Kerry's Speech--Reactions

[Master of Ossus]

Well, Kerry's speech convinced me of one thing: I am not voting for John Kerry. I watched it in a convention of young democrats who were laughing throughout the coverage. Frankly, I'm tired of him giving promises without planning. He kept saying that he knew how to do things, and he wouldn't lie to us, but he didn't fulfill his central promise: he didn't tell us HOW he was going to go about doing things. It's all well and good to ask for a health-care plan that's affordable and talk about creating jobs, but as he pointed out, "wishing doesn't make it so." How can anyone believe this guy, after that?

Post your reactions to his speech and discuss other people's views.

[Natorgator]

How do you expect him to explain the nuances of a complex health care plan in an acceptance speech? He can explain later, and he's certainly not a fucking moron like GW is.

[Master of Ossus]

How do you expect him to explain the nuances of a complex health care plan in an acceptance speech?

I don't, but I do expect him to explain SOME of his plans on doing things. He never did ANY of them. The plans that I understood I universally thought were stupid, as I did with some of his goals (ie. elimination of dependence on foreign oil--it's a hot-button, but it does nothing and it's ludicrously expensive).

He can explain later, and he's certainly not a fucking moron like GW is.

Okay.

[Stravo]

I enojoyed his speech very much, got off on the right foot for me when he snaps the salute and Kerry states: "John Kerry reporting for duty" Nice. I like a little cheese in my political speeches. I heard alot of good things, and yes I agree with Ossus that there were a whole lot of promises but not how to pay for it. I for one would rather hear the promises than hear boring numbers and statistics on how it will be done. Leave that for me to read in the New York Times.

I want to like this guy, I wanted to hear things to hang my hat on to vote for him and he delivered for me in this speech and "Hope is on the way"

My sig has been updated with one of my more favorite quotes. Are there problems and holes? Sure there are, but he is sounding presidential and that was something I doubted until now.

[Durandal]

Well, Kerry's speech convinced me of one thing: I am not voting for John Kerry. I watched it in a convention of young democrats who were laughing throughout the coverage. Frankly, I'm tired of him giving promises without planning. He kept saying that he knew how to do things, and he wouldn't lie to us, but he didn't fulfill his central promise: he didn't tell us HOW he was going to go about doing things. It's all well and good to ask for a health-care plan that's affordable and talk about creating jobs, but as he pointed out, "wishing doesn't make it so." How can anyone believe this guy, after that?

Post your reactions to his speech and discuss other people's views.

It's not a lecture; it's a speech. He's supposed to get people fired up. What do you want him to do? Bring out a white board, complete with charts and graphs and tell the audience to start taking notes?

And excuse me? You're not voting for John Kerry because he makes promises about hot-button issues? Oh Heavens NO! A politician engaging in such unsavory acts?!

And god damn, John Edwards' daughter is hot.

[HemlockGrey]

I'm not expecting anyone to explain their plans in any sort of detail at a speech at the DNC. I mean, the whole point is to fire up the party; it's not to explain your platform, there are other venues for that.

I think we can all agree that Bush's speech will be comedy gold. I think we ought to start a drinking game; shots whenever he says "terrorist threat/terrorist killers," "imminent," or "9/11"

[Master of Ossus]

It's not a lecture; it's a speech. He's supposed to get people fired up. What do you want him to do? Bring out a white board, complete with charts and graphs and tell the audience to start taking notes?

He promised to tell us what he's going to do. I posted a thread about his problems convincing me of this some time ago. His job at the convention was to demonstrate his position, and he failed miserably at that.

And excuse me? You're not voting for John Kerry because he makes promises about hot-button issues? Oh Heavens NO! A politician engaging in such unsavory acts?!

I'm not voting for him because that hot-button issue, like several other issues he's promoting, are FUCKING STUPID. I would never vote for anyone who attempted to pedal bullshit about how America will be better off somehow when we don't rely on foreign oil--especially after promising me that they're not going to lie to Americans to further their goals.

And god damn, John Edwards' daughter is hot.

One of Edwards' benefits he brought to the table was, according to a report I read about him, "an attractive family."

[KrauserKrauser]

At what point do you stop taking his constant "This is broken, I can fix it but I can't tell you how." And start asking for details? After he becomes president? The day before the election? The week? The month before? He could have actually laid out some plans in this damn speech. All he stated was that he could solve all the problems of everyone, you just have to blindly follow him and hope he isn't just blowing smoke up your ass.

I just about threw things at the TV when he said he would repeal the tax cuts and at the same time cut taxes on the middle class, not only that he would never raise them and have more cuts for small businesses. So that, coupled with his constant talk of massive spending plans like MediCare, Education (How much more money can we spend on the DoEd after seeing jack all for results with current billions in spending) and so on, means the only people that he will be able to increase taxes on are large businesses and so called wealthy people ($200,000 combined income for a family I guess is just a godly amount that demonizes those people so much that they don't deserve their money as much as the middle class for some reason). His economic plan makes me sick.

