Here's your Statement, John

[Superman]

I don't have much time but I wish I did. We all notice that JK and the dems do not have a platform. I am disappointed, others are energized by this. And at this point JK should be feeling some desperation at being defined by the reps, rather than by himself. And then there's the perception that he lacks the courage and fortitude to lead. Some of you who have editorialized about my comments since the start of the Mul Period (not yet ended, in my view) you will find it believable that I would urge and support a fairly strong statement from Senator Kerry. I'm thinking of the kind of statement that will do one of two things. Either it will get him elected (the nation is really looking for a way to send Dubya packing, it just does not see Kerry as a legitimate alternative), or it will end his political career and reserve his place in history as one of the most colorful characters of all time. I like to think the former, considering that the liberal votes outnumbered the conservative ones last time by millions of votes (considering Nader votes to be liberal) Again, I don't have much time so some of you will have to help me. And some of you others who have asked what Kerry's platform would look like if he had one, can read this thread and get a sense. I'll start.

1. Abortion. "I believe abortion is wrong, deeply and undeniably wrong and I hope they cease to take place in America. Children are our pride, our dearest citizens and our future. But I also do not believe that religious leaders should make the laws in a country as free as America. I do not believe that God's will is done so much by making sin illegal, as by making sin undesirable and unnecessary. All children should be loved and wanted, and families are waiting for the chance to adopt and raise them. As President I would not support the creation of a law that would attempt to eliminate abortions. It would not eliminate abortions. It would make them far less safe, it would criminalize young women, often in poverty, who feel they have no alternative. Who feel they have no place to turn. I would instead work toward building a society where those young women would feel secure. Where they would not feel so unloved as to seek comfort outside appropriate relationships, such as marriage. Where they would have individuals and groups available to guide them through decisions when they are in need.....Yadda yadda yadda (I'm running out of time)

"I am taking somewhat of a personal risk in taking the position I take on this issue, because of another question that has been raised in this important debate. And I want to talk about that issue as well. It is frightening to me, the notion that religious leaders might actively consider rationing their services to elected officials based on their voting records. Yes, religious leaders might be capable of influencing the making of public policy by holding their services hostage, by extorting, so that certain laws would be passed or repealed. But I am a believer in the distinction between church and state. I believe there is more than ample reason for this important principle which our country has honored for many generations, and which our country seems now prepared to discard. I say we should not discard it. I say religious leaders should not strongarm governments. I say this has led to problems we are dealing with abroad. I say that making something illegal is not the same as making people hate sin. God does not seek the love of governments. God wants to share his love with us as individuals, and to the degree we are not free to chose His will, we are limited in our ability to make loving decisions in His light."

Okay, there are many many other issues I'd like him to speak to tonight, and I'd like to see him come out swinging from the ankles. He'll probably be reading these posts this afternoon, so let's help him out. Somebody take it away.................

[island911]

While clearly, JFKerry, needs no help . .. being such a self-defined, strong leader . .but here-goes . ..

Running the government:

"I, John Kerry have a long Senate history of doing absolutly nothing.

As President, I would continue negleting my job, bringing the US govt to a screaching halt, faster than a Libertarians best dream.

I will let the US troops in Iraq stay . .. or go, as they see fit; as I want to stay consistant on my different stances. They will, however, be cut-off supplies such as body-armor and bullets.

I will work hard on achieving a real tan . . perhaps from windsurfing, or golfing . . or maybe, I'lll just count all of my wifes cash, out by the pool.

Let me reiterate; I will do nothing as president. This campaigning has been hard enough on me already. I need a real vacation. . .say 4 years.

When I decide to pretend that I never said that I would do nothing as president, I will address the US citizens from the French Riviera, to remind them of my Vietnam war hero medals.

[djmcmath]

Jim, I'd love to define a platform for Kerry. Only problem is that I've tried, and failed. I've hunted for some time to try and find any single issue that he hasn't come out on both sides of, and I'm drawing a blank.

As far as I can predict, if elected, Kerry will rule by referendum:
1 - Announce to the people that there is a major decision about to be made.
2 - Wait a week, read the poll results.
3 - Do what the poll says.

That may appeal to some people, but in my mind, that's not leadership, that's just following the polls.

Dan

[emcon5]

Originally posted by Superman
We all notice that JK and the dems do not have a platform.

Sorry Jim, but you are mistaken. The Kerry platform is fairly clear, although it's depth is lacking. This pretty much sums it up:

Originally posted by John Kerry
Hello, I am not George W Bush

Tom

[Superman]

Very helpful and positive post, Island. You are truly helping me to see the difference between the kinds of posts I have been making, and the posts that you consider appropriate. I'm sure you will beam with pride when I say that it seems clear to me that there is a great deal of similarity between your posts and the communications I hear coming from your candidate. Please, please grace us with more posts that show the depth of your political understanding.

