Well, Nerd, you have done a lot of homework. I appreciate the
effort you have made in trying to make your case. You appear to be
very knowledgeable.

You say,

"Frank, you're looking at Kerry through Rose-Colored Glasses."

I believe they are more like high powered binoculars.

I didn't hear the attacks that you attribute to him. Please offer
proof of ad hominem attacks. Also, proof of the dirty tricks that his
supposed operatives conducted. It's my experience that if Kerry
had known about any dirty tricks he would have fired his operatives.
I suspect dirty tricks of being across the board in a political
year.   It could have been that Kerry callers may have been
polluted with those outside the Kerry camp. Anyway, show proof.

You say,
"(NB: Although there is no proof it was Kerry who did this, no one else had much to gain in New Hampshire, and the Republicans do not have the pollsters on the ground to identify who is a Dean "one." Because of this Joe Trippi, Dean's erstwhile manager, is sure it was Kerry)."

First of all, without proof, this becomes a scurrilous attack.
It's this kind of thing that will ensure Bush's election. The Right wing has to be laughing at us as Progressives for such back-biting.
If Joe Trippi is so credible, why was he replaced by Gore operative
Tom Neel?

Again, you say,

"If I have a Hollywood insider working for me, does that make me a Hollywood insider?"

The answser is yes.   A true outsider doesn't compromise.

The outsider insider thing is still a red-herring. Kerry is not
being represented by special interests of the wealthy. They
want Bush.

By the way, you are right about Kerry's comments regarding
raising taxes for the middle class and he was right, also.
That's what Dean and Gephardt's plan would do.


Kerry's vision is consistent. He is a Vietnam vet and sees
the futility of war. He also is a military guy and with improper
intelligence, made his decision to support the Resolution.
He admitted publicly that it was a big mistake and cost him.
His vision is to come to terms with the buying of democracy by
the lobbying interests and corporations. He would roll back
the tax cut but thoughtfully, not in a reactionary way.
He is a statesman and would elicit the help of the UN and our
former allies that have been alienated by Bush. He supports gun control and will take on the NRA. He said so. I believe his
approach is even-handed and thoughtful and not based on angry
reactions. He sees that as a congressman, there is a high-context to every issue and the black and white approach to them does not
serve the public.


What if Kerry does echo some of Dean's position? Is that so bad?
Dennis Kucinich had Dean's position before Dean did. So what?

Kerry has sharpened his image considerably. And he has made
his position very clear about taking on the special interests.
"Bring 'em on!"

Kerry acts like a stateman.   He is thoughtful and not given
to public outbursts. Considering the pressure he is under, I
believe he acts well under the line of fire.

Kerry is probably the only hope for the Democratic party. He
doesn't rail or concentrate on the technical mechanics of winning
His public record is available and not sealed. His message is
focused and clear. "Special interests and lobbies...bring 'em on!"

"Finally, here's an article from ABCnews.com's The Note:"

Does anyone really trust ABC, CBS or NBC news? The article cited
is spin.

Some of the criticisms of Kerry may be gaffs. Lord knows, all
the candidates have made some.

Kerry's legislative accomplishments are not clear. He has stated
that he voted for some bills that he didn't have his name on
but that he saw what he thought were good things in them although
again, bills are not ever perfectly clear themselves or "competently
written".

North Korea and South Korea is an honest slip. Doesn't mean
anything because people know what he meant. Nit-picking by
yapping dogs at the heels.

I don't see evidence that Kerry has limited any press availabilites
but if he has it's because the way this press treats any candidate
is like a viper waiting to strike.

Dean's message didn't originate with him. Kucinich has been
consistent for just as long a time as had Sharpton and most
African-American political observers.

Whether Dean uses the confederate flag or Hollings mentioned
"Chinaman"...this kind of thing invariably happens to all candidates who are in a front runner position. Jesse Jackson's famous
"Hymietown" is another case in point. In the pressure of
an election, someone is bound to step in it.

As I recall both Dean and Kerry have not taken PAC money from the government.

In the long run, endorsements may or may not matter depending
upon who it is. If Bush were to endorse Dean, (which he may be serriptiously doing as long as we are speculating..and would
be in his interest to do it...see what I mean about creating
negative scenarios).........

What does "apparently" not showing tax returns mean?

Flipping out at the press is nothing new. They can be obnoxious.
ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN.....I flip out at them daily.

ABC is engaged in a scandal-mongering campaign by nit-picking
a candidate that is showing increasing power. In other words,
it's business as usual.

I find it hard to accept what the standard news media who is
controlled by corporate conglomerates have anything of value
to say other than who is doing what and where. The spin
is obvious and odious.

Frank