Am I mistaken or was his Energy "plan" discussion almost identical to the Bush plan that I hear about? i.e .alternative fuels, decreased dependence, etc?

From what I did get to hear of his "War plan" he believes that the UN should be in charge of all foreign US operations and we should depend on them to determine where and when we could fight. My guess on what a Kerry administration would do to the military? Braq (Brach? spelling) closings akin to those in the Clinton administration. He has had a hard-on for kicking the military's ass for decades.

A Kerry administration might not be a Bush administration but that doesn't mean it's going to be any better.

[Durandal]

He promised to tell us what he's going to do.

And didn't he do that? You're bitching about him not explaining how, not what, remember?

I posted a thread about his problems convincing me of this some time ago. His job at the convention was to demonstrate his position, and he failed miserably at that.

Apparently he explained his position well enough that you decided not to vote for him.

I'm not voting for him because that hot-button issue, like several other issues he's promoting, are FUCKING STUPID. I would never vote for anyone who attempted to pedal bullshit about how America will be better off somehow when we don't rely on foreign oil--especially after promising me that they're not going to lie to Americans to further their goals.

I didn't see the speech. Did he say that we'd be better off with less dependence of foreign oil, or with no dependence entirely?

One of Edwards' benefits he brought to the table was, according to a report I read about him, "an attractive family."

That's the truth. I don't care if the Secret Service stands there watching; I'd fuck her silly.

[KrauserKrauser]

That would be no depenedence on the Saudi Royal Family whatsoever for oil. Good fucking luck on that one within even a 2 term span. his goals are completely unrealistic and while they sound good, but like all political speeches are always completely full of crap.

[Phil Skayhan]

I didn't see the speech. Did he say that we'd be better off with less dependence of foreign oil, or with no dependence entirely?

Text of Kerry's speech

"We value an America that controls its own destiny because it's finally and forever independent of Mideast oil. What does it mean for our economy and our national security when we only have three percent of the world's oil reserves, yet we rely on foreign countries for fifty-three percent of what we consume? "

I want an America that relies on its own ingenuity and innovation not the Saudi royal family.

One of Edwards' benefits he brought to the table was, according to a report I read about him, "an attractive family."

That's the truth. I don't care if the Secret Service stands there watching; I'd fuck her silly.

I thought her a little chunky. Kerry's daughter in the red dress is more to my taste. Although, if we choose our candidates based on their daughters, then the Bush twins trump Edwards and Kerry. I doubt if Kerry's daughter would be into oral sex much less anal. However, the twins and a bottle of tequila....

[Master of Ossus]

He promised to tell us what he's going to do.

And didn't he do that? You're bitching about him not explaining how, not what, remember?

Yeah. He promised to tell us what he's going to do to make America better. How he's going to do something fits nicely with what he's going to do? Don't agree? If he's going to increase education, part of what he needs to do is scare up the funding. If he's increasing our Special Forces by doubling their numbers (!), part of WHAT he has to do is find qualified instructors and make more training facilities.

Apparently he explained his position well enough that you decided not to vote for him.

Sure. When I see someone whose goals are so fucking stupid that they cost a lot and accomplish a little, I don't care HOW he's going to do that since it will invariably be a stupid thing to do. I'm also upset at how little he explained, in a speech that was supposed to define his position.

I didn't see the speech. Did he say that we'd be better off with less dependence of foreign oil, or with no dependence entirely?

In the speech he definitely said he wanted America to be forever free of foreign oil dependence.

Edit: Phil made the text available.

[Darth Wong]

To be perfectly honest, he could have simply said "I am not George Bush" and that would be reason enough to vote for him.

[Durandal]

"We value an America that controls its own destiny because it's finally and forever independent of Mideast oil. What does it mean for our economy and our national security when we only have three percent of the world's oil reserves, yet we rely on foreign countries for fifty-three percent of what we consume? "

I see nothing in there about some unrealistic goal of completely eliminating our dependence on foreign oil.

[Master of Ossus]

To be perfectly honest, he could have simply said "I am not George Bush" and that would be reason enough to vote for him.

Maybe I should consider running. I'm not George Bush.

[Durandal]

Yeah. He promised to tell us what he's going to do to make America better. How he's going to do something fits nicely with what he's going to do? Don't agree? If he's going to increase education, part of what he needs to do is scare up the funding. If he's increasing our Special Forces by doubling their numbers (!), part of WHAT he has to do is find qualified instructors and make more training facilities.

Those are details which he can explain when he's trying not to fucking bore people to death. It's a speech for Christ's sake. Have you ever thought of maybe looking at his website for those details?

Sure. When I see someone whose goals are so fucking stupid that they cost a lot and accomplish a little, I don't care HOW he's going to do that since it will invariably be a stupid thing to do. I'm also upset at how little he explained, in a speech that was supposed to define his position.

