by McCain. I was ready to vote for him in 4 years if he ran. I am embarrased to admit it, but I was a chump. Live and learn.

[joebren]

Joy--you omitted one important fact. They want to redistribute wealth, except for their own. They'd totally flip out at the idea of "Living History" or Heinz Corp being leaders in the fight to redistribute wealth.

[Texasforever]

Kerry seems to have inherited Gore's talent for political timing.

[Joy Angela]

Oh yes!

The elitists will always be among us.

The line from one of the Matrix movies really
grabbed me.

"What do people with power want?"

"More power."

That is the goal of all those who wish
to control the rest of us.

I don't know why...it could be a competition
with God.

[NYCVirago]

LOL good point! I am hoping Joe L. will jump ship and wake up in the land of the sane. I think Joe could be a good Republican with a few adjustments. If Zell can see the light then there is still hope for Joe.

FWIW, Lieberman did more to defend Bush on 9/11 on the Sunday morning talk shows than McCain did!

[OESY]

The Definition of John Forbes Kerry at his Start of the Campaign:

Before:

After:

[eyespysomething]

feh, he doesn't look that bad in a skirt

*g*

[NormsRevenge]

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean (news - web sites) fires up supporters at a rally for Democratic Presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (news - web sites) (D-MA) at George Washington University in Washington, March 25, 2004. Dean, one of Kerry's most bitter rivals in the primaries, endorsed the Massachusetts senator at today's rally. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque US ELECTION

[Semper Paratus]

LOL, his numbers started to go up when he was away. Come back John.

[dirtboy]

"It's shagalicious, baby ..."

[dirtboy]

Hey, Reg, got your latest John Kerry creation - maybe you could add this daisy to it!

[dirtboy]

Hey, Reg, got your latest John Kerry creation - maybe you could add this daisy to it!