[Superman]

Another insightful post. Keep 'em coming.

[lendaddy]

Soupy's gettin a lil agitated lately.

Look Kerry does not have a platform, he just doesn't. I know it, you know it, it's just fact. You would like to think that Kerry would follow the liberal agenda once elected, but he has given you plenty of reason not to be so sure. He doesn't have a core issue either, just ""I'll do it better" but again he gives you no reason to believe so.

If Kerry actually wanted a prayer here he would come out and say the following...

"I............Jo...........h.............n.......K. .........e.......ok just kidding:

I john Kerry want to clarify my position on the war. I have taken the advice of campaign flunkies and swayed with the polls. This is not me! I apologize and vow to run on my heart from here on out. I AM AGAINST THIS WAR! I will do everything in my power to get our boys out asap. blah blah blah. It would be bold, but he needs bold. People might actually admire the vulnerable honesty. Then proceed again to apologize for letting others tell him what to say and that it will never happen again.

Other than this longshot, he's Fcuked.

[speeder]

Originally posted by island911
While clearly, JFKerry, needs no help . .. being such a self-defined, strong leader . .but here-goes . ..

Running the government:

"I, John Kerry have a long Senate history of doing absolutly nothing.

As President, I would continue negleting my job, bringing the US govt to a screaching halt, faster than a Libertarians best dream.

I will let the US troops in Iraq stay . .. or go, as they see fit; as I want to stay consistant on my different stances. They will, however, be cut-off supplies such as body-armor and bullets.

I will work hard on achieving a real tan . . perhaps from windsurfing, or golfing . . or maybe, I'lll just count all of my wifes cash, out by the pool.

Let me reiterate; I will do nothing as president. This campaigning has been hard enough on me already. I need a real vacation. . .say 4 years.

When I decide to pretend that I never said that I would do nothing as president, I will address the US citizens from the French Riviera, to remind them of my Vietnam war hero medals.

The funny thing is, if Dumbo had continued his lifelong habit of being lazier than a dead cat and done nothing for the last 3 years, we would be immeasurably better off.

[emcon5]

Originally posted by speeder
The funny thing is, if Dumbo had continued his lifelong habit of being lazier than a dead cat and done nothing for the last 3 years, we would be immeasurably better off.

Amazing. Are you really suggesting that we as a nation would be "immeasurably better off" had we done absolutely nothing after the WTC/Pentagon attacks?

You must truly have a dizzying intellect. Please elaborate.

[Superman]

Well, I continue to receive comments that I don't understand. Len reminds me that Kerry does not have a platform, as though this is something that I have not accepted. Here is the second sentence in my post which started this thread:

"We all notice that JK and the dems do not have a platform."

And the point of this thread is John's missing platform, and what a standard liberal platform might look like. So, I think I got it. Candidate Kerry has not laid out a platform.

I'd also agree that he desperately needs to adopt one, or communicate one, or something. I have a personal belief that, notwithstanding the capture of the republican party by its absolute most conservative sect, the American people have a substantial amount of commitment to the traditional liberal approach. Again, the liberals seemed to outnumber the conservatives in the 200 election (and I'm just going by the numbers and noting that Nader was considered liberal, and no, I am not exhuming the Dubya-should-not-have-won argument). Frankly, I think the typical voter wants to send Dubya packing. but he is likely to be re-elected unless the voter sees a legitimate alternative. If I were John Kerry, I'd be very tempted to give those voters something pretty darned concrete to glom on to. And it'd be a familiar message, and one that we have already, as a nation, committed to. Taking care of our less fortunate. regulating business so it can stay healthy, provide jobs, but also curb inflation, not ruin the environment, yadda yadda. Frankly, something closer to the "real" republican centrist position, which by the way makes a great deal of sense.

Okay, I digress again. The other thing I don't understand is this "Superman is agitated" thing. I've always been massively "type A." I cannot chew gum because it becomes a war within my mouth and pretty soon my teeth and gums are beat. I walk fast, leaning forward. While eating, if it's lunchtime. Et cetera. And yet people tell me regularly that they wish they were as calm and even-keeled as I. So, perhaps you guys have been thinking I'm one thing, when all along I've been both. Like the folks who, after months or years of thinking I'm so very calm, finally say "Jim, you're really wound up tight, aren't you?"

I dunno. I'm shrugging. And going home. G'nite.

[djmcmath]

Jim, I think the point is not so much that Kerry does not have a platform, but that he has made a specific effort to not have a platform. It's almost as if he's gone out of his way to try to be all things to all people. Well, perhaps all things to more people than the competition, anyway. The difficulty in defining a standardized "liberal" platform is that it wouldn't really be Kerry's platform at all -- it would be the flavor of the day, the winds of the moment, the platform that the people in front of him now want him to espouse. Ergo, defining some base-model "liberal platform" is a moot exercise. Sorry.

Dan