So you know what his goals are, and you don't like them. What parts of his position did he not elaborate on enough for you?

[Master of Ossus]

"We value an America that controls its own destiny because it's finally and forever independent of Mideast oil. What does it mean for our economy and our national security when we only have three percent of the world's oil reserves, yet we rely on foreign countries for fifty-three percent of what we consume? "

I see nothing in there about some unrealistic goal of completely eliminating our dependence on foreign oil.

You see nothing in there about eliminating our dependence on foreign oil?

"We value an America that controls its own destiny because it's finally and forever independent of Mideast oil."

You see nothing in that statement that discusses unrealistic goals about reliance on foreign oil?

"We value an America that controls its own destiny because it's finally and forever independent of Mideast oil."

Are you reading the same sentence that I am?

[Darth Wong]

To be perfectly honest, he could have simply said "I am not George Bush" and that would be reason enough to vote for him.

Maybe I should consider running. I'm not George Bush.

Yes, I would gladly vote for you over George Bush.

[Master of Ossus]

Those are details which he can explain when he's trying not to fucking bore people to death. It's a speech for Christ's sake. Have you ever thought of maybe looking at his website for those details?

I spent two hours there, one time, looking for a single comprehensive plan. Guess what? I never found it. He promised he wouldn't lie to America to further his goals, but he's peddling the same bullshit about energy independence.

So you know what his goals are, and you don't like them. What parts of his position did he not elaborate on enough for you?

1. Bring in more allies to share burden in Iraq. How? Who's he going to bring in?
2. Lead global effort against nuclear proliferation. How? What's he going to do in order to accomplish that?
3. Add 40,000 active duty troops. How's he going to do that when recruitment is down?
4. End "backdoor draft of National Guard and reservists." Because that goal's going to work great with the third one.
5. Inspect container ships coming into ports. Where's the money for this coming from? Where are his cost/benefit advisors?
6. Better protect nuclear and chemical plants. How's he going to protect them?
7. Invest in technology and innovation to create "good-paying jobs." These are just buzz-words that mean almost nothing, especially since virtually everyone who's qualified to hold a job in genuine research/engineering already has one.
8. "Fair playing field" for American workers to compete in global economy. All this without promoting free trade (see the rest of his speech for details about how much he hates free-trade).
9. Demand accountability from parents, teachers and schools.
10. Cut the deficit in half in four years by ending "tax giveaways that are nothing more than corporate welfare." Need I go on? How's he going to do any of this, much less all of it?

[Stravo]

To be perfectly honest, he could have simply said "I am not George Bush" and that would be reason enough to vote for him.

Maybe I should consider running. I'm not George Bush.

Yes, I would gladly vote for you over George Bush.

Ah but would you vote for Scooter? He's not George Bush either.

"No, fool, there is no Iraqi war, it is a fabrication from the Warsie conspiracy to bring me down."

[Darth Wong]

Maybe I should consider running. I'm not George Bush.

Yes, I would gladly vote for you over George Bush.

Ah but would you vote for Scooter? He's not George Bush either.

I'm only counting people who aren't insane.

"No, fool, there is no Iraqi war, it is a fabrication from the Warsie conspiracy to bring me down."

He would create a Federal Bureau of Correct Star Trek Analysis Promotion and add it to educational standards.

[Phil Skayhan]

My reaction to the speech was "no surprises". It was a safe speech. In many ways he drew from Clinton's speech in 1992: Heath Care, Head Start, a middle class tax cut (and just when did he begin gesturing with the thumb/fist?).

Odds are he will not articulate his exact plan for any of his proposals until he has to in the debates. After all, why give your opponent months of prep time and to spin any possible flaws into threats on the "American way of life"?

On a side note, I got to watch the speech in Widescreen HDTV and the detail was amazing. You could even see the spittle shoot from Kerry's mouth during the more "excited" parts of his speech.

[TrailerParkJawa]

I only caught part of it because I get take of both sides making bogus promises they have no chance of keeping.

- We hear about ending dependence on foreign oil but neither side ever mentions ending the population growth that causes increased demand for said oil.

- We hear about creating jobs. For the most part the private sector does that and the same technology that creates those jobs also enables some of them to go overseas. NOTHING you can do about that in the long run.

I agree with MOO that we get nothing but platitudes. Im still going to vote for Kerry, basically because he is not Bush.

[MKSheppard]

Ah but would you vote for Scooter? He's not George Bush either.

"No, fool, there is no Iraqi war, it is a fabrication from the Warsie conspiracy to bring me down."

Goddamn that needs to be FUQed, along with mike's reply

[Joe]

I went to a sports bar/comedy club tonight and they were playing the DNC on one of the big TVs (it was a HUGE bar, so they had room). There were a bunch of what appeared to be Kerry groupies sitting in front of the TV, hooting and hollering like they were watching sports whenever someone made a speech they liked. Some of them were fairly inebriated. I don't get how people get so worked up over this kind of thing.